my friend I

We are back home in the north of Thailand so cannot get to the hospital - still no email from them. We came back here in case we need to prepare things to go to get treatment.

The test may have been sent elsewhere, possibly Bangkok but thats not far, for them.

It's not far but whenver specimens are sent to another facility the risk of lost specimen or lost result (which can happen even within the hospital) automatically doubles. In addition, if BPH was not the place that would perfrom the test then their estimate of the time required may have been off as it would depend upon workload at the receiving lab among other things.

You need to get someone to verify (1) that the specimen arrived at whatever lab was going to do the test. (2) if so, whether the test has been done or not. (3) if arrived and done, what happened to the report of the results and, if necessary, have a copy of the original report resent by fax.

That is going to require some calling around to determine. The person who would actually make such calls would usually be the nurse in charge so try to talk to her on the phone directly. She is not the person who would see your incoming emails and as mentioned emails are not usually a very good way to communicate with Thai hospitals. They are read by clerks who at most call another clerk who checks your file -- which, as we already know, does not contain the results.

You need to get the matter in the hands of someone who can make the needed phone calls to track down what has occurred.

If you continue to not get satidfaction then I would call the doctor in charge, but he is not going to have the time to track this down, the most he is going to do is ask the head nurse to see to it, which is why I would start with her to begin with.

Has anyone had a delay in receiving test results from BPH?. We have been waiting for more than a week after the date given,despite repeated phone calls & emails.

What type of test was this? I'm just wondering if it would be something they had to send to be perfromed elsewhere, which might cause delays beyond their control. (It would also, unfortunately, increase the possibility of a lost specimen or lost lab report).

If you are in the Pattaya area I suggest you go in person and speak directly to the head nurse of the relevant department. If that is not possible then your best recourse is by phone but be sure to get through to the head nusre of that departament, don't talk to anyone else. have your hospital number handy, stress that the rersults were supposed to have been available a week ago, and ask that she verify withj the lab that the specimen was received and the test either perfromed or in process.

Hospitals (and for that matter, businesses) in Thailand are notoriuosly poor in responding to emails, at least emails in English.

The main thing one worries about is that they may just be telling you "not ready yet" when in fact the specimen or results have been lost. -- which does happen, all the more so if the test is being conducted somewhere else. Hence you need someone to check for you and verify that if the test was actually done and, if so, obtain a copy of the results. Otherwise they may just look for the results, not see any and keep saying "not yet"....

We are back home in the north of Thailand so cannot get to the hospital - still no email from them. We came back here in case we need to prepare things to go to get treatment.

The test may have been sent elsewhere, possibly Bangkok but thats not far, for them.

Has anyone had a delay in receiving test results from BPH?. We have been waiting for more than a week after the date given,despite repeated phone calls & emails.

We used to go to the Sperm a bit but there got to be too much violence. That whole street gets nasty late at night. My friends now go to hotel bars - we don't go anywhere.

Sombat bus co 2 5159600 They have 1 bus to Mae Sai with some beds underneath. Also 1 to Chiang Rai with beds plus other normal buses . Leave about 7.00 7.30 8.00 pm

Plenty other buses. No problem on a Thursday for seats.

Interesting reading in The River of Lost Footsteps by Thant Myint-U

The timetables on the 'net show only the main long distance trains. If u can get to a train station, ask for a paper timetable. Its in Thai language. It has all trains, local etc.

You need a train to Phun Phin station which is about 10 miles west of Surat.

There are rooms , airside, at changi. Start from $S40 for 6 hours. Can get extra hours. Plenty of food available. & wifi

There are rooms , airside, at changi. Start from $S40 for 6 hours. Can get extra hours. Plenty of food available.

As it is their first train and on behalf of train aficionados world-wide, I extend to Laos a very hearty,

"Welcome to the 19th Century!"

This is not Laos first train

Not all the border posts are open to foreigners

Huai Xai opposite Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai has visa on arrival

can check in 3 hours before a flight with airasia[bKK - SIN]

If Tai Orathai was missing it would be front page news. Wish she was at my place!!

Krungthong Hotel has been recently upgraded & the rooms are much better than those shown in the fotos above. The bathrooms are spotless.

There is a restaurant there & a "turkey bath"

A few blocks away is a nice big park with exercise equipment, basketball court, jogging track & foot massage. The sign says food massage..

Close to the hotel are plenty of food places & a group of net cafes at 10 baht per hour.

This area is fairly close to the river

Lots of people speak English. Even in small food shops. Much more than in the north. Some people speak vietnamese but not Thai.

Its easy to go to Laos at Chong Mek to get a new visa.

Does anyone have any information concerning construction of the new bridge from Chiang Khong to Laos or the roads that would lead to the bridge.

Thanks.

Don

My wife has a sister that lives in a small town called Tha Li and the bridge is near there. It is about an hours drive west of Chiang Khan. If this is the bridge you are talking about she says it is open now. To get there you would go up Isaan highway 201 towards the Cities of Loei (and Chaing Khan) but the shortest route would be to turn left or west on highway 2115 a bit north of the city of Loei (don't go all the way to Chiang Khan unless you want to visit there for some reason). Follow 2115 straight through the town of Ta Li and a few minutes further you will come to the bridge. It connects to Laos major highway number 1 on the other side.

This Is LOEI province

there are 2 different bus routes from CK to CR. T he bus that goes via Thoeng takes at least 1 hour longer. The more direct bus takes 2 hours.

bus leaves about every hour. last bus is about 6pm

Budget rent a car in CR next to AUA . There is a place to stay next door

If u want to go on your own [ easy to do ] you will get a normal 3 month stamp.

What passports get you a 3 month chop? I thought most were only 30/14 days?

I am always given a 90 day visit pass. The stamp says Subject to Reg. 12[7] Immigration Regulations.

Last visit was November 07. I have a "farang passport"

I'm guessing u r a shackledragger - u should be getting that visa.

If anyone have info about Chiang Saen, hotels, restaurants, shops, etc, and also what kind of transport which are available from Chiang Rai Airport to Chiang Saen district would I be very grateful.

Thanks & Regards

Chiang Saen hotels

CS River Hill phone 650826-9

CS Lake Hill Resort 650599

Rujira Resort 650369

Golden Land 651100

guest houses

JS House 777060

CS Guesthouse

Siam gh

plus some other dumps

If u go from airport to hiway, cross road to head north, wait no more than 20 minutes for a green bus with Chiang Saen written on windscreen. About 40 miles. A taxi might take u from the airport direct.

There are shops & restaurants there but nothing special.

Tourist Inn next to Jed Yod Temple south side.Doubt they have tv in rooms as its a cheap guesthouse.

UBC is now True vision you need True sports 4 [ channel 64]

Tourist Inn have it in the lobby area - may be a problem if someone wants to watch something else. Good apple pies there at about 5pm.

After about 20 hours of almost non stop rain , this morning from across the paddock..... a fire. They should put fire starting in as a sport in the S.E.Asian games.

First post says a week - in Angeles

If you are at Changhi, go to one of the tourist info desks. They can line you up with a city tour etc. There is no need to go thru immigration with this option.

If u want to go on your own [ easy to do ] you will get a normal 3 month stamp.Plenty of info on places to go in the airport.

There is a left luggage place in the basement.

I feel like I'm fixing to die rag - COUNTRY jOE mC dONALD

Thanks for all the input. I have found out there is a springworks in Phrae - but noone knows the address. That trip will be if I get desperate.