Hospital Visits And Medical Treatment In Thailand

November 2, 2017Daily Videos, Medical, Dental and VisionCare, Doctor, Ear, Eye, Hospital, Hospitals, MD, Medical, Medication, Medicine, Nose, Office, Prescription, Specialist, Specialists, Thai, Thailand, ThroatWorldTripper

Having access to medical care in Thailand it’s not a problem. One of my concern was how would I get medical treatment should I need it. Lucky for you I have had the Hospital Visits And Medical Treatment In Thailand experience already. I’ll outline here how easy it is to get great quality medical treatment in Thailand.

Welcome To Thailand … Try Our Medical Care

After arriving in Thailand I came down with an ear infection. After trying a couple of rounds of amoxicillin pills from the pharmacist I was ready to see a doctor. It was a Saturday night when I decided to go to the hospital. Having a good friend here in Thailand, I was able to get a ride to Thai Nakarin Hospital. Thai Nakarin Hospital is quite large and they have an international section. Depending on what language you speak you get a liaison to lead you through the hospital and filling out any needed paperwork. Thai Nakarin hospital is split up into different divisions. After you meet with the liaison for in processing they will then take you to the correct division of the hospital for you.

A Hospital With Specialists!

Each of the divisions of Thai Nakarin Hospital contains specialists for that field of medicine. There are no “General Practitioners”. In my case I went to the Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat specialists. When you get to the division of the hospital a team of medical staff will take your vitals. Once they have your blood pressure temperature weight etc. you sit down and wait for the Doctor. Depending on time of day you may wait longer. In my case the wait was only 15 minutes.

The Doctor Speaks English

Once I got into the doctors office I was relieved to learn that he spoke English. After greeting me he checked my ears and make the diagnosis of an ear infection. He took the time to explain to me how to take care of the issue and wrote me a proper prescription. I booked a follow up appointment for two weeks after my initial visit to the hospital.

To The Pharmacy, Another Division Of Thai Nakarin Hospital

When the examination was complete I was then able to make my way to the pharmacy. Thai Nakarin Hospital has a pharmacy right there on site just steps away from the hospital divisions. When you arrive at the pharmacy they automatically know what prescriptions to get for you. Once they have the prescriptions you pay for your doctors visit. In my case the doctors visit cost ฿2100 Baht.

Follow Up Visit

When I came back for my follow up visit two weeks later it was much of the same expedient, pretty well organized service. In Thailand you do not get a set appointment time you get an appointment range. In my case I was able to arrive anytime between 1 PM and 7 PM on Saturday afternoon. I got to the hospital at approximately 3 PM and my wait was only 10 to 15 minutes. The doctor quickly check my ears again and gave me instructions on continuing self-care. He also wrote me an extra prescription to have on hand in case I started experiencing problems in the future. I made my way to the pharmacy and cashier. This time for the prescription it was ฿1252 Baht. You have to admit that’s not too bad for a doctors visit!

Thai Nakarin Hospital Food Is No Joke

Making my way out of the hospital I noticed a delicious looking croissant sandwich go by. I decided I couldn’t hold back and went searching for the source. There was this great little booth there with a wide variety of sandwiches cakes and coffee’s. I did get the croissant sandwich along with the delicious slice of cake. Not only a great hospital visit but a lovely lunch as well.

5 Things To Expect At A Thai Hospital

So in short the top five things that you can expect from visiting a Thai hospital.
1.) If you are in the city chances are if the hospital will have a translator.
2.) Inner city Thai hospitals have divisions of specialists rather than general practitioners.
3.) Thai hospitals have prescription counters located in the hospital.
4.) Thai hospitals in the city have much of the same modern equipment that you find in the United States.
5.) Chances are you’ll find a delicious lunch!

If you take away nothing else from this article and video know that you will have outstanding hospital visits and medical treatment in Thailand. For some the medical care here in Thailand will be better than you receive in America. Rejoice and retire easy!

Traveler Related

Travel Tips

How To Get Through Any Airport Faster

Be ready.That really is the secret to getting through any airport faster. On my travels it has become clear to ...

Cambodia Travel Tips

Travel Advisory – What’s With Cambodian Money Scams?

I'm am on my 4th trip to Cambodia and over this short period of time, about 4 years, a lot ...

How To Get A 60 Day Tourist Visa To Thailand

November 1, 2017Daily Videos, Visa Talk60, Application, Cost, Day, Documents, How To, Information, Paperwork, Pre, Process, Thailand, Tourist, Travel, VisaWorldTripper

Getting a 60 day tourist visa to Thailand is much easier than you may think. That is why I thought it important to outline the steps on How To Get A 60 Day Tourist Visa To Thailand. If you are in any major city in the United States chances are there is a Royal Thai Consulate near you. To get your 60 day tourist visa to Thailand will require you to pay a visit to the Royal Thai Consulate. There is an application form that you must fill out and bring in with you. You must also bring some information about yourself, of which, I will outline in this article.

