Fancy hospital, etc.

We had taken a vaccination for cholera and E-Coli in September before leaving on this trip. The vaccine is good for 3 months, after which you need a booster. The only place in Bangkok that had the vaccine was Bumrungrad hospital in Sukhumvit area (downtown). So we went down there and it was hard to believe it is a hospital. They had fancy lobbies, reception areas, doormen, comfortable couches and chairs in the waiting areas, a Starbucks, a couple of nice-looking restaurants, and attendants who spoke fluent English. It looked more like a 5-star hotel. Even the kids were amazed and Yasmin asked in her awe-struck voice: "This is a hospital?!!" She has been in a few hospitals during this trip so she knows what they normally look like - poor thing.

We were ushered to the 10th floor to register as new patients before seeing the doctor - fair enough. This area had nice carpeting and comfortable couches and coffee tables, and the attendants helped us fill out the forms and printed cards for us. Then they asked us to go to the 15th floor, where they took our vital signs. We were pronounced healthy, with normal heart rates, blood pressures, heights and weights. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I have lost a few pounds since September! On the way to this area, we walked past a beautiful rock garden and huge flower pots with lotus flowers floating in them.

After this preliminary testing, we waited for all of 5 minutes before seeing the doctor. During this long waiting period, the kids got some complimentary juice boxes, which they enjoyed. The doctor spoke perfect English and we discussed the vaccine we wanted and she made sure everything was okay before writing the prescription. Then we made our way to the cashier, picked up our vaccine bottles from the in-house pharmacy in little paper shopping-bag style packages with string handles, and came home. All in all, a very interesting experience. We hardly felt like we were in a hospital.

We had packed up one of the suitcases with our purchases over the past 3 months, and some other things that we don't need any longer and wanted to send it home to lighten our load. So when we arrived back from the fancy hospital, I asked the taxi to wait, got the suitcase and went to the post office. They packaged it all up in a big box and I sent it by surface mail, so it should get home in a month or two. On the way back, I hired a motorcycle taxi, which was cool too. These guys are registered taxis and are cheaper and faster than regular taxis, especially during rush hour, which can be horrendous in Bangkok. So my guy weaved and bobbed his way through traffic and deposited me safely at the apartment.

Tomorrow we must pack our bags again, this time for India. Our flight is at 6:00 p.m. Thailand time and we arrive in Delhi at 9:00 p.m. India time after a 4.5-hour flight. Can you figure out the time difference?!

NM