Phuket Survival Tips (Under construction)
Based on surgery with Dr Sanguan Kunaporn
Pre - travel
Book business class at least for you return trip and allow a day or 2 to get orientated before surgery. Also allow time afterwards so they can do touchups if necessary (at least a week or 2)
Learn some basic Thai…there are many sites on the net.
Just Google it.
Here is some basic stuff to get you started and a feel for the pronunciation.
Check out some Phuket maps on the net before you leave if you are not taking your laptop Here is a very good site. They have some good ones of Patong on here as well
Take $USD and some Thai Baht. Most NZ cards work in the ATM machines but there is no eftpos (electronic funds transfer point of sale) as we know it. Most large shops take credit cards though
I found E trans
to be the best place for currency
Medical Tests: If you are going to Phuket International Hospital they will do all the pre surgery tests as routine booking in. They are very quick and efficient at doing the blood tests, ecg and x-rays right there on the spot. Was a waste of time doing them at home first.
Airport
When you check in you should be given the option of having your baggage travel right through to Phuket. This saves a lot of messing around as you usually only get an hour to transfer to domestic. If they don't offer then ask!.
This is also the time to tell them if you have any food preferences (vegetarian etc) as they have limited choice on board
Once you get off the plane expect to walk quite a few kilometers to domestic flights (all within the airport).
The moving walkways are the way to go.
Just follow the overhead blue signs to either "Domestic" or "Phuket". As you approach the end keep an eye out for the Thai Airways counter on the right of you. You will need to present your domestic boarding pass to get the current gate number.
Then proceed through immigration and officially enter Thailand.
Note: Be sure to stand on the painted feet on the floor in front of the immigration desk so they can take your photo or they get grumpy. Follow more kilometers of moving walkways to your gate number.
The flight to Phuket is quick and they usually serve a light snack.
Phuket airport is at the top of the island, about as far from Phuket town as you can get. If you are being picked up then ignore the people touting shuttle busses and go out the doors where there you should find your driver waving a sign with your name on it.
The Hospital
Transsexual, Law and Medicine in Thailand by Sanguan Kunaporn
Dr Sanguan uses Phuket International Hospital which is one of several excellent hospitals in Phuket.
His driver picks you up from the airport (usually) and drops you at the hospital which is quite a distance away.
Dr Sanguan is a very competent surgeon, I have obviously seen his work and, as far as my memory goes, the result is better than any gg the same age.
He has an understudy and friend, Dr.Rushapol who does a lot of the facial work and is already a very good surgeon. He is friendly and cheerful but is actually very profound and has a great empathy for ts girls. He did some tricky repair work for me which I am quite impressed with and is someone to watch for in years to come.
Note:….I am not allowed to say much but if you are considering Dr Sanguan for your srs do it now.
Don’t wear you knickers to theatre. Apparently most people do….not much point if you think about it but is quite amusing to the theatre staff.
Entrance etc is on the 3rd floor, there is no ground floor in the lift. There are atm machines here as well.
Bring your laptop. They have free wireless internet but you need to ask for a password to log in. If you need a wireless network thingy you can buy a usb one downstairs at “Big C” for around 600 baht.
Although people are friendly and helpful most have very limited English. There are liaison people who speak good English (but not necessarily good Thai and can arrange just about anything. One of them should be assigned to you. Note: watch out that the liaison people do not push you into special meals, deals, buying houses and other hotel accommodation (unless you want to of course)…they all get kick-backs…just the way the country works. Also, you should be on a hospital diet but they quite often just give you a menu. Ask!
Here is a handy site for finding hotels
Info on property law in Thailand
Venturing out….From the front of the hospital if you go right you will see "Big C" which is an all in one store where you can buy anything from groceries to computers. If you are looking for electrical stuff check downstairs. They also have atm machines down the far end which accept nz cards (cirrus). Take out large amounts at a time to avoid more fees. Note: Supermarkets do credit cards but not eftpos. Cash is best…learn what the notes and coins are.
From the front of the hospital if you look left you will see Tesco on the other side of the road. This is another huge all in one store. You will need to use the over bridge opposite Big C though to cross the road. Don’t try just crossing the road as it is a busy 6 lane highway and apart from being life-threatening it is also illegal. If you must risk you life then do it where there is a u-turn or right turn bay for the traffic otherwise you will be confronted by a huge ditch in the middle.
From the back of the Hospital (1st floor in the lift) looking left along the road is the Baan Suan Place Hotel . This is the one recommended for recovery once you leave hospital and probably the one your driver will drop you at on the first night. You can also access “Big C” through the rear entrance next door.
For smokers life is made difficult by the government who actively discourage it. The big supermarkets do not seem to sell them at all but there is a store next to the hotel that does and for those of you who are familiar with 7-11 there is one further up the road on the right (you can see the sign). 7-11’s are everywhere!
Note: If you get a taxi make sure you take one of the hotel or hospital cards with you so you can show the taxi driver where you are going on the way back.
Leaving Hospital
Now comes the downside of Asia for surgery…the lack of aftercare.
When the time came to leave we were taken to the hotel, dropped there and that was about it.
Whereas European people would be in hospital several weeks if not months locals only expect a couple of days then kicked out. The hospital staff are very polite but their English is limited and they do not have much idea when it comes to the needs of European patients. (yet)
Note this well: Before you leave steal your bedpan!