First you will need to download the PDF application form and fill it out.

I recommend using black or blue ink only and print very clearly in all capital letters. Do not complete the form in cursive script. Also do not write fast and sloppy. The person who will review your application form may deny you if it looks like you have rushed through completing the form.

Royal Thai Consulate Visa Forms

Chicago: http://www.thaiconsulatechicago.org/images/Visa_Form_2015.pdf

Los Angeles: http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/uploads/Fillable_Visa_Application.pdf

New York: http://www.thaicgny.com/%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AD-%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A4%E0%B8%A9-english-version/visa-service/visa-applicatform/

Miami: http://www.ibuildwebs.com/thaiconsulate/Thailand-Visa-Application.pdf

If none of these Royal Thai Consulate locations are near you simply search:
[insert your city or state] thai consulate visa

How To Get A 60 Day Tourist Visa To Thailand Application Form Example — This is what the basic application form looks like for a visa to Thailand.

Second you will need to passport style photos.

When you get your passport photos wear an all black shirt. Wearing a suit and tie is also acceptable. It is not a good idea to wear a loudly colored shirt when you go to take your passport photos. There are many places to get passport photos professionally taken and in many cases it only takes 10 to 15 minutes. Most Walgreens drugstore or CVS drugstore locations have passport photo equipment. Some local for photographers may also have the correct equipment to take passport photos. Going to a professional photographer can be a great idea as well because they can Photoshop a shirt in any color and make it look like you are wearing it.

Third. You will need to take screenshots of your bank account.

When you take screenshots you will need to have the date and the total available balance visible. You will need to show that you have more than $700 US available to you. Print the screenshots and submit them with your application form.

Fourth. You will need to get a cashiers check or a money order for the total application fee.

Upon the writing of this article the fee was US$40 but it may have changed so double check. The Royal Thai consulate will not except cash for the 60 day visa application fee.

Fifth. You will need to make photo copies in color of your passport and your drivers license.

You will need to submit these with your application. Be sure to print them in color and use a high-quality printer so that they are easily readable. If they are not readable to the person reviewing your application your application will be denied.

Sixth. You will need to show that you have a flight to Thailand and leaving Thailand.

Your arrival flight can not be more than 30 days from the time of application submission. Your departure flight can be up to six months from your arrival or more, however you must show a departure flight from Thailand.

Seventh. Make your plan to visit the Royal Thai Consulate.

I would suggest planning on arriving at the consulate in the morning as soon as they open to avoid a line. Most Royal Thai Consulate offices break for lunch in the middle of the day. This means that you will have to be at the office either before or after lunch. Be sure to double check the lunch break for your Royal Thai Consulate office.

Also. There are TONS of Thai holidays as well as American holidays. The Royal Thai Consulate observes BOTH American and Thai holidays. Make sure the day you plan on visiting they will be open!

Here are two places to check holiday schedules.
A list of Thai Holidays that will effect Royal Thai Consulate Visa Issuing Services:
https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/thailand/index.php
U.S. Holidays with also effect Royal Thai Consulate Visa Issuing Services:
https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/usa/index.php

Eighth. I have at least $10 in cash with you when you go.

The Royal Thai Consulate personnel may offer to mail your visa to you at your home. This is a great option if you have to travel from a rural location to a major city to apply for your visa. Visa application fees must be paid in a cashiers check. Mailing fees for the 60 day tourist visa must be paid in cash. If you choose to take the option and have your visa mailed to you they will send it via USPS priority mail with a tracking number. Be sure to retain your tracking number so that you can monitor your packages progress through the mail.

Ninth. When you receive your visa check it over and make sure that all of the dates are correct.

Do not assume that no mistakes were made during your approval process. The staff at any Royal Thai Consulate is very competent and very trustworthy however humans make mistakes sometimes. Always double check your dates!

Tenth. When you arrive in Thailand be sure to have your passport open to the page with your 60 day visa.

This is the most important. You have to be sure that you alert the immigration official that you already have a 60 day visa. If you do not do this the immigration officials will assume that you are getting a 30 day tourist visa on arrival. I am not sure what happens if you get a double visa and I don’t want to find out. Neither should you. Be sure to show the official your 60 day visa.

Now You Know How To Get A 60 Day Tourist Visa To Thailand

So those are the steps on How To Get A 60 Day Tourist Visa To Thailand. It is not very difficult to do at all. Getting a 60 day visa only requires you to have the correct paperwork. The Thai people love tourists visiting their country. They will welcome you with open arms but only ask that you respect their land while you are enjoying yourself. Have fun on your 60 day visit to Thailand!

