Chiang Mai Initiative Puns

Back in 2017 I set out to ride from Sydney to Paris on my 690, thought it might take a year and a half. Anyway, 5 years later I'm still in south east asia, badly addicted to offroad and thinking that I might skip Paris in favour of central Asia and Mongolia.

https://preview.redd.it/m5toeoro1sb81.jpg?width=4608&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7dc0eb3b628b4a41623607b9246f8b61a9f19374

Was wondering if anybody has heard of a visitor testing positive here in Chiang Mai before departure? Plenty of stories from BKK and Phuket etc. but I’m departing CNX and going through Singapore to LAX so I will be doing my pre-departure Covid test here. It’s three weeks away but I hate to say it I’m starting to stress a bit. It’s the uncertainty and the randomness of everyone’s experiences that sucks. If there was a website that clearly laid out what was going to happen based on symptoms etc. that would go along way to alleviating some concerns. But it seems as if they just want to know if you have insurance or money and that dictates your experience.

Just wanted to type this out to help others. I went to Nakornping Hospital to preform the test. I took the night train to Chiang Mai from Bangkok and it was really easy to just head there after getting off the train since it was too early to check into my hotel. I took a Grab car from the train station for ~100 baht.

The testing site is near the entrance but around the corner in the parking garage. You will see rows of chairs set up in several places, you’ll want the ones IN the parking garage under the hospital. The site technically opens at 8am. I arrived at 7:30am and was first in line.

You need your pink slip, a copy of your passport (they will charge around 20 baht if you don’t bring a copy yourself), and you will fill out a new form with your Chiang Mai info. Assure you get a queue slip with a number on it or you are not in queue. They also take and keep your pink slip at this step, it is advised that you take a picture of it just in case someone tries to ask for it later like a hotel.

After 30 minutes, they gave me a test to walk over to a separate station outside with a similar chair setup (like you probably saw at the airport). A little confusing because no one was there initially. Make sure to double check your name on the sticker attached to the test, they initially messed mine up and so I’m glad I caught it.

Eventually someone came and preformed the test which was a deep nasal swab and a deep throat swab. The tools were thin though, so not too bad. The person performing the test was in a pressurized booth with arm gloves you see in science experiments. It was slightly amusing and I was sad so didn’t snap a photo.

I was done at 8:45am and I was first in line. Definitely advise getting there early.

I was not given a receipt at the hospital I went to but others have at other hospitals. I think it’s a grab bag. Just make sure to get that picture of your pink slip. Reminder: this is a completely free PCR provided by the Thai Government. If you choose to hire an agent (which you totally don’t need to do), don’t let them overcharge you. FREE

Edit: only mystery to me is how I get my results etc. if anyone has that information, it would be appreciated. I have heard that you will get an email once the test is complete, but other hospitals are sending sms to Thai numbers. I will confirm this tomorrow if it happens

Edit 2: got my negative result today! It came in through my email. I was getting nervous because I hadn’t heard back but I found the

Tldr: As the title says because I need to do it in Thailand but I'm new here abd don't know what is a standard price or procedure here.

Long version: I arrived in Thailand just 2 weeks ago. Before that I had been living in Korea for 5yrs with occasional stays in England where I'm from. I'd do my dental check up 1x a year whenever I go to England.

Previously I had xrays (in England) for my wisdom teeth and was told all 4 can grow straight out with no issues. Fast forward to now, as of 2 days ago I've been having crazy pain on one bottom wisdom tooth.

I went to get a check up at a clinic here in Chiang Mai and turns out my bottom 2 wisdom teeth have moved and need removing. The dentist told me I should take all 4 out and that it will cost 4000THB for each bottom tooth and 1500THB each for the top. My top 2 actually have no issues but they said if you remove bottom wisdom teeth you have to remove the top too. A google search told me that sadly this is true.

But I just wondered if the pricing is normal, when I messaged the clinic before hand they told me 2000THB per tooth but after going they told me "no that's the starting price".

They also added on 3 fillings which I allegedly need but in my last dentist check up overseas I didnt need any.

This same dentist also got impatient when I asked questions and barely looked inside my mouth. He hurried out whilst I was still paying so I guess he had somewhere better to be lol.

This evening I happened to find a clinic in my neighborhood so out of curiosity I went in and showed them my xray pic which I had got earlier and they told me yes 4 out is recommended but only 800-1000THB each.

The issue is the clinic in my neighborhood doesn't have an english website, no reviews on google maps and no FB page. The staff were friendlier and patient (English lacking though) with my questions but I dont know about risking it by going there when I cant get any reviews about them.

So I guess I'm wondering how much other people paid for wisdom tooth removal in Thailand and your general experience.

I'm absolutely scared by the thought of the procedure and was so happy when I was told 2yrs ago that I dont need to do anything.. if I knew just a month or few earlier I may have done this all in Korea or England where I know friends or family who can recommend places to do the procedure. But thats my mistake and I guess the price here still is much better than England :S

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Anyone in Chiang Mai right now?

