Mekong Bob

Why go thru Bangkok? You can take Korean Air straight out of Chiang Mai to Seoul and connect thru that wonderful airport and totally avoid Swampy. Unfortunately, Korean doesn't serve Philly, but other airlines out of Seoul do. This is especially good if the senior citizen will be using wheelchair service, which is highly recommended. There's no charge and the passenger gets priority service thru the check-in, security and immigration lines.

We flew Korean Air from CNX two years ago - quite pleasant!

Today, same round-trip flight is $500 more expensive.

senior citizen will fly from CNX to PHL in mid-June, return mid-July.

Note that United Airlines and Thai International flights are "operated by All Nippon Airways". What's this all about?

Anyone flown this route lately? Please recommend airline and/or local travel agent.

successfully scored an I-Pad Air 2 (64GB) at Siam TV this week, after a long 2-month wait.

In Chiang Mai, I've been using Slingbox (from Philadelphia) for 4-5 years now.

Will the real dory please stand up?

Food for thought.

pretty much spot on except the white snapper description.

i buy them here from our local fisher for 200THB a kg and they are from the sea...

red snapper is 150THB a kg...

but es described above Cod is the best...

The Brits favor Atlantic Cod and Atlantic Haddock for fish and chips.

Rimping in Chiang Mai has nice (frozen) Atlantic Cod. Grouper (pla kao) is good - firm and flakey.

Avoid the dreaded Mekong catfish (aka "Dory" aka Pangasius" aka "Panga") at all cost!!!

Catfish is no Dory as Pangasius is no fresh water fish by definition.

Point is the responsability of the company breading the fish as is done with salmon e.g.

Food and environment make the difference when it comes to good taste.

Gasp, many go for the lowest price and many have no taste.

In Thailand, "Dory" is "Pangasius Dory" is "Mekong catfish". It's farmed primarily in Mekong River Delta in Vietnam. It's a freshwater fish.

Dory is widely available (frozen fillets) in Makro Hang Dong and elsewhere. Yes, it's white fish, it's cheap, and tasteless. It is not a "firm and flakey" texture.

HugoCNX, please tell us it ain't so.

pretty much spot on except the white snapper description.

i buy them here from our local fisher for 200THB a kg and they are from the sea...

red snapper is 150THB a kg...

but es described above Cod is the best...

The Brits favor Atlantic Cod and Atlantic Haddock for fish and chips.

Rimping in Chiang Mai has nice (frozen) Atlantic Cod. Grouper (pla kao) is good - firm and flakey.

Avoid the dreaded Mekong catfish (aka "Dory" aka Pangasius" aka "Panga") at all cost!!!

What was your issue with Pangasius ?

Really? Please research this topic in Google. You'll see a video on Panga fish farms in Vietnam. You'll see reference to a Bangkok Post article of a few years ago on the mis-named "Dory" fish in Thailand, etc.

What could be more important than what you eat?

pretty much spot on except the white snapper description.

i buy them here from our local fisher for 200THB a kg and they are from the sea...

red snapper is 150THB a kg...

but es described above Cod is the best...

The Brits favor Atlantic Cod and Atlantic Haddock for fish and chips.

Rimping in Chiang Mai has nice (frozen) Atlantic Cod. Grouper (pla kao) is good - firm and flakey.

Avoid the dreaded Mekong catfish (aka "Dory" aka Pangasius" aka "Panga") at all cost!!!

Did you try talking with iStudio again or is their failure to call you a fatal error?

going in to town tomorrow.

exploring other options.

Anyone purchased this I-Pad in Chiang Mai lately?

The sales people at I-Studio (Chiang Mai Airport Plaza) and Siam TV told me in December that the Air 2s are unavailable in Chiang Mai, but that they will let me know when more tablets arrive. That was 7 weeks ago. No calls.

If you can recommend a local store, please advise. Not interested in online purchase. Thank you.

I believe the US Consulate does not use the term "notary" to describe its service for American citizens.

Instead, it's an "affidavit." This distinction may, or may not, be relevant in this discussion.

Try reading these studies before the continual slating of Herb Usage:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25165780

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23642948

In my friend's situation, no Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) but rather elevated PSA levels and a biopsy which determined cancer cells in prostate and high Gleason scores.

He tried this herbal remedy. PSA dropped from 8 to zero in a month. Scheduled for another biopsy this month. Immediate question is if the herbals somehow "de-activated" the malignant cells, or simply shut down the Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) production. PSA is a substance produced by the prostate gland.

Quote: "elevated PSA levels and a biopsy which determined cancer cells in prostate and high Gleason scores".

That would be the worrying thing for me because as a few folk have said, PSA scores can vary, however cancer cells being present and a high Gleason score is pretty conclusive. The Gleason score will be used to "measure" just how far the cancer is advanced/spread.

