This trip report covers two trips to Thailand. I was in Bangkok from October 18, 2005 to November 16, during which time I went to Pattaya for just two nights, with Blumpy and Denny_27 (great guys, I was sorry I didn’t get to hang with them more). I returned to Bangkok for two days in January 2006, then went to Pattaya for five days before returning home. My time in Thailand in 2006 was shorter than I would have liked because it was at the end of a 7-week trip where I spent more time than originally envisioned in AC and Jakarta, and could not bump forward my return.

As on past trips, I met a bunch of Hombres along the way, and enjoyed my time with all of them (except one weirdo I met briefly outside Angelwitch, who was older and seemed unhappy; I think I saw somewhere on the board that he was reputed to have HIV). My time with too many of the guys was all too brief; some were leaving by the time we hooked up, others preferred to be busy with pooying.

The format is different from past reports, and is primarily a means to post photos and describe a couple of venues. It’s not a blow-by-blow, or a dairy account. So it is not a complete record of my activities.

I went to Bangkok for a month ostensibly to get physical therapy on my shoulders, which are painful as a consequence of osteoarthritis, at world-famous Bumrungrad Hospital (thanks to Wallstreet for putting it on my map). I had expected the doctor to have me come in to Bumrungrad Hospital on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so I could go to Pattaya and Samui on weekends. But I was sentenced to therapy every single day, and followed the doc’s orders (my shoulders improved significantly, although not permanently).

Bumrungrad provided excellent treatment and medical advice, at a fraction of the cost I would have paid at home. I also visited the dental clinic, and completed some dental work started in Brasil, at a very reasonable cost (~25% of US rates, I think). I recommend it highly. They are very efficient and seem knowledgeable. When I saw my orthopedist in LA, he charged me $200 for a 10-minute session where he did nothing but observe that my right shoulder was in bad shape. The orthopedist at Bumrungrad cost 500 baht for a 40-minute consultation where I actually learned a lot about my conditions. The physical therapy doctor (an MD) cost 800 for a half-hour, including once a cortisone shot, and once a novel technique of muscle stimulation with acupuncture-like needles.

I've got nothing but good things to say about Bumrungrad as well, I also had physical therapy on my knee and was surprised that the sent in a full doc; they also did the acupuncture thing which seemed to really help for a couple of months. I may need to get back there b/c of some persistent knee probls. made worse by ignoring my docs advise to "stay off the knee"
:-)