Out of body experience

Visit to the Posh Hospital

I went to the doctor today to have my cold looked at … I was cycling through various symptoms for the last 3 weeks plus … caught it in Hong Kong when Kim and I were there.  I felt it was affecting my chest and ears.  I can’t let it get worse with diving on the horizon in the Andaman Islands.

I chose to go to the best (very very flash) hospital, called Columbia Asia (I think it used to be called Gleneagles). I was bumped straight to the top of the queue for a short consultation with the Chief Medical Officer (who spoke English) cost USD4 but the antibiotics cost USD20.  Various other medication brought the total to about USD40 … about the same as in New Zealand.

It’s quite common in this part of the world for doctors to prescribe and fulfil the prescription at the same time.  They make a bit of money on the drugs to subsidise the consultation.  It does lead to over-prescription sometimes though.

In retrospect I could have gone to a nearby cheaper clinic where the doctors also speak English (I’ve been told) … anyway, my Indonesian is getting rather good now and I would have coped regardless.  I had to speak Indonesian to the administrative and pharmacy staff at the posh hospital anyway.

Sightseeing, moving and floating

I managed to fit in some sightseeing after the doctor’s visit to Tjong A Fie mansion. It reminds me of the various similar Peranakan mansions in Penang and Melaka that are open to visitor.

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I moved to the Blue Angel Hotel close to the grand mosque and palace back in the centre of town.  Resting in the afternoon, I kinda had an out-of-body experience.  I felt myself getting really hot and floaty.  I realised later that I had mixed up my medication (A 3x a day vs B 1x a day) . I think I might have taken too much of the pseudoephedrine which might have overheated me.