34 minute read
Where to celebrate Songkran in Hua Hin
ISSUE 237 • APRIL 2022
Happening HOW TO CELEBRATE SONGKRAN IN HUA HIN
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Hua Hin Municipality has announced the schedule for this year’s Songkran celebrations, which will take place without water fights.
Organised events will be centered around a stage on Hua Hin beach, close to the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, from April 11 to 13 and will take place under the banner “travel the local way, experience Thai culture, and relax on the beach”.
There is also a retro theme for this year’s celebrations with people who attend invited to wear retro style clothing.
There will also be a check in corner where people can take photos to share on social media, while vendors will also be showcasing an array of local food.
In accordance with the requirements outlined by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), Hua Hin’s Songkran celebrations will take place without public water fights or water splashing activities.
Events are also required to follow COVID-19 preventative measures.
Hua Hin Songkran 2022 will take place according to the following schedule:
April 11
14.30 -18.30 Sand pagoda building contest to win prize money. 17.30 Travel back in time with folk plays performed by Hua Hin Municipality students. 19.00 Opening ceremony “Travel the local way, experience Thai culture, and relax on the beach”. 19.30 Songkran festival opening show 20.00 Rejoice in retro Thai dance!
April 12
16.00 Folk games from the community such as Mae Sri Phi Uung Ang, foxes, Luk Chuang, and Luk Yon, culminating in the local play “Phee Pung Tai”. 19.00 Miss Songkran Recycle Contest 19.30 Rejoice in retro Thai dance!
April 13
9.30 Pouring scented water on the hands of revered elders and ask for blessing tradition 10.30 The local community sports competition.
In addition to the events organised by the local municipality, there are lots of other ways people in Hua Hin can celebrate Songkran.
Visit a temple
Many Thais will be visiting their local temple to make merit on Songkran.
In Hua Hin and the neighboring districts, there are many temples that will be busy with people from early in the morning on the first day of the Songkran festival.
In the centre of town, Wat Hua Hin will be the main temple both locals and tourists will visit.
However, for a more scenic experience, it is worth making the effort to drive approximately 30 minutes out of town to visit Wat Huay Mongkol.
The temple, located in Thap Thai, features the largest statue of the Buddhist monk called “Luang Phor Thuad”, who lived from 1582 to 1682.
Celebrate in style at the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin
The Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin will host its Songkran Week of Wonders between April 9 and 17.
The Songkran Week of Wonders is a feast of exciting events, and offers a choice of tempting cuisine and enchanting entertainment throughout the most famous festival of Thailand.
The celebrations start at the iconic Railway Restaurant with a special dining offer.
The Songkran Thai Set Dinner is a full-course dinner menu that showcases a true taste of Thai cuisine, comprising traditional delicacies of Thailand including Pla Haeng Taeng-Mo or crispy dry fish with water melon for starter and Tom Jiw or pork neck sour stew with herbs.
For more information, please contact 032512021, chbr@chr.co.th
Splash around at the beach or a water park
While water throwing may be prohibited on the streets, there is no need to miss out on all the fun.
Get your water fix by visiting one of Hua Hin’s many beaches - you’d be hard pressed to find better in the area than Khao Takiab or Sanae Beach in Nong Khae. If you want to travel further afield, Ao Manao beach is a beautiful spot.
Alternatively, splash around to your heart’s content at either of the local water parks: Vana Nava or Black Mountain Water Park.
HUA HIN MARATHON 2022 CANCELED
The Hua Hin Marathon, which was due to take place on May 8, has now been canceled, it has been confirmed.
After a meeting held with municipal officials on Friday (Mar 25), Mr. Suraphon Rakkusol, Advisor to the Preserve Hua Hin Club under the royal patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, announced the cancellation of Hua Hin Marathon 2022.
The meeting discussed both the positive and negative impact of canceling the event.
However, there were concerns with regards to the safety of runners and the general public due to COVID-19.
Therefore, the decision was taken to cancel this year’s event.
Earlier in March, event organizers had announced that the marathon would be moved to Cha Am following an improvement in the COVID-19 situation and an easing of restrictions in Phetchaburi province.
