“The familiar that never gets boring.”
That should describe of the things and people that you decide to keep in your life.
Travel can be like that for the lucky few who can call themselves true travelers. Each new trip is as exciting and feels as “correct” as the first did. Even more, maybe.
That’s how I felt upon landing in Bangkok, a place I’d been several times before, for a new 2-month (or so) trip to Thailand. I have applied for a Japanese visa so I can stay and work there, but due to some strange bureaucratic rule I have to complete the paperwork at an embassy outside Japan. Most choose Korea, which is closest, but I decided to turn mine into a weeks-long trip to Thailand.
And I already know it was a good decision!
Sunset in the Tokyo airport.
The first night was spent in a large, boring hotel near Suvarnabhumi Airport, whose shuttle service I’d gotten too. Usually I don’t pre-book rooms in Thailand, and don’t stay at places upscale enough to have their own shuttle services, but arriving at midnight on a Sunday night, it seemed like a good idea.
Diabetes report – uncapped insulin pen
After I checked into my hotel I found that the cap had come off my NovoLog pen, which was in my jeans pockets. I’d last shot up for the pasta meal (the lady beside me didn’t seem to notice), but the whole flight I had been pushing the pen back in my pocket when it popped out due to my squirming in the economy class seat.
At some point the cap must have come off and I never noticed. I guess it’s still in my airplane seat. Flying around the world for free; lucky bastard.
The uncapped pen, needle exposed, must have been in my pocket for a couple of hours; the needle had broken off and was still down inside, mingling with my fresh baht banknotes. I’m lucky I didn’t suffer multiple stab wounds in my leg.
Be careful with shifting pens in pockets on planes. I didn’t know that was even a problem, but apparently it can be.
The next day I moved into the heart of Bangkok proper, to a small hotel in Chinatown near the main train station.
When you see your new surroundings for the first time on a new trip, you are hit with the reality of your temporary new life. This is especially true when the weather and surroundings are markedly different from the place you just came from. The feeling of settling into the rhythm of travel is quite thrilling.
Don’t have much money, staying in a small hotel room with no view. But at least I’m traveling!
Leaving cold, wintry Japan in January for laid-back, always-scorching Bangkok is a pretty big change. The Bangkok heat wafts into your nose, carrying with it the exhaust, spicy food, and dust that signals that you are well and truly in Thailand now.
The street decorations, the sounds of the traffic, the signs with their inscrutable scripts, and the architecture of the buildings are all uniquely Thai. It’s great to be here, because it all means I’m back doing what I do best: nurturing my soul with travel.
Breakfast in my room.
However, I am not a huge fan of Bangkok, or of big cities in general. They have their good points, but for me are something of a necessary evil. I usually like to spend as little time as possible there, seeing what I want to see but moving on to the parts that are less well known.
(Read my essay on Skipping Big Cities.)
So I don’t plan on hanging around Bangkok too long; there are too many parts of Thailand I haven’t seen yet!
Diabetes report – buying insulin in Bangkok
I stopped in at several pharmacies as I walked around Bangkok, enquiring about insulin availability. I was interested in either Humalog or NovoLog or (in a pinch) ActRapid.
My last time in Thailand was about three years ago, when a hospital in Chumphon told me that Humalog was expensive while ActRapid was much cheaper. I’d never heard of ActRapid, but I bought it and it worked fine, even though it’s a little slower-acting.
This time, I showed the pharmacists my Humalog pen and they all said they didn’t have it. Some mentioned Humulin N and Mixtard, a terrible word that makes me giggle.
Pharmacy in Chinatown that had no Humalog.
Finally I found a hospital called Siriraj across the Chao Phraya River in Thonburi. There were several buildings and everything was in Thai. I had no idea where the pharmacy might be. So I entered one building at random.
It turned out to be the pharmacy. Diabetes travel gods always watch out for you.
