Joinaman

4 hours ago, Artisi said:

And many don't go to school with 60 to 100 baht in their pocket, especially those who father might earn 300 / 350 baht day on a building site. 

 

Seems there are many people posting here don't really have a clue of what happens outside of their gilded tower. 

I've taught kids at university who had less than a 100 day for 3 meals, with others supported with a 20/30 day for their lunch courtesy of a fund supported by the lecturers. 

looks like im in the wrong villages then, cos many children spend 40 to 60 baht every day in our shop, and still have money for dinner sessions and drinks, with many spending much more

i know many students in the next village who think 60 baht a day to take to school is not enough , who want minimum of 100 baht

Am i in a gilded tower, living in a village in isaan , where people live in basic houses, yet still drive decent cars and bikes, even though they pay monthly. Am i one who has no clue, , yet see the same children spending every day, while riding their motorbikes to school, 

1 hour ago, Artisi said:

Just as the western view of curing the problems of Thailand is an illusion from the comfort of the bar stool or the gated community  where everything is perfect, along with depriving them of possibly the only transport they have and forcing people further into debt. Granted not everyone fits into this group, but many many do. 

motorbikes are expensive for most families, but bicycles for children are cheap, so no excuse

They have no problems showing face with the latest pick up, or new bike, but then complain about the price of a cheap helmet ?

2 hours ago, Artisi said:

Unfortunately this is Thailand and a vast number DON'T have the money, meaning it will never be collected by what even means they would like to use. 

Then if they cannot, or will not pay, then they lose the bike

im sure they will soon learn to pay up, or obey the laws, just like in any country

As for no money, i have a shop opposite a school, and the children and parents have no problem with spending good money each day, so many are  not short of money

6 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

A lot of the time there is no alternative. I used to walk about 4 miles to school, and the same home every day. I admit it was not as hot as here, but the Government could do a lot more by providing SAFE, RELIABLE, and PLENTIFUL school transport to service villages and outlying areas. We all know it will not happen as it would eat into the local officials Mia Noi budgets to much.

There is of course the education on wearing helmets too. If they Have to ride on the bikes then drum into their heads the need to wear a helmet. Fine the parents a few baht each time, maybe the message will get through...........maybe...........one day.........

bicycles , not an option ?

why do they need expensive and deadly motorbikes to go to school ?

as kids, we used bikes if no busses, 

start showing not just the pulped bodies, but also the permanent disfigurements after accidents, especially on the girls, who pride themselves on their looks  

17 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

There is a financial element to all of this.

Helmet- expensive!

Fine - expensive. The policeman probably did this because none of them had the money for the fine (500 baht - 50 baht for Thais).

Easy to laugh. Walk in their shoes for one day.

maybe they should be made to walk in their shoes if no money

confiscate the bikes till fines paid, hit them where it hurts, then maybe they will learn

Many school children go to school each day with 60 to 100 baht  day spending money , so no excuse 

On 3/3/2021 at 5:28 PM, PJPom said:

Just look at any School at home time, maybe 5% wear helmets and as for the Teachers I have yet to see one, fancy uniforms with medal ribbons, but helmet , no.
Strict enforcement by Police will not happen,  too dangerous , try living in a village where you have fined everybody 500 baht, do you really think they would survive ?.

Education is the only way but I am certain we will all be gone before anyone with the ability to influence the powers that be appears.

usual simple answer, this is Thailand .

it worked in Vietnam  !

ahh yes, the great paramilitaries'

if in doubt, blow it out ! 

On 2/28/2021 at 3:33 PM, pacovl46 said:

I guess it all depends on how much beer you really need. If you sell huge quantities every day then kegs would make sense. If it’s not that much then bottles will be better because beer in bottles can be kept considerably longer than beer kept in kegs that have been opened. 
 

 Also, a case of beer ways a lot less than a 50 liter aluminium keg and is therefore easier to handle. Then there’s the matter of preference. Just because tap beer is common/popular in the west doesn’t mean it has to be popular anywhere else in the world, too. Take carbonated water for example, it’s huge in the west, but extremely unpopular in Thailand. 
 

In regards to the serving issue, there’s no difference whether you have bottles or kegs because beer is sold in specific quantities that apply to both, 0.33 liters, 0.5 liters, 0.625 liters or 1 liters. The effort of serving is the same, but you actually save time with bottles because it’s a lot faster taking the bottle cap off than to fill a glass from keg and in the case of Pilsener you actually save 7 minutes because that’s how long it takes to fill that 0.33 liter glass the right way! 
 

In regards to the cellar, it’s not about getting the beer back up, it’s about getting it down. I’d rather walk 5 times down with a case of beer than down once with a 50 liter keg. 
 

In the end, it’s all a matter of personal preference of the bar owner and your opinion is not the golden standard by which they have to abide. They’ll have their reasons why they choose bottles over kegs. 