A statement issued by the event organisers on Mar 22 read:
“The organizer would like to inform you that the Cha Am- Hua Hin Marathon 2022 which will be held on Sunday 8, May 2022 has been granted permission from the Phetchaburi province Disease Committee to organize a larger event.
“Under covid-free measures for safety and confidence for runners, as well as committees – all employees, as well as preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Cha Am, where the number of infected people has decreased”.
But despite race-goers being informed of the new location of the renamed ‘Cha Am- Hua Hin Marathon, it has now been decided to cancel the event for a third time following its cancellation in 2020 and 2021.
The news is a further blow to not only the running community in Hua Hin but elsewhere in Thailand.
As many as 3,000 runners were expected to compete across four distances: 42.195km, 21.1km, 10.5km and 5km.
Chiva-Som Hua Hin is offering half day and one day wellness experiences.
The programmes offer health seekers a taste of what it is like to experience treatments at Thailand’s leading wellness destination.
CHIVA-SOM OFFERS HALF-DAY AND ONE-DAY WELLNESS EXPERIENCES
Both experiences commence with an individual health and wellness consultation with one of Chiva-Som’s experienced Wellness Advisors who will guide you through available and suitable treatment options.
The thorough and completely personalized consultation guides guests through each of the different treatments available, advising on which will be best suited to meet their needs. This helps to ensure that any treatment is deeply aligned with the goals of the guest. choice plus complimentary use of the sumptuous wellness facilities, including: Gymnasium, Water Therapy Suite and Bathing Pavilion.
For even more pampering, guests can stay for a full day, priced at THB 9,000 net per person, which adds an extra wellness treatment as well as access to the daily wellness and leisure activities.
If you live in Hua Hin but have never visited Chiva-Som the half day and one day wellness packages offer you the ideal opportunity to do so.
The selection of wellness treatments options include Chiva-Som Signature Massage, Thai Massage, Chi Nei Tsang (abdominal massage), Acupressure Reflexology, Physiotherapy, Fast Track Back Release or One-on-One Fitness Training.
A pioneer in global wellness, Chiva-Som was awarded the Best Destination Spa at The Spa Awards 2021, by Conde Nast Traveller magazine and was also awarded ‘Asia’s Best Wellness Retreat 2020’ by the World Spa Awards (UK).
A nourishing wellness lunch at Chiva-Som’s beachfront Taste of Siam restaurant is also included.
The Half-Day Wellness Experience is priced at THB 5,000 net per person and includes an individual health & wellness consultation, wellness cuisine lunch, physical analysis, a wellness treatment of your
For more information or reservations, please visit www.chivasom.com or email Chiva-Som on reservations@chivasom.com, call 032 536 536 or add the Official Line Account @chivasom
ISSUE 237 • APRIL 2022
Happening THAILAND LOOKS TO SCRAP TEST & GO AND THAILAND PASS BY JUNE 1
Thailand may scrap the Test & Go program and the Thailand Pass traveler registration scheme by June 1, if there is not a surge in infections during the Songkran festival.
According to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the Songkran holidays will be critical in helping to determine a further easing of the requirements for people entering Thailand.
Mr Phiphat said that the COVID-19 situation in Thailand must remain stable, at between 50,000 and 60,000 cases per day, including those who have only tested positive by using antigen test kits, while daily fatalities must not exceed 100.
Speaking at a meeting of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), Mr Phipat said his ministry would submit a proposal to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), which is chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, after monitoring the situation in April.
The proposal would request that from May 1 tourists would no longer need to take an RT-PCR test on arrival. However, an ATK result certified by a hospital would still be required.
While at least seven million tourists are projected to visit Thailand this year, income from tourism is estimated to reach just 30 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
Revoking Test & Go, Thailand Pass, ‘Sandbox’ and other quarantine programs would encourage more tourists to visit Thailand.
The news comes as other countries in Southeast Asia have begun easing entry requirements for international tourists.
In Cambodia, fully vaccinated tourists only need to present a print out of a proof of vaccination. However, unvaccinated tourists are still required to present a negative RT-PCR test no less than 72 hours before arrival and quarantine for 14 days.
