hermespan

- The WC is shared down the hall

- It makes flats Din Daeng look luxurious

- The neighbours are questionable characters

- The view is industrial

BUT...

a. It's so cheap you have paid 2 years in advance

b. It's a ten minute walk from BTS

c. 24 hour security (police. cameras, gangsters -you don 't care)

It's just a storage room with a superb steel gate.

I have never geard if any other nation's gov't charging duty on shipping. The idea of duty is trade profectionism. How does financially penalizing a foreign shipping service protect Thai shippers? Has anyone tried contesting this practice? Sounds like a bizarre interpretation by Customs officers of Thai law.

Big FASCINO on Wang Lang even has one you can try out. Snaller one too big and stiff for my knee. And not like the coilds in blanket I remember from the 1960s. Sone sirt if weird quartz - heavy.

small well-stocked busy AC pharmacy on same street (shop # 949 Arun Amarin, fluent boss w/ hairlip) has very same Korean one for 1200.

Still hunting for good value Chinese or European.

Should you feel inspired to give yourself, a loved one (or an enemy) an enema the health food store on the corner of AA and Wang Lang has all the supplies a non anally-retentive hobbyist could possibly want. Killing two birds with one stone the affable proprietor (retired US car mechanic) stocks radiator caps too. Thar she blows!

answeredmy own qestion

Vidhyasom (Health Dept brand?) in glass bottle cheap. Available at first oharmacy I looked near Siriraj.

In Thai 'namun Lahung'

Fascino pharmacy on West entrance of SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL has sane brand and model I mentioned in previous post, for THB1500, plus a jumbo one (40 X 69) for 2500. Also cheap Chinese gel-filled electric ones that look like they might last 2 weeks. THB350. Good selection of ice abd hot water bottles though. Including a mini more suited to my knee fir THB85

No success finding castor oil in Bangkok.You?

Three years ago when I did a lot of research on the subject, Malaysia was the clear winner in good value for medical diagnostics abd treatment , when comparing apples with apples, i.e. brain MRI. w/ contrast in a private hospital, checkup package in mid-level private hospital, TCM consult etc. But I haven't updated my personal research.

Has anyone done the requisitive emailing, visiting etc and come to a conclusion euther way that it is up to date? I don't mean related factors like cost of accommodation (better value in Thailand), whether you like the food, English fluency (Malaysia excels) etc. Just the simple price comparisons.

India is clearly the winner but I am limiting the comparison here to these two neighbouribv countries: Thailand and Malaysia, and not limited to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, but including Chiang Mai, Had Yai, Penang, Melaka etc.

Is one country by far superior or does if depend on specialty?

Knee problems clearly caused by folding bike. Andrew the bike fitter got back to ne quickly that he doesn't fit folding bikes due to their adjustment abd modification limitations.

Since I have between 75 and 125 kilos I think it might be cheaper and simpler to sponsor a friend's trip to Malaysua and split the luggage. In two trips.

I made a duplicate post. I see no delete option so I just erased this one

I spent from 3pm to 10 pm shopping for a more affordable electric pad but failed to find *any*. I gave up and bought what it appears Thais use (and my mother when I was a kid used) - a hot water bottle at Tesco Lotus for THB165. Comfortting to see the design hasn't changed in 50 years.

BTW, as of course things change I am not surprised that the report from 2007 that a poster got one at Bangkok Christian is now not useful. My guess is a visit to a medical supply store will bring results.

Just in case anyone ever finds this topic wanting to know where to find the heating pad... the elusive item was found at "Save Drug" ... the pharmacy in TOPS supermarkets.

What this pister neglected to mention was the orice. I am here now at the pharnacy in Tops Supermarket Chidlom, now called CH PHARMACY. Sure, they have sn electric heating pad. It is from Korea. Size 30 X 45 cm. Brand: Exeter. Price ? THB1700.

No way do working class Thais pay USD52 to use this home remedy for aches and pains. Must look where poor people shop. Must be something ftom China somewhere. I could pick up this item used at Salvation Army in Saskatchewan for $8. And in Vietnam Big C for, I am guessing, about the VND equivalent of THB650 MAX.

One service eliminated...

DHL

Box #9, 541 X 444 X 409 cm of mm? (not stated)

max 25 kilos

to anywhere in Mskaysia. ( mh guess PENINSULAR Malaysia) THB4393

2-3 days

I am looking more along the line of 2-3 weeks for THB 1500

Thank you very nuch for the lead. I neglected to mention a key feature: NOT a surgery specialist! That way he is motivated to recommend non-surgical alternatives (exercises, medication, therapies etc).

Where in the city do you want this "stash house" to be located? I know of a few in the On Nut area that are 1,500-2,000 THB per month ... They get cheaper as you head towards Lad Krabang and the airport. Alternatively, you could use my spare bedroom and give me 1,000. LoL!

Location: Anywhere within 10-15 minute taxi ride from any BTS station

Invite me to send a pm if you are serious re: spare room. We could meet. Various factors to consider

At Bike Zone in Amarin Plaza a service is being offered of two hour bike fittings. I would like to hear from satisfied, dissatisfied and semi-satisfied customers (unless of course everyone loves it hates it - extremely unlikely!) THB2500 struck me as higher than a physician charges but maybe it is worth it? I can't readily see the value in a folding bike fitting however, as options are so limited.

short story: If you own a Brompton there is a very good shop, the closeby general high-end shop I have a distaste for. And here's why...

