TWO STANDARDS OF LIVING

I am aiming to give you a small glimpse into my everyday life in Bangkok through this blog, and hopefully you'll find it interesting as well as occasionally funny too.
Bangkok certainly is a city of different standards. Take yesterday for example - I had to go to one of the numeroud private hospitals in order to get a medical certificate for my work permit. Okay, technically I am working illegally right now but don't tell anyone. Anyway, we chose the Bangkok Nursing Home. From the name you might think of this being a small, ramshackle kind of building dating from the 1900s. Well, think again. This is just about as state-of-the-art as you can get. Plush, air-conditioned interiors, gleaming floors, the kind of entrance hall that would be more at home in a five-star hotel. You get the picture.
You'll be pleased to know that I passed my 'examination' and got my certificate. To be honest I think you pass if they find a heart beat. I am certfied as being free from major diseases, including elephantisis !!!
I came out of the hospital and almost tripped over on the pavement - I guess if I had done anything serious then I was in the best place. Perhaps the poorly maintained paths outside the private hospitals are a cunning marketing plan ? Anyway, Bangkok's pavements are just another thing you have to get used to - they are poorly maintained at best - but this is Bangkok !!