Hospitals Pt 3

I know I'm in danger of doing the hospital topic to death(!) but it is a topic of some importance to us all given we all have to deal with hospitals in Thailand at some time or another. The following was reported on Stickman's latest blog:

A big name hospital takes on a back soi clinic - and comes out second best!

Last month I perforated my eardrum. I knew it was ruptured because I could feel the air leaking out of it when blowing my nose. So I went to Bangkok Hospital. The place looks likes a five star hotel, with flat screen TVs and gorgeous nurses everywhere. The doctor took the best part of five seconds to look inside my ear and said there was nothing wrong with it. He also gave me eardrops. Price : 3,200Baht. When I told the cashier that it was expensive, she had a sneer of contempt and said that "It is normal price for a good doctor". I preferred to check with a local clinic. There the doctor saw I had a perforated eardrum, and said using eardrops could permanently damage my ear (that was later confirmed to me). He also gave me a bag of coloured pills. Price : 300Baht! A month later the ear is OK now, and the Bangkok Hospital won't see me again for sure! [via Stickman]

The frequency of this type of report is disturbing and this is just from the minority who go in to 'print'. What stories do the silent majority have to tell? What's equal disturbing is that the reports so far highlight both incompetence and it would appear, an intent to misdiagnose ailments for financial benefit.

On the plus side, I've received positive comments from a couple of readers on the Queen Sirikit Hospital in Satahip. This may be because it services navy personnel and is required to maintain good standards and fair pricing. I'll try it out and let you know.

Sierra Tangos

• The convicted murderer of 2 Russian women on Jomtien Beach is sentenced to death by lethal injection. Family to appeal.

• Is it just me or are gun related crimes on the increase. Seems like every day there is a new report in the local media of somebody being shot. If it is a reality of 'new' Pattaya then it would be advisable for farangs to keep their tempers in check when dealing with Thais and avoid the local gun clubs, a.k.a. Thai Karaoke's. You never know which idiot might be carrying a "make-my-day" special.

• UBC Truevision's TV Schedule for the IRB Rugby World Cup is out - I have updated the Balloon Chasers Calendar on the right with the UBC broadcast times for all the forthcoming IRB Rugby World Cup games. The majority of games are shown live with just the following 8 games selected for delayed transmission:

  

• NZ v Portugal delayed to 8.00am, 16 Sept on Star Sports
• Wales v Australia delayed to noon, 16 Sept on ESPN
• Scotland v Romania delayed to 6.00am, 19 Sept on Star Sports
• Italy v Portugal delayed to 6.00am, 20 Sept on Star Sports
• South Africa v Tonga delayed to 11.00am, 23 Sept on Star Sports
• England v Samoa delayed to 1.00pm, 23 Sept on Star Sports
• Australia v Fiji delayed to midnight 23 Sept on Star Sports
• Wales v Fiji delayed to 2.00pm, 30 Sept on Star Sports

The games kicking off in the early hours of the morning are generally repeated at 7.00am the same morning.

• Real Estate Big Ticket Sales Dwindle - Attempts to amend the Foreign Business Act this year have led to foreign investment in the Thai real estate market plunging, says Lars Lang, a partner of Thai Estate Scandinavian Company, a niche developer. [via Bangkok Post]

• Japanese AV Star - Reon Kadena

• How To Access Blocked Websites

Internet censoring is now everywhere. Countries such as China and Saudi Arabia routinely block websites of a politically sensitive nature. Interestingly blogger.com and similar blog sites were banned in India not long ago. Thailand has also had issues with YouTube, so it is no wonder that there is a demand for ways to access blocked websites. [via Web Stuff Scan]

There are any number of ways to circumvent blocks but I have selected just 2 below for their ease of use:

1. Use IP address - This is the simplest way to bypass domain name based access restrictions. Instead of the domain name such as www.webstuffscan.com use the direct IP address. To find the IP address use one of the free host to IP online conversion tools such as this then simply enter the IP Address in the address bar at the top of your browser and hit go

2. Use an Anonymizer - In this method you access a third party site which in turn routes your request to the required server. Some services provide URL encryption also. The problem is that most of these servers are no longer free. Do a google search for the latest list as this is a very dynamic area. Following are some services which still work (free!):

• Proxify - Hides original URL and provides an array of access of options. The is one of the best free servers.
• Block Stop - New guy in the town!
• Anonymouse - This works, but URL is visible and hence may be blocked by the filtering software.

• A farmer stopped by the local mechanic shop to have his truck fixed. They couldn't do it while he waited, so he said he didn't live far and would just walk home. On the way home he sto pped at the hardware store and bought a bucket and a gallon of paint. He then stopped by the feed store and picked up a couple of chickens and a goose. However, struggling outside the store he now had a problem how to carry his entire purchases home. While he was scratching his head he was approached by a little old lady who told him she was lost. She asked, "Can you tell me how to get to 1603 Mockingbird Lane ?" The farmer said, "Well, as a matter of fact, my farm is very close to that house. I would walk you there but I can't carry this lot." The old lady suggested, "Why don't you put the can of paint in the bucket. Carry the bucket in one hand; put a chicken under each arm and carry the goose in your other hand?" "Why thank you very much," he said and proceeded to walk the old girl home. On the way he says "Let's take my short cut and go down this alley. We'll be there in no time." The little old lady looked him over cautiously then said, "I am a lonely widow without a husband to defend me. How do I know that when we get in the alley you won't hold me up against the wall, pull up my skirt, and have your way with me?" The farmer said, "Holy smokes lady! I'm carrying a bucket, and a gallon of paint, two chickens, and a goose. How in the world could I possibly hold you up against the wall and do that?" The old lady replied, "Set the goose down, cover him with the bucket, put the paint on top of the bucket, and I'll hold the chickens."

• This guy has got the mannerisms down pat. What will he do for a living after 2008?

Try AuctionAds

Tags: pattaya, pattaya-rag, pattaya-nightlife, Atlantic-Bar, u-too-bar, a-go-go