In Thai language we have noun, adjective, adverb, and etc. just like in English, but when we’re talking about “Adjectives in English”, adjectives nearly always appear immediately before the noun or noun phrase that they modify which is opposite of the Adjective in Thai language.

For example
Color = see (สี)
White = khaao (ขาว)
There is will be “white color” = see khaao (สีขาว)

Check out these similar posts:

• Learning Thai Consonants
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• Say “I Love You” and Other Thai Love Phrases
• Beware Multiple Simultaneous On-line Involvements with Thai Ladies

I suppose anything is possible and if you live in northeast Thailand or some remote area of the north or deep south of Thailand then it’s quite possible you can do this. It depends too on what type of lifestyle you expect to have. On $600 a month I can’t imagine there will be much cash available for travel or entertainment. And there is no way I can imagine living in Bangkok on that paltry amount, although I have read accounts of those who know someone that is doing just that.

I’m honestly not completely sure if it’s possible or not, but I am hoping to get a discussion going here to find out what others think, especially those that currently are living in Thailand. Let’s make this clear once and for all.

So, with that in mind if you have experience currently living in Thailand we would all be greatly appreciative if you could chime in below in the comments. Let us know what YOU think about the possibilities of living in Thailand on just 20,000 baht per month.

If possible, please include the town or province in Thailand where you live, current rental rates for apartments/condos, food costs (both Thai and Western would be great), prices for services such as electric, cable and internet, entertainment costs and anything else you think is relevant.

Personally I don’t think I could live in Thailand on anything less than 50,000 baht a month and I feel I would be depriving myself of opportunities at that. I’m really hoping to get some good comments though so we all know what the current cost of living is like in various parts of Thailand and whether or not it’s possible to get by on just $20 a day in Thailand.

Check out these similar posts:

• Bangkok Cost of Living
• Thailand Jobs | Working in Thailand for Foreigners
• Living Vicariously Through Photos
• Sawasdee khrap from Thailand Musings
• Thailand Questions and Answers

Like we all know that the English language contains 24 consonants, but in Thai language we have 44 consonants total. Hmm…just 20 more for you to remember hahaha…

I remember when I was a kid (5-6 years old) and I have to learn the 44 consonants. The teacher would have a song for all those consonants, a huge chart of 44 consonants and the pictures of anything at all that those consonants refer to.

So the kids would have it stuck in their memory to remember all those consonants up until they get old (something like that). Like in English we have “A” refer to an “Apple” and will have apple picture beside.

