Pattaya Reports

[Artful]

Wow, that's a bummer as I'm here in Pats now. Didn't know that. What day does it start and finish? I presume all of Walking St will be closed then? Same in Bangkok?

Just to warn you guys, this weekend is a large Buddhist Holiday. All Bas will be closed and beer sale will be stopped so stock up. You can still buy beer at Mom and Pop Thai stores but there are not many around if you’re staying in the heart of Pattaya. Government offices will be closed on Monday so if you need a visa like I do think ahead. 500 Bath fine if you go over.

[Gus69]

Evian, The Coconut Bar, alias Beach road, there will be plenty of girls there for you.
Also many of the bars will have girls there but not selling alcohol, just cups of coffee.

[Evianist]

Just to warn you guys, this weekend is a large Buddhist Holiday. All Bas will be closed and beer sale will be stopped so stock up. You can still buy beer at Mom and Pop Thai stores but there are not many around if you’re staying in the heart of Pattaya. Government offices will be closed on Monday so if you need a visa like I do think ahead. 500 Bath fine if you go over.

What's the best way to meet girls when the bars are closed?

[Oyster Lover]

Just to warn you guys, this weekend is a large Buddhist Holiday. All Bas will be closed and beer sale will be stopped so stock up. You can still buy beer at Mom and Pop Thai stores but there are not many around if you’re staying in the heart of Pattaya. Government offices will be closed on Monday so if you need a visa like I do think ahead. 500 Bath fine if you go over.

[LittleBigMan]

Can anyone recommend a good dentist in Pattaya?

I used to visit a dentist in the building complex next to McDonalds on 2nd Road, but on my last visit I found that it had closed down.

M.M,

On this thread go back to 8/6/10 19:31, these are two of best I have found.
Particularly if you are in a hurry and need a root canal, crown etc... they have a on-site lab and could do crowns in 2 days use German etc..

LBM

[LittleBigMan]

This off topic perhaps, but just my two baht worth on medical. Am a huge medical tourist . Whenever I head to Thailand (or RP / Indo), twice or three times a year I always get my teeth cleaned for about 800 baht. Often swap a filling for about the same price. As I posted before, one of my bar gals had a molar which was black. I paid a dentist for her molar pulled, x-rays, and medicine (800/b to pull, 200/b for X-ray, and 200/b for medicine for total 1200 baht). Cost in the States ... completely nuts!

Here an example how I compare the US and Thai medial. Whenever in Thailand, get some Diclox. Sometimes I get skin problems which can get serious. Cost is figure 2 baht a tablet, so whenever I get an inflammation, cost in the 60 baht range. Few years ago in the States had an inflammation. Of course, cannot get generic diclox over the counter. So appointment to see some damn doctor. They wanted to know my life history, and of course the most important: medical insurance. Finally out the door. Got the diclox prescription. Go to pharm. Not only lost a day, and cost was over $200.

So I do ask ... which system is better. Gee, I wonder: 2 minutes and 60 baht or loss of a day and cost over $200. Cost of medical in the States would kill anyone. And now under Patriot, anyone who brings diclox / any medical scripts back to the States is practically considered a terrorist !

Anyway, don't get me started. Point is that am a huge proponent of medical tourism, and Thailand is a great place for it.




--Popper

Popper,

Your insight regarding this topic of being a big fan of " medical tourist " and your above opinion is only a small percentage of what the dental and medical is all about.

My views are from living here studing their system and have studied all the major medical insurance policies that are offered. I have visited Bumrungrad posing as a writer so that I can get a free tour of their entire facility and have visit all the major hospital in Pattaya, Chon Buri, Sattahip and BPH, and have personally been raked over by BPH and insurance companies.

Regarding Dental, there are many facilities to choose from and when it comes to Thai own and run many don't use proper cleaning methods products and nearly all can give you a cheap cleaning but rarely do they even polish your teeth or give your a proper preventive examine like dept measurements for your gums. Even many of the western foreign owns have their short comings and the many that I have visited I have narrow down to two that I feel comfortable visiting in Pattaya. My views are from having worked in a family dental lab on and off and from a few of my cousins being dentist is the U.S. the general consenses from them is that if there is one good profession to be in that is dentistry since it is a " license to steal " . But in the end in Thailand it is still cheap enough that is it cheaper than the deductiable you have to pay in the U.S. for the same dental work.

