If you are planning to spend a holiday in Thailand and you would like a primer on the local culture to shield yourself from culture shock, the first thing you should keep in mind that Thailand is highly multicultural: Chinese-Thai make up a large percentage of the total population, as do Indian-Thai. While the religion of majority of the Kingdom of Siam is firmly Buddhism with nearly 95% of the population being Buddhists, there is more than a noticeable Islamic presence: about 4.6% of the country's population is Muslims, the majority of which is concentrated in the southern region of Thailand, such as Yala, Songkhla Chumphon, Pattani and Narathiwat due mainly to the proximity to Malaysia, where the dominant faith is Islamic. As such, while the dominant ethnicity Thailand is present throughout most of the country, in the south there is a much more noticeable proportion of Thai of Middle Eastern origins, such that they are effectively the majority in this administrative division. In total, 2.3% of the populous is Arabic in heritage, culture, as well as religious practices.
Outside of the south, however, cultural integration is smoother and more laid-back. In northern and central Thailand, among others, the Chinese New Year is celebrated yearly and is considered just as official as the Thai New Year or any of the various Buddhist holy days and fairs. The Lunar Festival, again Chinese in origins, is likewise celebrated widely throughout the country: this reflects the demographic proportion in that at least 14% of the total citizens is made up of person of Chinese origins, generally third generation and upward. Several Indian dishes are integrated into the Thai cuisine, and the sight of roti stalls is common in any street in Chiang Mai or Bangkok. Japanese expatriates have chosen to live in several provinces in Thailand, particularly in the north, and the northeastern administrative division is home to a considerable Vietnamese minority, and the distinct cuisine of this region is ample evidence of this integration between two cultures.
It should be noted, furthermore, that outside of tension in the south, the general atmosphere is one of tolerance. The majority may be of Theravada Buddhism, but there is relatively little oppression and marginalization of religious minorities; certainly less than outright bigotry seen in the west, particularly in the post-World Trade Center incident America. Contrary to popular belief held by foreigners from the first world, the Thai culture of live-and-let-live has spared it from much of the raging political divide as seen in the west, and Buddhism itself is exceptionally liberal. Persons of non-normative sexuality or gender identity, particularly the transsexual-known in Thailand as katoey-can expect considerably less harassment in a Bangkok street than they might in New York or London, and much the same applies to workplace environments: though they are still excluded from the privileged enjoyed by the cisgendered majority (i.e. men and women born respectively in male and female bodies), they are not subjected to outright violence and gross discrimination.
Indeed, many schools take measures to ensure that katoey students do not feel erased and dehumanized, and bullying is carefully monitored in Thai schools. Much of this is thanks to the tenets of the dominant religion, which has very little to speak on oppressing, eliminating, enslaving and converting those from a different faith. It likewise makes no mention that katoey or homosexual persons are abominations destined for the fires of hell (as the Buddhist afterlife doesn't actually include one). In fact, to a culturally aware traveler, one would be hard-pressed to find a religion more open-armed and easy-going than the teachings of Buddha, which the majority of Thais take to heart and practice as a matter of daily life.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Hospitals in Chiang Mai - Medical Tourism in Thailand
Chiang Mai Ram Hospital
This is the premium private hospital in Chiang Mai, and with the price range to match: but then again, you get what you pay for, though the Ram is not necessarily where you might want to have your check-up or physician appointment if you are a backpacker traveling on a limited budget. The Ram has comprehensive departments: Obstetrics/Gynecology, neurosurgery, pediatrician, dentistry, and all the specialists you would expect to find at any modern hospital. Indeed, Thai doctors tend to come with much better bedside manners and as a rule are friendlier than their western counterparts thanks to the emphasis on hospitality in Thai culture as well as the Ram's direction as part of the service sector. The staff speak fairly fluent English, usually give prompt, helpful service, and the hospital as a whole is one of the most reputable in the country (overseas patients who come to Thailand for cheaper medical expenses and operations are common). The Chiang Mai Ram is located in the Old City area, near the Central Kad Suan Kaew shopping mall, and boasts a roof that has been built to accommodate emergency helicopter landing. All reputable hotels in the city often have a contract with the Ram and default to them for ambulances and emergencies.
Rajavej Hospital
Located opposite a hotel, the Rajavej Hospital includes highly specialized service clinics, including liver disease clinic, hemorrhoids clinic, digestive system disease, diabetes/thyroid and cholesterol clinic, dermatology, geriatric clinic and a menopause clinic. Their service centers range from cancer to endoscopy, and they have surgeons who specialize in orthopedic surgery, oncology, and plastic surgery. Price range is somewhat less likely to traumatize your wallet, but the Rajavej Hospital's lobby and waiting area is also considerably less glamorous to look at then the Ram's.