Alright let’s have a look…

ก this consonant call “gaaw gai” / ไก่ (gai) means chicken
ข this consonant call “khaaw khai” / ไข่ (khai) means egg
ฃ this consonant call “khaaw khuaat” / ขวด (khuaat) means bottle
ค this consonant call “khaaw khwaay”/ ควาย (khwaay) means water buffalo
ฅ this consonant call “khaaw khohn”/ ฅน (khohn) means person, human being
ฆ this consonant call “khaaw ra-khang”/ ระฆัง (ra- khaang) means a large bell
ง this consonant call “ngaaw nguu”/ งู (nguu) means snake
จ this consonant call “jaaw jaan”/ จาน (jaan) means plate, dish
ฉ this consonant call “chaaw ching”/ ฉิ่ง (ching) means small cymbal used in East and Southeast Asian music
ช this consonant call “chaaw chaang”/ ช้าง (chaang) means elephant
ซ this consonant call “saaw soh”/ โซ่ (soh) means chain
ฌ this consonant call “chaaw chuuhr”/ เฌอ (chuur) means small tree or bush
ญ this consonant call “yaaw ying”/ หญิง (ying) means woman, women
ฎ this consonant call “daaw cha-daa”/ ชฎา (cha-daa) means hat used in Thai classical dancing
ฏ this consonant call “dtaaw bpa-dtak”/ ปฏัก (bpa-dtak) means harpoon, spear, javelin
ฐ this consonant call “thaaw thaan” / ฐาน (thaan) means base, ground, platform
ฑ this consonant call “thaaw mohn thoh”/ มณโฑ (mohn thoh) means a character in the Ramanyana epic(the wife of a giant)
ฒ this consonant call “thaaw phuu thao” / ผู้เฒ่า (phuu thao) means elder, respected old and wise person
ณ this consonant call “naaw naehn” / เณร (naehn) means buddhist novice or monk [typically] below the age of twenty
ด this consonant call “daaw dek” / เด็ก (dek) means child
ต this consonant call “dtaaw dtao” / เต่า (dtao) means turtle
ถ this consonant call “thaaw thoong” / ถุง (thoong) means bag, pouch
ท this consonant call “thaaw tha-haan” / ทหาร (tha-haan) means soldier
ธ this consonant call “thaaw thohng” / ธง (thohng) means flag
น this consonant call “naaw nuu” / หนู (nuu) mouse, mice, rat
บ this consonant call “baaw bai maai” / ใบไม้ (bai maai) means leaf of the tree
ป this consonant call “bpaaw bplaa” / ปลา (bplaa) means fish
ผ this consonant call “phaaw pheung” / ผึ้ง (pheung) means bee
ฝ this consonant call “faaw faa” / ฝา (faa) means lid or cover of a pot or bowl, cap
พ this consonant call “phaaw phaan” / พาน (phaan) means tray on which items are offered to a Buddhist monk
ฟ this consonant call “faaw fun” / ฟัน (fun) means tooth
ภ this consonant call “phaaw sam phao” / สำเภา (sam phao) means [certain type of] small sailing vessel used in Asia and Southeast Asia, junk, argosy
ม this consonant call “maaw maa” / ม้า (maa) means horse
ย this consonant call “yaaw yak” / ยักษ์ (yak) means [a character from the Ramayana epic, a] giant [or] demon
ร this consonant call “raaw reuua” / เรือ (reuua) means boat, ship, barge, vessel
ล this consonant call “law ling” / ลิง (ling) means monkey
ว this consonant call “waaw waaen” / แหวน (waaen) mean ring (worn on the finger)
ศ this consonant call “saaw saa laa” / ศาลา (saa laa) means Thai-style pavilion; open-air gazebo
ษ this consonant call “saaw baaw reuu see” / ฤาษี (reuu see) means ascetic; meditating recluse or hermit
ส this consonant call “saaw seuua” / เสือ (seuua) means tiger
ห this consonant call “haaw heep” / หีบ (heep) means chest, wooden box, trunk
ฬ this consonant call “laaw joo laa” / จุฬา (joo laa) means the male kite
อ this consonant call “aaw aang” / อ่าง (aang) means bowl, bathtub, sink
ฮ this consonant call “haaw nohk huuk” / นกฮูก (nohk huuk) means oriental barn owl

Even though Thai language contains 44 consonants it has only 21 sounds because some of the consonants will have the sound exactly the same as some other consonants. And some of the consonants we rarely see or use anymore.

I will talk more about it in the next post…

Check out these similar posts:

• Thai Words for Colors
• About Thai Language and Relationships
• Thai Language and Vocabulary
• Say “I Love You” and Other Thai Love Phrases
• Thai Love Phrases

Spare a thought for the drunk tourists.

I was shocked when my wife was rushed into hospital on Koh Samui recently.
Shocked by the state-of-the-art ambulance. Shocked to find four medics
inside it. Shocked that all this was for Delhi belly.

The hospital was equally luxurious. We’d come from a beach-hut where a rat
lived in the toilet and ate our soap. So clean bedding excited us, AC made
us tremble and the five-course meal – I nearly fainted. At least I was in
the right place. I struggled to fathom this luxury; it’s hard to
concentrate with six nurses arranging your wife. I was forced to stand on
the balcony. I watched the nurses leave. And come back. Leave. And come
back. Like waves crashing onto the shore, leaving behind some medical or
housekeeping jetsam.

The epiphany.
Going for assessment we felt like adventurers in some futuristic
space-station. Dials flashed, machines brooded, staff ignored us with quiet
efficiency. Just how had this amazing place come about? It was no surprise
that Westerners filled each bed: busted heads, broken limbs, twisted
ankles. Sorry sights, self inflicted. That’s when it hit me. A beautiful
thing was happening.

