jimrothstein

72 minutes (1:12 hours), 160 THB - hotel front door Sutthisan/MRT/Ratchada to AirAsia gate at DMK (Thursday, August 1, leave ~ 5 am, at gate 6:12 am)

Rough Breakout:

13 min - taxi, 160 THB (speeding, multiple lane crossings; light but not zero traffic)

0:06 seconds - walk: taxi to AirAsia checkin area, international terminal, DMK

10 min (wasted - playing with Air Asia check-in kiosk, until realized this is mobile phone checkin - I had printed my Boarding Pass)

1 min - walk past Air Asia luggage/check-in (long lines!)

35 min - immigration (long lines, including several Chinese tour groups)

6 min - pay overstay (6 hours!), 500 THB

2 min - security -walk through - no line at all

5 min - walk to departure gate

Comments;

-hotel arranged taxi (fixed, no meter) and thought early arrival better

-For next time, just walk directly to Immigration - didn't need any AirAsia stamp on Boarding Pass

-since so early, at gate tried to talk my way on to earlier AirAsia flight; of course this failed.

At most airports up to 24 hours of overstay is waived.

Just a fresh data point - August 1, 2013

Charged 500 Baht for one day overstay (~6 hours, actually) and stamped/noted in passport; tourist visa, US passport, at DMK.

Thanks Lakegeneve:

Apologies - I am 7 min walk to MRT/Sutthisan/Ratchada and you are correct: option 1 price should be ~39 THB (22 + 17), but I have MRT month pass.

Still not sure if option 1 ( MRT/bus) is too tight, but will do option 2 (taxi) and post times later as data point.

Yeah, a separate thread on airport travel times/options would be very nice.

8:35 am, Thursday, Air Asia international flight (DMK to KUL)

-no luggage, have boarding pass, BUT

-1 day overstay (~ 8 hours) on Tourist Visa, US passport

Curious what you think of my travel options: (both leaving hotel at Sutthisan at 5:45 am)

Option #1 (~ 17 THB) - MRT/bus

-Leave hotel 5:45 am, take first MRT (6:00 am), then #510 or #29 Bus

-Estimate Arrival: 7:15 am (departure - 1:20 hours)

Option #2 (~150 THB) - Taxi

-Leave hotel 5:45 am, take taxi

-Estimate Arrival: 6:30 am (departure - 2:00 hours)

I did do a trial run of MRT/bus, but not at 6:00 am (this will be first flight from DMK).

Thanks for any thoughts.

Thank you Sheryl.

I take Diovan (generic: VALSARTAN), made by Novartis.

Diovan is now off patent and so I am looking for generic version here in Thailand.

Anyone have any experience with finding generic Diovan ?

I found this post from 2010, regarding VALATAN, made by Silom Medical.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/379166-blood-pressure-medication/#entry3729863

I have looked around but only find non-generic Diovan; one pharmacist checked MIMS guide and said 'not available' in Thailand.

Thanks.

I too am looking for gym (will be in BKK for about 1 month)

Here are results of some hotel visits I did yesterday (May 5)

Marriott (Suk)

Of course, pretty nice, long hours : 5200 THB/month; 1800 THB/week; 650 THB/visit

Dynasty Grand Hotel (between Soi 4/Soi 6) - told me for guests only

Pathumwan Princess Hotel: Olympic (MBK Center, Siam Center): 4500 THB/month; 642 THB/visit

I also visited a few fitness clubs, with variable membership

Crush Fitness (Silom)

Chuck Hatch (Silom)

California Wow (Esplanade - just closed?!)

Fitness First (Rama 9, Terminal 21 + many others) - online free 3-day pass; 14-day "jump start"; otherwise mostly 5+ month memberships

I use Concept2 rowing machine, which cuts down the choices.