 

 

guess you've never seen barrel ramps, or barrel lifts to get beer into cellars

never seen anybody carry any barrels or kegs down into a cellar

but got to agree, im very wary about draft beer now, way too many bad pints got wasted

But drink draft in places like Kiwi bar, who have western managers who know how serve it properly 

2 hours ago, pseudorabies said:

My wife picked up the Rev'it Tornado 2 pants and jacket recently from Panda Rider.  The jacket has a lot of mesh with solid textile where it counts.  Same for the pants. Both flow a lot of air.

 

 

Finding breathable boots for her was the biggest challenge.  Those we should have bought in the states.

looks good

but how are these for sizing

i wear XXXL shirts here Thai sizes, so any idea what size i would need to order ?

would prefer a loose fit, so cooler ?

Thanks

22 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Road accidents are contagious?

It seems to be so

look how many idiots learn from the other idiots out there 

6 minutes ago, robblok said:

But you got hours to complain about it online. While a simple inspection and room quote on paper would have helped you. 

 

Kinda like the hare and the turtle. You do know that story don't you.

 

Anyway I would expect the basics. But your shifting way off your original story where you were angry about a change in room rate not what was in the room. 

 

Anyway if you can't use common sense like getting a quote and things in writing then your a lost cause and ill stop posting.

ahh ok

care to tell me which hospitals would be kind enough to provide you with a Porter and motorised cart and escort you around the hospital looking at rooms, before you agree to pay any money ?

if you read my original post, you will also read that I was talking about the lack of basic facilities in the room, as well as the changing room rate

 The quote I agree on, but unless detailed, means very little on what you will get for the room rate 

2 minutes ago, robblok said:

Your trying to make up stuff to cover up your own incompetence. Stop digging that hole. You should just have gotten the quote on paper and you were done. Now you can make all kind of fictional scenarios up that suit your narrative.

 

By your own admission you now have a quote on paper something you did not do with your first so that in itself shows you were aware you were to blame too.

 

As for your purely fictional scenario, is it that hard to look at a room and see what they are offering ? I don't expect much in government hospitals in private hospitals i expect more. But usually they have more then one kind of room. So looking is always the best way to ensure its all well.

The quote i got was for the treatment, not a room rate

ahh, so you take time to run around inspecting the rooms, while waiting for treatment , that’s good

me, I’m too busy trying to find out why I’m sick and spend my time trying to sort that out, rather than go inspecting rooms

I’m curious which hospital (state) will provide you with a helper to escort you around the various room for inspection, which in itself, could take over an hour to do so?

you don’t expect much, maybe I’m being too fussy expecting extravagant things like, soap, towels, and all the basic things for 3,200 a night

10 hours ago, robblok said:

so now you do the thing I said was the smart thing to do get the price in writing. That was what i said was what you did wrong. Had nothing to do with money just with common sense when dealing with stuff like this.

 

So by your own admittance you understand that it was not smart to not get a price written down before. Hospital was wrong but so were you.

Thanks

so if I get a quote for the room rate, per night, does it include all the facilities.

things like towels, soap, decent bed and pillows, put you up beds for your “helper”, menus for the food, cleaning arrangements, any other things like water, tea or coffee, and then show the quality and size of the room.?

or does it just state how much a. Night they will charge you 

So they can give you a quote, which you find acceptable, then when you are wheeled into your room, you find there are no facilities, no soap, no towels, just a wooden seat and a hard hospital bed with a vanilla cover block for a pillow, cold or if lucky, lukewarm food,  and everything else in poor condition

you have already agreed , as per quote, to pay the nightly fee, so surely, by your reasoning, things like this are acceptable, “because you got a quote on the night rate”

how many people entering hospital, have either the time, or the possibility of getting a detailed quote, then travelling half way round the hospital to view the room , before signing  to agree to the quote ?

6 hours ago, robblok said:

Even in my honest country i get a quote on paper before anything. I find this a bit oversight on your side. If price is that important to you then make sure you get it on paper. 

i guess your a very rich person who does not care about money and allows other people to rip you off while thinking its ok ?

I guess your happy paying 5 star prices, to stay in 1 star rooms, with little or no service ?

Please read the post again. Its about price gouging, about getting ripped off, about dual pricing, and the shoddy service that is provided for this money .

8 hours ago, sandyf said:

Not a question of situation. When procedures have been necessary it has all been discussed with the doctor and an appointment arranged. You then pay the cashier before the procedure is carried out. 

If you are not happy with the price the hospital intends to charge you can go elsewhere.

never paid in advance

all been discussed with doctor, price quoted from cashier, but payment made at end of treatments

In my case, they changed the price by 100% during treatments, 

if this inflated price was quoted prior to getting treatments, as you say, i would have gone elsewhere, which is what i did after the first night .

The treatments i am now having in the private hospital, is again, paid for after each session is completed, not before , although i have the fixed prices in writing this time 

5 hours ago, impulse said:

I'd be jumping for joy at a hospital that only charges $100 USD a night. 