The drunks of the world had made this amazing facility.

Drunk topless yobs crashing motorbikes. Girls in bikinis falling off
tables. Hairy louts with bad tattoos waking in agony, without the faintest
clue where they were the night before. It was these people that had made
this amazing facility. The drinking classes. That much maligned part of
society. Armed only with a complete lack of self awareness, a favourable
exchange rate and a travel insurance policy. They made all of it. It
seemed the ne’er-do-wells had done well.

Trickledown effect.
And all unsung, unlike your sanctimonious colleague getting you to fund
skydives, or celebrities fundraising for starving photo-opportunities.
Drunks: quiet heroes, funding amazing hospitals. Hospitals now the
government is now using to drive growth using health tourism. And the
trickledown effect? For your average backpacker, the trickledown effect
involves bodily fluid and legs. But there’s more than that. In Koh Tao,
every third or fourth shop is a doctor’s surgery. And every surgery’s
window promotes the same best selling services:

Wound dressings
Pregnancy tests
Blood checks.

A succinct summary of the backpacker experience – get drunk, fall over, have
sex, fall over again – but also of just how much medical training and
infrastructure now exists, benefiting average Thais. Drunks have achieved
what the G20 couldn’t, what politicians discuss only because Bob Geldof is
glowering.

Is this the answer to world development? Take a poor country. Export some
drunks. Wait. Wait. Bingo! You’ve got world-class medical facilities,
we’ve exported our idiots, everyone’s a winner!

Maybe not. Getting obnoxiously drunk all the time is not cool. But, next
time you happen to be walking down the road on some Thai island and have to
step over a comatose girl in a bikini, while tonight’s conquest vomits down
his shirt, don’t tut. They’re helping make the world a better place. And
they don’t even know it.

Check out these similar posts:

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The actual wedding ceremony will take place in Thailand next year. In the mean time, while they’re waiting they have to start the visa process for her to go to Switzerland.

I don’t want to think about it at all…I’ve been through this situation before myself and I know it hurts and is really painful when you have to stay away from your loved one. I feel really sorry and understand her feeling completely.

Internet and phone call are the most important way for them to use and keep their relationship going while they are apart. The choices are cut back to less choices if the Thai girl can not speak English clearly enough for the native speaker to understand. So that would make it really difficult for you to talk on the phone.

This problem happened to me long time ago, and I don’t remember when and how many times I need to ask my sweet husband to learn Thai again and again. It’s just because sometimes I feel that it’s unfair to be the one that learns English and talk to him. Ok, he said he tried to learn Thai language (but just for the common words and enough to understand when somebody tries to talk about him). He actually tried for me about couple days or so and then he just has no interest after all.

My idea is that the couples should learn to understand each other. That means they both need to learn each others language. I realized that I should do something about it. So what I am going to do is I will try to post Thai phrases on Thailandmusings.com 2-3 times a week. I don’t know that will help much at all but at least the lovers who have to suffer with the language barrier can use some of the phrases in my posts to communicate. I would be really happy if my posts will help them in their communication (at least some).

So please look forward on my posts on Thai Language coming soon…

Check out these similar posts:

• Thai Language and Vocabulary
• Say “I Love You” and Other Thai Love Phrases
• Thai Love Phrases
• Learning Thai Consonants
• Thai Words for Colors

Mr. Carradine, 72, was in Bangkok shooting his latest movie “Stretch” when his death occurred. Thai police are calling the death a suicide, however investigations are still ongoing. It seems that Mr. Carradine was found by a maid in room 352 of the Park Nai Lert Hotel on Wireless Road at approximentally 10am Thursday morning. He was described as half naked and was in the wardrobe with rope around his neck and body.

Police have said that he was dead for less than 12 hours and there was no sign of forced entry to the room or any sign of assault or fighting in the room.

His personal manager, Chuck Binder, told BBC that the news was “shocking”, adding: “He was full of life, always wanting to work… a great person.”

