A mound of green papaya, ready to be mixed.

The lobby of Bumrungrad International Hospital

Curries.  No jello.

Hospital food.  Admit it, the phrase conjures up images of jello.  Red jello.  After that, perhaps a wilted salad and a sandwich.  Not appetizing.  But on the second floor of Bumrungrad International Hospital, you can visit the Food Experience.  Granted, you have to stroll by the McDonalds (with Ronald himself, wai-ing outside the sacred golden arches) and take a pass on a cheeseburger and diet soda (which may have led you to visit Bumrungrad in the first place) and Au Bon Pain, but once you run the gauntlet, you are inside the Food Experience.  It's like Thai street food, but sanitized.  All types of curries.  Soups.  Salad.  Fresh.  Tasty.  And they serve beer.  Snap!

We stopped by Bumrungrad today, in preparation for some appointments tomorrow.  We walked from where we are, on Soi 21 - it was a hike, and the soi leading down to Bumrungrad was unremarkable, at best.  But Bumrungrad impressed - more on that tomorrow.

I had a dental appointment today at Bankgok Smile.  Again, unimpressive externally, but very nice inside.  The dentist, though, really stood out.  I had filled out an online form while in Kuwait, answered a few questions and there I was.  As I've said previously, I was under the pressure of my father to get rid of the Bozo tooth - a cap that I  have had for 35 years that has withstood the test of time, while my original teeth, bathed in coffee, have not.  I said in the online form that I wanted veneers.  She cut to the quick and asked what I wanted - why do you want veneers, tell me what you really want.  I said I wanted my teeth the same color.  She said that veneers probably weren't right for me and gave me an alternative - laser whitening, and replacement of the ancient crown.  She asked if I was more concerned about the cosmetic aspect or keeping the  structural integrity of my original teeth (I know, quite the leading question).  I really like the fact that she didn't try to upsell me and give me a mouthful expensive work that I didn't need.  Nor did she give me a lecture on all of the Jello I had eaten in the past...