To the hospital on Koh Samui (readers' submission)
(MannPanithi / Shutterstock.com)
During our fifth stay in Thailand, my wife and I, each in turn, were introduced to the hospital in Thailand. Previously I had already been to a Thai dentist twice. Unlike in Belgium, you don't have to wait several weeks here before you have an appointment. It should also be added that the treatment is certainly as professional as in Belgium. And third: the fees are a lot lower.
This time we also had to turn to a Thai hospital.
Less than a week here on Koh Samui and my upper body was full of bites from sand fleas. Anyone who has ever had sand flea bites knows what I am talking about. You get bumps as big as a horse's eye and without treatment you will suffer from an unbearable itch for several weeks.
Taking into account the necessary Corona measures, I visit the Bangkok Hospital in Chaweng. The necessary formalities are completed at the reception and afterwards my blood pressure is measured, as well as my height and holiday weight. After about 20 minutes I can go to the doctor. A cursory examination leads him to prescribe some pills and a cream. We don't even have to drive to a pharmacy for this, because after payment of the hospital costs you will receive the necessary medication on the spot. Unlike in Belgium, not a whole box of pills is sold that can serve the entire street if necessary, but you get exactly the number of pills that the doctor has prescribed.
Two weeks later, my wife and I each moped with a scooter from Laemsor to Lamai. In the well-known 90-degree turn at the Guan Yu Temple, my wife falls because the front brake locked up. When scratching straight, the blood flows abundantly down her legs. Immediately a Thai lady arrives with a roll of toilet paper to wipe off the blood. She also accompanies my wife to the ambulance station that is located in the temple parking lot. I drag her moped into the parking lot with a smoking front brake. Immediately a Thai young man approaches with a bottle of water that he pours over the smoking front brake. Little did I know that thing could catch fire otherwise?
In the meantime, some aid workers were cleaning my wife's wounds, but because there was a 'dirty' wound, they thought it advisable to go to the hospital. Afterwards we laughed about it, but my wife took place in the ambulance and while I drove my scooter, the ambulance left with wailing siren and flashing lights to Bangkok Hospital in Chaweng.
When I arrived later, I was allowed to go to the 'emergency' where the wounds were cleaned again. It was only waiting for a very friendly doctor to come and do the necessary research. Due to the nature of the injuries, my wife had to have a tetanus shot. After payment of the invoice and after receipt of the necessary medication, we were able to go to CENTRAL FESTIVAL for our booster shot.
My wife has to go to a Health Center in the area every day for the care of the wounds. Here too we only have positive experiences about the professionalism and friendliness of the staff. We are happy to accept that their knowledge of the English language fluctuates a bit. We take the bills with the Eastern smile, because that will pay back the insurance. Hopefully it was the first and last time 'hospital' for us during our holiday, but luckily we have a very positive image of it.
Still a thought, now that we see that in the meantime mostly Western tourists have arrived on Koh Samui. Every day we read in the reports about the worrying infections and infantile Corona measures of the Belgian government. The rule here in Thailand is: if you leave your place of residence, you must wear a mask, even on a scooter. At least the rules are clear here.
If you see scooter riders without a mask here, they are guaranteed to be Western tourists. And that rude behavior shows a lack of respect towards the Thai population.
Submitted by Gust
I also make that reservation about Western tourists every day in Pattaya. A great lack of any respect for local measures. I would suggest a very heavy fine for them.
My wife had to get her 2nd Covid syringe in Central Pattaya today. Then we walked around the shopping center. Most of the shoppers were Thai (probably from Bangkok) and it was outrageous how many walked around with their mouth masks on their chins! So it's not just the western tourists, because there were very few of them today.
You are talking about 'infantile corona measures by the Belgian government. Well, that qualification also seems very applicable to wearing a mask on the scooter........
If one takes measures, it is best to take them without too many exceptions. At least that's clear. A mouth mask as soon as one leaves the house seems simple and clear to me. no discussion possible.
