- Joined
- Jul 4, 2008
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Hello, I have just returned to Seoul, S.Korea from Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Intl. Airport on Thursday morning 4:30am.
I have had a rather interesting, revealing/ Educational trip this time. My wife an I were on a 5 ½ day journey "honeymoon" to KoChang near the Southern end of the Cambodian boarder. Kochang means Elephant Island in Thai.
The first day, it was readily apparent that the name meant Euro-walrus/Elephant Seal instead of Elephant Island. The Island was overrun with gigantic overweight ill-mannered Europeans. (no offence towards Europeans).
By ill mannered, I mean quite simply that the majority of tourists would treat the local Thais as second class citizens and would refuse to show respect by not Wai-ing (Wai is the act of placing ones hands together and bowing) and rudely ordering restaurant staff or resort staff around like personal servants. It was a pretty shocking and disheartening to see. Many of the resort workers are living far below the poverty line and usually live far away from the resort area in some of the most disgusting conditions in rat, Dengue fever, Cholorea, TB, Japanese Encephalitis, Amoeba infested slums. The act of developing resorts in the area drives the land cost into the stratosphere and displaces the local population. For every development of a resort it adds more financial burden for local /average Thai. Most areas that locals (resort workers) live in lack power, running water and sewer systems. Many families have had to split so that mom or dad can go earn a living at the resorts as most Thais can't afford to live near their work. (remember this fact when going to stay in the big resort areas like Pattaya, Krabi, Phuket, Koh Samui...etc)
Despite my description of the situation above I did actually enjoy my time and
we saw lots of interesting sites. Yes, we also interacted a lot with local/ rural Thais, whom many were warm and friendly and incredibly helpful.
Both my wife and I can speak a little Thai and are learning it as much as we can. I have a sister-in-law from rural Prutchewap-Kirikan province so being able to speak/read Thai is a priority for both of us.
Second - Fourth days on Kochang were spent exploring the tropical Rainforest
on the island and doing a night tour by boat to watch fireflies.
Our trip on Sunday last week took a dramatic turn when I woke up at 2am feeling delirious, with sharp pains on my sides. I promptly started vomiting violently from 2-9am. Nearly 7 hours straight. I was not aware of it at the time, but I was also having the worst fever I can remember. ~40-41c to be precise.
I was rushed to Bangkok Hospital Emergency on Kochang and was promptly diagnosed with having a highly aggressive strain of Amoebic Dysentery. My liver and kidneys were being attacked and I was in the mid stages of full-blown sepsis. (blood poisoning) I was lucky that the Anti-biotics that were given to me cleared about 90% of the Dysentery within ~8-10hrs. Hence I got a new respect for tropical illnesses. :wave:
While at the hospital I watched a European Girl writhe in Agony with full blown Tentus infection, and a little rural Thai Girl experiencing Dengue Fever. Her mom works at one of the local resorts and was internally haemorrhaging in front of us.
Very sad to watch. I hope she survived. :cryyy:
My brush with death according to the doctor could have been caused by an infected ice cube, tainted water or an infection through our resorts swimming pool.
(You don't actually have to drink contaminated water to contract this illness.) I am really thinking it was the swimming pool as it wasn't chlorinated very well.
My wife and I shared the same food and she never came down with anything. I swam in our resorts pool a lot more than she did.
The next day we were on our way to Bangkok....
Story continues....
I have had a rather interesting, revealing/ Educational trip this time. My wife an I were on a 5 ½ day journey "honeymoon" to KoChang near the Southern end of the Cambodian boarder. Kochang means Elephant Island in Thai.
The first day, it was readily apparent that the name meant Euro-walrus/Elephant Seal instead of Elephant Island. The Island was overrun with gigantic overweight ill-mannered Europeans. (no offence towards Europeans).
By ill mannered, I mean quite simply that the majority of tourists would treat the local Thais as second class citizens and would refuse to show respect by not Wai-ing (Wai is the act of placing ones hands together and bowing) and rudely ordering restaurant staff or resort staff around like personal servants. It was a pretty shocking and disheartening to see. Many of the resort workers are living far below the poverty line and usually live far away from the resort area in some of the most disgusting conditions in rat, Dengue fever, Cholorea, TB, Japanese Encephalitis, Amoeba infested slums. The act of developing resorts in the area drives the land cost into the stratosphere and displaces the local population. For every development of a resort it adds more financial burden for local /average Thai. Most areas that locals (resort workers) live in lack power, running water and sewer systems. Many families have had to split so that mom or dad can go earn a living at the resorts as most Thais can't afford to live near their work. (remember this fact when going to stay in the big resort areas like Pattaya, Krabi, Phuket, Koh Samui...etc)
Despite my description of the situation above I did actually enjoy my time and
we saw lots of interesting sites. Yes, we also interacted a lot with local/ rural Thais, whom many were warm and friendly and incredibly helpful.
Both my wife and I can speak a little Thai and are learning it as much as we can. I have a sister-in-law from rural Prutchewap-Kirikan province so being able to speak/read Thai is a priority for both of us.
Second - Fourth days on Kochang were spent exploring the tropical Rainforest
on the island and doing a night tour by boat to watch fireflies.
Our trip on Sunday last week took a dramatic turn when I woke up at 2am feeling delirious, with sharp pains on my sides. I promptly started vomiting violently from 2-9am. Nearly 7 hours straight. I was not aware of it at the time, but I was also having the worst fever I can remember. ~40-41c to be precise.
I was rushed to Bangkok Hospital Emergency on Kochang and was promptly diagnosed with having a highly aggressive strain of Amoebic Dysentery. My liver and kidneys were being attacked and I was in the mid stages of full-blown sepsis. (blood poisoning) I was lucky that the Anti-biotics that were given to me cleared about 90% of the Dysentery within ~8-10hrs. Hence I got a new respect for tropical illnesses. :wave:
While at the hospital I watched a European Girl writhe in Agony with full blown Tentus infection, and a little rural Thai Girl experiencing Dengue Fever. Her mom works at one of the local resorts and was internally haemorrhaging in front of us.
Very sad to watch. I hope she survived. :cryyy:
My brush with death according to the doctor could have been caused by an infected ice cube, tainted water or an infection through our resorts swimming pool.
(You don't actually have to drink contaminated water to contract this illness.) I am really thinking it was the swimming pool as it wasn't chlorinated very well.
My wife and I shared the same food and she never came down with anything. I swam in our resorts pool a lot more than she did.
The next day we were on our way to Bangkok....
Story continues....
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+Rep to you good sir!
