SamSanuk

Khun Jai Dee Mah!

At 9am I took an hour walk through the shops and streets of Nimmenhaimen. Perfect cool morning. Blue skies with white clouds. I take advantage of these mornings before, you know, cough cough season. What was so lovely was little to no traffic. No GRAB drivers whizzing by. It was almost Surreal how quiet it was. In an alternative universe Nimmen would be closed to traffic, basically a walking street. Why Sunday so quiet I asked at my hotel front desk? My friendly receptionist said “I am busy. Maybe everyone is still sleeping.” 😆 Also, as typical with Nimmen, shops were in transition. I’m always amazed how quickly shops close, and within a few weeks, transition into something else. A Durian restaurant closed. Nice Yellow building and property. And soon to open…an Italian Bistro. Paint over the Yellow Duran motif to Blue, new furniture and minor changes inside, a new paving for parking. I must have counted ten new shops soon to open as I took my stroll. So I happily suggest early Sunday Mornings for a Nimmenhaimen walk. Take advantage of the weather and sleeping GRAB drivers.

This pickup recently was pretty cheap but tariffs may be involved.

Free suggestion: on YouTube there are chanting videos, usually listed under “Om Namah Shivaya”. Find one you like and just listen to it. Maybe chant along if the mood hits you. In time, you will drift off with the music into a natural meditative experience. Easy. The phrase means I see and honor the divine within me. Hindu. But really doesn’t matter. It’s the sound waves that calm your mind, allowing that peaceful part of you deep inside to resonate. Must keep with it. Make it a daily habit.

Here in CM, just sent a letter last week, documents, no problem. Already arrived in USA.

A few points: -Never said ChatGPT is the end-all of advice. However it does have value, especially with medical issues, of possibly pointing one in a helpful direction. One should do their own research. -The fact that Boston P. doesn’t mention vaccines shouldn’t preclude someone from emailing and asking questions. For all you know, they may have suggestions on vaccine availability. Same goes for MediClinic, who will helpfully answer questions even if they can’t particularly offer the service. -Your comments on Bangkok Hospital were frankly useless to the original poster. I’m sure I can find countless others with positive experiences at BH. And if they offer the vaccine….it’s a simple shot, not a complicated medical procedure. -And finally, as to your “collective stupidity” comment, AI is still in many ways a nascent technology but no question paradigm shifting. Your comments may say more about you than this remarkable tech.

May I suggest ChatGPT is your friend? I plugged in the available options and got following advice on availability. Bangkok Hospital may be your ticket. Expensive. Boston Health. No prices. Chiang Mai Medical Health Clinic. I happen to get Flu vaccines from CM MediClinic, just North of Maya. They also respond quickly to emails.

Quick story: the hotel reservation girl had a Thai teacher boyfriend who needed help with an English exam. He taught physical education. Sure I said. One day she shows up with her phone which has English questions on it, as the boyfriend was screen capturing, while taking the exam. Oh well, said I would help. Didn’t realize this was the way. Long story short….He passed. But, never again from my part.

Is it possible to post a picture of the unit? I’m thinking of making the journey to Fascino on Suthep Road this week.

Preferably locally here in Chiang Mai but will consider Lazada. Omron seems to be the one available in most retail shops (Maya) Is there a medical supply store in town? Any advice would be appreciated.

It’s my understanding that the letters are not sent out every year, as I also receive one around this time but haven’t yet. I guess as long as the monthly payments roll in, all is well.

I didn’t go, simply because I’m currently getting SS and have no problems. So far. If I do have one gripe, it’s hard for me to take advantage of the online services, because I tried my password to no avail. To get a new password, I need an American phone number, which I no longer have. So outside of the dreaded “I’m still Alive” letter of confirmation, I pray to the financial Gods to keep the moolah coming.

Small addendum from my friend who owns a CM weed shop. He did mention that the current law changes are forcing many weed shops to close simply because they don’t have a license to sell weed. Even the big boys in town may have cut corners. As for his shop, he already has a Thai doctor lined up and will have to do some renovations in the shop, setting up a separate room for consultations. Probably add “clinic” to the name of the shop. As for medical fees he’s not awfully concerned, and may split the cost with the customer.

I don’t think it is, as I spoke to a friend this morning who owns a weed shop, he seemed to say that it’s very doubtful the information would leave Thailand. However, depending on where you are from, it could be a risk one is not willing to take. After all, my weed friend said it is a controlled substance.

I rarely smoke, but when I do, I partake with a very weak sativa strain that is hard to find these days. So when I pass by a weed shop, I stop in briefly to see if they carry this strain. This time, I was in a Santitham neighborhood. A nicely dressed young couple was inside looking to finish up a purchase. By their English they seemed to be Eastern European. The young man had a $1000 baht bill out and on the counter were a few small plastic bags of weed. All seemed well, they looked happy with their purchase, when the seller brought out a single sheet of paper, explaining in broken English they needed to show their passport, fill in their names, passport number and sign the document. The couple paused, said a few words to each other in their language, then said that sadly they couldn’t consent to the purchase. I spoke up and said that Thailand is changing its recreational weed laws, and this is part of the new process. The young lady turned to me, and very nicely said that weed is illegal in her country, and they couldn’t take the risk of this purchase showing up on their passport upon returning home. They apologized to the seller and left the shop. Now, imagine this happening all across Thailand, and the chilling effect is very much there. I’m American and could care less what Uncle Sam thinks about my purchase of weed in Thailand. But for others from countries that frown on weed with repressive laws? It might be too much a risk. And so it goes.