Trip to Bangkok

5-7 September 2012

4 September 2012 / Tuesday

Medical Trip to Bangkok

Over the weekend I received notice that the biopsy done on my left leg showed a common skin cancer and the doctor recommended that I have the sore he examined completely removed so I set up another trip to Bangkok. While there I will also have an MRI on my right leg, to try again to find out why I am limping. I head to Bangkok Wednesday night.

 

5 September 2012 / Wednesday

Trip from Phnom Penh to Bangkok

I had a choice of going to Bangkok this evening or early tomorrow morning and it just seemed easier to go tonight so I left home this morning with my suitcase, worked at the deaf office for a few minutes, and then went to an all-day meeting before heading to the airport at 5:10 PM for the trip to Thailand.

 

The workshop today was sponsored by Australian Volunteers International for the different organizations for whom they provide volunteers. Olivia Wynne (green top), who was in charge of fund-raising for the Sydney Opera House, led us through a series of exercises on how to develop local donors in order not to depend entirely on international aid agencies.
AVI workshop in Phnom Penh
On the way to the airport, I was on a motorcycle taxi that passed this tuk-tuk with ten people in addition to the driver.
Phnom Penh tuk-tuk
After landing in Bangkok I took the train into town and then a taxi to the Maryknoll office where I would stay. We passed this Bangkok tuk-tuk on the way. The Cambodian tuk-tuks originated in Thailand but are still rather basic--just a wagon or bench seat pulled by a motorcycle--while their Thai cousins have evolved into purpose-built machines.
Bangkok tuk-tuk
Near the Maryknoll office this street vendor was still at work at 10:45 PM. Food vendors on the street are one of the trademarks of Bangkok and feed a large part of the urban population every day.
Bangkok night street hawker

 

6 September 2012 / Thursday

Right-Leg Hospital Day

Today was my right-leg day with an MRI on my lower spine where the doctor thought a disk was compressing nerves in my right leg. I spent most of the day at Bangkok Hospital.

 

I was surprised when I got off the bus in the Sala Daeng area to see that "my" Subway shop has expanded since I was here ten or twelve days ago. They have an enclosed shop back a little ways in a corridor of this building but now they have taken over another area fronting directly on the street. I guess the people of Bangkok are taking to Subway!
Expansion of Subway
I have mentioned before how different the hospitals are here in Bangkok, at least the ones serving the foreigners and medical tourists. How many hospitals in the US do you know that have live classical music ensembles playing in their reception area?
Musicians in hotel lobby
All of my time at Bangkok Hospital has been spent in this Neuroscience department on the 4th floor of the R Building. Today I had a 45-minute MRI that didn't show anything wrong and didn't explain why I am still limping after two years of an irritating problem.
The Neuroscience department
When I left Bangkok Hospital, I took their shuttle bus to this SkyTrain station which gave a good view of the rush hour traffic. It took 2½ hours to get from the hospital to the Maryknoll office. I waited 30 minutes in the rain for buses that never came and finally took a taxi home.
Bangkok rush hour traffic

 

7 September 2012 / Friday

Leg-Leg Hospital Day

Today was my left-leg day with the morning spent at BNH Hospital where I had minor surgery to remove a carcinoma. Then I headed to the airport and back to Phnom Penh.

 

The hospitals that cater to foreigners always amaze me with the services they offer to attract business. Here a doorman in white uniform greets all the limos, cars, and taxis that arrive. Three or four other staff gather around to help with luggage and wheelchairs. All wear uniforms.
Doorman at BNH Hospital
Ten days ago the doctor removed a non-healing sore on my left leg and the biopsy showed it was cancerous. Today he cut deeper to be sure he had all the malignant cells and then this assistant cleaned up my leg and put on the plaster. I just rolled up my pants leg and didn't even need to remove my sock.
Bandaging my leg
I started noticing some of the different forms of transportation in Bangkok today and I will put together a page showing examples of what is common on the streets of the city.
Bangkok tuk-tuk
We started making our approach to land at Phnom Penh about 6:30 PM when there was still some setting sun and enough light to see the Mekong River in the foreground and the Tonle Bassac farther in the background.
Evning approach to Phnom Penh