Once On This Island...: Med Evac!

My Peace Corps journey took a dramatic and unexpected detour this month when I had both parasitic and bacterial infections in my intestines. (Fun stuff.) Since the hospital on Pohnpei didn’t have the resources to treat me, I was “medically evacuated” (informally called “med evac” by volunteers) to Bangkok, Thailand. I found out they were sending me to Bangkok the day before my flight!

Usually the Pacific Island posts med evac to Manila, but since the doctors there were already busy with other med evac-ed volunteers, I was sent to the Asian posts’ med evac hub. (I met the country director and he said that they usually get about 70 med evac-ed volunteers each year.)

For the first week that I was in Thailand, I was hospitalized in the ritzy Bumrungrad International Hospital. It was basically like a 5 star hotel – flat screen TV, kitchen, huge bathroom, city views… A bit of a shock to get used to – all that I really cared about was getting a hot shower! I got that and a whole lot more!

Half of the hospital room - I was very spoiled!

View from my hospital room

This week I was discharged from the hospital and got the chance to explore Bangkok a little. It was overwhelming to navigate such a huge city after living in a little village for almost two years! So many cars, motorcycles, people... I was always in somebody's way!

I took a boat taxi to visit some of the temples on the Chao Phraya River

Climbing to the top of the steep Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn)

View from the top - my attempt at a "selfie"

Another elaborate temple

The giant reclining buddha at Wat Pho, representing the passage to Nirvana

Buddhas everywhere!

Royal Palace - there were lots of tourists here, so of course there were lots of
sketchy pickpockets and opportunists around. There was a sign and
loudspeaker system that warned, "Do not trust wily strangers!" I love the
word choice! I wanted to take picture of the sign but one such
"wily stranger" was standing in front of it (perhaps on purpose...?)

After one day of sightseeing I was pretty exhausted, so I found low energy activities for the rest of the week. I got a traditional Thai massage (a mix of massage and yoga-like stretching) and went to see a movie. Before the movie started, everyone stood up while they played the “long live the king” anthem. He’s a pretty big deal here. (The movie, by the way, was Saving Mr. Banks. I highly recommend it!)

Images of King Rama IX are everywhere!

I also visited the Jim Thompson house and gardens for a much-needed break from the busy city. Jim Thompson was an American who moved to Thailand and helped to revitalize the Thai silk industry. He also built a traditional Thai house and filled it with art and antiques from around Southeast Asia.