The star was best known for his role as the half Chinese Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s TV series Kung Fu. This role earned Carradine both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He also starred in Martin Scorsese’s “Boxcar Bertha” in 1972, portrayed folksinger Woody Guthrie in “Bound for Glory” in 1976, acted in Ingmar Bergman’s “The Serpent’s Egg” in 1977 and co-starred with half brothers Keith Carradine and Robert Carradine in the 1980 western “The Long Riders”.

Carradine was part of an acting dynasty which included his father, John Carradine, and brothers Bruce, Keith and Robert.

Carradine was an accomplished composer, musician, musical performer and songwriter. According to his official website, he was also a sculptor and a painter.

He is survived by his wife, Annie Bierman, and three children including actresses Calista and Kansas.

Persoanlly I remember watching the “Kung Fu”, series as a child and David Carradine was nothing short of wonderful in the role. It was that show that first gave me my interest in Asian cultures and it remains an iconic role that lives in the memory of many Americans from my generation. David Carradine will be missed by many.

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It seems that a rural high school in Thailand may start a an economic boom for signmakers around the world. Just see the photo to see what I mean. Don’t know what it is? It is a new sign designed by the administration at Kampang Secondary School, located in Sisaket province in northeast Thailand, to mark the toilets meant exclusively for the ladyboys at that school.

The symbol representing them combines a male and female figure. Since the school population is comprised of roughly 10% ladyboys the new toilet facilities are pretty popular.

Tolerance of transsexuals, at least those born as males, is widespread in Thai society. They maintain a much higher public profile there than in most countries, working in a wide range of jobs.

Likewise, sex-change surgery has become a Thai medical specialty, common and affordable.

The challenge facing Kampang School officials was to spare girl students the embarrassment of sharing their toilets with (lady)boys who in turn didn’t want to share toilets with the regular boys, whom they consider a different breed.

“These students want to be able to go in peace without fear of being watched, laughed at or groped,” said Sitisak Sumontha, the school’s director.

The solution to this was to create new toilet facilities for the group and the designation for these toilets is a sign that combines the male and female signs, cut right down the middle.

Currently there are 50 universally accepted signals for signs, including the standard male and female, airports, hotels, etc. If this new sign catches on internationally there could be a huge new market for the sign makers of the world!

Check out these similar posts:

• No Draft for Ladyboys
• Are All Ladyboys Prostitutes?
• H5N1 Bird Flu Re-Emerges in Thailand
• Drunk Tourists = Boom Time for Medical Tourism
• 10 Clues That She is a Ladyboy or Katoey

It has been (too) long since I updated my last post in Thailandmusings.com, and I think everyone probably wonders why Golf hasn’t posted her recipe anymore. “Where is Golf?”. I’ve been worked overtime for my regular job and also Thailand trip was coming so I didn’t really have any concentrate to anything at all at that time. Ask Steve how was he feeling and he probably tells you the same story.

Summer is just around the corner; actually the weather has been nicer after Memorial’s day. Since the weather really nice outside, so many kinds of fruits are coming out so let’s make the dish about “fruits”. I went to the flea market next to where I live this morning with my Thai girlfriend. I got strawberries, green apples and also Fuji apples. They’re so cheap and fresh…got home and started to cook. Wow…believe it or not while I’m writing this recipe it makes my saliva coming out just like that (just to think about how it tastes.)

Fruit Salad recipe (Thai’s style)
2 small green apples cut into a small bite sized
2 small Fuji apples cut into a small bite sized
5-6 strawberries cut into a medium bite sized (you don’t want to cut strawberry into really small sized because it can gets really mushy when you mix the fruits together)
1 whole carrot peeled and cut into s small sized
* You may add the other kind of fruit like grapes, pears etc. whatever you wish*

• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 Tbsp fish sauce
• 1 Tbsp palm sugar
• 1 medium sized lime
• 1/4 a small onion sliced
• 1 Tbsp garlic, peeled finely sliced
• 3 Tbsp mint leaf, coarsely chopped
• 4-5 pieces cooked bacon, broke into a small piece for garnish.