McCormick Hospital
The McCormick Hospital is one of the few institutions in Chiang Mai and Thailand in general that are run under the umbrella of the Church of Christ, and as such is a Catholic hospital. Being considerably smaller than the Chiang Mai Ram, it accordingly offers rather fewer facilities and department, but the accommodation and nursing fees are also much cheaper, catering to more budget-conscious patients. General health check-ups, cancer check-ups, prenatal and postnatal care, cardiac care unit, and intensive care units are available. The McCormick is located in Wat Ket, on Kaeonawarat Road, close to the Dara Academy.
Lanna Hospital
The Lanna Hospital has been certified with ISO 9000. It offers 180 in-patient beds, and distinguishes itself by hiring staff who not only speak English but also Mandarin and Japanese in addition to, of course, Thai. While like others it offers general care across various health categories (cardiac care, back pain, Obstetrics/Gynecology, et cetera), it specializes in handling emergency cases. It is located on Chnag Klan Road, in the city center, and is one of the hospitals closest to the Night Market area.
All the hospitals listed adhere to ISO standards and are staffed by internationally trained doctors and nurses, many of which graduated from Ivy League schools and top medical universities of England and Switzerland. Combine this with the superior hospitality, cultural disposition toward friendliness, and the relatively low costs, and Chiang Mai easily proves one of the most attractive destinations for medical tourism.
This is the premium private hospital in Chiang Mai, and with the price range to match: but then again, you get what you pay for, though the Ram is not necessarily where you might want to have your check-up or physician appointment if you are a backpacker traveling on a limited budget. The Ram has comprehensive departments: Obstetrics/Gynecology, neurosurgery, pediatrician, dentistry, and all the specialists you would expect to find at any modern hospital. Indeed, Thai doctors tend to come with much better bedside manners and as a rule are friendlier than their western counterparts thanks to the emphasis on hospitality in Thai culture as well as the Ram's direction as part of the service sector. The staff speak fairly fluent English, usually give prompt, helpful service, and the hospital as a whole is one of the most reputable in the country (overseas patients who come to Thailand for cheaper medical expenses and operations are common). The Chiang Mai Ram is located in the Old City area, near the Central Kad Suan Kaew shopping mall, and boasts a roof that has been built to accommodate emergency helicopter landing. All reputable hotels in the city often have a contract with the Ram and default to them for ambulances and emergencies.
Rajavej Hospital
Located opposite a hotel, the Rajavej Hospital includes highly specialized service clinics, including liver disease clinic, hemorrhoids clinic, digestive system disease, diabetes/thyroid and cholesterol clinic, dermatology, geriatric clinic and a menopause clinic. Their service centers range from cancer to endoscopy, and they have surgeons who specialize in orthopedic surgery, oncology, and plastic surgery. Price range is somewhat less likely to traumatize your wallet, but the Rajavej Hospital's lobby and waiting area is also considerably less glamorous to look at then the Ram's.
McCormick Hospital
The McCormick Hospital is one of the few institutions in Chiang Mai and Thailand in general that are run under the umbrella of the Church of Christ, and as such is a Catholic hospital. Being considerably smaller than the Chiang Mai Ram, it accordingly offers rather fewer facilities and department, but the accommodation and nursing fees are also much cheaper, catering to more budget-conscious patients. General health check-ups, cancer check-ups, prenatal and postnatal care, cardiac care unit, and intensive care units are available. The McCormick is located in Wat Ket, on Kaeonawarat Road, close to the Dara Academy.
Lanna Hospital
The Lanna Hospital has been certified with ISO 9000. It offers 180 in-patient beds, and distinguishes itself by hiring staff who not only speak English but also Mandarin and Japanese in addition to, of course, Thai. While like others it offers general care across various health categories (cardiac care, back pain, Obstetrics/Gynecology, et cetera), it specializes in handling emergency cases. It is located on Chnag Klan Road, in the city center, and is one of the hospitals closest to the Night Market area.
All the hospitals listed adhere to ISO standards and are staffed by internationally trained doctors and nurses, many of which graduated from Ivy League schools and top medical universities of England and Switzerland. Combine this with the superior hospitality, cultural disposition toward friendliness, and the relatively low costs, and Chiang Mai easily proves one of the most attractive destinations for medical tourism.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Baan Tawai: Cheap Furniture and Handicraft With Quality
Chiang Mai is a city of artists: no traveler can doubt this after having stepped into one of the many handicraft centers located throughout the provinces, where there are flowing abundances of paintings, exquisite fabrics, umbrellas, furniture and silverware. It is no surprise, therefore, that in January 2011 the governing body of Chiang Mai initiated a procedure to apply for a Creative City Status with UNESCO for the province as a joint effort between the municipal authorities, the communities of Chiang Mai, and the Chiang Mai University. Toward this, efforts have been made to coordinate different sectors of the city's economy, from cottage industrialists to hospitality to independent artists to develop human resources, increase jobs, and encourage the development of the arts.
