These are not lush tropical limestone cliffs, emerging from the sea.

This is the Phuket hospital.

The lush tropical hongs (rooms) are what I hoped to be writing about. The once in-a-lifetime-trip in sea kayaks. The monkeys. The sea kestrels. The bioluminescent plankton. But after two days of fever and nearly 40 hours of sleep, I did something younger me probably wouldn't have approved of. I canceled the trip and went to the hospital.

More accurately, I went to an increasing set of medical services. I know the symptoms I've got really well - a severe cold that's turned into a massive sinus infection. I know the exact treatment (lots of fluids, rest, and Ceftin, an antibiotic that's worked since my childhood.) I'd assumed that, this being Thailand, I could just walk into any pharmacy and get it.

Not true.

At the pharmacy, I found out that the drug laws here are pretty much like the United States, but even more strict - drugs like antibiotics, pseudophedrine (the antihistamine people make meth from), and anything mildly strong are only available in a hospital's pharmacy.

So I headed to the hospital. There are 6 or 7 here in Phuket Town, as it's a city with lots and lots of medical tourism. From plastic surgery to heart bypasses, people come here from all over the world to get work done. The quality of care at the tourism hospitals rivals anywhere in the world, and is better than the care in places like the U.S. or Germany. But the costs are high, particularly by Thai standards. So, there are a number of local hospitals. Longer waits, less-nice facilities, but on the whole, very good care.

Since all I needed was a set of pills, I headed to the local hospital. In a happy measure of my current Thai language level, I was able to talk through the situation with the pharmacy there. But they didn't have the pills I needed. They suggested Bangkok Hospital Phuket - the primo hospital in town.

I walked over, walked in the front doors, and greeted by the scene above. It was a gorgeous facility, a person met me at the door, asked what I needed, and guided me to the pharmacy. They had my antibiotic, but I needed a prescription to get it. Off I went to the front desk for the exact same rigamarole you already know: register, get health info, contact info, wait for a nurse, height/weight, wait for a doctor, see doctor, get prescription, pay.

It was just like any hospital in the US, with one exception. I was in and out in less than 20 minutes. I'd be ushered to a waiting area, sit down, and within a minute I'd be called off to the next step. And the place was actually busy. It was phenomenal. I paid the equivalent of about $80 USD for everything, and headed home.

Now, it's time for some rest, recuperation, and soon, a brand-new city - Chiang Mai!