kloudcat

Alliance Francaise Fridays, this month the Kieslowki trilogy which is most recommended

Sangdee Gallery, Nimahemin area, shows since a couple of weeks interesting movies also on Fridays --that's a pity to do it on the same day as the Alliance.

CMU Art Centre, Saturdays shows interesting movies, but your patience might be tested

Curious about that festival in Doi Saket?

Program of Alliance and CMU in all free mags. Find Sangdee on Facebook.

hope this helps

Avoid that "Dr" Taratorn. He couldn't not even diagnose a flu. I had diagnosed myself with a flu or other viral infection, but needed a confirmation from a Dr as I had an intercontinental flight planned for the coming days. All he looked at was lab results, not my symptoms. He sent me away without answering my questions and with a whole list of unnecessary medications --which I refused to buy. He was rude and uncooperative. Next day visited a Dr at Special Clinic at Suan Dok and he diagnosed me immediately with flu.

At another time the same Mr Taratorn gave me the wrong medication. It made me really sick. Two days later another dr got me off it.

I have him blacklisted in my file, never want to have anything to do with that incompetent, money grabbing, rude man. There more like him there. That place seems to attract that kind of drs.

There a few good drs and certainly nurses at the Ram. But there are too many uncaring, money grabbing drs there. They should have become a lawyer or something. The Suan Dok special clinic and even the ICU are excellent --and cost far less. And despite very friendly.

Here is my story:

On 10 December 2006, I went to Chiangmai Ram Hospital, telling the receptionist that I wished to see a medical doctor because I had symptoms of syphilis. She referred me to the Department of Medicine clinic, where I was directed to see Dr. Taratorn Thamprasit. I showed Dr. Taratorn a lesion on my penis, and told him that I was recently exposed sexually to a person who I believed to be infected with syphilis. Dr. Taratorn asked me if the lesion was painful when I urinated; I said that it was not. Then he sent me for an Anti-HIV and VDRL test, the results of which were negative. Dr. Taratorn assured me, based upon the painless nature of the lesion and the negative test results, that I was not infected with syphilis. He identified the lesion as an "abrasion wound", and prescribed a topical antibiotic ointment. I told him, being over 75 years of age, that I was unable to do anything with my penis to cause an abrasion wound. But he was adamant, told me just to put on the ointment, and sent me away.

After leaving the hospital, I did a little research on the NIH and WHO websites, and learned that syphilis lesions are rarely painful; that neither the anti-HIV or the VDRL test is useful for detection of early primary syphilis; that a test of the exudate from the lesion is the only definitive test; and that a patient with symptoms of syphilis should be presumed to be infected and should be treated accordingly.

Even though I doubted the accuracy of the diagnosis of Dr. Taratorn, I applied the ointment for 2 days. The lesion did not improve. I returned to Chiangmai Ram Hospital on 13 December 2006, asking to see a different physician -- one experienced in diseases of the skin. I was referred to Dr. Sathorn Chiewpanich, who I told of my exposure to a suspected infected person . He looked at the lesion, told me that he thought the diagnosis of Dr. Taratorn was correct: that it was merely an "abrasion wound". He told me to continue using the ointment, and to take one 500 mg tablet of Ciprofloxicin to speed up the healing of the wound. Dr. Taratorn asked me to return to see him on 21 December 2006.

I returned to Dr. Taratorn on 21 December 2006, this time bringing a letter from Suan Dock Hospital stating that the person to whom I was exposed was, in fact, infected with syphilis . The lesion was still there. Dr. Taratorn agreed that perhaps I was infected with syphilis; but he said that Chiangmai Ram Hospital did not keep in stock Benzathine Penicillin G, the medicine of choice of both NIH and WHO for treatment of primary syphilis. He suggested that I go to see yet another physician at Chiang Mai Ram.

After having already been sent twice out into the streets by physicians at Chiang Mai Ram, while infected with a deadly and highly transmissible disease, I decided that I had better go elsewhere for treatment. So I declined Dr Taratorn's suggestion for a further run-around at Chiang Mai Ram.

Thereupon, I went directly to Suan Dock (Mararaj) Hospital, where the physician to whom I was referred instantly recognized the lesion on my penis as the symptom of primary syphilis. He immediately ordered treatment with an injection of Benzathine Penicillin G, which of course, cured the infection within a few days.

Subsequently, I wrote a letter to the Managing Director (Dr. Varaphan Unachak), the General Director (Dr. Kitti Radilokpanich), and the Medical Director (Dr. Thawatchai Tansathit) of Chiang Mai Ram, advising them that I believed that the diagnosis and treatment that I received at the Hospital was grossly incompetent, and that it utterly failed to live up to their claims of excellence: "state-of-the-art facilities", "attentive care", "well-trained specialists", "safe professional service", "world-class quality", "promoting their duties ethically and professionally", and the various other boasts of this hospital.

Further, I complained to them that I considered it inexcusable that two of their physicians completely mis-diagnosed a dangerous infectious disease, and then to be unable to treat the disease because a common anti-bacterial agent is not regularly stocked by the Hospital; and for sending a sick and infectuous patient away with assurances that he is well.

The only response to my complaint was a letter from Dr. Varaphan Unachak, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, in which defended the diagnoses of his physicians. He concluded "We apologise for your inconvenience in this matter."

I note that the two physicians who treated me are still on the staff of the hospital, still dispensing their versions of "World-Class Quality".

I will leave it up to you to decide if this was a case of gross medical malpractice, or not.

Just discovered Goenka centres in Thailand open again.

Bit disappointed they did not bother to let me know. Spent many hours trying to find flights, arrange Myanmar visa etc etc

Do not agree that Goenka focusses on "vipassana through pain". Those retreats focus on something entirely different. Sure it's not the easiest meditation retreat around, but that's maybe why it is more effective for some.

Pra Charles, resident farang monk at Wat Umong in Chiang Mai, recommended the Goenka courses as a very good choice. He had some theoretical reservations about an essential concept, but did not want to elaborate on that. Monks in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and a number of famous western teachers (sorry, don't remember the names) have done Goenka courses, and all have nothing but praise.

I think it's an excellent choice for a -- commited -- first timer.

If you just see the meditation retreat as a new experience within your comfort zone or something to check off on your travel adventures, there are plenty of other options. Shorter sometimes, and a lot less disciplined most of the time.

(note: nick123 speaking, got bored of that name; kloudcat now)

Sent an email to a Goenka centre. Got quick reply. All closed because because of swine flu. As prevention, and very sorry and all that. I checked centres in a dozen countries, Asia and Europe. All have swine flu and all are open. A Thai friend, who used to meditate, thinks there's maybe something else going on. Then again, those guys are not supposed to lie. Right Speech, you know. Sent a understanding and friendly email back pointing out that all centres in all other countries (where there is swine flu as well) are open. Also mentioned that swine flu will be around for a while. At least for the winter and spring season of the Northern Hemisphere in 2010, and if they really plan to close all Thai centres for another six months next year. Never got a reply on that one.

Spoke to a knowledgeable Western monk last week. And he said no other centres in Thailand can be compared to those with Goenka tradition. I suggested Wat Suan Mokh, but he said that 's a whole different thing (backpackers seeing it as another 'trip' before jumping on the boat to Samui to try magic mushrooms etc...) Not recommended after doing Goenka retreats, in short.

Flights to Burma are cheap thru Air Asia. And Burmese are far more serious practitioners than Thai. That's the only solution now; hop on a plane.

Has that Dr anything to say about heterosexual activity that uhum focusses on the backdoor? No acidity there... Or one heterosexual wanking another? ...