delgarcon

Isn't it amazing how we have been decrying the value of the Europa Cup, but look at it now. For Rafa Benitez it's an enormous prize. He's conducted himself with dignity in the face of the taunts of Chelsea "fans" and done the job that he was paid to do and I really want him to win that trophy tonight, not for Chelsea, but for him! Fairytale stuff! Come on Rafa!

Saturday I had a bit of a scare and was taken by speedboat from Koh Phangan to Bangkok Hospital Koh Samui. I'd had difficulty breathing during the night and was examined by the local doctor in KP hospital. My ECG panicked him I think, hence the speedboat (which incidently is just not equipped for emergencies). Anyway after another ECG in BH hospital they decided they wanted to keep me overnight but told me that there would be no cardiologist in Koh Samui before Tuesday. They gave me an estimate of 60000 to 68000 baht for staying the night under care, asking me to pay 80% up front, which I wasn't prepared to do (they got 21000 out of me for the speedboat and ambulance ride etc). When I asked the administrative nurse why they ripped off foreigners in such a way she just smiled and suggested that I went to the government hospital, so I got in a taxi and did just that. They looked after me well and the next day (Sunday) I went back home as I was feeling much better. Today, Monday I flew to Bangkok Hospital, Bangkok to see a cardiologist, who charged me 700 baht for an ECG and consultation. He didn't try to keep me in hospital and put my mind at rest with an explanation of what the problem is.

Don't agree, I stayed at the Amari last week. Staff unhelpful, lift broken had to walk for 10 mins to find my room etc etc. The bed was comfortable but I'll find something else when I go back to BKK next week.

Booking.com great for booking hotels btw

post cancelled

I agree with Michaeljohn, transfer the sterling from your uk bank and let your Thai bank convert to baht. You'll pay around £20 in uk charges and get a good rate here and whats more your money will be secure. I'm not so sure how well some of the private fx companies are regulated.

One of the problems associated with providing legitimate transport is the cost of maintaining a good and safe service. I had a transport company in France for a while and the rules and regulations were almost prohibitive, but necessary. Vehicles were rigorously checked every year, bus drivers go nowhere without a tachometer, every driver has to have an annual medical and paperwork is checked regularly at random.

BUT, young Felix and many thousands like him come here looking for a cheap holiday and cheap transport, you've only got to read the forums! Do they ask the bus driver where the seat belts are, do they notice the tyres? As jalansanitwong says, they're here on an adventure, what's a couple of bald tyres between friends?

As long as there is no properly controlled legislation to stop these operators, they will continue their practice and carry on killing tourists.

If you want to avoid the dangers, get a plane or a ferry.

Very sad for Mrs Robinson, but suing the bus company is not going to make one iota of difference to the public transport system in Thailand!

I like points 1, 2 and 3, particularly 3. This would indeed make winning more important.

So rijit, you're a Man U shareholder, you've just gone out and bought a couple of thousand shares and then old Michel comes along and says "attends un moment! C'est qui ce petit club Northampton Town et oui, Watford United. I sink I'm going to elp them with a leetle of yout dosh" Allez, don moi 300! We redistribute comme ca 100 pour Northampton, 100 pour Watford et 100 pour moi, Steff et Blatt! Ne t'inquiete pas, je te laisse 1700!

I don't think so, do you?

Nobody's ever going to watch the also rans ,doesn't matter what sport we're talking about, people want to see the cream. There's always going to be a place for the minnows as there is at home with the lower divisions, but the attendances say it all don't they. I think I like the current format for the Champions league mjj, I'm not mad on sudden death elimination, it's tough on everybody and not really fair imo, especially when you've got a tosser for a ref!

Just for your interest all of you, Bangkok Hospital Koh Samui has
very limited resources, equipment and specialist personnel and there are
many circumstances where you should not advise people to go there. It's
irresponsible of you and as I have found out can be a waste of time and
money, as well as delaying essential treatment.
Please stick to what you know and answer the questions being asked of you.
Thanks smokie, at least I've got an idea now

Candypants, Poor Sucker, get a life! Can't you work it out I HAVE TO SEE A CERTAIN SPECIALIST and I'll give you 3 guesses where this person is (and it's not Samui ok) Now I have about an hour to make a decision and I'd be grateful for some help on here please. Thanks

Tony

Thanks smokie

So I was going to have to overnight anyway, so the next question is what time would my appointment have to finish the next day to get the Lomprayah back or am I looking at 2 nights?