1. After washed all the fruits you needed then cut them into a sized as directed.
2. Melt palm sugar with fish sauce in a mixing bowel then add lime juice, chili powder, garlic, and onion and mix well (the taste should be sweet, sour to lead and a little bit spicy.)
3. Put the fruit into a mixing bowel and toss lightly.
4. Add mint and bacon for garnish, toss a couple times and serve.

I love this dish a lot because it doesn’t take long to cook at all, probably 10 to 15 minutes maximum. It doesn’t require any cooking skill, healthy meal and good for your diet plan. Let’s cook it in your spare time and let me know See you!

ยำผลไม้
หลังจากที่โพสไปเมื่อครั้งที่แล้ว กอล์ฟก็หายไปเลย เป็นเวลานาน(แสน)นานมากๆ… จนทุกคนที่อ่านโพสคงสงสัยว่ากอล์ฟหายไปไหนแน่ ? สาเหตุที่หายไปก็เนื่องมาจากว่า กอล์ฟต้องทำงานที่เป็นงานประจำอยู่ ทำล่วงเวลาด้วย แล้วไหนจะมามีกังวลกับเรื่องที่จะต้องกลับไปเมืองไทยในเดือนเมษายนที่ผ่านมาอีก ทั้งหมดทั้งมวลนั้นเลยส่งผลให้เราไม่มีกะจิตกะใจที่จะทำอะไรเลย ถ้าลองให้ไปถามสตีฟ(คุณสามี)ดู เค้าก็คงจะให้คำตอบในทำนองเดียวกัน ว่าเค้ารู้สึกยังไงในตอนนั้น

ที่นี่ ณ ตอนนี้ฤดูร้อนก็เริ่มใกล้เข้ามาทุกที แต่ความเป็นจริงแล้วกอล์ฟว่า อากาศมันก็เริ่มดีขึ้นมาเรื่อยๆ ตั้งแต่วัน Memorial’s Day แล้วนะ พออากาศเริ่มดีขึ้น ผลไม้ช่วงหน้าร้อนก็เริ่มออก (ดีจริง) มาทำอาหารที่เป็นผลไม้ทานกันดีกว่า พอดีเมื่อเช้านี้พี่ที่เป็นคนไทยที่อยู่ที่นี่ชวนไปตลาดขายของเก่าวันอาทิตย์ ก็เลยไปกับเค้า ปรากฏว่ากลับมาได้ผลไม้ทั้งสดทั้งถูกมาเพียบเลย ไม่ว่าจะเป็นสตรอเบอรี่, แอปเปิ้ลลูกเขียว แล้วก็แอปเปิ้ลฟูจิ พอถึงบ้านได้ไม่เท่าไหร่ ก็เริ่มเข้าครัวกันเลย เพราะว่าอยากทานมากๆๆๆ ฮ่าฮ่า… เชื่อหรือเปล่าว่าแค่กอล์ฟเริ่มต้นเขียนโพสอันนี้เนี่ยนะ แล้วก็นั่งจินตนาการถึงรสชาติ น้ำลายก็แทบสอเลยทีเดียว เปรี้ยวปากอย่างแรงค่ะ…!

ส่วนผสมของยำผลไม้
- แอปเปิ้ลเขียวลูกเล็ก 2 ลูก หั่นเป็นชิ้นขนาดพอดีคำ
- แอปเปิ้ลฟูจิลูกเล็ก 2 ลูก หั่นเป็นชิ้นขนาดพอดีคำ
- สตรอเบอรรี่ 5-6 ลูก หั่นเป็นชิ้นขนาดใหญ่ขึ้นมาหน่อย เราไม่ต้องการให้มันชิ้นเล็กมาก เพราะว่าเดี๋ยวเวลาเรา คลุกเคล้ากันแล้ว จะทำให้สตรอเบอรี่ของเราเละได้
- แครอท 1 ผล ปลอกเปลือก แล้วก็หั่นเป็นชิ้นขนาดพอดีคำ
หมายเหตุ ความจริงแล้วอาจจะเพิ่มผลไม้อะไรก็ได้ที่เราชอบ อย่างเช่น องุ่น หรือว่า ลูกแพร์
- พริกป่น 1 ช้อนชา
- น้ำปลา 1 ช้อนโต๊ะ
- น้ำตาลปึก/น้ำตาลปี๊บ 1 ช้อนโต๊ะ
- มะนาว 1 ลูก (ผลขนาดกลาง)
- หอมใหญ่ (เอาแค่เศษหนึ่งส่วนสี่ลูก) หั่นบาง
- กระเทียม ปอกเปลือกออกและหั่นบาง 1 ช้อนโต๊ะ
- ใบสะระแหน่หั่นหยาบ 3 ช้อนโต๊ะ
- เบคอนที่สุกแล้ว 4-5 ชิ้น หักให้เป็นชิ้นเล็กๆ เพื่อใช้โรยหน้ายำผลไม้

