East of Suez, 2025 – Doing Even Less in Koh Samui

16th to 24th February, 2025

As promised, we are really settling into a lovely restful routine, though that does not mean we are not getting out and about – and, of course, our holiday in Thailand would not be complete without a trip to, you guessed it, the hospital.

I can’t remember if I have mentioned Val’s feet. She started getting pain in both of them last July and it has got progressively worse with time to the extent that we saw the doctor back home twice and the physiotherapist once. The latter said it was something called Morton’s Neuroma and gave Val some steroid jabs back in December. Unfortunately they have been ineffective, though with tubes on her toes and pads in her shoes, we have been able to manage a bit better. That said, when her meds are not working, it is so bad that walking is only to be done in extreme circumstances.

The pain seemed to escalate here in Koh Samui to the extent that we decided to visit Bangkok Hospital (Koh Samui branch), as we did last year. This is a 45 minute drive, but worth the trip as they are super efficient. We had a brief consultation with an extremely nice orthopaedic doctor and a couple of x-rays and a recommendation to have an MRI scan. We came back for the latter the next day and then back the day after that for the post-MRI scan consultation.

Long story short (?), he does not think Val has a Morton’s neuroma and that it is more likely bursitis, almost certainly caused by her Parkinson’s. Either way, Val has agreed to rest up for a protracted period to give her feet a break, so we are rather more confined to barracks.

Wow, if you are still reading this, well done – and all without the aid of a photo. Maybe I should load up Val’s x-rays! Anyway, here are a few photos to lighten the mood – before our next medical exploit below (with one of the weirdest reviews I have ever come across).

Today, we have been confined to barracks as it has been monsoon conditions all night and all day so far. The swimming pool is filling up, as are various parts of the hotel, which is very prone to leaks, it would appear.

We had an interesting insight into the running of the hotel today, when the fire alarm went off. We should add that the hotel would definitely be a candidate for a Thai version of Fawlty Towers, although Dao, the lovely hotel manager, is anything but a Basil character. She has been really helpful in putting some grab rails up for us, completely overhauling the air-conditioner, providing us with enough pillows and towels and getting us a fan for the bedroom. I would add that she did not do all of this herself! Unfortunately, she has very young, under-trained staff, who, though very pleasant, have little clue about how to do their jobs. Val and I are restraining ourselves from taking over training, from how to wipe down the tables at breakfast to washing down the sink (actually Val could not resist showing the tiny Indonesian girl who does our room, how to give the basin, the shower and the loo a good going over).

So it is never dull, if a little frustrating as a bit better management would go a long way. Today’s episode really did feel like a reprise on the fire alarm episode at Fawlty Towers. First up, it is absolutely tipping it down outside. The swimming pool is rising and everything is very wet indeed, so it was a bit of a surprise when what we assume is the fire alarm goes off. As ever with these things, we waited a bit on the assumption it was a false alarm, but it persisted, so we gathered a few belongings and an umbrella and headed for the assembly point.

The latter was actually ankle-deep in water, so the very few guests who had come out hovered near reception, which is up some very steep and slippery stairs with no hand rails. As no one came down to supervise us, I was designated as the guest to climb up to the heights and discover what was going on. I would add that the bell had actually stopped ringing by this point. I approached the desk, which was covered in towels (including the computers) and asked the chap there if anyone was coming to marshall the guests in the light of the fire alarm. There has been a fire alarm? he asks. Was is a ‘blare, blare’ sound? I said it was more of a ‘ring-ring’ sound. I asked if they had not heard it, but apparently not. I mentioned that one of the guests had smelled smoke at which point he got on his mobile and called for back-up. He then advised that it was fixed. I asked what the guests should do and whether they had a fire officer, but that was met with a decidedly blank expression, so I went back downstairs and we all gradually drifted back to our room…

Ho hum. Time for a sunset to cheer you up…

And you are no doubt wondering where this post’s photo of Val is…

Oh yes, I promised you another medical episode. Briefly (well, maybe…), Val needs a dentist, so I did some research on Google and looked at the reviews (as much as you can rely on these things). I found the following review, which I can only guess has somehow got lost in translation.

I had a bad toothache. I went on Google to look for a clinic. I was driving through some spectacles among the slums. Then, using this geolocation, I actually drove into the forest. A seasoned buffalo jumped out of the forest at me. From what I saw, both the tooth and the constipation immediately went away. Fabulous. Thank you. I recommend it to anyone with acute toothache, arthritis, scoliosis, constipation and musculoskeletal disorders

Hope you enjoyed that!! There is nothing like a leaping, seasoned buffalo to cure your constipation!

We enjoyed revisiting a restaurant we discovered last year, Cafe 69, run by the lovely Vivian and famed for the most inventive and artistic Thai cuisine you might find anywhere in Thailand. A few samples…

We have been out to the market, of course…

OK, time to post this as well as my daily swim (rain will not stop me). Only 2 weeks to go…..