Traveler Related

Travel Tips

How To Get Through Any Airport Faster

Be ready.That really is the secret to getting through any airport faster. On my travels it has become clear to ...

Cambodia Travel Tips

Travel Advisory – What’s With Cambodian Money Scams?

I'm am on my 4th trip to Cambodia and over this short period of time, about 4 years, a lot ...

Sen Me Moo Tune

October 31, 2017Daily Videos, FoodBeef, Broth, Chicken, Fast, Healthy, MaMa, Noodle, Pork, Ramen, Simple, Soup, Street Food, ThailandWorldTripper

Living in America you definitely do have exposure to Thai food. However one dish that I had never had before was Sen Me Moo Tune. Sen Me Moo Tune was one of the first street food carts that I tried when I moved to Chomlathep.

A Friendly Introduction

I have to be honest and say that I am thankful to my friend for introducing me to Sen Me Moo Tune. She took me to the street food cart and explained to me what all of the different noodles were, and the options that are available. With many Thai food street carts you do not have this opportunity. Many of the carts that you visit will only have signs that are written in Thai language. This makes it extra tough for foreigners to be able to order food from street carts in Thailand.

What’s In The Name Sen Me Moo Tune?

Let me give you a breakdown of Sen Me Moo Tun.
Sen Me – That’s the type of noodle. It’s very thin similar to angel hair pasta.
Moo – Pork. Actually that is the Thai name for pig.
Tune – That’s the soup or broth type.

In this article I have used the phonetic spelling incorrectly. Correct would be Sen Mii Mu Tun. For English speakers using the incorrect phonetic spelling will force you to speak the words correctly. Tun can be confused and pronounced Ton. Mii can be confused and pronounced My.

Tune Variations

Pork Sen Me Moo Tune is my favorite however they do have Sen Me Moo Tune with chicken (Gah) or beef (Nua). I suggest you try them all and decide which one you like the best. Mixed in with the Sen Me Moo Tun are various kinds of greens. When you order they bring you a small basket of even more greens, beans sprouts, morning glory stems and basil leaves. As with any Thai restaurant you have the basic table side condiments. Red pepper flakes, fish sauce, salt and pepper.

My Favorite Meals

The Sen Me Moo Tune cart is one of my “go to” places. I eat there around 5 to 6 times per week sometimes eating two bowls. Sen Me Moo Tune is just that delicious! Sen Me Moo Tune suits me well also because it is not too spicy. Some dishes like the papaya salad are usually a little bit too spicy for me. Sen Me Moo Tun is also better than your standard Ramen noodles. Sen Me noodles are much healthier alternative. At the price of 40 baht per bowl it is definitely a better choice than MaMa Ramen noodles.

One Clean Cart!

The vendor makes the Tune fresh every day. He also keeps the cart and all of the dishes very very clean and I really like that. He is very friendly and understands that I do not speak Thai very well. He makes it very easy for me to order partly because I order the same thing every time. However he always smiles and asks me to make sure.

So there you have it Sen Me Moo Tune! You just learned a new Thai food dish that you can order whenever you see gatherings of the street carts. Just ask them the word “Tune?” and they will point you to the right cart.

Traveler Related

Travel Tips

How To Get Through Any Airport Faster

Be ready.That really is the secret to getting through any airport faster. On my travels it has become clear to ...

Cambodia Travel Tips

Travel Advisory – What’s With Cambodian Money Scams?

I'm am on my 4th trip to Cambodia and over this short period of time, about 4 years, a lot ...

Getting Prescription Glasses In Thailand

October 30, 2017Daily Videos, Medical, Dental and VisionCorrective, Exam, Eye, Glasses, Glaucoma, Lenses, Optometrist, Prescription, Test, Testing, Thai, ThailandWorldTripper

Moving to Thailand came with many considerations. One of them being getting prescription glasses in Thailand. This is what prompted me to make this blog post about where and how to get prescription glasses in Thailand.

For me, not having my glasses is not an option. I wouldn’t say that I’m legally blind without my glasses, but everything is definitely very very fuzzy. The lenses in my glasses are also very thick at the outside edges. Without the new modern lightweight style lenses in my glasses tend to be very heavy on my nose as well. If you wear corrective glasses then you to understand that I have a pair of glasses weighing on your nose all day can sometimes lead to breathing problems and even headaches.

Glasses Pre Or Post Move To Thailand?

Realizing that I needed glasses pretty quickly I shopped around for new glasses in the United States before I left for Thailand. As I shopped around to different optometrists I realize that even with my insurance glasses were still going to be a few hundred dollars. Knowing that I could use that few extra hundred dollars other places with the upcoming move to Thailand I opted to take a gamble and try and get new glasses when I arrived. I am happy that I did take that risk. Buying glasses in Thailand turned out to be much more cost-effective. To get an ultra light weight frame along with lightweight prescription lenses was 2500 baht. That equates to about $75 US.