Meanwhile, from April 1, fully vaccinated travelers can visit Singapore without needing to undergo quarantine or on-arrival testing.
At the same time, the Singaporean authorities are also lifting the requirement for people to wear masks outdoors.
TRAVEL TO THAILAND WILL GET EASIER FROM APRIL 1, QUARANTINE ALSO REDUCED
Thailand will further ease entry requirements for fully vaccinated foreign tourists, according to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
While people visiting Thailand are still required to register via Thailand Pass, from April 1, foreign tourists entering under the Test & Go, Sandbox or Alternative Quarantine programs will no longer be required to show proof of a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of travel.
They will, however, still be required to take an RT-PCR test on arrival in Thailand.
The length of time tourists are required to spend in ‘quarantine’ has also been reduced for the Sandbox and Alternative Quarantine programs.
From April 1, tourists entering Thailand as part of the Sandbox program will be able to travel to other destinations in Thailand after five days, a reduction from the previous requirement of seven days.
Meanwhile, the length of mandatory quarantine for the Alternative Quarantine program will be reduced to five days and an RT-PCR test on day 4 or 5.
In addition, the CCSA has also confirmed an increase in the number of entry points into Thailand by air, land and sea.
Hat Yai Airport has now been approved as a new entry point for air travel. The other approved air entry points are Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, U-Tapao, Phuket, Krabi, Samui and Chiang Mai.
The number of entry points by land has also been increased to four: Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Songkhla, and Satun.
People traveling by sea can now enter Thailand via Phuket, Chon Buri, and Surat Thani.
Spokesperson Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said the CCSA will consider opening more entry points in May, providing the COVID-19 situation improves.
ISSUE 237 • APRIL 2022
Happening BELGIAN EXPAT IN CHA AM USES HIS ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT TO MAKE CRAFT GIN AND CHOCOLATE
Amid strict regulation and fierce competition, a Belgian expat in Cha Am is showing true entrepreneurial spirit having opened his own craft alcohol distillery and chocolate making facility.
Fifty five year old Ronny De Wolf hails from Wieze in Belgium, an area well known for its beer brewing and chocolate making.
Prior to moving to Cha Am, Ronny had a varied and interesting career. A serial entrepreneur, at one time he was running five different businesses, which included an exhibition organizer, a food truck operation and a brewery.
And after spending just five minutes in Ronny’s company, you can’t help but warm to his infectious personality and his passion for his distillery and chocolate making (more on that later).
Initially Ronny and Jaeb thought they would be able to easily sell their products to the bars in Pattaya. But after arriving on the eastern seaboard, their enthusiasm took a bit of a hit after being turned down by bar owners who thought their craft products could not match those of the famous alcohol brands.
“All the bananas for example come from our farm in Kaeng Krachan, all the sugar cane is grown
locally, as is the cocoa we use in our chocolate”.
“We help to support the local economy, which helps our customers save money”, Ronny says.
As well as distilling alcohol, Ronny and Jaeb also produce Belgium chocolate, under their Mister Chocolate brand.
They use special self designed and self made machines to ferment, dry and roast the cocoa beans.
“We use 100 percent cocoa
Since 2014, Ronny and his partner Jaeb have been distilling alcohol from their premises in Cha Am.
Ronny began making gin but today makes a range of spirits including white rum, made from real Thai sugarcane, vodka, grappa, and an assortment of flavored liquors.
What started out as a four year process to become fully regulated and licensed and in a position to be able to distill alcohol commercially, Ronny and Jaeb’s Kiss Distillery is now able to produce 5,000 bottles of spirits per week.
“The whole alcohol industry in Thailand is so strictly regulated”, Ronny explains.
“But for me that is a good thing, because it helps to ensure quality. we are doing is ok,” Ronny said.
He uses distillation machinery imported from Germany, which Ronny thinks there are probably only one or two of a kind in all of Thailand.
It wasn’t until Ronny had the idea of a new approach, that would see them teach the staff at the bars how to make cocktails using his spirits that bar owners began to take interest.
“They had cocktails on the menu, but we found that staff in many of the bars did not know how to make them properly”.
“We began training the staff how to make cocktails and even creating special menus for the bars which is when the bar owners started to become interested”, Ronny explained.