 

Multiply that by 20-50 and you'll get a night in a US hospital.  And that's before the $5 aspirin tablets, $500 blood tests, and pretty much any real treatment.  Canada and the UK are marginally cheaper for treatment outside of the NHS, but nowhere near $100 a night.

 

You're not paying extra.  Thai locals get a subsidy.  Just like residents of my county in Texas get a discount on the rates in the county subsidized hospital.

 

So a quoted  of 1,600 baht a night  for a basic room is subsidised?

I can understand the medicines and treatment being cheaper, but a private room?

as far as I know, the room rates in the U.K. are standard to anybody who wants to pay, no subsidies , only on the treatment costs 

even at 1,600, it’s an overpriced room, when you look at what you actually get for your money, not even soap or hot water, no toilet paper, no towels, no decent pillows, only vying covered blocks, 1 simple sheet type cover on a hard bed, and only a wooden settee for the servant that is required to look after you, while the nurses p,any on their phones 

but at 3,200, that’s 5 star hotel prices, with all the facilities provided in the room

how would you feel if hotels did the same, quote you a Thai price, then make you pay double price when in room ? They both provide a room for you, both have fixed costs and profit margins, yet one is honest and gives good service, while the other is often dishonest and provides very very poor service 

4 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

It seems you weren’t in an emergency situation, so why didn’t you just find somewhere else instead of a place that sounds more like a clip joint than a hospital.

Good idea, but a bit late when your hooked up to drips in a private room when the suddenly tell you about the 100% increase in costs

no,point in leaving the hospital till the next morning, since I’m being charged for the night anyway

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

As much as some seem to  hate this place I question anyone who claims a Doctor or hospital here says to their face "Falang price".  

I have gone to the hospital a few times and possibly charged more but never ever said to my face I pay more because I am Falang.

Whatever, maybe next time record it for evidence until then....

 

 

 

Perhaps I should have had my phone on to record and video the conversation with the gentleman at the state hospital, then I could have posted it for you

although this was not stated to my face, but in Thai, to my Thai lady

do you recommend all farang walk about videoing and recording all conversations while being admitted, and during all treatments ?

not too sure how that would go down with the staff, do you ?

4 hours ago, DavisH said:

Avoid private hospitals if possible. They charge for every band aid and qtip. I usually use government hospitals as my wife is a civil servant so can claim back some costs. 

Just getting the same treatment at the private hospital , and the saving is over 3,000 baht a day, plus much better service

So with the silly farang pricing going on, there is not much difference between the hospital, and usually much better service and rooms in private 

5 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Not meaning to come across condescending, but you are in a foreign country, you can't expect them to subsidise the costs for you, i.e. you are not a tax payer.

 

The fact that you had already organised to be admitted to the hospital is good, however your admin skills a little lacking, i.e. you should have had them print off a total cost for the room, nights required and medicines, I think the hospital could have done this quite easily for you as a preliminary had you asked.

 

I understand you don't have private cover, I do, but only for emergency cover and when I do go into a hospital for treatment, I always ask what the cost is going to be and to have a print out so as to avoid any differences, I also understand that at most times one cannot have a print out unless staying overnight, that said, it isn't to hard to work it out, i.e. it is going to be far cheaper than back in the old country.

 

Put it down to a bad experience, your bad, don't blame the Thai's because if they were in your country they would have to pay farang prices too, i.e. the government wouldn't subsidise them unless they were a PR. 

I agree,  ibut in my country we would be honest and upfront with the true cost, not wait till they start having treatment, then increase the cost by 100%, or do you think that is acceptable

isnt hard to work out the cost ? No it’s not, if they stick to the quoted price, but very difficult to know the price if they suddenly double it without warning !

far cheaper than back in the old country, lost me there, cos in the U.K. it’s free, so can’t get any cheaper than that !

as a Thai would say, you think too much ! Of course they could do it properly, give print outs, quotes, itemised invoices, but you try getting them

8 hours ago, EricTh said:

 

Is this in Sakon Nakhon province? or is it just the name that is similar?

It’s in sakom Nakhon main town, just by the big lake 

8 hours ago, wprime said:

 

This is pretty normal around the world. I go to a hospital in Australia and it's free, my partner does and she pays $300 minimum. Any treatment and that goes into 4-5 figures very quickly.

 

Governments subsidise treatment for local patients. Foreign patients are more likely to skip town to avoid paying the bill so they need to factor this in.

 And how exactly can we ex pats skip without paying ?

they have our passport numbers, our addresses, and most of the time, they almost frogmarch you to the cashiers desk 

how many ex pats actually skip without paying ? 
tourists maybe .

8 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Choose another hospital.

Thanks for that advice. Bit late after they have increase your charges by 100% while your in your room receiving treatment 

but have changed hospitals, now gone private, saving over 3,300 a day 

8 hours ago, EricTh said:

 

6000 baht for one night stay is ridiculous.

 

Even though there is double pricing in all hospitals but some hospitals charge a much lower fee.

 

Can you tell us which hospital is this? so we can avoid in the future.

 

 

 

Sakon Nakhon state hospital, next to the lake