Gpanda

While this is a concern, it should not be a big one. Actually, there are great medical facilities in bangkok. You could get your shots the first day at Baumregard (SP?) Hospital. It's state of the art. Thailand has many medical tourists. Many on this forum have used this hospital. I'm pretty sure you could arrange to get your shots the first day. Check the CDC and make your choices.

You should be able to get your PCP to call in a presription for Malarone.

If you have any doctor friends (oops an oxymoron), get them to make an appointment for you.

Try Mt. Auburn again.

rhkkmk

hope you will come to the GTG its fun....

where do you live around boston? we are in needham....gpanda is in cambridge (he does not like people to know that however)...

pmgoosed

Wow...thanks guys. Like I said elsewhere...I need to really plan my trips with more time-- this fly by the seat of my pants thing won't work if I ever get hitched!



Heck, tonight I have to figure out what I want to even do if I can pull this off. I do know a short trek, definitely some beach, and a cooking class is on the agenda. Wish I could do the diving...but I am not sure the tides will be conducive.

I am pretty much am game for the get-together.

I live in the N. End- one block off the water on Commercial Steet (right off of Columbus Park).

Gpanda

Do not abandon hope. With 25 days, you can have an unbelievable time in SEA. Thailand, Cambodia and Laos are all very accessible. You can take a trek in Laos or Northern Thailand.

First step is to book the BOS-BKK flight. Vayama.com has 9/1/08-9/30/08 for $1373. A good price. You can plug in your exact dates.

pmgoosed

I have to fly on American for part of the trip...I am looking at flights right now.


I have an 800 voucher with them. The flights seem reasonable...about 700 out-of-pocket.

Gpanda

You might look to see if you can use the voucher with any of their partners.

Kathie

If you need to wait until Bangkok to get your immunizations, the hospital Bob and Andy are trying to spell is Bumrungrad. It has long been the only JACHO accredited hospital outside the US. Google it - they have a great website.

Of course it's better if you can get your immunizations before you leave, but getting them there is better than not getting them at all. Andy is right, you'll need to get your doc to write a script for Malarone as it is not available in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia. You'll need enough pills to start taking them one day before you enter the malarial risk area and to continue them for one full week after leaving the malarial risk area. Try to take the pill at about the same time each day, with food, and make sure the food has some fat (as one of the components is fat-soluable), even just cereal with milk that has 2-3% milkfat will be enough.

rhkkmk

we were told to take the pills at breakfast and have eggs.....what do you do if you are fat to begin with??

rhkkmk

sen me an e mail with your name and contact e mail so i can put you on the list...

[email protected]

rhkkmk

also see out post called "BOSTON GTG, 2008" ON this forum

pmgoosed

Funny...I just tried to e-mail you with the original address and it came back! Re-sent!

pmgoosed

Thanks everyone!

Unfortunately...no luck yet with the darn clinics.

That being said, this has totally fired me up. I havent received my offer yet but I am told I have four weeks vacation...plus I can buy one back (love working for a Europe based company).

So...if I cant go on Monday...I am going to save up those days and do a 5 week adventure come next year. The excitement I have right now for a S.E. Asia trip is something I have not felt in the last two years of travel.

Don't get me wrong...loved where I have been...but this trip is just something totally different.

filmwill

...all for due reason, PM. Going to Europe, I'm sorry, is no substitute for SE Asia.

You SHOULD be fired up--it's the most magical place in the world. Never will you feel more alive...or more far away from life as you know it...then you will there.

I would call Europe a tiresome and boring runner-up to anywhere you could go in Asia.

If you can make it happen, keep the fire alive. It's worth every penny of effort you're exerting right now.

pmgoosed

LOL...I hear you! My eyes are bloodshot...and I am working every angle.

I just looked at the proposed cities my buddy gave me and it looks, as you put it, magical...if not overly ambitious.

He has me going from Bangkok, to Siam Reab, up to Ventiame (sp?), up to Vang Vieng, up to Louangphrabang, over to Chiang Rai, down to Chiang Mai, and finishing in Kho Tao...before getting back to Bangkok.

Looking at the map...looks crazy. I only spoke with him for about 5 minutes because he had to fly out to Dallas. It looks like it would be constant travel...with worry about slowness in Laos to begin with.

Any thoughts on that schedule (in 25 days) and how weather would affect the treks in Chiang Mai, tubing in Laos, and beach in Koh Tao. He did mention something about flying from Siam Reab to Ventiame...but I would miss all the countryside.

Gpanda

PMG-there is no vacation as nice as the one between jobs. No random work thoughts intrude. You can still make SEA happen.

With 25 days, the skeleton of your friend's plan makes sense. BKK, SR, LP, CR and CM are all fascinating. You should fly several times. The "countryside" is not worth the time investment for road travel on all the legs.

Kathie

I agree that your friend's plan is a bit ambitious.... too much moving around, way too much time on the road. But if you have a full 25 days on the ground in Asia, you could visit as many as 5 different places if you opt for some flights. Make sure you don't spend all of your time getting from place to place rather than experiencing the place. Travel overland in this part of Asia is slow.

We'll be glad to brainstorm with you about your itinerary. I have to agree that as much as I've enjoyed Europe, it is in no way as compelling as SE Asia.

pmgoosed

I literally have not slept trying to do this.

NOT ONE CLINIC can see me...and my doctor (who is considered one of MGH's best) told me I would be taking a major risk by getting the shots in country because the antibodies will not kick in...and taking into consideration the type of activity I want to do.

I have one last shot...I am holding out hope.

cruisinred

This is a long shot, but I throw it out as an option. I am about 2.5 hours from Boston in Fairfield County, CT. My regular family doc is also a travel clinic doc (does yellow fever and all vaccinations, etc)...and it is a walk in clinic...no appts needed. Could give you phone number if you're really desperate. SEA would be such a great trip for 3 weeks....would hate to see you miss out jst because you can't get a doctor's appt.

Gpanda

PMG-don't give up. Keep up the good fight.

dogster

Hey, this'll be unpopular - but why don't you just GO.

If you're in a state - and you obviously ARE - then wear long sleeved clothes, cover yourself in DEET, eat and stay only in the best hotels, get an A/C car and driver to show you around, eat no street food, refuse to shake hands or drink nothing but Coca-Cola. And stop all this grief.

Now, I don't want any abuse - but I gotta tell you that Dogster has been in S.E. Asia about 35 times - and never once had a shot, a jab or a malaria pill.

Yup, I'm sure I'll die tomorrow, I'm sure that within minutes a rabid dog will kill me, that Enchepalitis will bring me down, that smallpox, syphilis and typhoid are just round the corner, I KNOW I'm the most stupid person in the world - but, you know, so far so good.

So just let me be the SINGLE person to tip the scales slightly in the other direction.

Or don't go.

Whatever you like.