The bar owners then discovered that Ronny’s products were significantly more affordable and just as good quality as the bigger named brands, so they started placing orders.
Ronny and Jaeb now visit Pattaya every week and supply to a number of businesses. They also count some major hotel chains as their customers, including Movenpick and So Sofitel.
Ronny also explains that almost all of the ingredients that are used in his products are locally sourced, grown nearby and bought from local farmers.
“Most of the fruit we use for flavouring is grown in Kaeng Krachan,” Ronny explains.
butter in all of our chocolate, which gives it a unique taste”, Ronny said.
People who are interested in learning more about Ronny and the Kiss Distillery are invited to visit - just contact them on Facebook beforehand: https://www.facebook.com/kissspirits/
ISSUE 237 • APRIL 2022
Double Click PAYPAL WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN THAILAND AFTER LAST MINUTE REPRIEVE FROM REGULATORS
Plans by Paypal to scrap the vast majority of its services in Thailand will now not go ahead, the online payment provider has announced.
It means that users in Thailand will be able to use their accounts to send and receive payments online.
Earlier, PayPal had said it would suspend account services for users in Thailand from March 7 after the company had failed to comply with new laws recently outlined by the Thai government in its bid to regulate the country’s fintech sector.
Lawmakers were requiring PayPal to verify the identity of every individual account holder as a measure against money laundering.
The planned suspension of PayPal services in Thailand had resulted in the Creative Workers Union Thailand (CUT) submitting a letter to the House of Representatives’ Labour Committee to highlight how the issue would affect freelance workers and online sellers in Thailand. sell gods on sites such as etsy.com would be severely affected as the website lists PayPal as its only payment method.
However, in a dramatic u-turn, The Bank of Thailand gave PayPal a last minute reprieve, which has meant that existing users can continue to use its consumer and business service until at least end of the year. its customers in Thailand.
“This extended functionality will remain in effect while we continue to work on updating our products and processes.”
In a statement, PayPal apologised for the confusion the issue had caused among its customers.
“We sincerely apologise for this. We deeply regret the confusion and inconvenience caused to our customers and their businesses. We are committed to serving our customers in Thailand and will work hard to regain their trust,” the company said.
“We have been working closely with the Thai authorities to address our customers’ concerns,” the company added.
Meanwhile, the company said it will continue to work towards complying with financial regulation in Thailand.
In addition, more than 2,500 people signed an online petition urging PayPal Thailand to support people who used their service in Thailand.
The petition said that online sellers who
“With the support of the Thai authorities, we have been able to keep existing PayPal accounts open for consumers and freelancers/casual sellers, and cancel the account limitations which were scheduled to take effect on March 7, 2022,” PayPal said in an email to
“This will include collecting the necessary identification data from natural persons for know your customer [KYC] verification in accordance with Thai laws. We will share more details about the process with our customers later this year.”
THAILAND’S FIXED BROADBAND SPEEDS AMONG THE FASTEST IN THE WORLD
The index studied data gathered from Ookla’s Speedtest tool in October, November and December last year.
During those three months, internet users in Thailand recorded median download speeds of 176Mbps, 171Mbps and 173Mbps.
The global average speed of fixed broadband is 59.86Mbps.
Ookla explained that during previous studies, rankings had been based on the average or mean download speeds.
Broadband speeds in Thailand are some of the fastest in the world, according to a new global index based on the median download speeds of internet users around the world.
The Speedtest Global Index by internet analytics firm Ookla found that Thailand has the third fastest median download speeds for fixed broadband, behind Singapore and Chile.
However, in December, the firm used the new metric of median downloads - the middle speed of all the data collected - which they said would enable results to more accurately represent the experience of users. than those in the United States, Sweden, New Zealand, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Regionally, Thailand has the second fastest broadband speeds in ASEAN behind Singapore.
Globally, Thailand consistently ranks highly in across studies on internet speeds for both fixed broadband and mobile.
Meanwhile, Ookla has also analysed mobile data speeds of internet users in Thailand.
During Q3-Q4 2021, Ookla compared 560,716 user-initiated 5G tests taken on the Speedtest iOS and Android mobile apps from all the major mobile carriers in Thailand.
