Jab Hunting

I needed a yellow fever jab, so on arrival from the plarform on Friday I made enquiries at the local hospital (Bumrungad - unfortunate name, award-winning establishment. I almost wish I was Ill so I could spend some time there).

I was told "So sorry mister, cannot" and that only two places do it, numbers attached. I called the first number and a nice lady said "Yes mister, can. This afternoon". Great!

I asked for dircetions and was told to visit their website. Disaster! It was all in Thai. I Googled the name of the place - Bamrasnaraduran Institute or summat - and found an address - only ten minutes from my apartment. Great!

I brushed my hair, left with twenty minutes to go before my appointment, grabbed a motorcycle taxi.

On arrival I was met with blank stares. Disaster - I was in the wrong place! I handed in the bit of papaer with the phone number on and they called it for me. "This place is not in Bangkok mister" she said apologetically, asif it was her fault I was in the wrong city.

She spoke nicely and the lady promised to wait for me. The place is actually in Nonthaburi, about ten miles Noth-East of Bangkok. Apparently the journy can be done in an hour in a taxi. Great! I flagged a taxi, showed him the new address - he drove on, shaking his head. Disaster! Friday afternoon Bangkok traffic is notorious, especially if you are trying to leave the city.

The third taxi I stopped, the guy said he would take me there but had no idea of how long it would take. I took a chance and got in. Disaster! He stunk of alcohol and had no idea where he was going. He went the wrong way twice, despite me handing him the phone so the nice lady (who we meet later in the story) could give him directions.

I repeatedly rang ahead to explain that yes I was still in Bangkok but on my way. She was very understanding, but at pains to point out that my driver was incompetent. Eventually I threw some money at him and got out. Found a motorcycle taxi, handed him the phone - he knew the place and got me there in ten minutes. Great!

I finally met the lady on the phone, who turned out to be the person who actually gives the injections. She was really nice to me and explained that despite the fact that the clinic had closed an hour ago, she was waiting for her daughter anyway so I had not inconvenienced her. I unleashed a charm offensive anyway, probably because I was so relieved that I was going to get my jab and avoid twenty lashes from wifey. Anyway, I felt like I knew her since we'd been through so much together. Her name was (is) Pornladda.

I got my jab and my ten-year certificate which I'll doubtless lose in the next few weeks like I did the last one, and she called me a taxi, reassuring me that this one would be sober AND know where he was going. While waiting for my taxi, she asked me to stop for dinner. Disaster! My charm offensive had obviously been too effective. I settled for promising to send a postcard from Zanzibar and got into the cab.

Next day was Malaria day. My herculean efforts to get th YF jab would come to nothing, and I'd back in line for twenty of the best, if I turned up in Nairobi empty-handed vis-a-vis Malarial prophylaxis. I wandered over to good old Bumrungrad, which I repeat is a wonderful hospital, and swanned around reading magazines, drinking coffee and receiving clear instructions wher to go next for an hour or so.

I came away with some Lariam, which was disappointing because I know from my Angola adventure that Malarone is the drug of choice. Unfortunately it's not available in Thailand. I got home and read Wikipaedia on Lariam and swiftly changed my mind. I recommend anyone considering a trip to Africa to read that virtual assassination af a drug. I promise, it pulls no punches. Apparently the world is full of people who took a chance and had a very bad experience on Lariam. Nightmares, hallucinations, mild psychoses, depression, the list goes on and I want no part of it, in fact I'd rather take the chance of malaria. Ah well, at least I tried.

Enough drivel for now. Be good while I'm gone eh?