ekscrunchy

Thanks, Kathie. I thought it was kind of odd that he would be advising me to skip them..of course it is better to be safe, at they say, and I had no ill effects when I took Malarone recently. I have already filled my script!!

Now I am reading here, on another thread today, about people taking Pepto Bismol as a prophylactic...I have never done this (never heard of it, either) and rarely get sick overseas (knock wood)..what is your feeling on this??
I am imagining that if the worst happens and I get some kind of stomach issue, I can get what I need wherever I am, right?? (I do have the Z-Pack antibiotic from my last trip; will take that along) I should say that I am a fairly adventurous eater...

smartcookie

Instead of trying to swim in Hanoi in January, you should include a stop in Nha Trang beach town. There is also a beach in HoAn. 6 nights in Hanoi is good as you can include Halong Bay too. If you can add another night here and are interested in Sapa, do it as well for 2 nights.

Hue is about 4 hour drive from HoAn. HoAn is 4 hours from Danang where you would fly in. There is an airport at Hue and Danang. I would do 2 nights in Hue.

I personally think 6 nights in Bangkok is at least 2 nights too many, but sounds like you really like it.

nibblette

Re: stomach problems
Again talk to your MD. Z-pack will not cover intestinal infections.

Depending on where you are, the medical care may not be very good. And medications may not be real or contain less than the listed dosages. Laos' medical care is not up to Western standards.

thursdaysd

I've certainly never taken Pepto Bismol that way! Of course, I'm careful, and I don't seem to get sick very often. Just one time I've needed to use the Cipro I usually take with me to Asia, and a few times I've needed the Immodium I always carry.

Kathie

Some people swear by pepto-bismol. There is research that indicates that it reduces the frequency and severity of intestinal problems. But what is not clear is what kinds of intestinal probelms pepto can prevent. I consider it unlikely that it would entirely prevent problems caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites, although it may make the GI tract less "friendly" to those things. I suspect that it is most likely to prevent problems caused by unfamiliarly spicy food rather than from pathogens.

Niblette, Z-pack is effective against bacterial TD. Of course, no antibiotic is helpful with either viruses or parasites. In the past, Cipro was the antibiotic of choice, and there is now signifigant resistance to Cipro in SE Asia. Now you are more likely to find that different travel docs will prescribe different antibiotics in an effort not to replicate the problems with Cipro.

While medical care in Laos is not good, and there are signifigant problems with counterfit drugs in SE Asia, there is excellent medical care available in Thailand, for instance.

ekscrunchy

Thanks again! Will take the Z-pack and leave the Cipro at home. And will be careful with the ice on the street!

5 nights Bangkok..
5 nights Luang Prabang..
5 nights Hanoi..
1 night Halong Bay cruise..Emeraude
3 nights Hoi An..
2 nights Hue..
3 nights Saigon

ekscrunchy

Here is another semi-crazy question:

I have fabric at home that I want to have made into pillows. It sounds as if the prices for custom-tailoring are so low that I should think about bringing it to BKK and having a few pillows made...
opinions, please? I as thinking I could then ship them home as they would be lightweight and I will probably ship some other things as well...

beijingkitchen

Esk: Glad you found the website useful. On your tailoring question, yes, any place in BKK or Hanoi could whip up some pillows for cheap. There are also wonderful pillows available in both places that will be calling out to you to bring them home! Try Mosaique on Nha Tho or Dome on Hang Trong (just around the corner from each other) for lovely if not cheap pillow cases and other table/house wares.

Another tip for Thailand. There is a quite famous silk (and not cotton/linen now that they've branched out) store/label called Jim Thompson. They make great silk make up bags, purses, pillow cases, table linens, as well as clothing, throws, etc. Anyway, if you see what you like downtown (or in your hotel or at the airport, JT stores seem to be popping up everywhere), they have an outlet shop not too far out of town. Most stores will tell you where the outlet shop is. I can't remember the soi/alley number (will look for it), but basically you take the BTS (rail system) all the way to the end at On Nut, then you walk/drive out nearly another km and turn left down an alley and go another 200 yards or so and it's a big multi story building on your left (with good signage). Prices can be 50% or more off of regular prices. There are two floors of silk and upholstery fabrics, one floor of just gifty items, and top floor with more housewares and a cafe where you can catch your breath.

LP has funny weather. Think of it as the desert where the temps from day to night could vary a good 20 degrees or more. Three weeks ago I was wearing a T shirt midday, and sweater, jacket and scarf in the early morning and evenings. So if you can tolerate cold weather you can likely get a swim in in the early afternoon. If you are an adventurous eater, don't miss the night/snack market alley. The entrance is across the street from the big corner which has the market with all the ethnic minority good (duvets, pillows, etc), and right next to Bon Cafe or something like that (it's written on the sun umbrellas).

ekscrunchy

I cannot thank you enough for taking time to post all this good info! I am getting really geared up just reading! BK: Do you happen to live in Laos by any chance? Or in Asia??

Please post anything else you think of and I will keep asking!! Just about 2-weeks-plus now!

Kathie

I wonder if BK's analogy of LP weather to desert (meaning in this case high desert, such as Taos) is perhaps more confusing than illuminating. To clarify, LP is lush and green, but at some altitude which causes the difference in day/night temperatures. So like the Golden Triangle area of Thailand or the tea country in Sri Lanka, it cools down at night. While people in LP will tell you it gets "cold" you or I would term it cool. I was there in late November, swam during the day and at most, wore a light overshirt in the evening. It can certainly get cooler, but you will want something you can layer or a light shawl to keep warm. It may be a bit cooler in January. Someone described being there when it was cool enough they didn't want to swim.

beijingkitchen

I sure wish I lived in Laos. Laos slows me down, which I always welcome, so I go back every chance I get. I live in Beijing which is a big concrete city, gray and gloomy.

Kathie, thanks for clarifying my desert comment on weather. It is indeed lush in LPQ. But I would say that how cold it feels at night varies by person. I was just warm enough at night with a sweater, soft shell and scarf, and some people (local and tourist) were wearing puffy coats.

bk

ekscrunchy

Thanks...one more time. BK, I guess it is pretty obvious that you live in Beijing from your screen name!! It may be grey and gloomy, but at least you have some good eating all around! You are both tremendous help to me!