SurfRider

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They must not have had much experience running a restaurant. Open during slow season in an out of the way location with little or no promotion and without enough perseverance to survive for at least 6 months - they were flirting with failure.

I agree that the Rompho area would have likely produced a much different result. I've seen places surviving there with seemingly VERY few customers.
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Might be best to double check and make sure he's referring to the right place. I ate there yesterday, mid-afternoon and everything appeared normal - had three customers at an off hour.

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"There are some rough edges in the system...I would like them to add the ability to just drop a pin at ANY location on the map for the pickup and drop off, and I think the driver should be advised exactly where the passenger's pickup point is"

Good suggestions, but all you'll get here is comments from Forum members. You should contact GrabTaxi directly and report your experience and suggestions. They've asked for feedback from customers.

Here's their eMail address.

support.bkk(at)grabtaxi.com
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"in the next day or so i will go to Raro's then check the coordinates from my GPS...as it seems to be the only way to get them"

If you know the spot on a Google Map, right-click the spot and select "What's Here?" -- the GPS coordinates will appear in the box at the upper-left of your screen.
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I did a test booking, using their app, from Jomtien (near Thepprasit & 2nd Rd.) to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Estimated fare was 114 to 171 Baht. Additional booking fee is 40 Baht, which their website says goes to the driver.

Normal fee for the same run from BPH to Jomtien using one of the taxis based at the hospital is 250 Baht. If all is as advertised, Grab Taxi is definitely a very worthwhile addition to the Pattaya public transport mix.

Their website states as follows:

"Know your rights! Get in touch with us if your driver doesn’t use the meter, overcharges, calls to cancel or doesn’t show up at the pickup point"

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I've had tests done at LifeCare Labs, (referenced above) many times, as have others I know. Results generally match tests done at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Tests they cannot do there they send to the BPH lab. They will fax or eMail your results to you, usually the evening of the day you stop by. Saves a return trip.

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"Every time my internet package expires i feel i am getting unauthorized internet charges...my subscription I.E if the monthly subscription is 799 baht"
   
AIS users can get WiFi Internet for 69 Baht per month.  You can sign up for it on your phone/device at any AIS WiFi hot spot. Charges are deducted weekly from your Top-Off account.  keep your phone's "Mobile Data" option turned off and the device will connect automatically to any AIS WiFi whenever you're near one.
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This is TMNs channel lineup from their website - Don't know if it's current.

http://tmncabletv.com/images/stories/tmn_pic/channel/thai.jpg

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Malaysian Airlines struggles with possible bankruptcy.

Malaysian Air shares plunged the most since 1998 this month amid investor concern the government may let the company fail.

Bloomberg News: The carrier said the jet’s disappearance put additional stress on operations, forcing it to review its business plan after reporting the biggest loss since 2011.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-26/malaysian-air-to-take-steps-to-script-turnaround-no-bankruptcy.html

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"I miss CNBC and Bloomberg ... Fox Noise's absence has left a void"

Bloomberg audio is still on Sophon but the video is currently out - both were working earlier today. Sophon tells me that one of their satellite dishes was hit by lightning, but they expect that Fox will be back tomorrow morning. (so those suffering from FDS {Fox Derangement Syndrome} will once again have something to chatter about )

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More info on Supnay . . .

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Supnay-Northern-Lanna-Cuisine/577087465710220?id=577087465710220&sk=photos_stream

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It's true - I was there in March and got the lady with the computer and printer in back of her. She inputs all your data and prints out your next 90-day report form, folds it and staples it in your Passport. Her instructions were to bring the pre-printed form with your Passport to your next reporting day, sign it, and she'll repeat the procedure for the next time

I checked this anomaly with the person who publishes the Pattaya City Expats Club newsletter (which posts extensive Visa and reporting info on their website). He verified that many expats have reported the same-- so get the lady with the printer and you will no longer need to present any supporting data or copies, etc. -- it's all in her computer. The other two behind the desk still use the old procedure.

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Goodbye Songkran 2014 สวัสดีครับ

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Road death toll in Thailand among highest in the world

According to Wikipedia, Thailand averages 38.1 deaths per 100,000 people annually (another source places the figure a 19.9 per 100,000). With an estimated 2014 population of 67,790,616, simple calculations put the normal average weekly death toll at around 497 deaths per week.

If the published stats of 321 deaths in last years Songkran are correct, Songkran week has considerably less than the normal average weekly death rate of 497 people. I find these calculations extremely difficult to believe - given all the hype that goes into media reporting of the savage death toll on the highways of Thailand during Songkran.

According to the 2011 World Road Statistics, Thailand was one of the top five countries with the highest number of motorcycle-related deaths. One source reports: Of those killed, up to 70 or 80 per cent are motorcyclists or their passengers. Key causes for the deaths were speeding, drunk driving or the failure to wear safety belts or crash helmets. Last year, a survey showed that only about 28% of teenage motorcyclists and about 49% of adults wore helmets. Bangkok had the highest number, or 80% of helmet wearers, while only 20% of motorcyclists in Beung Kan, Lamphun, Chaiyaphum, Narathiwat and Nakhon Phanom were found wearing helmets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate
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A Little More Random Mayhem

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More Pattaya Mayhem - Past and Present

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The Land of Songkran Smiles - Faces in the Crowd - Are we having fun yet?

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More Mayhem, Past and Present - Pattaya Songkran

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Random Mayhem from Past Pattaya Songkrans . . .

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"You are totally wrong... They did check in and then didn't show up and their luggage was removed..... 144 pages later and no one remembers this"

Why would anyone believe a story from an unknown publication named "Hollywood Life"??? That story came out two days after the plane was lost. 99% of the information from that period has since been found to be either rumor or blatantly false. Find a credible source for this information if you expect anyone to believe it.
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I was using a Schwab Visa Debit Card - Pretty sure I reported it last month in this thread.

Are you saying the ATM differentiates between Visa and MC and charges an MC card the higher rate? First I've heard of that.

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Fwiw, The TMB branch in my neighborhood went to the 180 Baht usury fee a month ago. CIMB was still 150 - I'll check both again next week.

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"the postman doesn't feel like lugging them about ... I become suspicious about where/when they were sourced especially when the package insert is in Hindi or Burmese"

The Bangkok pharmacy sells only legitimate meds, sourced from the same wholesalers as Fascino or any quality pharmacy. Their shop is much larger than anything you'll find in Pattaya. Myself and other friends who use this pharmacy have never had any problems with them or their products. The meds are sent via EMS (Thailand's Express Mail Service). Your local postman is NOT in the loop. Deliveries are via motor courier, same as EMS all over Thailand.

You shouldn't randomly bash something that you obviously know nothing about.
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