inthepink

These places are asking between 10-15,000 for a two bedroom........ridiculous!!

Do your own leg work and you'll get one for far, far less.

Inspired by this thread and having had no joy at Lanna hospital, Chiang Mai Ram or Thepanya hospital for a urinary problem and pelvic pain that appeared to have nothing to do with my prostate or a UTI, I visited Rajavej Hospital today.

I had the usual weighing in and blood pressure test then sat down to wait to see the doctor. After nearly an hour, I asked the nurses roughly how much longer it might be and how many people were before me in the queue. They told me I was second in the queue but the doctor was not even in the building yet and they were still trying to get hold of him on the phone.

I walked out and drove to McCormick Hospital where I found the service to be first class and the prices very reasonable. The OP may have had a good experience at Rajavej but I won't tolerate being treated like that.

Did you ask for the usual check such as we have been talking about here. Or were you specific requiring a specialist?

Neither. Just a visit to a GP. I specifically didn't want to see a urologist in case my problem was nothing to do with my waterworks (I find specialists can have tunnel vision at times). It's not a comment on the health check up service (I arrived at 11.53 and that clinic closes at noon on a Saturday so I didn't have that option), I just wanted to highlight what I thought was a particularly bad service.

To be honest, I've been very unimpressed with the private hospitals in Chiang Mai since moving up here. They may be cheaper than many in Bangkok but Lanna and Chiang Mai Ram in particular, just don't cut it in terms of general hygiene as far as I'm concerned. I understand they are housed in quite old buildings but if you (or anybody else for that matter) has never been to McCormick, I'd recommend going just to see how it is actually possible to have clean floors and recently painted walls in old buildings. I don't have any affiliation with that hospital, I was just pleasantly surprised after not being able to find a clean hospital or a competent doctor who actually wanted to get off his backside and examine me physically in the last 5 months, Diagnosis from behind a desk is not want I'm used to.

Just a suggestion But have you considered getting a regular GP that you can make an appointment with. That is what I have done. I like to think of myself as being in good health over all for my age but there are a few things I keep my eye on. Good to have just one doctor with all the knowledge. It goes with out saying I trust her. There are several really good GPs here in Chiang Mai. One of the reasons I like mine is I can make an appointment I don't have to go sit in a clinic for who knows how long.

The link you provided says it's only legal if the pregnancy threatens the mother's health. So if it doesn't then it's illegal isn't it?

Thanks but when I try that I get as on the picture and ends up back to Goggle Thailand.

 

 

Are you typing it in the address bar, rather than the search engine settings on Chrome? All I had to do was type www.google.com/ncr in the browser address bar. It goes to google.com and continues to do so until or unless you delete all your cookies (in which case you can just do it again of course).

I think ChiangMaiHouse was the company I used. (If they're in a building at the end of a soi with a cafe a few doors up....Got some fish outside as far as I remember.)

Inspired by this thread and having had no joy at Lanna hospital, Chiang Mai Ram or Thepanya hospital for a urinary problem and pelvic pain that appeared to have nothing to do with my prostate or a UTI, I visited Rajavej Hospital today.

I had the usual weighing in and blood pressure test then sat down to wait to see the doctor. After nearly an hour, I asked the nurses roughly how much longer it might be and how many people were before me in the queue. They told me I was second in the queue but the doctor was not even in the building yet and they were still trying to get hold of him on the phone.

I walked out and drove to McCormick Hospital where I found the service to be first class and the prices very reasonable. The OP may have had a good experience at Rajavej but I won't tolerate being treated like that.

Did you ask for the usual check such as we have been talking about here. Or were you specific requiring a specialist?

Neither. Just a visit to a GP. I specifically didn't want to see a urologist in case my problem was nothing to do with my waterworks (I find specialists can have tunnel vision at times). It's not a comment on the health check up service (I arrived at 11.53 and that clinic closes at noon on a Saturday so I didn't have that option), I just wanted to highlight what I thought was a particularly bad service.

To be honest, I've been very unimpressed with the private hospitals in Chiang Mai since moving up here. They may be cheaper than many in Bangkok but Lanna and Chiang Mai Ram in particular, just don't cut it in terms of general hygiene as far as I'm concerned. I understand they are housed in quite old buildings but if you (or anybody else for that matter) has never been to McCormick, I'd recommend going just to see how it is actually possible to have clean floors and recently painted walls in old buildings. I don't have any affiliation with that hospital, I was just pleasantly surprised after not being able to find a clean hospital or a competent doctor who actually wanted to get off his backside and examine me physically in the last 5 months, Diagnosis from behind a desk is not want I'm used to.

I think he would be better off using informal channels and trying to find a freelance maid or two. I contacted a local cleaning company a couple of days ago and after telling me they didn't offer the service I wanted ( a regular cleaner) tried to persuade me to go for their "deep clean" package at ฿9,500. I could hire a cleaner for a whole month at that price so I naturally declined.