The data found that Thailand has a median mobile download speed of 226Mbps.
AIS were found to offer the fastest mobile download speeds with 294Mbps, followed by TrueMove H (207Mbps) and dtac (34.87Mbps).
Sheraton
HOT BUMRUNGRAD RANKED AS THAILAND’S BEST HOSPITAL
Bumrungrad International Hospital has been ranked the best hospital in Thailand, according to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2022.
For the study, which was carried out in conjunction with Statista, Newsweek said it looked at 2,200 hospitals in 27 countries.
A number of different data sources were analysed including online surveys of more than 80,0000 medical experts, results from publicly available patient experience surveys, and medical key performance indicators, including patient safety, infection prevention measures, and doctor-to-patient ratios.
Hospitals in each country were then given a score, with scores only comparable between hospitals in the same country.
According to the survey the top 10 hospitals in Thailand are:
1. Bumrungrad International Hospital, 94.79%. 2. *Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital, 90.24%. 3. Bangkok Hospital, 88.42%. 4. *Ramathibodi Hospital, 82.83%. 5. Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, 82.82%. 6. Thonburi Hospital, 82.64%. 7. *King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, 82.64%. 8. Phra Ram 9 Hospital, 76.23%. 9. Bangpakok 9 International Hospital, 75.74%. 10. MedPark Hospital, 75.17%.
Bumrungrad, with its ranking of 146, was the only Thai hospital to be listed in the top 150 in the world.
Interestingly, three hospitals in Thailand’s top 10 are *public university hospitals, while five of the hospitals listed in Thailand’s top 30 are public hospitals managed by the Ministry of Public Health.
The survey found the top three hospitals in the world are all located in the United States: Mayo Clinic Rochester (1st) Cleveland Clinic (2nd) and Massachusetts General Hospital (3rd).
Regionally, Singapore was the only other ASEAN country to feature in the study, with the Singapore General Hospital (12th), National University Hospital (98th), Mount Elizabeth Hospital - Orchard (106th) and Gleneagles Hospital (127th) all listed in the top 150 hospitals in the world.
14 14 ISSUE 237 • APRIL 2022 ISSUE 237 • APRIL 2022
Parenting 101 THE TOOTH FAIRY AND THE WORST DAY OF MY DAUGHTER’S LIFE
It was 5am and I was creeping between the living room and my daughter’s bedroom in search of a 50 baht note to place under her pillow.
Kim, 9, had lost another tooth the previous day and I had woken up in a panic realizing that the Tooth Fairy hadn’t yet been to visit.
In fact, this wasn’t the first time the Tooth Fairy had failed to show up on time.
On one occassion her late arrival cost me 1,000 baht. But I’ll save that story for another time.
This time my search for a 50 baht led me outside to my car and by now I’d just be happy with any kind of note, up to 100 baht.
In the cup holder of my car, I spotted a crisp 50 baht note. That'll do nicely.
I headed back inside the house slightly out of breath but quietly pleased with myself that I’d avoided a potential situation and was comforted by the prospect of returning to bed for another hour or so.
By now it was about 5.10am and it had already been quite a productive morning.
I crept into Kim’s bedroom tiptoeing around the various obstacles strewn across her bedroom floor: a coat hanger, school bag and a tin of colour pencils.
Just as I was about to place the 50 baht under her pillow, I remember that the previous day Kim had actually misplaced the tooth that had fallen out. (We think it fell on the floor and was hoovered up by the maid).
Instead, Kim wrote a beautiful letter to the Tooth Fairy, complete with decoration, apologizing for misplacing the tooth.
While the letter was a lovely touch, it added another layer of difficulty to the task I was facing.
I delicately and painstakingly pulled at the letter, gently loosening it from under Kim’s pillow while she slept.
After what seemed like several minutes I managed to slide it free and replace it with the 50 baht and off I went back to bed.
What happened next was a case of a nine year old playing her dad at his own game.
Later that afternoon I am in the office and Kim is staying with the childminder while she studies online.
I suddenly receive an SMS from Kim - she knows how to send them from her tablet to my phone.
“I’m mad”, the message read.
