MrBrad

14 hours ago, Haljabra said:

When I was at McCormick, they Quoted me from 20,000 to 25,000. 

Either go with what Haljabra said, or call them yourself.  In 2019 it cost me 16,040 ฿.

Over the years, I've had a couple colonoscopies at McCormick.  All was done adequately and painlessly.

Last Thursday I sent my passport with application and bank drafts to the U. S. Embassy in Bangkok.  EMS got it there on Friday. 

Not knowing whom to make the drafts payable to, I checked online and found one .gov site that instructed renewals to be made payable to the U. S. Department of State.  That sounded pretty good to me.  Today, however, I received an email from the Embassy saying that they cannot accept the bank drafts (1 in the amount of 4680฿ for the new passport, and 100฿ for the return postage): "We cannot accept bank drafts with incorrect payee name."  "IMPORTANT: Please check for errors on the issued bank draft prior to leaving the bank.  Correct Draft

1. Draft only ( Cashier’s cheque , Manager’s cheque, Personal cheque etc. are not acceptable by the system )
2. Payee “AMERICAN EMBASSY BANGKOK”
3. Do not type or write anything else on the bank draft.

Your incorrect bank draft will be returned with your new passport in order to issue a refund with the bank.

Send your completed application package ONLY through the following couriers (Thailand Post and DHL), otherwise the package will be rejected; ensuring that you received a tracking number from the courier."

As expected, the bank asked me for my passport in order to issue new drafts.  I explained that it was in Bangkok.  This really could have been a game stopper, but fortunately, they accepted my driver's license as adequate ID.  They also said they'd refund the payments for the original drafts when I present them.

So tomorrow I will send the corrected drafts.  To be continued . . .

I don't know if this place is still in business, but there are a couple of phone numbers listed on the link.  Maybe you will find someone there who sharpens knives, and does it well, rather than grinding away and not knowing what they're doing.

Edit: The street view shows a water company.  There is a purse icon which says "knife."  Click on that for details about the (former) knife shop.

https://goo.gl/maps/qpVr9JNUC53o4cgd6

10 hours ago, captainjackS said:

i take stuff to this shop in the small alley behind Miguel's restaurant. 
httpins://maps.app.goo.gl/6rqVcwJz6A3FWz147

At the intersection, they have an incorrectly spelled sign that says "Dying -->"

That is the very same place that I suggested in the post above yours.

Dyes are readily available in a multitude of colors at any sewing notions shops.  "Goon" is located just outside Warorot Market.  There's another shop across the street from Goon.

https://goo.gl/maps/LBqKASqhyQDyYW1r5

Here's a shop that dyes clothing for you:  ย้อมผ้า /yawm pa/ means dye cloth.  I know that they dye the dark blue shirts that traditional farmers wear.  Be cautious of the bleeding of the dye onto other articles of clothing during the first few washings, however.  The colors are not colorfast, and they continue to wash out in the laundry.

https://goo.gl/maps/7TLBWdxdpkTjJC1V7

For scent-free laundry detergent, I use Amway's SA8 Premium.  Say what you will about Amway (or not), it's an excellent product.  Used as directed, with three loads of wash weekly, a 1-kg box will last me for 7 months; I've done the math.  It's not cheap at 600฿, but it works.  And, except for a very faint hint of fragrance, it's totally scent-free after the rinse cycle.

As for softness of towels, since the Amway detergent rinses totally, there's no detergent or soap residue remaining on the fabric to cause coarseness.

One doesn't have to be an Amway distributor or even attempt to find one in order to buy the product.  Stop at the distribution center and ask anyone there if they'll take your order.  It's located south of town on the north side of Highway 1141, just west of the railway overpass.

https://goo.gl/maps/5gZADzrxeNhuHfRA6

12 hours ago, mikey88 said:

Can you comment on your age and what company you are with….and do they guarantee to cover you for life…?

To answer your questions, I'm 72. The company is Medical Administrators International (AMI) based in France.  AAI insurance brokers here are the sales agents.  And, no, there's no coverage for life (unless I die soon).  Coverage for me ends on December 31 in the year that I turn 75.

"Self-insure" means "I have no insurance; I will be responsible for the hospital bill myself."

That sounds good if you are either very well off to begin with, or you have been able to stash away money on a regular basis for an unknown but usually long period of time.  I can imagine this scenario:

You've decided to go without insurance, self-insured, from today onward.  Your "insurance account" (if you've actually started one) consists of $0.  ฿0.  In a month or two you will have only a few baht in the account.  But, then, long before you've been able to establish any kind of war chest, the unthinkable happens, and you're hospitalized for a few days or weeks or much longer, incurring an astronomical bill.  Add to that the fact that there was no time or option to put you on a plane back to the U.S. or wherever you came from.