Good show there. A true teacher never quits teaching. I have helped many a folk get started for a life of music. For guitar, the most important thing is a low action and light gauge strings. That first month is what discourages most from overcoming the learning curve and sore uncooperative fingers. Wait until they have formed some hand strength before introducing Barr chords and keep the music fun and lively.

Inspired by this thread and having had no joy at Lanna hospital, Chiang Mai Ram or Thepanya hospital for a urinary problem and pelvic pain that appeared to have nothing to do with my prostate or a UTI, I visited Rajavej Hospital today.

I had the usual weighing in and blood pressure test then sat down to wait to see the doctor. After nearly an hour, I asked the nurses roughly how much longer it might be and how many people were before me in the queue. They told me I was second in the queue but the doctor was not even in the building yet and they were still trying to get hold of him on the phone.

I walked out and drove to McCormick Hospital where I found the service to be first class and the prices very reasonable. The OP may have had a good experience at Rajavej but I won't tolerate being treated like that.

I used to drink Singha but I am fed up of their underhand price increases, i.e. first reducing the alcohol content to 5% and then reducing the size of the bottles by more than they lowered the price (proportionally).

Not really keen on Heineken and I think Chang is rough stuff to be honest. The sort of beer that would be aimed at Tenants Super drinkers in the UK

inthepink; have you actually ever seen the back of the label or have you seen the colour of the excise stamp on the bottle? If you have, you would know that these particular wines are not originating from Australia.

Blue/Green = Import

Red/Orange = Local

Wine made from elderberry's is known as elderberry wine, why is this? Because it's made with elderberries. The same applies to any fruit used, it's name is first, followed by wine... i.e elderberry wine

It's clear you don't understand the difference between fruit wine and wine, so we'll have to agree to disagree but I'll leave you with this website to ponder over...

http://www.oiv.int/oiv/info/endefinitionproduit#wines

You didn't say alcoholic drink made from elderberries, you said, "Wine made from" elderberries, so I think you've already proved that it is common to refer to such products as wine, even if you didn't mean to.

Wine snobs may object but at that price I wouldn't have thought they'd be interested in any case. It's clearly at the lower end of the market so if it's drinkable I don't see what's wrong with it. Misleading marketing campaigns are hardly unusual, in any country. As it clearly states on the label that it is a fruit wine (in English) and mentions the fact that passion fruit is one of the ingredients (in Thai), I don't see a problem either.

Drinking Chang in Big C. It doesn't get any classier than that.

I do agree that wine is traditionally made from grapes, as they are the most suitable fruit for the purpose and were cultivated for that reason throughout history. I just don't see this as some kind of scam. Possibly a little misleading if you object to the presence of passion fruit in your wine.

If you'd be so kind as to answer the question, if wine - by your definition - does not need to be 100% grape product, why is it then referred to as Fruit Wine?

And the point you're not getting is Fruit Wine should not be marketed as Wine.

That particular product is referred to as fruit wine because it originates from Australia, which is a member of the all knowing WWTG. The term wine has been commonly used in the UK for alcoholic beverages made from elderberry, damson and other fruits for many years. I have no knowledge of its use in other countries but I feel no need to change my understanding of the terminology simply because an informal group of johnny-come-lately's to the wine industry decided to adopt certain labelling standards a few years ago.

I am getting the point, I'm just disputing the fact that wine has to be made from grapes. Unless you can find a better authority than the WWTG, I see no need to change my opinion on the matter.

Actually sorry, but I'm going to retract my agreement on the term wine being used only for 100% grape products.

This is the information that I found on-line about the WWTG, who you seem to be placing so much store in. (Using phrases like oenological practices in Article 1 (G) of a document might make it all sound official but they have no authority on this matter)

"The World Wine Trade Group is an informal group of industry representatives from Argentina, Canada, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Mexico and South Africa." (i.e. New World wine countries)

I'm not missing the point and wine does not have to be made from 100% grapes. Where have you read that?

i think the point you are missing is what country we are living in - it's not an English speaking one.

Seriously? Wine does not have to be made from 100% grapes to be called wine? If that's the case, what is the need for these "Fruit Wines" to be called as such? Because it sounds cool?

Article 1 (G) of the "Agreement on Requirements for Wine Labelling" by the World Wine Trade Group states:

“Wine” is a beverage produced by the complete or partial alcoholic fermentation exclusively of fresh grapes, grape must, or products derived from fresh grapes in accordance with oenological practices that are authorised for use under the regulatory mechanisms of the exporting Party and accepted by the importing Party, and

containing not less than 7% and not more than 24% alcohol by volume;"

OK fair enough, I'll concede that point (although the OED does say that the word wine can be used in a wider sense to apply to fermented beverages made from other fruits. And I could ask why a trade organisation that has only been around for about 15 years to the best of my knowledge, should be accepted as the leading authority on English language usage, so there's no need for the sarcastic smiley). ...but the wine trade agrees on that definition so we'll go with that. Which leaves us with the fact that it is clearly labelled as a fruit wine - that's acceptable to the World Wine Trade Group no?

And I still disagree with your complaint about the language used on the label - I don't believe that Thai producers / manufacturers / retailers are obliged to list ingredients in English.