“Why are you mad?, I replied.
“At you for lieing (sic) to me”.
“I was pranking that I was asleep and I could feel u took the letter I wrote”.
She had played me at my own game.
I tried to make my excuses, and lie some more but it was no use.
When I returned home about an hour later, Kim confronted me as I walked through the door.
“Daddy, you lied about the Tooth Fairy!”
I tried to explain that the Tooth Fairy was something that all parents told their children and that at 9 years old she was probably too old to believe in it anyway.
I could see her quickly and suddenly comprehending the earth shattering revelation I had just told her.
She then looks at me straight in the eyes and says: “Daddy, this is the worst day of my life!”, before bursting into tears.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I seized the opportunity.
“Have you ever noticed that we don’t have a chimney?”
“So you lied about Father Christmas too?”, she said, fully crying by this point.
I tried to explain that it wasn’t a lie but just something that parents tell their kids.
There are undoubtedly a million better ways to tell your child the truth about the Tooth Fairy and Father Christmas.
And if you were looking for tips on how to approach the subject, you won’t find them here.
All I hope is that when your child learns the truth about the Tooth Fairy and Father Christmas, it isn’t the worst day of their life.
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF NK CELLS (CONTINUED)
In the last article, we talked about the essential immune system in the body, including NK cells. We will discuss more in details about NK cells in this article, including its effects on our body. We will start with different tests for NK cells, which can be divided into 2 categories:
- NK cells count focusing on the amount of NK cells in our body - NK cells activity focusing on NK cells’ capacity to function
NK cells count / NK cells activity • NK cells count : more or fewer • NK cells activity : low Potential occurrence
High risk of infections, tumors and cancer
• NK cells count : fewer • NK cells activity : high
• NK cells count : more or fewer • NK cells activity : normal
• NK cells count : more • NK cells activity : hIgh The body is effective in eliminating bacteria or uncommon pathogens, however, there are fewer NK cells. Hence, the process may take longer when there are a lot of germs or that it might not be able to attack them adequately.
Less prone to get an infection with lower risks of getting cancer
The body might be highly allergic
The current COVID-19 situation requires vaccination to prevent severe symptoms. However, it is not recommended for a young child/toddler to get vaccinated, and parents might not be resigned to get their children vaccinated as well. The tests for NK cells are useful in this situation because: 1. As natural immunity is the best defense, getting tests for NK cells Is one of the best measures in this situation. Parents would be able to tell the health condition of their child, which allows them to plan for their child’s nutrition and diet accordingly for better immunity. 2. In addition to decreasing the chances of getting infected by viruses, it is also a great kickstart for the children to start building a healthy habit and maintain their health. As NK cells’ functions include detecting tumors and cancers, which are considered as a silent threat that either passed through genetically or arose from surrounding environments, it is highly beneficial to know whether the amount and functionality of NK cells are at an appropriate level. It is recommended to take the tests every year to ensure children’s continuous strong health. Whether you are a child or an adult living among millions germs and viruses everyday, having a strong immunity is one of the best ways to guarantee you’ll live a long life with less chances of getting diseases.
HUA HIN TODAY 17
WATER VAPOR THERAPY: A SIMPLE, FAST AND SAFE NEW FORM OF TREATMENT FOR BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that affects half of all males over the age of 60, and 80% of males aged over 70. BPH results in urinary issues, such as frequent urination, an inability to hold urine long enough, slowness of the urinary stream, or difficulties starting to urinate. All of these are symptoms that can easily affect the life quality of patients.
The most common forms of treatment for BPH have traditionally been drugs and surgery. However, there is now an innovative new treatment available to patients who are fearful of going under the surgeon’s knife and for whom medication poses a problem due to potential side effects. Additionally, extensive studies of water vapor therapy have resulted in its levels of efficacy and safety being proven. As such, this form of treatment was accredited by the American FDA as far back as 2015, while the Thai FDA has also approved its use.
What is water vapor therapy?