Now when it comes to medical the great thing about Thailand is you can get lots of pills and if you needs pills like antibiotics, lipitor, it is available and many are cheap. But as noted it is a very small percentage of what the system is all about! You will find it nearly impossible to locate a medical building loaded with all kinds of specialty doctors like in the U.S. in which you can be refer too! Here you go to a nice big hospital see a Internal medicine doctor and most likely will learn as they go along. When it comes to prices yes I will join you in beating down the U.S. for it's high cost but when you hear people say the U.S. has the best medical system and research and you live, see experience what I have here in Thailand, particularly here in Pattaya you won't convince me in a million years that it isn't! There are only two hospital I would trust in Thailand in general and that is Bumrungrad and the hospital the King stays other than that most are all show and no go. But if I got sick or hurt and have no say in the matter I will save my energy and just pray for the best?

You quoted only one point of view in a topic that was discussed back in late September. More reading and RTFF is necessary but if you are a tourist and know what kind of pills you want you are in good hands other than that start praying if it becomes more than a pill!

LBM

[Mr Enternational]

Almost $20USD per tablet? Ok - we all can use an assist once and a while, but that seems like an awefully high price. Gimme 4 SW's from Beach Road ST for the same price and I would hope that variety does prove to be the spice of life.

SunLover

$20/pill seems to be the going price for genuine Viagra the world over. When it first came out I was able to go to the doctor in the States and get a prescription. A 30 day supply would cost me $20 with my insurance and since I didn't use it I would sell it to my friends for $10 each. Those days have long been over.

[El Frances]

It is true you can buy many antibiotics perfectly legally in Thailand with a perscription, but that is true in many other places. It is only in certain Western countries that governments and medical groups keep prices artificially high by insisting you need a prescription and stopping competition on even generic drugs. Which in the case of some drugs of obviously a good thing. If you do but antibiotics, get them from a respectable pharmacy. You often get asked whether you want the branded drugs or generics (which are much cheaper) for drugs which are out of patent. I have been known to take a course of Doxycycline home just in case something starts to itch.

J.

My experience is that they would sell you any drug without caring if you have a prescription or not.

[Mr Enternational]

This off topic perhaps, but just my two baht worth on medical. Am a huge medical tourist . Whenever I head to Thailand (or RP / Indo), twice or three times a year I always get my teeth cleaned for about 800 baht. Often swap a filling for about the same price. As I posted before, one of my bar gals had a molar which was black. I paid a dentist for her molar pulled, x-rays, and medicine (800/b to pull, 200/b for X-ray, and 200/b for medicine for total 1200 baht). Cost in the States ... completely nuts!

In the States they told me that I would need a root canal on top of one that I had gotten in the navy 20 years ago. This was going to cost me $300 with insurance. I went to the dentist in Thailand and she said I only needed to get it refilled. She didn't take x-rays or anything. She drilled out and refilled 2 of my teeth without drugs and I didn't feel anything. 800 baht. And I paid 700 baht the next day for a heavy duty deep cleaning which hurt worse than the drilling and filling. Two years have gone by and I haven't had any more problems.

[Popper1]

It is true you can buy many antibiotics perfectly legally in Thailand with a prescription, but that is true in many other places. It is only in certain Western countries that governments and medical groups keep prices artificially high by insisting you need a prescription and stopping competition on even generic drugs. Which in the case of some drugs of obviously a good thing. If you do but antibiotics, get them from a respectable pharmacy. You often get asked whether you want the branded drugs or generics (which are much cheaper) for drugs which are out of patent. I have been known to take a course of Doxycycline home just in case something starts to itch.

This off topic perhaps, but just my two baht worth on medical. Am a huge medical tourist . Whenever I head to Thailand (or RP / Indo), twice or three times a year I always get my teeth cleaned for about 800 baht. Often swap a filling for about the same price. As I posted before, one of my bar gals had a molar which was black. I paid a dentist for her molar pulled, x-rays, and medicine (800/b to pull, 200/b for X-ray, and 200/b for medicine for total 1200 baht). Cost in the States ... completely nuts!

Here an example how I compare the US and Thai medial. Whenever in Thailand, get some Diclox. Sometimes I get skin problems which can get serious. Cost is figure 2 baht a tablet, so whenever I get an inflammation, cost in the 60 baht range. Few years ago in the States had an inflammation. Of course, cannot get generic diclox over the counter. So appointment to see some damn doctor. They wanted to know my life history, and of course the most important: medical insurance. Finally out the door. Got the diclox prescription. Go to pharm. Not only lost a day, and cost was over $200.