1.หลังจากล้างทำความสะอาดผลไม้ที่ต้องการเสร็จ ก็หั่นให้เป็นชิ้นๆ ตามที่ระบุไปข้างต้น
2.ใช้น้ำตาลปึกละลายกับน้ำปลาในถ้วยผสม จากนั้นตามด้วยน้ำมะนาว พริกป่น กระเทียม แล้วก็หอมใหญ่
คนให้เข้ากัน (รสชาติที่ได้ควรจะออกเปรี้ยวและหวานนำ ออกเผ็ดนิดหน่อย )
3.ใส่ผลไม้ที่หั่นไว้แล้วลงในถ้วยน้ำปรุงรสที่ผสมแล้ว คนเบาๆให้เข้ากัน
4.ขั้นตอนสุดท้ายใส่ใบสะระแหน่และเบคอนที่เตรียมไว้ตกแต่งหน้าลงไป คนให้ทั่วประมาณ 2-3 ครั้ง แล้วก็จัดเสริ์ฟ

กอล์ฟจะบอกว่าชอบจานนี้มากๆๆ เพราะนอกจากจะใช้เวลาไม่นานแล้ว (อ่ะ…ให้ไปเลย 10 ถึง 15 นาทีอย่างมาก) ยังไม่ต้องอาศัยความสามารถพิเศษในการทำอาหารอะไรเลย ดีต่อสุขภาพ แล้วก็ดีสำหรับคนที่กำลังควบคุมน้ำหนัก ยังไงลองหาเวลาว่างมาทำจานนี้กัน แล้วส่งข่าวมาบอกด้วยล่ะ ว่ารสชาติถูกปากหรือเปล่า? แล้วเจอกันใหม่จ้า!

Check out these similar posts:

• Recipe for Thai Beef Salad
• Chicken Tandoori – Thai Girl Style
• Thai style barbeque rib (Thai barbeque see krohng moo)
• Som Tum or Som Tam (Thai Papaya Salad)
• Peek Gai Todd Thai Style (Fried Chicken Wings)

Going to hospital whilst traveling in one of the lesser developed parts of
the world is something that people normally try to avoid doing. Most people
would wait until they got home to seek delicate elective surgery. I on the
other hand decided to undergo a surgical procedure in Bangkok.

This decision may strike you as foolish at first, but despite being at the
heart of South East Asia in what is generally thought of as a developing
country, the Thai medical system is of a very high standard. Not only is it
the medical hub for patients throughout the region, but hundreds of
thousands of people fly there each year to have elective surgery, from laser
eye treatments to breast implants and facelifts. There are lots of reasons
why they come to Bangkok, but invariably quality of care and value come top
of the list. Simply put, medical care in Thailand is amongst the best in the
world and is available at rock-bottom prices.

The Thai government sees health care as the logical next step for its
hospitality industry. As the number of holiday makers going to Thailand
reaches saturation point, tourism growth has to come from other sectors. The
provision of healthcare to international travelers requires what Thailand
already has in abundance: good flight connections, plentiful accommodation
and, above all, staff who are understanding and friendly. Gleaming
hospitals, which could be mistaken for 5 star hotels, not only have luxury
rooms with all the possible amenities, but also feature suites, restaurants,
shops and cinemas. Menus from the finest restaurants in town are placed in
the best rooms. Going to hospital doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun -
this is Bangkok after all!

