keyman

That's gonna take a long, long time!! Make sure you have wheels on your luggage!! 🤣

That's a fuck of a long flight!! I hope they have plenty of toilet rolls!! 😂

7/11 😄

From the FCO website: Thailand is experiencing a drought that has led to some sea water entering the fresh water supply and tap water. This issue may continue for several months. Thailand’s Metropolitan Waterworks Authority advise that there is no risk to public health from drinking tap water but salty water can affect people in higher risk groups, such as those with kidney disease. If you are concerned about the risks to your personal health, you should drink bottled water and/or get medical advice.

Then obviously it should be in the funnies section, where I have now moved it to. KM

Sorry, was that too difficult a question?

Is this a real story, where you can provide a link, or just an excuse to post more porn?

Guys, if this keeps along the political track, it will be moved to the politics forum. The topic of this thread is 'Baht' KM

I always bring 50s, but I always ask the bank for clean ones, explaining that they won't be accepted in Thailand if they are marked. They give me the opportunity to check them and will change any I feel are too marked. When 'tilling up' in a bank, if they haven't got enough in a till to make up a 'wrapped' amount, they write on the top note of the pile how much the value is. You also see marks from people/shops who use a marker pen that detects forgeries, especially on larger denominations. Hope that helps. KM

Cheques? (Checks) - Do people still use those? I haven't used a cheque for nearly ten years!!

There's a money changer near the Second road traffic lights going towards Jomtien. On the left about 200 metres from the junction with Pattaya Tai. You go inside what looks like a tourist tat shop but also signposted as a money changer. The rate last week for me was 3 satang better than TT and you're not stood on the road for all and sundry see what you've got. I had my passport with me but wasn't asked for. KM

And that’s where I am now, safely ensconced in my apartment. My vision has already improved to the point that I’m typing this (the next day) without the need for my glasses, something that was impossible before. I have to wear sunglasses whenever I’m out to keep dust and dirt out and stick to my timetable of eye drops until at least next week. Vision isn’t perfect but getting better each day as the healing process progresses. I was told at the beginning it would be like this and I would also see like a ‘halo’ effect around lights, which does happen. Again, not something that overly concerns me as he did tell me this would ease as your brain gets used to the new signals its receiving. I get a bit of a strobing effect occasionally and also feel there is something on my peripheral, but again, it’s expected and not uncomfortable or annoying. Was it worth it? I think so. It was a lot of money to cough up and it may not suit everyone. I don’t have deep pockets, but I’m still working and can therefore replenish. I will no longer need new glasses every 12-24 months, although may still need regular check ups. As I’ve had my lenses replaced, I also won’t get cataracts in the future. I know someone who had them and the problems he had to suffer with until the NHS replaced them, but he had a long wait each time and still has to wear glasses. That sort of inconvenience I can do without and I think that is what probably pushed me to have it done. At this point I would just say thanks for taking the time to read this unusual trip report, but don’t think of it as the end. As my journey continues I’ll give further updates as to how my eyes develop and any problems I may get. Off to try out if I really can play golf now! Keyman

