Our neighboorhood (3), looking west

Bangkok 011, originally uploaded by tatsushu.

This is the view from our bedroom window, looking due west. The octagonal building is another apartment building next door. Right behind it is Bumrungrad Hospital, a very large private hospital that will probably be our main place for health care while we're here in Thailand.

Bumrungrad is quite a place: I went there the other day to get patient registration cards for Josh and me, and to get a prescription refilled. The lobby looks more like a 5-star hotel than what we would expect of a hospital-- there is even a food court! After signing in, I went to the appropriate specialist's office, spoke with the doctor within 5 minutes, and went to the cashier and pharmacy to pick up my prescription. The hospital fees came to a total of about 1000 baht, or around US $30.

The hospital, and Thai health care in general, have a great reputation: many Thai doctors train in the US or Europe, and Thailand has become a huge spot for "medical tourism" in recent years, because costs are much less expensive (although you generally do have to pay out of pocket, with certain exceptions). I hope we won't need to visit the doctor much, but we should be well taken care of.