The wine originates from Australia, of course the majority of the label is in English.

Re. my Spanish example, some of the label would be in Spanish if it were not made purely for export. Change the example to French if you like, then we can assume that most of the label would be in French. My point is, it is exported to Thailand, where the official language is Thai, not English. Why are they obliged to translate everything?

Re. marketing it as wine, that's what it is.

Sorry inthepink the wine does not originate from Australia, it's manufactured here in Thailand.

Your label example is still missing the point...

As for marketing it as wine; no it is not wine, it is fruit wine. Wine can only be called wine if it is made from 100% grape content. Anything else is to be called whatever else it is made with and wine can be tapped onto the end e.g Fruit Wine

I'm not missing the point and wine does not have to be made from 100% grapes. Where have you read that?

i think the point you are missing is what country we are living in - it's not an English speaking one.

re

Quick, where is this place! I need to experience it before it's gone, the mythical Soi Cowboy of Chiang Mai!

it was called the peak just past foxy lady on the right until it burnt down in about 06 ?

a hotch potch of about 50 ? bars

gay trannies and straight all mixed together and i had a few wild nights and a lot of fun in there when i first got here

dave2

ps ... the whole area is now a 20 baht an hour dirt car park

Burnt down January 1 2008. About 5 am in the morning. Happy New Years. Had some good times there. BTW Central owns the property. Should of said the climbing wall only burnt down the bar complex was basically untouched the area was on the down side before the fire and the fire to the wall did not help. Central and the leassor of the land ( owner of the climbing wall) were in a court battle guess who won. Eviction notices were put up around September and if memoriy serve me right in December "the turn out the lights party" was held at the The Paradise Bar which relocated and is still ongoing on Loi Khro. The Paradise Bar was the last venue at the The Peak.

I don't think that's a strictly correct version of events. It sounds like your painting Central as the big bad company and the owner of The Peak as the injured party when in fact I believe he stopped paying rent, which is why Central wanted him out (and why they got him out, not because they are an evil corporate bully). All the bars that sublet took Central to court because they'd invested money in the place and wanted somebody to bail them out. That case ran for several years so the land was left unused. The owner of the Peak meanwhile, made a phoenix-like recovery and won some businessman of the year award not so long ago, so I think you may be looking in the wrong direction if you are wishing to apportion blame.

That's all alleged of course.

I'm not but your comments against the post are 100% off.

I think you'll find they are not. Are you claiming that there were no rent arrears?

And I think you were trying to insinuate that Central won purely because of their influence and size, hence your use of the phrase, "guess who won".

The wine originates from Australia, of course the majority of the label is in English.

Re. my Spanish example, some of the label would be in Spanish if it were not made purely for export. Change the example to French if you like, then we can assume that most of the label would be in French. My point is, it is exported to Thailand, where the official language is Thai, not English. Why are they obliged to translate everything?

Re. marketing it as wine, that's what it is.

@ GrantSmith

It's being sold in Thailand. I don't think there'd be a furore if a bottle of Spanish wine that contained passion fruit and was being sold in the UK had that fact clearly stated on the back label in English but not in Spanish.

And to be fair, it does say Fruit Wine, in nice big letters, in English. I have never come across that on a bottle of wine that was made exclusively from grapes, have you?

re

Quick, where is this place! I need to experience it before it's gone, the mythical Soi Cowboy of Chiang Mai!

it was called the peak just past foxy lady on the right until it burnt down in about 06 ?

a hotch potch of about 50 ? bars

gay trannies and straight all mixed together and i had a few wild nights and a lot of fun in there when i first got here

dave2

ps ... the whole area is now a 20 baht an hour dirt car park

Burnt down January 1 2008. About 5 am in the morning. Happy New Years. Had some good times there. BTW Central owns the property. Should of said the climbing wall only burnt down the bar complex was basically untouched the area was on the down side before the fire and the fire to the wall did not help. Central and the leassor of the land ( owner of the climbing wall) were in a court battle guess who won. Eviction notices were put up around September and if memoriy serve me right in December "the turn out the lights party" was held at the The Paradise Bar which relocated and is still ongoing on Loi Khro. The Paradise Bar was the last venue at the The Peak.

I don't think that's a strictly correct version of events. It sounds like your painting Central as the big bad company and the owner of The Peak as the injured party when in fact I believe he stopped paying rent, which is why Central wanted him out (and why they got him out, not because they are an evil corporate bully). All the bars that sublet took Central to court because they'd invested money in the place and wanted somebody to bail them out. That case ran for several years so the land was left unused. The owner of the Peak meanwhile, made a phoenix-like recovery and won some businessman of the year award not so long ago, so I think you may be looking in the wrong direction if you are wishing to apportion blame.

That's all alleged of course.

When I've made electronic transfers the amount has been deducted immediately.

Yes - phone your bank!!

The back label that was posted (for Belville?) says in fairly large Thai letters, "Fruit alcohol that is made from grapes and passion fruit", so I don't see how that particular wine can be considered a scam or 'sneaky'.