Are businesses open? Like shops, restaurants, pubs etc. I mean: are moat of them back open? Or have a lot of them closed forever?

I'm an avid arcade fan myself, have the ones in Chiang Mai reopened?

Are there interesting events going on in Chiang Mai (concerts, conventions, markets, festivals) or are those still put off due to corona?

I am now in Koh Phangan and want to know if I'm better off going to Chiang Mai or staying here, there is a lot of ambiance here.

Thank you in advance!

So after spending a few days trying to find out how and where to get the test since our hotel had heard nothing about it, we finally found out yesterday and went to the hospital waited 2 hours only to be told to come back in the morning and it opens at 7am so we went earlier to get ahead of the queue we showed up at 6:30am waited until 8am for them to open an hour later and they only started testing at 8:45 am! So we where sitting in a waiting room full of people coughing for a total of 5 hours! If we didn’t have covid before we went there we almost certainly have it afterwards! Such a disaster and so poorly run!

I completed my 2nd Test & Go PCR test today in Chiang Mai and wanted to share a complete guide since there’s a lack of information for tourists. Below is my detailed guide of what to do and what to expect.

Location:

• Nakornping Hospital, Parking Building 3 (inside the parking garage on the ground level) on the right side of the main entrance
• Hours Open: 8am-3pm (closes Noon-1pm for lunch break)
• No reservations - first come, first served process
• Test Type: Free 2nd PCR for Test & Go scheme

Process:

• Take queue number from the table next to blue chairs
• Take and fill out small, 1-page white paper form from cardboard box on the table next to blue chairs. Note: the form asks for a phone number, which must be a Thai number (put your hotel’s phone number if you don’t have a Thai number). Also, write in legible caps.
• Provide nurse (1) your completed white form, (2) your queue ticket, (3) your pink slip from arrival in Thailand (take picture for your records of this before handing it over), and (4) a printed copy of your passport. The main nurse overseeing the operation was helpful and nice.
• Wait in blue chairs for them to call you up to give you your test kit.
• When your name is called, confirm your information on the nurse’s paperwork for accuracy (they print your full name on a sticker with barcodes to attach to your test kit).
• They’ll then give you your test kit and send you outside around the back of the parking garage to take your test. You’ll see a lot of locals in one area waiting to register for their tests. Go past them towards the back where you’ll see two, single-file lines of blue chairs leading up to two pressure chambers where nurses conduct the test swabs. Looks a little odd…never seen anything like this setup! Wait in this line in order for your test (this line has Test & Go tourists plus locals so it will be busier than the tourist only registration queue).
• Take your test - It’s the nose and throat swab (deepest nose one I’ve had yet and I’ve had a dozen Covid tests over the last 2 years throughout the US, Mexico and Italy). Note: you’ll need to help the nurse put on gloves from your kit and place your vial in a holder, then throw your trash away and put your test kit in the styrofoam container next to you. My advice is to be super nice and friendly to the nurse by saying hello and thank you in Thai; I think your test will go much more smoothly that way. And go early because I can only imagine how stressed

Hello,

I have a prescription for Sildenafil in the US due to some health issues. Unfortunately after visiting a couple pharmacies, they told me they would need a prescription, very difficult for me to get this from my Doc in the US, who is also on holiday atm. Does anyone know if this is the norm?

Also would anybody know a place where I can obtain 25mg, 50mg or 100mg tablets, possibly at a cheap price?

Many thanks

Currently living in Chiang Mai City right now I'm looking for a different scene maybe a small town outside Chiang Mai that is beautiful to live in , no more than hr from city , place accomodations to rent, Pretty broad question I know, Personally laid back person I work from home so traveling wouldn't be option, Any advice would be appreciated thanks in advance 🦾🦾

Hi guys does anyone have any experience riding the number #7 service to Chiang Mai. I know it’s quite a long journey and I need to ride the daylight hour service but I was hoping there are at least tables with the seats as I feel like just seats would be uncomfortable for such a long time.

Any experiences or two cents would be appreciated.

Will be in Chiang Mai for four days then heading to Phuket afterwards, any recommendations on what to do/see in Chiang Mai??

Not really a party animal and don’t care for alcohol. Nature lover though~

I am thinking about heading to CM this weekend to get out of BKK. What’s the Covid situation like at the moment? Are there any restrictions or closures at the moment similar to BKK?

I have only some days left on my itinerary in Thailand and I am between Koh Phangan or Chiang mai. I know it’s two really different places but tell me what you like most of each one and which is better at this time of the year.

How is the city rn? I’m thinking about going this weekend and staying at a hostel for a little getaway and to check out the city more. Are local places open?

I’m thinking about 248 hostel.

Context w/ Covid - I live in Thailand and take weekly covid tests for work. I also just took two PCR tests and I’m negative.