They told me that I couldn’t buy insulin at the hospital without seeing a doctor, but that at a pharmacy across the street I could. So I checked there, and the good English-speaking lady said they did have Humalog, Humalog 70/30, and even ActRapid penfills.
I got some Humalog penfills that fit a cartridge pen I bought in Hong Kong a couple years ago. (Lucky I brought it with me.) I bought two boxes – 10 cartridges of 3mL each – for 3200 baht (about US$104). About half of what they’d be in the U.S.
(Incidentally, they also had OneTouch Ultra test strips – 25 for 490 baht, US$16. Again not bad.)
So if you’re looking for insulin in a foreign country, relax. I did no research whatsoever and still found what I needed. And the search was kind of fun in and of itself. Big cities are obviously better, but even smaller places can help you.
Real diabetes travel nerds will appreciate this: Humalog insert in Thai.
The important thing is to start your search about 2-3 weeks before you run out, just in case someone has to order it for you or if you have to try a different town or something.
Do you have any interesting places where you began a big new trip?
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Good morning:
This is Janet from Nova Scotia, Canada. Happy New Year.
I have been a T1D for 53 years now and have received my gold medal from the Joslin Diabetic Clinic in Boston for injecting for 50 + years. I am going to Thailand April 1st and one of the things I am going to do is an overnight stay at the Chiang Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. I see on their website you can swim with them, go in the mud holes with them etc. Because my immune system is compromised I am wondering about parasites etc. from the elephants themselves. Have you done this by chance?
I have traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, England, many places in the US, Hawaii and have never had a problem.
You mentioned heat in Thailand – I can go very low in the summer in Canada just working in my garden.
I don’t understand your blood glucose readings as it is different in Canada.
I really enjoy reading your blogs. Keep up the good work.
Where would you suggest we visit in and around Chiang Mai?
Thank you so much for all the work you put into your writing.
Hi Janet,
Thanks for your nice comments! I have bathed with elephants in Malaysia – you can read and see photos here https://www.t1dwanderer.com//travel/travelogues/se-asia/view-of-malaysia-from-atop-an-elephant/
I don’t think there would be any special problems with parasites for a diabetic but of course I’m not a medical person. I’d ask a doctor, but I think blood sugar would be more of a concern. Heat can make me low too; I always advocate just checking more often even if you don’t feel ‘off’.
As for things to do around Chiang Mai I’m sorry to report that I’ve never been that far north in Thailand and it’s been near the top of my to-do list for years! I’ve even considered moving there for a year or two; it just seems like such a nice place. I’m curious about Chiang Rai too. I’d be curious to hear about your plans/experiences around that part of Thailand. Have fun!
Good morning Jeremy:
I like that you replied so quickly and I really enjoyed your photos. You mus have so much fun on your travels. The sanctuary in Chiang Mai do not let anyone ride on an elephant. Apparently the nape of their neck is the weakest part of their body so I decided I didn’t want to do that. They are such an amazing animal.
Are you aware of the Frio pack to keep insulin cool? They are amazing – will keep insulin cool for about 45 hours and then you just soak the crystal pack in water for a few minutes and you are good to go again. If you don’t know about them let me know and I would be happy to send you info. They are a MUST for diabetics.
I will definitely let you know about Chiang Mai and surrounding areas.
Thanks Jeremy – have yourself a wonderful day.
Cheers ~ Janet
Janet,
Yeah I felt funny about riding the elephant around; I’m not sure many places do that anymore.
I have known about Frio packs for a long time but have never used one. I always plan on getting a couple when I travel but have never had any problem with insulin getting warm or going bad so I never actually do it. I still plan on trying one someday; everyone says they’re great.
Morning Jeremy:
You can put your insulin in your pants pocket or anywhere and do not have to wrap it in anything or carry a backpack as the Frio keeps it very cool for days. You just HAVE to get one. You will be so happy you did so.
Enjoy your travels and stay healthy!
Cheers ….. Janet
Thanks, I’ll try it out!