name : ONE FINE DAY

address: 27/2 lason (La Salle) 23 Sukhumvit

directions: Take 15-20B moto taxi from Bearing BTS

landmark: In same building on same ground floor is Norawadee Spa

building: 3 storey

noticeability: poor, easy to miss unless keep eyes left looking for bicycles

sign: none, unless you count a discreet poster on gate

tel: yes

English fluency: very good

prices: very high

brands:Brompton and another folding bike

contact: Khun Krit

email: yes

closing hour Saturday: 7 pm

welcoming: 9/10

size: small

staff: saw only one, got the impression cashier his wife

manager: Krit?

vibe: rich bicycle enthusiast making his hobby his business

caught my attention: Brompton T bag USD200+!, Bromptonization doo-dads, T-bag

most products from: UK, Netherlands

biggest disappointment: Brompton's price fixing

attitude: friendly, educating me, informed, helpful, realistic. patient

go back?: Absolutely

what would I buy there: Brompton Titanium 1-speed

General: A conversation

............................................

name : Sang Charern

address: no address, seriously! Mgr's wife (?) told me beside 66 Sukhumvit

directions: Walk from BTS

landmark: Udom Suk BTS

building: ?

noticeabity: easy

sign: ?

tel: yed

English fluency: poor

prices: very high

brands: Multiple

contact: ?

email: no

closing hour Saturday: 8 pm

welcoming: 4/10

size: large

staff: four? young guy pleasant and helpful, one guy seemed retarded (literally), mature guy (mgr?) somewhat helpful but he looked at me with hatred when I wrote down price of one item

manager: pleasant and efficient but seemed annoyed that I spent 20 minutes asking questions and looking at stuff without buying.

vibe: business-like, too much so

caught my attention: 16" tire from Indonesia B150; ABUS locks from Germany; very light and flexible resin (?) seat

most products from: Taiwan, Europe, USA, Thailand

biggest disappointment: cold

attitude: after 15 minutes somewhere between dismissive and 'buy something or bugger off'

go back?: If I absolutely have to

what would I buy there: Velo cushioned saddle B300 with 2cm longer rails than usual and springs

General: A store with no soul

Cost of Indian visas fir Canadians is modest - and getting a six month multi entry is easy in Vancouver - unless you might be on of those eternal expats in Industhan (Indian gov't no longer needs nor wants backpackers living in India. But relationships between Canada and Indua gave always been good abd continud to be. All I can suggest is don't apply in Cambodia where a fax to verify your security clearance is obviously padding the Ambassador's retirement fund.

Loppylugs wrote: " just the visas are a problem"

Listen to the voice of experience. He is correct not only in costs but visa situation. If you are outside your citizenship nation visas take over 10 days (security check: Thank you Pakistan). I will add that none of South Asia is as tourist-friendly as SEA. And it doesn't have the obvious er, benefits of Bangkok. But for healthcare you cannot do better.

What I don't understand is why there are (?) no safety standards when it comes to helmets in Thailand. What is the purpose of having and enforcing helmet laws if the quality of popular helmets are not much better than cardboard? To get Thais inti the habit of wearing them ? To give opportunities to police for shakedowns at the expense of thise who ride without helmets? To promote the 'helmet' industry? It's like legislating condom use made of paper bags.

Shall we get back on track?

How different do you think it would be for the reverse route? We explored every other option and they turned out to be expensive. And between Thailand and Malaysia, it's mostly by road than by ship.

Could be so, but not neccessarily. Condider the difference between mailing from Canada to Singapore (expensive) vs. the reverse (cheap).

BTW, I just noticed this post from yesterday DID take, so this is a duplicate post. Moderators might wish to delete/merge. Or is protocol for me to delete this one and leave the one from today in another forum?

I've heard of storage collection and delivery systems before where they collect, store and deliver your goods on demand.

This allows the company to be based somewhere inconvenient (and where warehouse rent is cheap) but they will deliver your items to you when you need them.

With secure lockable storage containers / chests / trunks I'm sure someone could make a good service out of this.

Yes, indeed I did research over a year ago (related in a post) but the price was as much as a cheap apartment and ties me fown for brief windows of opportunity. However the key advantage of such a setvicd is security.

Right now I'm thinking what makes more sense is getting 3-5 bachelor friends on the sane page to share costs.

Maybe there are some other guys out there like me...

You're not enamored with Bangkok, but for 25 years you've been passing through BKK/DMK and you don't see that stopping. You are fed up stashing bags at hotels and guesthouses, stashing bags here and there with friends - you want a SECURE, cheap place to keep all your Asia stuff in this transport/food/nightlife hub. You keep valuables in a safe box, but there is the matter of all your clothes, your bicycle, whatever.

Hmm, rental apartment? You're away 3-6 months at a time and you worry about break-ins and plumbing damage.

Hmm, Storage facilities - not convenient location.

You'd like the stash to be big enough you can have a shower and sleep too. But the goal is NOT to establish roots - just a depot.

You have tried CNX and even PNH, but they are not central for flights connecting East Asia, USA, Europe etc. BANGKOK is the center of your transportation universe even though you dislike the megopolis for more than 10 days.

You have looked at apartments within budget (under THB1500 month) but the doors don't have steel gates. Pattaya? But that defeats Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang access priority. And unfortunately, unlike KLIA1 and KLIA2 they are distant from each other. You spend more time in the city anyway. So you look on the BTS line (too much hassle with security checks on Metro). You might end up in Colombia or Ukraine so you're not big on paying serious money on a stash. In some cases you may be gone for years.

My case was Malaysia to Thailand. Used postal parcel service, had to pack everything by myself, took around 20 days to be door delivered, way cheaper than the private couriers.

This tangent is interesting if irrelevant. I also posted FROM Malaysia, several boxes by air and one by sea. Sea took three months to west coast of Canada. Airmail was all over the place 1-3 weeks.

Shall we get back on track?

THAILAND -> MALAYSIA cheap and reliable, ideally few add on fees and Customs hassles for guy at other end.