Having said that, if it is in its early stages, then there are some effective treatments out there and this website details a few of them; http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-treating-radiation-therapy

If it were me in this situation, and I would not be considering any herbal treatments or remedies, however would be seeking the best treatment available as practised by registered medical facilities.

These days treatments have come a long way and now for example, there is a computerised machine called "da Vinci" which allows surgeons to remove the prostate without damaging surrounding nerves and tissue, which was the major issue for prostate removal a few years ago, resulting in incontinence and erection problems. It may be available here in Thailand, if not it will surely be available in many first world countries.

Also the use of hormones in conjunction with other therapies is proving very successful.

I wish your friend good luck with his fight against this.

Thank you xylophone.

My friend is about to begin radiation treatment for his prostate cancer. I am interested in his recent experience with Thai herbal remedies, PSA, and effect on the existing cancer cells. Some Thai friends suggest that the herbal remedy may have halted the PSA production and rendered the malignant cells inactive. A biopsy might answer that matter/ I remain skeptical.

I had a radical prostatectomy a couple of years ago. daVinci robotic procedure. highly recommended. now available in Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

Mekong Bob,

"If you know the herb / veggie / flower / fruit by another name (e.g. Kam Mueang), please spell in Thai and I can validate."

Do you mean you would validate the herb's usefullness?

I can try to determine precise spelling in Thai and English, scientific name, common names, photo, etc.

Sorry for confusion

Try reading these studies before the continual slating of Herb Usage:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25165780

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23642948

In my friend's situation, no Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) but rather elevated PSA levels and a biopsy which determined cancer cells in prostate and high Gleason scores.

He tried this herbal remedy. PSA dropped from 8 to zero in a month. Scheduled for another biopsy this month. Immediate question is if the herbals somehow "de-activated" the malignant cells, or simply shut down the Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) production. PSA is a substance produced by the prostate gland.

I have no idea about Thai remedies - probably the usual Thai Grandma concoctions - may as well drink a glass of water.

Personally I use Saw Palmetto available through www.puritan.com ... For me, never a problem since i started taking it regularly. Just Google Saw Palmetto and you can read the research for yourself.

They deliver to Thailand at a fraction of the cost of what I would pay in Australia. but that's just for a simple enlarged prostate - cancer is another ballgame completely.

what do you mean "no problem"? Did you ever have high PSA in your blood tests? Ever have a biopsy? Please explain how these two measurements have been effected by the Saw Palmetto.

Here's one more I left out:

น้ำทับทิมน (nam thap-thim) pomegranate juice

probably the most successful remedy to induce gout that there is.

induce gout - really? never heard that before. I was aware of shellfish, beer, organ meats, etc. that brought on gout flares.

I have suffered from gout until elevated uric acid levels until six months ago. Tried alkaline water (Rimping has Iceland Spring water. ph 8.8%.) Drink 2-3 liters per day. No flares in six months.

I have a friend who recently treated PSA 8+ with these Thai herbs, mixed in a witch's brew. I was extremely skeptical. After 1 month of drinking this concoction, je was tested at PSA 0.04. I have no idea if the cancer cells in his prostate are still active - he's going to have another biopsy this month.

The PSA score has apparently dropped to zero, but that doesn't mean the cancer is gone. What does it all mean?

Go figure.

Khao Tong leaf compound is readily available in Chiang Mai in capsule form.

Here's one more I left out:

น้ำทับทิมน (nam thap-thim) pomegranate juice

Interested in learning from experiences of local men who are treating prostate condition with Thai herbal remedies.

Which herbs?

น้ำใบย่านาง (nam bai ya nang) Ya Nang leaf

น้ำข้าว (nam khao) boiled rice water

ต้มใบทุเรยนน้ำ (bai thurian nam) Durian leaf

ใบผักคาวตอง (bai phak khao tong) Khao Tong leaf

If you know the herb / veggie / flower / fruit by another name (e.g. Kam Mueang), please spell in Thai and I can validate.

Thanks!

correct spelling (using standard RIT romanization) is Ban Mueang Khong

just dined at Enorme on New Year's Eve. Food not up to par. Would not recommend.

I was USG employee in Chiang Mai at the time, covered by US insurance and round-trip airfare. Opted for daVinci in Pennsylvania.

After a urologist evaluated my elevated PSA, he ordered a biopsy. After evaluating biopsy, he discussed treatment options. Of course, one of the options was the "wait and see" approach, involving an endless series of biopsies.

I chose the daVinci robotic surgery method. Dunno about bangmai's friend (above), but it worked out very well for me.

PSA blood tests and a biopsy should be your first steps. Consultations should follow.

How do you get a biopsy of the prostate done, without first consulting a surgeon?

I should have said - consultations regarding evaluating the results of biopsy (Gleason scores, etc.), treatment options, etc.

Sure, at urologist office, you'll need to discuss your concerns, PSA scores, and the urologist will then surely recommend a biopsy before discussing treatment options.