I don't know what ever possessed me to settle in KP!

According to the Lomprayah website the 7.15 ferry arrives Phuket 14.00. I would like to know what time I could expect to be at the Bangkok Hospital in Phuket please! I thought that somebody on here may know.

I'm thinking of doing this with Lomprayah. What time could I safely make an appointment please?

I would resign.

The man's a dinosaur and has been resisting essential goal line technology for years. Arbitrators are not infallible and should have all of the technical help they can get.

Yes very good Sheryl, Thank you for stating the obvious, I think I'd worked that out.

The object of my post was to try and help a few people, not to look for more unqualified opinions.

I know that there's much been said about this hospital and I would like to relate my experiences of last week. First of all I had been wrongly diagnosed with conjunctivitis at the emergency centre at the traffic lights in Thong Sala here in Koh Phangan (I went there as I was in agony with a head and eye ache on the left side and nurofen had no effect) They gave me some other pain killers and antibiotics and suggested I go to Bangkok Hospital in Bantai if I was no better. I did so that evening as I was still in pain. They told me that the pain killers were not strong enough (tell me something I didn't know) and also changed the antibiotics and suggested I went to see the opthamologist at B.H. hospital Koh Samui, which I did 3 days layer as I couldn't see out of my left eye.

During an extensive examination of both eyes, which took the best part of 2 hours, the young Doctor told me to forget about conjunctivitis, he was pretty sure that I had the much more serious condition of Uveitis and that it had to be treated aggressively with anti inflammatories and steroids etc and that in his opinion I should go to Bangkok, where they had more equipment and I might add, more experienced doctors. To his credit, he spent a lot of time with me and asked me to go back at 6pm when he would have results of a blood test that I was given (and as he told me later, have time to speak to his "professor")

I was given a total bill for the consultation, blood test and medication of a little under 6000 baht, compared to the 3000 baht that I had wasted with the charlatans of Koh Phangan. The doctor asked me to go back 2 days later to see how I was progressing and also to have a CT scan to check for tumors. Happily no tumor and my eye pressure was down to a more normal 16 from 24. Unfortunately I still can't see more than a blur out of my left eye and I have an appointment in Bangkok on Wednesday. I'll keep you posted. Anyway, cost for the Saturday consultation and CT scan, around 8500 baht.

So the lessons to be learned, which is why I'm telling you this story, are as follows:

1) Don't waste your time with the THAI INTER MEDICAL Clinic in Thong Sala, unless you have a heart attack or stroke on their doorstep!

2) The Bangkok hospital in Bantai have very limited equipment, but I would guess they can patch you up if you fall off of your bike etc. If you need a specialist, they will probably tell you to go to Samui, as they did me.

3) COST, which seems to be an issue in Samui. When I arrived at the hospital reception, there was a guy quite rightly (from what he claims) kicking up a fuss because having gone there and had a blood pressure test and his heart listened to by a doc with a stethoscope, he was kept in overnight only to be given the all clear in the morning and a bill for 50000 baht, in stark contrast to my experience. Having witnessed this, however, I asked the price of my blood test and scan beforehand. Which is the best advice I can give you. ASK HOW MUCH IT WILL COST (if you're conscious of course. If you're not, don't ask when you wake up iy may kill you)

4} Try to ascertain the quality and experience of the specialist you choose, probably the most difficult and most important choice you have to make.

Anyway, good health to all of you and just remember, too much of it may make you go blind!

Cheers

Del

I know that I don't have to leave for 2 months, but I am thinking of doing so and wanted to make sure that this wouldn't complicate the issue.

Thanks lopburi

So if I decide to leave Thailand for a couple of months in early July, I should be able to get a new visa to allow me to come back?

I have just acquired a non immigrant single entry B visa which will expire on the 9th July. I want to apply for a retirement extention, but I wont have the necessary 800000 baht on my account before the end of May.

My question is, what is my next step?

Thanks

Tony

I'm living on Koh Phangan, anybody help please?

Thanks lopburi

So if I use the ticket to KL on the 9th, that I've already paid for, will they let me back in on the 11th without a new visa?