I think we should leave the judgment of what is infantile in Thailand to the Thais. And they wear face masks almost everywhere, including on their mopeds, so they won't find it that infantile. And because we are only guests in this country, we just have to follow those rules. Protesting against infantile measures should happen in the country where one is a citizen in my opinion.
I would also like to respond to that. Yes mask, but no helmet and shorts and slippers and that helmet is also prescribed even with traffic signs. But the mask is more important.
I do not get it. But that will be me.
What I experience is different
99% of those who don't wear a mask are Thai people anyway
Not in the village, but just outside, masks are worn less and less
Because I had little to do for a week, I kept track of how many people did not wear face masks in and around Chiang Mai. In short, about 60% of the people who did not wear a face mask were clearly not of Thai descent.
Maybe there were more, but I can't really tell the difference between Thai, Myanmar, Chinese, etc., so I counted them as Thai.
I don't believe the 60% of the Chiang Mai population consists of Western farang.
There was indeed a difference, in the Malls and areas such as Meechok Plaza, Ruamchok Market, etc., many farang also wore a face mask, but still much less than Thai.
There you hardly saw a Thai without a face mask unless he or she had something to eat or drink.
This morning I picked up my annual visa at immigration. There was even an officer walking around WITHOUT a mouth mask (inside the office), talking loudly with a lot of show. I think these are the people who should lead by example. Unfortunately!
I also notice more and more that many Thai people are getting tired of all those protective measures. I understand this somehow, but a few simple actions make a lot of difference. Around here I see many residents participating in daily life without a mouth mask. The local market has even been closed for 2 weeks because a major contamination was detected there.
It's all too easy to just blame the tourists. Take a good look around.
Marc. I don't know which village you live or visit. But in the past 20 days I visited quite a few villages by motorbike. And you can count the Thai population I've seen on one hand without a cap. Even if I had to fill up and take some time to drink a cup of coffee and it was very busy especially these days. Every car that stopped and people who get out immediately put on a cap or sat in the car with a cap on. And also the younger Thai population.
Here in the North, almost everyone wears a mask, including on a moped, in their own car and on a bicycle. I drive a daily round along Lake Phayao and I hang the mask over my mouth to show my good will and leave my nose free, but most Thai people wear the mask neatly, so also on the road bike and mountain bike.
Dear Gust,
In the Netherlands I had to fill in a list whether I had taken or will take another vaccine two weeks before or after the vaccination.
Tetanus shot is also a vaccine I think
We told the treating doctor that we were on our way for a booster shot and that man said that the tetanus shot was no problem…
Can you please explain to me the usefulness of a mask on a moped?
By the way I don't drive a moped myself. Rode ? You have to be half crazy to mope here.
25000 road deaths per year, 75% of which are moped riders.
Hope you understand the logic (?)….
Dirk that about those traffic deaths that's right. But it's the youngsters who ride at high speeds without a helmet and flip flops. I myself ride a motorcycle on both the highways and the back roads. Always with full protection and I have never had an accident in the years that I have been riding a motorcycle. That's no guarantee. But paying attention and assessing the traffic situation is a requirement. And knowing how most drivers here in Thailand react to the behavior of motorcyclists. You have mirrors on your moped and motorcycle use them. Are not intended to remove your beard hairs with tweezers.
And do not use alcoholic beverages if you are a participant in traffic
Dear Sietse,
at least this is a 'golden advice' from an experienced motorcyclist like you.
We ourselves only wear a mask when entering a business. This is not because we are against masks, but simply because they are of little use. And certainly the way they are worn. Nobody follows the rules. They hang around the neck, on the chin, on 1 ear, are stuffed into a trouser pocket. Put it on with dirty hands, etc. You don't see anything else on TV either. Did you really think it would help in this way.???
@Nicky,
Even though it looks ridiculous that people put on a mask on TV, it does contribute to the normal acceptance that every little bit helps. If everyone does it, there is nothing weird and there is no discussion. Call it head in the face and / or convenience. Mysterious eyes also have something 🙂
Nicky. I am also not in favor of wearing a mask. But stick to the rules that are written for me. And read somewhere it might help 2% and that's more than nothing