I should explain how I ended up in this situation – a cyst appeared on my
left temple three years ago and I had it seen to at home. The plastic
surgeon lanced and squeezed out the contents with all the skill and
precision of a builder popping a boil on his bottom. This had the temporary
effect of reducing its size to that of a small pimple. Unfortunately, while
I was backpacking in Laos, it decided to swell again, this time to the size
of a dime. This seemed like the ideal time to get it sorted out once and for
all. Surgery in Bangkok was the best option; I’d get the best medical
attention for a fraction of the cost, without having to sit on a waiting
list for six months.

I turn up at the Mission Hospital in Bangkok at 10 o’clock on a Friday
morning with no appointment. Two hours later I was exchanging pleasantries
with my surgeon. He quickly inspected the offending lump, letting me know
that a simple operation was all that was needed to completely remove it. He
took his time to ensure I knew exactly what the procedure would entail and
his demeanor was reassuring. We agreed on surgery at 11am the following
Monday. The cost, including consultation, HIV test and all surgery fees,
came to $250, about a third of what it would be at home.

When the time came I was given a pair of blue pyjamas that were obviously
one size fits all, including sumo wrestlers! I made my way to the surgery
room and lay down on the operating table. A nurse shaved any hair beside my
cyst and gave the area a good swabbing with iodine. My doctor walked into
the theatre fully gloved and masked. Just in case I was in any doubt he ran
me through the whole procedure again.

Several painless injections later I couldn’t feel the needle anymore. A
green cloth with a round hole in the centre was placed over my head, leaving
just the cyst exposed. The only clue I had as to what was going on was a
slight application of pressure followed by an occasional tug. The surgeon
constantly enquired as to whether I was feeling any pain or discomfort.
Every time I heard the snip of scissors I was sure he was finished, but then
I would feel a quick tug and know he was still cutting or stitching. How
long does it take to remove a cyst? Thirty minutes apparently. Quick
swooshes, like thread being pulled through leather, told me it was all over
and that stitches were pulling the flaps of skin back together.

Thirty minutes later I was out on the street flagging a taxi. All said and
done I spent 2 hours waiting for a consultation and an hour in surgery. Not
bad for $250!

The article was written by Caelen King, CEO of RevaHealth.com, a search
engine that makes it easy for consumers to find and compare healthcare
clinics anywhere. Caelen founded RevaHealth.com in 2006 when he realised
that those researching healthcare clinics abroad were finding the internet
to be a less than useful tool. Traditional search engines return too many
irrelevant results, meaning that potential patients must spend hours
trawling the internet to find relevant clinics. RevaHealth.com only returns
relevant information, saving people time and money in finding the best
healthcare clinics for their needs. Revahealth.com currently features over
130 dental clinics and over 80 cosmetic surgery clinics in Thailand.

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Golf and I have booked our trip to the Kingdom for April 2009 and nothing short of a civil war would make us change those plans. Of course we have close ties to Thailand and many reasons to return, but what about the casual tourist or first time visitor, do you think that recent events around the world and in Thailand will put people off of visiting? Add to that the drop of some currencies against the Thai baht and what was once a cheap destination for Australians and British tourists is now considerably more expensive.

Depending on what reports you listen to the hotel occupancy rates for December in all of the usual tourist hotspots were dismal. Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui and many of the other islands have had reports of occupancy rates as low as 20% throughout December, which is the beginning of the high season in Thailand and is usually characterized by rising numbers of tourists. True, some of the hotels are reporting that they are getting back to normal this week for Christmas and New Year bookings, but it’s possible that these are people who booked several months ago. It appears that new bookings for January through April are extremely low.

If you were planning on traveling to SE Asia in the next 6 months will you still make Thailand your destination or will you go somewhere else? And if you’re choosing not to go to Thailand what has influenced your decision the most; the political instability, the poor economy or the exchange rate? If you are still planning on heading to Thailand in the next 6 months why are you keeping it as your destination considering the above mentioned negative factors?

Personally I will keep traveling to Thailand for the culture, the people, the food, the weather and the sanook atmosphere. I’d love to hear what others are thinking about travel to the Land of Smiles in the coming year, please comment below and let me know what you’re thinking.

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