While most travelers will be more readily familiar with the Night Market and the Walking Streets, both of which are within the city center and therefore more conveniently accessible, you might want to consider going a little off the beaten track and trying the Baan Tawai, an OTOP (One Tambon One Product, a program to encourage and sponsor Thai artisans) village. Located on Route 108 in Amphur Hang Dong, about fifteen kilometers south of the city center, it has in recent years streamlined into convenient "zones" of shops, eateries and cafes while the main street itself is home to furniture shops that sell some of the most creative furniture and home décor items found anywhere in the world: there you will find chairs and couches in flowing abstract wood, delicate forest nymphs, and beautiful bamboo lanterns. Prices are also ridiculously cheap for such workmanship, material and artistry; the only possible concern you might have would be shipping logistics, but you can be assured that if you're buying furniture or decorating a new house then you can certainly do worse-and do more expensively-than browsing through several Baan Tawai shops.
Your next stop should be some of the inner zones. Zones 2 and 4 are particularly popular, flourishing with little art galleries full of oils and acrylics in styles both modernistic and traditional Thai, unique pieces that can be had for as little as $20. Zone 4 also features a corner with upscale shops selling fantastic glassware, celadon ceramics, and a little café that offers free WiFi, decent bakery, and killer frappe coffee made to order as well as a small menu of traditional Northern Thai fare. The style of goods in general are very particular to Chiang Mai, quite distinct from that found in other regions of Thailand (or any other parts of Asia) and the quality is consistently high: did you know that some ceramics from Whittard of Chelsea are, in fact, made in Thailand and indeed right in Baan Tawai itself?
While the area is somewhat remote from city conveniences, there is a smattering of eateries throughout the village that will more than serve the need for light lunches and breakfasts. Pharmacies and convenience stores, such as 7-11 and others, are also scattered about the zones should you feel the need for a quick drink or need to top up your pay-as-you-go phone cards. The shopkeepers price their goods fairly, and often the salesperson and the artist (or sculptor, or weaver) are one and the same. Incenses, novelty candles, papier-mache dolls, Thai silks and more can likewise be found in the village. It's the perfect alternative to shopping therapy in air-conditioned malls, and sure to offer everyone something to like.
While most travelers will be more readily familiar with the Night Market and the Walking Streets, both of which are within the city center and therefore more conveniently accessible, you might want to consider going a little off the beaten track and trying the Baan Tawai, an OTOP (One Tambon One Product, a program to encourage and sponsor Thai artisans) village. Located on Route 108 in Amphur Hang Dong, about fifteen kilometers south of the city center, it has in recent years streamlined into convenient "zones" of shops, eateries and cafes while the main street itself is home to furniture shops that sell some of the most creative furniture and home décor items found anywhere in the world: there you will find chairs and couches in flowing abstract wood, delicate forest nymphs, and beautiful bamboo lanterns. Prices are also ridiculously cheap for such workmanship, material and artistry; the only possible concern you might have would be shipping logistics, but you can be assured that if you're buying furniture or decorating a new house then you can certainly do worse-and do more expensively-than browsing through several Baan Tawai shops.
Your next stop should be some of the inner zones. Zones 2 and 4 are particularly popular, flourishing with little art galleries full of oils and acrylics in styles both modernistic and traditional Thai, unique pieces that can be had for as little as $20. Zone 4 also features a corner with upscale shops selling fantastic glassware, celadon ceramics, and a little café that offers free WiFi, decent bakery, and killer frappe coffee made to order as well as a small menu of traditional Northern Thai fare. The style of goods in general are very particular to Chiang Mai, quite distinct from that found in other regions of Thailand (or any other parts of Asia) and the quality is consistently high: did you know that some ceramics from Whittard of Chelsea are, in fact, made in Thailand and indeed right in Baan Tawai itself?
While the area is somewhat remote from city conveniences, there is a smattering of eateries throughout the village that will more than serve the need for light lunches and breakfasts. Pharmacies and convenience stores, such as 7-11 and others, are also scattered about the zones should you feel the need for a quick drink or need to top up your pay-as-you-go phone cards. The shopkeepers price their goods fairly, and often the salesperson and the artist (or sculptor, or weaver) are one and the same. Incenses, novelty candles, papier-mache dolls, Thai silks and more can likewise be found in the village. It's the perfect alternative to shopping therapy in air-conditioned malls, and sure to offer everyone something to like.
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