It is a simple but effective form of treatment for BPH that is deemed extremely safe due to water vapor being the only substance used. The therapy takes a mere 10–15 minutes to complete when administered by a trained medical professional using the appropriate equipment, which includes an endoscope being inserted into the prostate via the patient’s urinary tract. After this, medical staff will introduce water vapor of 103° Celsius into the prostate through the endoscope in approximately 4–6 jets depending on the size of the prostate. Each jet of vapor lasts just 9 seconds, which is enough time for it to reach into the gaps between cells, destroying those that were suffering from apoptosis before the body naturally flushes the dead cells away. The result of this therapy is a decrease in the prostate’s size and an enlarging of the narrowed urinary tract, allowing urine to pass more freely through it.
How long are patients required to recover at home?
Once the therapy is complete, medical staff will fit a Foley’s catheter into the urinary tract, which will stay in place for around 3–5 days so that patients do not need to urinate by themselves. The catheter ensures any swelling goes down quickly and that recovery times are accelerated. After the catheter has been removed, patients may experience difficulties when urinating due to some residual swelling. A burning sensation and slight bleeding may also occur when urinating for approximately 4–6 weeks following the procedure, with blood also possibly finding its way into the sperm of patients during this time. Nevertheless, these symptoms generally improve within 2 weeks and a full recovery is usually possible within 6 weeks. What are the benefits of water vapor therapy? • As it involves an endoscope being inserted through the natural route of the urinary tract, no incisions are necessary • There is no need for a general anesthesia, with nerve relaxants, pain relief, or local anesthetics sufficient. • The procedure only takes a short time to complete. • There is no need for an overnight stay in hospital. • The risk of erectile dysfunction is reduced. • This treatment is suitable to groups deemed at high risk from surgery. • It produces long-lasting results, with 5-year studies showing a general trend of lasting effects when symptoms are monitored every 2–5 years thereafter.
Which groups are suited to receiving water vapor therapy?
Water vapor therapy is suitable to patients who have been diagnosed with BPH or those with symptoms associated with the prostate gland, including the following groups: • Those aged over 50 • Men with a prostate weighing between 30–80g • Patients who have been unresponsive to medication or who have suffered side effects resulting from medication use • Groups with conditions unsuitable to surgical treatment that requires a lengthy period under general anesthetic • Men with no sign of a urinary infection • Patients who do not have a penile prosthesis
What are the potential risk factors involved with treatment?
Water vapor therapy may involve the following short-term side effects and other minor issues: • Difficulties urinating • Presence of blood in urine or sperm • Frequently needing to urinate • An inability to urinate • A reduction in sperm production • A urinary tract infection
The Urology Center at Bumrungrad Hospital is the first such center in Thailand to begin treating patients with water vapor therapy. Our team consists of highly trained urologists with years of experience in treating prostate conditions using various procedures. Our urologists work alongside a multidisciplinary team with the knowledge and expertise essential for providing high-quality care throughout a patient’s course of treatment. This includes monitoring symptoms after treatment has been concluded to ensure patients can feel confident they have received the best possible treatment, care and outcome.
Bumrungrad International Hospital Urology Center Floor 16, Building A 08:00 – 20:00 (BKK Time) Hotline tel: +66 61 409 3943 08:00 – 20:00 (BKK Time) Contact center tel: +662 066 8888 ext. 1378
Dr. Kate Boonyakiat, LAc. DAOM – Terra Acupuncture
Suppose you're experiencing pain, tingling and other odd sensations in the hands or feet, with or without accompanying a loss of function in those extremities. If that is the case, you're exhibiting the classic symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
What is peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a neurological disorder that affects the sensory, motor and autonomic nerves and is caused by the abnormal functioning of these nerves due to various etiologies. These etiologies include diabetes, alcoholism, HIV, toxins, metabolic abnormalities, vitamin deficiencies, and adverse side-effects of specific drugs. Peripheral neuropathy can affect the skin and internal organs, but it's most notorious for creating symptoms in the hands and feet. Tingling, pain and burning sensations (especially at night) are common symptoms.
How does traditional Chinese medicine improve nerve function? peripheral neuropathy is due to dampness moving to the limbs, where it obstructs the flow of Qi (energy) and blood within them. The treatment is to treat the underlying factor causing this dampness to accumulate and directly facilitate Qi and blood circulation in the affected area. By improving the circulation, the nerve tissues of the affected area can be nourished to repair the nerve functions and reduce pain. Peripheral neuropathy is a symptom of many different patterns of disharmony within the body. Oriental medicine aims to treat each individual uniquely depending on what caused the neuropathy and how it manifests.