No Brand Needed

While these frames are not a designer name brand, they are just as high quality as any glasses that I have purchased in the past with designer labels. If you are reading this I’m assuming that you wear vision corrective glasses and you know full well of the grossly overpriced designer frames that you find it at any optometrist. As people who wear glasses we all understand that it only takes maybe two dollars worth of material to manufacture eyeglass frames. The question is where does all the rest of that profit go? But that is another topic entirely.

An Optometrist In A Market?!

Turns out there was an optometrist in a local market by my house. In his little stall he has all of the same state of the art equipment that you would find at any optometrist in the United States. The tiny booth boasts about 400 different styles of eyeglass frames. Included in the 2500 Baht price is the eye exam. All of the testing is done right there on site to gather your correct prescription. Once the optometrist has your prescription he then fits the glasses right there on the spot. He marks the correct location of your pupil to ensure that the prescription lenses will be installed properly. Once he has all of the measurements complete he then sends the frames that you chose to the lab. There is a 24 hour turnaround time to have your lenses fully installed. The next evening you can go back to the market and pick up your glasses. Upon pickup the optometrist checks the measurements one last time and does some additional test to be sure that the prescription is correct.

So Now You See …

In closing I have to say that I am impressed. The same service I have been paying hundreds of dollars for in America is available at a local market in Thailand. At a fraction of the price!! All of the same equipment and care was used in making my prescription glasses. The quality of the frames is better than I expected especially with them being lightweight. this is just one more reason why you shouldn’t fear packing up your stuff and moving to Thailand.

Traveler Related

Travel Tips

How To Get Through Any Airport Faster

Be ready.That really is the secret to getting through any airport faster. On my travels it has become clear to ...

Cambodia Travel Tips

Travel Advisory – What’s With Cambodian Money Scams?

I'm am on my 4th trip to Cambodia and over this short period of time, about 4 years, a lot ...

Thailand Cars And Trucks Use Alternative Fuel

October 29, 2017Daily VideosAlternative, Carbon, Cars, Diesel, Differences, Emission, Environment, Friendly, Fuel, Gas, Reduction, Thailand, Transportation, Trucks, UseWorldTripper

This is the first of my daily videos. The fact that Thailand Cars and Trucks Use Alternative Fuel blew me away. Coming from the United States where almost everything runs on gasoline or diesel fuel seeing cars running on compressed natural gas and liquid propane gas was an eye opener.

I thought back to my time in the States and tried to think of where Americans were using alternative fuels like LPG and NPG. The only vehicles that came to mind were the busses in Phoenix and forklifts. For the life of me I can’t remember ever seeing a fuel station that offered compressed natural gas or liquid propane gas either. I find that kind of sad that with the millions of vehicles on the road and all the complaints about carbon emissions from cars we aren’t promoting different fuels like NPG and LPG.

Common Misconceptions About LPG and NPG

Now you might think that converting your car to use LPG or NPG is difficult or expensive but neither of those are true. Another common misconception is that your car or truck will no longer be able to use gasoline. Truth is you still use gasoline to start the vehicle and bring it up to temperature. You also have the option to turn off the LPG (liquid propane gas) or CPG/NPG (compressed natural gas) at any time and strictly use gasoline.

Why Thailand Cars and Trucks Use Alternative Fuel

Almost unanimously when I asked Thai people Why Thailand Cars and Trucks Use Alternative Fuel the response is the cost of gasoline. Gasoline here in Thailand is sold by the litre and there are approximately 4 litres per gallon. At an average of 26 Baht per litre that equates to over $3.00 USD per gallon. At an average tank taking 11 gallons that is approximately 1,144 Baht (About $35.00 USD) Compare that with the cost to fill up with NPG or LPG at approximately 150 Baht (approximately $4.50 USD) which will take you the same approximately 400 kilometers. So to go the same distance in your car would you rather pay $35 USD or $4.50 USD?

What Are The Performance Implications?

NPG and LPG performance is slightly less than running gasoline. Most notable, “Get Up And Go” power is reduced slightly. If you are a Racecar Johnny you may have a problem with that.
On the other hand, Driving highway speeds you won’t notice a difference. LPG or NPG make long trips easier. The reserve tank stores an extra 3-400 kilometers of travel. Less time getting gas, more time on the road.

Given these points it is easy to see that NPG and LPG are the way to go. You get the best of both worlds. You still have powerful gasoline when you need it and money saving LPG or NPG in reserve. Conversion kits are available for your car but finding LPG or NPG near you might take some work. I promise it’s worth it!