2012 Trip to Bangkok (August)

Trip to Bangkok

26 to 28 August 2012

26 August 2012 / Sunday

Trip from Phnom Penh to Bangkok This trip arose rather suddenly. I am still having problems with my right leg and the hospital where I had my physical and where my leg was first diagnosed referred me to a second hospital and an appointment opened up sooner than I expected so I hopped on a plane to Bangkok today. I should be back in Phnom Penh by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.
Because I was traveling light for this short trip, I just took a motorcycle taxi (called a motordupe) to the airport. It's common for the drivers to carry a load in front of them and this one grabbed my suitcase before I could get on. He only asked a fraction of what the drivers usually want so I gave him some extra and asked him to bring my helmet back to the Maryknoll office.
When we got to Bangkok a couple hours later there was a light rain falling but it wasn't even enough to bother using umbrellas as we deplaned. The trouble with the smaller airlines is that they always park far out where it's cheaper. It took more than ten minutes to ride a bus from the plane to the terminal.

27 August 2012 / Monday

Today was mainly spent in two hospitals. I first went to BNH Hospital, the hospital that Maryknoll normally uses, to see about an appointment for my left leg. I spent most of the morning there. Then in the afternoon I was at Bangkok Hospital for a scheduled appointment for my right leg.
I was surprised that the entrance to BNH Hospital is now lacking the fountain that used to grace what is now empty concrete. I suspect there will be something fancier than this to come. I was able to see a doctor here who cut off from my leg a small lesion that wasn't healing, and then I got back my hearing aid which I had left for cleaning and repairing.
I always am happy when my doctor appointments finish around lunch time because I walk back to the street where I catch the bus and visit a Subway sandwich shop. It's one of those little comforts I take advantage of when I am in Bangkok and the schedule is right.
I had not been to Bangkok Hospital before and it was quite an experience. Bangkok is a mecca for medical tourism and Bangkok Hospital serves most of the Middle East it seems. In some places in the six or seven huge buildings that form the hospital complex I was the only one not speaking Arabic. I met with a very good Thai doctor who administered an EMG test on the nerves in my right leg. Each of the centers on the sign is a separate building and there are many others.

28 August 2012 / Tuesday

This morning I stayed and worked a bit at the Maryknoll office in Bangkok and then headed back to the airport via taxi and the Rail Link, the train from Bangkok to the airport. There the usual wait was made longer by a late-arriving aircraft and we took off about 45 minutes late on the 50-minute flight to Phnom Penh.
I wanted to try the Rail Link to the airport going in the opposite direction and during the day, when there is more traffic, so I took a taxi from the Maryknoll office to the Phraya Thai terminus. I had to wait about ten minutes before departing on the 27-minute ride to the airport.
After having visited Bangkok Hospital for the first time yesterday I noticed that they have a booth at the airport in the main lobby, to meet and greet their VIP and wealthy patients arriving from the Middle East.
As we were pushing back from the gate, I noticed this cargo container storage area erected on the apron by the gates. I've never seen anything like this in the many airports I frequent.
Bangkok Airways serves a full meal on the 50-minute flight and as we finished we were nearing Phnom Penh where the seasonal flooding is very obvious. This is the beginning of the rainy season so on future flights the water will extend to the horizon.

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