Trolly:

I'm also a fan of oatmeal (with nuts, seeds, fruits, etc.) for morning breakfast. Recently, however, I read some criticism of oatmeal because the grain lacks enough insoluble fiber ( even if milling process leaves enough of original ynutrition)

I will try to recall reference (a book about glycemic load, this one?), but I believe the author-doctor's argument went something like this:

insoluble fiber delays absorption long enough so all kinds of interesting (i.e. good) biological, chemical - even bacterial - processes can take place. Will try to locate reference.

Bottom line, I started to add things like wheat bran (insoluable) to morning oatmeal mix, but I believe doctor just wasn't so keen on oatmeal for its (comparative) lack of insoluble fiber, despite all of its other positive values.

Anyone heard of this? Whatever you think of oatmeal, I found his ideas about fiber types and digestion compelling.

Hi, it would help if you tell me where you are in Thailand

I am in Bangkok (near MRT, Sutthisan).

Just fyi, so far, I've found these Concept2 rowers (problem is finding affordable SINGLE month or short-term membership)

Concept2 Model D or Model E:

-Fitness First (2 @Rama 9, 1@ Terminal 21), good condition (just needs a bit more cleaning tools)

-California Wow (2@ Esplanade), needs cleaning, battery, chain

Older models (model C?)

-Crush (2@ Silom)

-Chuck Hatch (1@ Silom)

Very interesting thread!

I am slow poke compared to you guys;

Best time is around 2:21/500 m, but I enjoy concept2 for general health (including mental). My typical workout is ~30-52 minutes (8k or so for latter), couple of times each week. I vary my stroke rate between 14 and 24, try to focus on form - make each stroke count. Yes, slow, but it meets my goals.

I am visitor to bangkok (see doc; not for beer).

Was hoping someone might suggest a local gym or two where I can get 1 MONTH membership.

I've visited a few of the chain gyms and found either NO single month membership, OR the concept2 equipment is in poor shape or old that it is a bit of turnoff.

Still glad to see rowing community here!

Thanks.

jim

Three years ago I had colics whilst in Bangkok and got a kidney stone removed at the Saint Louis Hospital with an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for THB 50,000. In and out within 24 hours.

Thanks for the thoughts. I have had 11 ESWL treatments here in Bangkok; stone smaller, but still there and treatment should not be delayed.

Doctor wants to proceed to (minimally) invasive procedures, with possible substantial price tag (I am self-pay; returning to US not an option for me). I am slowly finding my way around BKK, looking for other options.

(Expensive 1 week ' vacation'!)

I'm looking for suggestions on Thai hospitals/expectations, not sure if best to post ....

For the past 6+ weeks I have been in Bangkok for generally good - but not perfect - out-patient treatments at Bumrungrad (BRR) for a 'stubborn' kidney stone lodged mid-ureter. The stone was found at BRR by CT scan. (I have no pain.)

My urologist now wants to use more invasive procedure which involve either 1-night or 5-night in the hospital, depending on exact procedure, which will be determined while I am under anesthesia. Although there is nothing medically very unusual about my case, I do need to make a decision and proceed. Cost is a concern. Waiting it out is not option. I also have a second stone that the doctor says 'we deal with later.'

[/b]expected to stay one week (now 6+) - 2nd visa expiring, hotel bills, blah, blah]

Some individuals at BRR have gone out of their way to help, but the hospital is NOT set up for price-sensitive patients caught in a bind. BRR's incomplete, ala carte estimate for next step (in case of 5-night stay) exceeds the Total Dr/hospital bill to date: 237,000 THB (including a colonoscopy). It has also been irritating to get basic information about basic clinical experiences/best practices (and costs) to make a truly informed decision. (Google is not always the best way!)

My question is whether I can receive similar care elsewhere in Bangkok or in Thailand, but for significantly lower cost.

Or is there a way to approach BRR (whom?).

Or, bite the bullet, just 'trust' the doctor, pay whatever they want ... and just get it over with?

Ideally, I like a bit more comprehensive approach (not ala carte) to my kidney stone issues AND associated living costs & issues for the minimum 3 weeks or more I must remain. (Maybe BKK is not the best place.)

Thanks for any thoughts.

Jim