Our return trip from Railay to the Krabi Airport was a little different than our initial trip to Railay Bay. We got up at 4:00 a.m. because Thomas's swimmer ear was bothering him, checked out with reception at 6:15 a.m. and then walked 15-20 minutes with our knapsacks to the pick-up destination. Sadly, it was low tide again so we had to walk forever to the boat. This time the captain did not offer to help us with our knapsacks which surprised me. The walk over sharp stones, sinking mud and then into knee deep water was completely different with a knapsack on the front and back of your body. Thomas and I were in our bare feet and we took longer than the two women who wore flip flops on their feet. I came in last which did not bother me and I cursed constantly during the walk. I guess because we paid for both trips after we arrived we did not get any perks to entice us to reuse the service. The captain was waiting for us at the boat and did help us get our knapsacks into it before setting sail. During the walk I was terrified of tipping over, wrecking my electronic devices and looking like a drenched rat for the flight to Bangkok. Once we arrived at the dock in Krabi, no motorcycle picked us up and we had to walk the distance to the taxi with our knapsacks on. One of the young girls who traveled on the boat with us carried my technology bag to give me a break. Once at the airport our flight was delayed by an hour and Thomas's earache got worse by the minute. We had tried to deal with his ear infection the day before we left but the only pharmacy in Railay Bay was closed on the Sunday. On the way to the airport we even stopped at a pharmacy in Krabi but the pharmacist had nothing to give Thomas for his earache.
Once we landed at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangok we purchased ear drops with antibiotics at a pharmacy there and Thomas put them in his bad ear while riding the airport line into the city. Sadly, the drops did not do much! By last night he was in more pain than ever with a swollen neck and a fever. At 1:00 a.m. this morning he went to the nearby Samitivej Hospital as he knew he could never manage the two flights home tomorrow. They gave him 10 days worth of oral antibiotics, steroids and pain relievers and told him his infection was bad and could not be helped with ear drops. The three drugs and doctor appointment in the Emergency Ward only cost $80.00 Cdn. All the drugs were put in a designer paper bag with the hospital's name on it and Thomas had five-star service. Nancy had told us that medical and dental costs were reasonable and this experience verified it. In Canada, one drug would probably have cost us $80.00. The bill showed us just how much profit the pharmaceuticals really make at our expense in Canada.
Fortunately, this morning Thomas felt much better and we are confident that by tomorrow he will not experience a great deal of pain on the flights home. In the morning, we leave Nancy's at 7:00 a.m. and fly to Hong Kong at 11:10 a.m. At 5:05 p.m. we leave Hong Kong and land in Toronto at 8:20 p.m. The second flight looks short because of the change in time zones but it is over 15 hrs which is a long sit.
Today's weather was 35C or 95F. While we were outside Thomas said he could not wait to get home to cold weather! I am positive that he will not say this once he actually is at home! We drank mango smoothies as we walked to keep our core temperature down so we could stay cool and survive the heat. I had a simply glorious time in Thailand and Thomas enjoyed it but he thinks he needs five star adventureless travel in the future. No way! It was wonderful to see and spend time with our friend Nancy and are looking forward to her return to Canada in July. Thanks, again, for sharing your apartment and time with us! Hope everyone enjoyed our holiday as much as we did. I am looking forward to picking up Sebastian and bringing him home. Hope he remembers us! Get a Fitbit One and get walking! http://www.fitbit.com/one We walked around 153 km on this trip and still need to add in the steps for tomorrow. Traveled 90663 steps or 61.83 km the first week and did the remaining kilometres during the rest of our holiday. I am waiting for my Fitbit to send me my stats from last week as it gives me weekly updates. Take care my friends, until the next time! xo