Don't worry, there's nothing seriously wrong with David (well... some would dispute that). He's been having problems sleeping for most of the trip. I suggested that he get an overnight sleep study at Stanford Hospital since they have a sleep disorders clinic that helped me sleep a lot better.
Then I remembered an article I read about Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok. Bumrungrad, one of the best hospitals in the world, attracts people from across the globe to its excellent physicians and facilities plus extremely low costs - up to 90% off U.S. hospital rates. Some of the largest corporations and insurers in the U.S. are now putting Bumrungrad on their list of approved hospitals because the quality of care is so high and the costs so low. Many people cover the airfare costs many times over by flying to Bangkok for major surgery. (If you want to learn more about Bumrungrad, read the excellent article from Fast Company magazine at http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/125/medical-leave.html.)
When we arrived at the main lobby of Bumrungrad International Hospital, we were stunned. It's more like a 5-star hotel than a hospital, complete with full Starbucks on multiple floors. With some patients who were clearly Western, some who wore the flowing robes and veils of the Middle East, and some who were obviously Asian, it's clear that Bumrungrad attracts a global clientele.
After a couple weeks, it seems that David's sleep is improving with help from a prescribed nasal spray to help him breather easier, so we're hopeful that this problem will soon be solved.
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While we were in Thailand, we knew we had to visit some of the world-famous beaches near Phuket. We went island-hopping on a long-tail boat:
While snorkeling and scuba diving (Steve's first time!) in the beautiful blue-green waters, we saw over 50 varieties of exotic fish, beautiful coral formations, and two kinds of sharks. It was awesome.
Here are some of the amazing beaches of southern Thailand..
But in the midst of paradise, there were also sad stories. The places we visited were among the hardest hit during the tsunami 4 years ago. Most of the beach towns we visited were wiped out and had to be completely rebuilt. We met many shopkeepers who lost everything and had to start over. One woman who now runs a travel agency had opened a beachfront hotel just 3 months before the tsunami hit and she lost it all. Now she works 16-hour days, 7 days a week as she tries to start over.
We heard many such stories of hardship and resilience... like the staff at a beach hotel on the island of Ko Racha. Many were refugees who fled Burma to find a better life. But since they are illegal immigrants, they can't step foot on the mainland of Thailand or they risk steep fines or deportation. Like the shopowner, they work 16-hour days almost every day to try to make a life for themselves. Over and over, we met Thai people who were incredibly friendly, hard-working, and resilient. We know that the people we met will persevere to rebuild their lives in spite of the tragic losses they've experienced.
- Steve