This wasn't in the self-insure/no insurance plan, of course.  I'd rather not pay for any kind of insurance, like all of us, I'm sure,   But my crystal ball is very foggy when it comes to predicting when I'll need to use my medical insurance.  I sleep better knowing that it's there, and hopefully it will pay out when I need it.

23 hours ago, nickmondo said:

how can you have outpatient insurance, yet you used it once for an overnight stay?

that does not make sense

personally, i self insure, i allow 150k a year, and I know that I will pay myself for treatment if needed, unlike a Thai Insurance that will do all it can not to pay

My error.  Yes, I should have written "in-patient".

44 minutes ago, DUNROAMIN said:

Put 100,000B in the bank each year as you age. Thats what you will be throwing away each year to Health insurance.

That's cheap.  I pay almost ฿13,000 monthly for outpatient insurance, and I feel that I'm not overcharged.  The sad--but very fortunate--thing is that I've needed it only once for one night's stay in the past 13 years.  The way I see it, life here is too risky to be without insurance; I'm not a gambler.

On Highway 1006 heading east toward San Kampaeng, shortly after the Highway 121 interchange, there is, or used to be, a knife merchant on the north side of the highway.  I remember reading some good recommendations about his sharpening skills. You might want to check there.

https://goo.gl/maps/12TWKoZovXZRVHgZ9

Thanks for your help, guys. 

I've looked high and low for touch-up paint to repair a chip on my bathtub.  It's a common paint back in the old country, but apparently unheard of in Thailand.  Has anyone seen it here?  (Lazada doesn't have it either.)

22 hours ago, millymoopoo said:

Entry into the park gives you access to the public pool, . . .

If this is true, I've been duped.  I've always had to pay an additional cost to use the large pool.  Anyone else with similar experience?

Though I've not used compression socks, it looks like something that I should look into.

Here's a very, very well presented video on what to look for when purchasing this kind of product.  Don't just grab the cheapest thing you come across; they're not all the same.

20 hours ago, connda said:

I've messed with them telling that I want the puu sung ayuu (old people) price.  Then I challenge their respect for the elderly.  Then I get "the face." Uggh.

ผู้สูงอายุ = "the elderly"

ผู้ = people

สูง = advanced

อายุ = age

In August I got my first injection (Sinovac) and my second (Astra).  Just two days ago I got my booster (Astra) at Nakorn Ping Hospital.  I'd received an email from the U S Embassy saying that boosters would be available this past week at several sites around Chiang Mai.

Two weeks ago I flew Air Asia from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Don Muang and return to Chiang Mai.  There was nothing required concerning covid in either airport--coming or going.

With COVID still around, I can understand the concern about being in packed elevators and crowded waiting rooms.  If you're up to it, the stairway is not crowded.  I've used the steps many times and beaten the elevator easily.  Going down the steps it much easier, of course, so that's definitely an option for most of us who are not wheelchair bound.  That said, there is a bank of service elevators at Sipaht in a short hallway closer to the pharmacy which can very easily accommodate a wheelchair; nobody will complain if you decide to use those elevators.

But if you're really in the market for good service as well as competent doctors, I recommend the dermatology departments (sometimes called the Skin Clinic) at either Ram or Bangkok Hospitals.  Both are quite new and modern, with comfortable waiting areas.  Appointment times are spot-on, as opposed to waiting for what seems like hours at Sipaht. The doctor's fees will run a bit higher than elsewhere, somewhere in the neighborhood of 500-700 baht, but for me, it's worth it.  Considering that one's condition will probably require subsequent visits, the convenience of either Ram or Bangkok Hospital takes much of the worry and agony out of getting a check-up or other follow-up appointment at some of the other places in town.

Ram's clinic is in the newer development about 100 meters south of the main hospital.  There's plenty of parking just steps away from the clinic.  That's another plus.

The clinic at Bangkok Hospital is in a separate building as well.  Just before the entrance to the hospital are a Black Canyon, a 7-11, and an S&P.  Park right there if you can.  The clinic is above these shops.

12 hours ago, arithai12 said:

An alternative is the headquarters of the same organization (NARIT) in CM, near Don Kaew. They have a good-sized telescope and organize proper stargazing events on a regular basis - depending on COVID. Also on site a nice restaurant and planetarium.

Please give directions or GPS coordinates to this place.  Thanks.

As stated earlier, no vaccination info needed.  Just a temperature check plus the entrance fee.