So I do ask ... which system is better. Gee, I wonder: 2 minutes and 60 baht or loss of a day and cost over $200. Cost of medical in the States would kill anyone. And now under Patriot, anyone who brings diclox / any medical scripts back to the States is practically considered a terrorist !

Anyway, don't get me started. Point is that am a huge proponent of medical tourism, and Thailand is a great place for it.




--Popper

[Sunlover2]

You can however buy it from some respectable places, typically for 2200 Baht for 4 100mg tabs (in a Pfizer box with the hologram thingy).

Almost $20USD per tablet? Ok - we all can use an assist once and a while, but that seems like an awefully high price. Gimme 4 SW's from Beach Road ST for the same price and I would hope that variety does prove to be the spice of life.

SunLover

[JohnSue]

Am a big Stick fan. What kind of "naughty pictures" are they looking for? I posted many pictures from my Sony-Erricsson phone on this forum. All were clearly of legal age, and they just had no clothes on. Could this get me in trouble?

Recall from Sticky long ago, cops were looking for farangs who got off the Ekkamai bus station, looking for medical drugs obtained without a prescription. Things as antibiotics, etc. That to me really scary. As I understand it, this a result from the US Pharmaceutical companies pressuring congress to pressure the Thai Gov't to crack down on even legal drugs which Americans buy in Thailand for a fraction of US prices.

Sickening ...

--Popper

It is true you can buy many antibiotics perfectly legally in Thailand with a perscription, but that is true in many other places. It is only in certain Western countries that governments and medical groups keep prices artificially high by insisting you need a prescription and stopping competition on even generic drugs. Which in the case of some drugs of obviously a good thing. If you do but antibiotics, get them from a respectable pharmacy. You often get asked whether you want the branded drugs or generics (which are much cheaper) for drugs which are out of patent. I have been known to take a course of Doxycycline home just in case something starts to itch.

BTW. Whilst you can buy genuine Viagra in Thailand without a perscription strictly you should have one (in Singapore as well) and most decent chemists require one. You can however buy it from some respectable places, typically for 2200 Baht for 4 100mg tabs (in a Pfizer box with the hologram thingy). Cut the things in half though. It is a heart drug after all so be careful.

J.

[Booey]

am a big stick fan. what kind of "naughty pictures" are they looking for? i posted many pictures from my sony-erricsson phone on this forum. all were clearly of legal age, and they just had no clothes on. could this get me in trouble?

--popper

honestly, i don't know what will get you into trouble or not, but with the reputation of the bib, i would err on the side of caution. it's my feeling that any naked picture that they find is going to cost you some baht. i'm sure that the ladies you were with were not ****, but can you prove it? remember, the bib want your $$ and i am sure they would happily accuse you of a myriad of offenses if they found some pictures of naked thai women. better to be safe than sorry, get off the bus at onnut.

[Popper1]

For those of you that don't read Stickman's weekly column, he is reporting that the BIB are hanging out at the Ekkamai bus station and searching farang, especially those getting off the bus from Pattaya. One Stickman reader reports that they are also checking out peoples memory cards from their cameras, etc, probably looking for naughty pictures.

Edit: Stick also mentions that the bus does stop at Onnut before reaching Ekkamai so it might be advisable to get off there.

Be careful out there!

Thanks Stick!

Am a big Stick fan. What kind of "naughty pictures" are they looking for? I posted many pictures from my Sony-Erricsson phone on this forum. All were clearly of legal age, and they just had no clothes on. Could this get me in trouble?

Recall from Sticky long ago, cops were looking for farangs who got off the Ekkamai bus station, looking for medical drugs obtained without a prescription. Things as antibiotics, etc. That to me really scary. As I understand it, this a result from the US Pharmaceutical companies pressuring congress to pressure the Thai Gov't to crack down on even legal drugs which Americans buy in Thailand for a fraction of US prices.

Sickening ...




--Popper

[Booey]

For those of you that don't read Stickman's weekly column, he is reporting that the BIB are hanging out at the Ekkamai bus station and searching farang, especially those getting off the bus from Pattaya. One Stickman reader reports that they are also checking out peoples memory cards from their cameras, etc, probably looking for naughty pictures.

Edit: Stick also mentions that the bus does stop at Onnut before reaching Ekkamai so it might be advisable to get off there.

Be careful out there!

Thanks Stick!