Post Op – not that kind! They wheeled me from the room into a recovery area where they just wanted me to sit for 30 minutes or so, to make sure I felt ok. They gave me a large pair of ‘Roy Orbisons’ to wear to protect my eyes from the light, which were to become my companion for the rest of my stay. If anyone doesn’t get the ‘Roy Orbison’ reference, you’re far too young and should leave the forums immediately. Dr Somchai came along to check how I was doing and have the proverbial picture taken again – it made me think either he has a very creepy scrapbook or I’m his first patient to survive!! Anyway, I was soon wheeled back to my private room and my concerned ‘live in’. Whilst I had been away, they had brought lunch – it was luke warm and horrible. This became a recurring theme with the evening meal and the breakfast. I should have picked up on this when I was shown the badly photocopied menu originally, as I suspect I wasn’t given anything special, just the bog standard crap they serve on the wards. I can see why the onsite shops do so well! From this point on, I was given a battery of eye drops on a very regular basis, probably every 30-40 minutes, as well as having my blood pressure, blood oxygen level and my pulse rate checked. It seemed that we were forever being interrupted by one nurse or another, until one said she would not be back until 10pm – result! Time for a little ‘doctor and patient’ roleplay with yours truly in the starring rol as the handsome doctor (still in my scrubs) and my ‘live in’ willing volunteering to have her temperature checked with an, err, unorthodox thermometer. True trooper as she is, she played the role admirably and we settled into the afterglow – only for a different nurse come in to check my vitals again! I think my heart rate was up a bit this time, but we at least had a laugh about it, realizing just how close we were to being caught out. The other nurse returned at 10pm only to inform me she would also be returning at 2am – bloody hell, they’re thorough! Another nurse also arrived at stupid o’clock so sleep wasn’t the best, especially as I had to keep the Roy Orbisons on in case I accidentally rubbed my eyes in the night. Suffice to say I had a rather disturbed sleep and awoke only when they came to tell me Dr Somchai needed another picture, sorry, to give me a final check prior to release. I was wheeled back to the original reception area where my eyesight was checked again and enquiries made as to how I felt. To be fair, the treatment had been pretty good and I was pleased with how everything had progressed so far. Dr Somchai told me what I was and was not to do over the coming weeks. I am not to drink alcohol for a month (that might not work!), I was not to do any exercise, but I was able to walk and to play golf. I was quite surprised at this as before the operation, I couldn’t play golf, so a bit of a bonus, really. It was explained how many different eye drops I had to take and how often, that if I had any problems, headaches and the like, I should call them immediately. A follow up appointment was also booked for the following Monday and also they will see me again before I leave the following week. After what I hoped was my final picture being taken I was wheeled back to my room to get changed and collect my medication. Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed to keep my scrubs, but I was allowed to keep my Roy Orbison’s. My breakfast had also been delivered whilst I was away and true to form, was shit.

The Op Sometime previously I had been prepped and a catheter inserted into my right arm. They had explained that I would have my face covered, other than for each eye in turn to be revealed. They began to tape the covers to my face with what I presumed to be some form of surgical tape, but when it came time for them to remove it, felt like Gorilla Tape!! They joked that it was probably the most painful part of the procedure, but I said no, the paying for it was the most painful! Oh, how we laughed! They said that anesthetic drops would be placed in my eye and I would see lights moving and feel a little pressure at times (remember the cotton bud?) but should feel no pain. They also injected via the catheter something to help me relax, but I wasn’t aware of that at the time. I think most people have a dominant eye, mine is my left, so they operate on the other eye first. As they were going to do both eyes they had told me previously (and told me again) that once completed, they wouldn’t start on the second eye unless I could confirm I could see from the first eye. The operation commenced on my right eye and just as they had said, I could see lights moving, the odd bit of pressure, but no pain. I believe they had placed something in my eye to prevent me blinking, but I neither felt it being inserted nor removed at the end. Within 30 minutes (maybe 20?) it was all done. They removed the covers from my face (fucking tape!!) and checked that I could see with my right eye and was I happy for them to start on my left eye? I confirmed yes to both and it all started again. Soon it was Gorilla Tape time and it was over. As I sat up and looked around, albeit a bit hazy, I watched a guy with a clutch of white sticks walk glumly out of the room – no sale for you today, mate!!

Pre Op We soon arrived where the operation was to take place and was met by another lady, who would be assisting with the procedure. She spoke very good English and was quite chatty. She took me into another room and gave me a pair of operating ‘scrubs’ to wear. She then showed me to a waiting area with a couple of leather couches and offered me a seat. She said someone else was already being operated on, so I would be waiting about 40 minutes. I made myself comfortable and closed my eyes as there was nothing else to do! She returned a little later with a pillow for my head and told me to put my feet up! I think she was surprised at how relaxed I was. At the allotted time everything began to step up a gear. A porter appeared with a wheelchair and the nurse/doctor placed a large white towel over me. We set off along the corridor until we reached what looked like a vending machine. She opened the glass door and removed another large white towel, only this one had been warmed up – clever, I thought, but was soon to realize why as she wheeled me into the operating theatre which was surprisingly cold! As I laid down on the operating table I thought to myself, this is it. It’s actually going to happen! Someone is going to cut my eyeballs open!!!