Job Discussion Forums

JonL · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 10

Hello everyone. I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who's had some experience in Phuket. My wife and I are going to be there for the first four months of this year. I'm an experienced teacher with a master's degree, and would be interested in either teaching English and/or studying Thai not much more than a couple of days a week. For now. If anyone had any suggestions I'd be most appreciative.

Also, my wife is diabetic, and uses two types of insulin. It would be great to know how well supplied the pharmacies are on the island, and if a prescription is necessary for insulin there.

Are internet cafes easy to find? And am also curious what the cell phone service is like.

Sorry to dump so many disparate questions all in one post. This will be our first time in Thailand, and any comments or suggestions would be really helpful.

Thanks to all.

wannago · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 85

Hi, I lived on Phuket and taught there but am no longer living there...and I'm diabetic.

Insulin, at least in Phuket, is hard to find except at the hospitals. My experience was that you had to see a doctor where he basically looked at you and asked you a few questions, then wrote a prescription for 3 months. None of the street pharmacies seemed to carry insulin (believe me, I looked). Syringes you can get easily...insulin seems to be only available at the hospital.

Aside from that, Phuket is a great place to live. I miss it a lot.

Hope this helps.

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

I'm not doubting wannago's experience in Phuket for a moment;

in Bangkok things are easier with regard to the availability of insulin over the counter.

Here's a thread from 2006 on that subject; I'll defer to people who live in Phuket to help with your other questions.

rico4444 · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 90 Location: Thailand

I can't help you with the insulin but I've lived and worked in Chiang Mai and Bangkok for 3 years and have been to Phuket many times. Internet cafes are everywhere and cell phones can be picked up (used or new) in a million places. Vendors are everywhere and you can buy a SIM card for 299 baht (approximately). You can load your phone with minutes at any 7-11 by buying a phone card.

JonL · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 10

Thanks for all this great advice.

Wannago, your experience is extremely helpful. Did you fill your prescriptions at the hospital? Where were you teaching, by the way?

Kent, thank you for the link to the other thread...that was also very helpful.

My wife and I are going to be working about six nights a week in Patong, so getting to Bankok will be problematic.

it's good to know that phone and net access will be so easy to deal with.

Much thanks to you all...and thanks in advance to anyone who may chime in with other experiences, comments, etc.

wannago · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 85

tedkarma · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:14 am Post subject:

It's not a problem getting an Rx at the hospitals anyway - though I would guess you can find insulin at the better pharmacies. If they don't have it - they can probably order it. Lots of smaller pharmacies don't carry medications that need refrigeration or that have relatively short expiration dates. But, almost all are willing to order what you need. Most pharmacists here speak English quite well, you'll have no problem communicating what you need.

Don't worry about it - it is a rather easily solved problem even if you do need to go to a hospital here - that is typically where the clinics are located - and they are often quite inexpensive.

I could probably help you with finding part time work here - but not many places will be interested if you are staying only four months. Most employers are wary of the hoards of people who are just passing through.

Once here, if you decide to stay for a year or two - let me know.

JonL · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 10

wannago, thanks again, for your help & advice. My wife uses Humulog as well as Humulin. She's been thinking to bring a whole four month supply along, but I have to imagine it would be a lot less expensive to get a script and do it there. Our apt is reportedly very close to a hospital. It's so good to have a much cleared idea of what to expect.

Ted, it would be great to meet you if you have some time. We'll be there by the beginning of the second week of Jan. Our work schedule is going to be pretty tight, so I don't know how much I could do realistically. I do a lot of work here in the States at adult learning centers. It would be great to at least talk a bit and learn something of what's going on. Who knows, by the end of four months maybe we won't want to come back to the US. It wouldn't exactly break my heart. In the past week we've had a blizzard, an ice storm, and there's another storm forecast by this weekend. And if you keep up with the news...you know the rest.

thanks...