They expect you to as they are only cheap plastic but…..if you learned to dilate
using a bedpan you are going to be in serious trouble without one. They can not
be bought anywhere in Phuket, the best you could do if you don’t have one is to
borrow someone else’s or head to the mall and find something in the cookware
department.
Patong
Google for Patong hotels Here is a handy site
A lot of the girls go to Patong for recovery after being discharged. Rates are around 1000 bt/night with discounts offered if you pay in advance. Ask your liaison person to book for you. Note:…off season prices are around 400 – 500 baht. Is best to get your liaison person to book only 2 or 3 nights, then you can re-negotiate the deal.
We stayed at the Hotel Baanzhan where we educated the staff. They are friendly but if you stay there make sure you get a room on the first floor (Room 102 is best) not 3 flights of stairs up. Stairs are not user friendly after surgery. Wherever you go expect lots of noise and activity all night. Look for the Marine Pharmacy opposite...the guy there speaks excellent English, knows his stuff and the prices are fair. Note: There are many hotels in the Baanzhaan area but if you are looking around ask if they have “elevator”.
At the bottom end of Baanzhan Road are local markets on the left and local produce markets on the right. Across the road you will see Jungceylon Mall which is massive by our standards. The have a “Carefour” supermarket where you can buy just about anything and a department Store upstairs. They also comply with all the health standards so you can eat anything bought there. Outside the mall, on the way through to the other side (beach) there are stalls where you can buy all sorts of interesting thingys. Try bargaining, most times they will fish out their calculator to see what they can do for you. When we were there times were tough and they were already down to the lowest they could go.
If you want to walk to the beach walk straight through the mall, go right in front of the hotel entrance till you get to the main road. Turn right then take any of the roads on the left. All the sleazy bars are here as well.
Note: The tap water in Bangkok and Phuket is of international standards and drinkable. They only problem though is that the plumbing can be suspect in older building so watch out for cross contamination. Better to buy the biggest bottle of water you can carry home from the supermarket. Don’t forget to use bottle water for dilation prep as well.
Don’t be tempted to get a cheap beach-front hotel/motel. They are noisy, full of sand (not nice for dilation) and every time you go outside you will be harassed by hawkers and scammers.
You can have a bit of fun with the people there but travelers get sucked in every day so be careful. Be wary of anyone who wants to separate a pair or group of you and get you away to a bar to buy you a drugged drink. Just be aware that these people make a living out of it so there must be more than a few gullible tourists out there. By their standards you are foreign and rich beyond anything they could ever have so are fair game. (watch out for people from other countries running scams etc as well) I found if you take their photo the suspect ones soon vanish.
Dr Saguan’s driver will take you to your hotel and pick you up for appointments. Remember though that he gets paid only on the assumption that you are staying in the nearby hotel. It appears to be customary to give him money toward petrol.
My advice would be to stay in the nearby Baan Suan Place Hotel for at least a couple of nights despite what people may say or try to con you into then move later. Better to be close to the hospital so you can get care or at least ask advice when things look strange or don’t feel right.
Taxi fare is around 500 baht between Phuket town and Patong. On one occasion late at night I hitched a ride with some locals and offered then the same amount. They were very happy with this, it probably paid for a weeks petrol. Don’t try walking….the hill is a killer!
Leaving Phuket
Dr Saguan’s driver will pick you up and take you to the airport. It might be a good idea to check that he actually knows when you are going and has scheduled it. Phone Dr Kunaporn’s office at the number below. There are also shuttle services available from most of the hotels.
Extending you stay: If you came on Thai airways this is very easy and
inexpensive if you do it through a local agent. The domestic flights are always
busy so do it as soon as you can to give them enough time to re- book domestic
and international flights. Make sure they are an accredited Thai Airway
agent. I used Phuket On Beach Travel, 17 Thaweewong Road, Patong Beach Ph 76
292721. They were very helpful and it only cost 300 baht to change domestic and
international.
Phuket airport is very basic so if you plan on getting there early take a book.
Departure tax is included in just about all airfares now so that is one less hassle.
There are quite a lot of shops at Bangkok airport even after you go through immigration. It’s a long way so don’t worry if you think you’ve missed out.
Back Home
I missed all the local currency conversion places. They were just to much to cope with on the return trip
Best place for currency exchange back home (Including Thai baht and Travelers Cheques) was again E trans
Phone numbers
Vodafone mobiles just automatically find a server and connect.
There is a surcharge of 80 cents (in or out) for txt and $3 for calls(in or out)
Local sim cards are cheap and work fine. The new 2 degrees cards are supposed to work the same.
Dr Kunaporn 00 66 76221631 E-Mail: info@phuket-plasticsurgery.com
Phuket International Hospital 00 66 76249400 selection 8 then ask for room number
Clic here for Thai numbers Email: info@phuket-inter-hospital.co.th
Baanzhan Place Hotel 00 66 76221631
You need to dial the “00” for Phuket if you are in Patong
Emergency
In the event of an emergency, its best to call the Tourist Police on 1155 as other operators may not speak good English. In other circumstances, ask a Thai person to call on your behalf, such as the reception staff at your hotel.
Directory Enquiries: 1133
Operator: 100
If you want to chat about Thai travel I am very willing to discuss what I have picked up along the way.
I will even go with you as ts midwife if you pay my fare. I am still $2k in debt over this last lot or I would provide a free service.
My email address is on the bottom of the main page of this website. It is scripted so that the spammers cant collect it.
Good luck
Michelle Webster, Auckland, New Zealand