When treating neuropathy with traditional Chinese medicine, should be considered: 1) location of the affected areas; 2) degree of neuropathic symptoms; 3) frequency of pain and discomfort, and 4) root cause of the condition.
TCM can help people have a better quality of life. Although an individual may not recover immediately or entirely, relief of symptoms can make a difference in one's comfort level. Treatment of neuropathy should be considered a long-term therapy and not just a short course of 10 sessions, as is usually implied with acupuncture. Adopting healthy habits such as maintaining optimal weight, avoiding exposure to toxins, following a physician-supervised exercise program, eating a balanced diet, correcting vitamin deficiencies, and limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption can reduce the physical and emotional effects of peripheral neuropathy.
MAJESTIC REPORT
The weather over the past few weeks has changed and we are now in the Hot Season.
The fairways and greens have been all in excellent condition including Course C.
The writer played a round on Course C a few days ago and it is in excellent shape.
Much of the surrounding area has been cleared opening up the countryside views all around the course.
The view from the second tee box has changed dramatically now that you can see the full extent of both lakes, which are now linked together in front of and to the left of the green.
The greens are in excellent condition throughout all the 9 holes with the tee boxes and fairways being kept to high standard.
Courses A and B are still in excellent condition, with the weekly competition being played there each Thursday.
Any players wishing to take part, whether you are a member or not, can register by Tuesday evening at the reception desk in the entrance hall to the Clubhouse, or by email to, bookings@ majesticcreekcc.com
Your tee time will then be forwarded to you on Wednesday morning.
The results can be seen by logging on to, www.masterscoreboard.co.uk, click on to Societies then click M and you will see Majestic Creek Golf Club, second on the list., password “putter”.
Click on that and you see the results along with details of previous competitions and details of the handicaps of all the members.
All of our staff have been fully vaccinated and have a weekly Antigen test. This will continue for the foreseeable future.
RESULTS FOR THE COMPETITIONS FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH
24th February. 36 players 1st Ian Wooldridge 42 points playing off 14 2nd Olivier Pinard 37 points playing off 9 3rd Wan Walberg 36 points playing off 13
Guest Prize
Thew Sopha 33 points playing off 10
NEAREST THE PINS ON PAR 3 HOLES,
Hole A4 Lee Pape Hole A6 Manfred Hall Hole 12 Didier Marchand Hole B17 Brian Callihoo 3rd March 31 Players 1st Robert Jones 46 points playing off 18 2nd Cecilia Harvey 45 points playing off 20 3rd Angie Southgate 41 points playing off 20 CECILIA HARVEY
RICHARD GASKELL
Guest Prize
Manfred Hall 36 points playing off 8
NEAREST THE PINS ON PAR 3 HOLES,
A4 Manfred Hall, A6 Goran Sundin B12 David Morris B17 Brian Callander 10th March 19 Players 1st Richard Gaskell 39 points playing off 15 2nd Brian Callander 38 points playing off 17 3rd Didier Marchand 38 points playing off 7 IAN WOOLDRIDGE
ROBERT JONES
Guest Prize
Lee Hughes 35 points playing off 29
NEAREST THE PINS ON PAR 3 HOLES
A4 Trevor Grange A6 Brian Callihoo B12 Richard Gaskell B17 Armand Huttenga 17th March 27 Players 1st Cecilia Harvey 39 points playing off 19 2nd Olivier Pinnard 39 points playing off 10 3rd Lee Pape 37 points playing off 11
NEAREST THE PINS ON PAR 3 HOLES
A4 Richard Gaskell A6 Richard Gaskell B12 Maem Marungrong B17 Sidara Naniyon
GOLDEN HOURS AT THE STANDARD, HUA HIN
We take golden hour seriously and literally. Every Wednesday at Praça, you’ll find our staff glammed up in gold from 4PM-11PM. If you show up in your own gold get-up, you’ll get buy one, get one free cocktails all night.
