It was a first time for me to be picked as a finalist in a blogging competition. I must say that I’m pretty new in this field as I only started with this blog in 2009. Yet, I’ve made several attempts but never had the chance to really build up a blog until First-Time Travel came about and it was accepted in the Lonely Planet blogsherpa program. (The blogsherpa program ended later on and Lonely Planet came up with a new one to engage bloggers.)
Now, I’m excited to be chosen as one of the 12 bloggers to take a medical tourism adventure, courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and its partners. I went off to Thailand for a week-long trip that might take me around Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, or Ko Samui.
Contest Proper
We had a VIP welcome treatment at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport. Three of us were on the same schedule of arrival and we were immediately shuttled off to the Windsor Hotel near the Sukhumvit area.
The next day, all 12 of us were given an orientation, complete with folders and kits. Six destinations were raffled off and what a coincidence that the only two Filipinos in the group (that’s me and Ivan Henares) picked Chiang Mai. It was more convenient that we were together as we could communicate with each other well.
We were asked to blog about all our experiences and post at least one per day during the time of the actual contest. We still had to blog about a month afterwards. All my stories were posted in my MedBlogContest blog page at http://www.medblogcontest.com/blog/11/ (it seems the page is no longer available. Too bad.)
As I can no longer retrieve my blog posts in that link, I would like to post here our entire itinerary, based on our kit.
Chiang Mai
Situated 700 kilometers north of Bangkok is the ancient mystical Lanna capital of Chiang Mai. This beloved northern city idealized by its historic moats and walls is enveloped with legendary and mystical attributes. This strikingly intriguing city is the cultural and spiritual hub of the north with a phenomenal 300 plus temples. Within a short distance of Chiang Mai’s city proper is the visually mind-blowing Doi Suthep, which reminds visitors to just how near they are to the misty majestic mountain ranges of northern Thailand.
With its international airport, Chiang Mai has evolved as a hub for medical tourists who have chosen the city, not only for its cultural and natural entities, but also for the highest standard health care services, specialists and medical equipment available. US-based Joint Commission International has awarded Chiang Mai Ram Hospital with the most recognized medical and safety care accreditation in the world. Meanwhile, medical tourists have increasingly sought out Chiang Mai as a healthy holiday destination for quality dental work, major surgeries and exotic spa treatment including holistic, massage and ayurvedic treatments. Only the best service possible at very affordable rates awaits medical visitors to Chiang Mai, the arresting Rose of the North.
Itinerary
Pre competition
21 November 2010
| 00.00 – 12.00 | Arrive in Bangkok and check in at the hotel. |
| 13.00 – 14.00 | Lunch in the hotel and take some rest. |
| 17.00 | Get ready and stand by for transfer to welcome dinner at Supattra River House and have a wonderful dinner. |
| 22.00 | Return to hotel |
22 November 2010
| 09.00 | Get ready to leave from the hotel for contest briefing. |
| 10.00 – 12.00 | Contest briefing |
| 13.00 | Return to the hotel and have lunch |
| 17.00 | Get ready and stand by for transfer to welcome ceremony |
| 18.00 – 21.00 | Attend the welcome ceremony at Westin Grand Sukhumvit |
| 22.00 | Back to hotel and get ready for the trip tomorrow morning. |
Competition Period
23 November 2010
| 06.30 | Check out and leave hotel for early flight to Chaing Mai |
| 07.30 | Flight check in at airport |
| 10.45 | Arrival in Chiang Mai. Meet and greet at Chiang Mai airport, and transfer to Chiang Mai town. |
| 11.15 – 12.45 | Start your inspection at Dental for You Clinic for its 60-min Dental Check up. |
| 13.00 – 14.00 | Lunch |
| 14.30 | Drive around to explore this brilliant city. Recommended Wat for those temple goers are Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chiang Mun. Visiting local Varorot market or so-called Kard Luang is also very interesting place for local life. |
| 17.00 | Arrive at your hotel and settle in. |
| 18.30 | Set off for the traditional Northern cultural dance at the long term famous Old Chiangmai Cultural Center. |
| 19.00 | ‘Khantoke ’dinner is served. |
| 20.00 – 21.30 | The traditional Northern cultural dance |
| 22.00 | Return to your hotel for overnigh |
Accommodation:
• Dhara Dhevi
Med Properties to visit:
• Dental for You Clinic (60 mins. Treatment)
See & Do:
• Chedi Luang
• Wat Phra Singh
• Wat Chiang Mun
• Varorot market (Kard Luang)
• Old Chiangmai Cultural Center***
24 November 2010
| 06.00 | Early breakfast to be ready to depart for a full day trip. |
| 07.00 | Depart to Mae Rim |
| 07.45 | Visit Mae Sa Elephant camp. |
| 08.00 | You will witness how the elephants take their morning bath before giving a demonstration of how they were trained to haul lumber in the forest. |
| 10.30 | Stop at The Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, a recreation place for the public to enjoy and learn more about their “green heritage” – Thailand’s valuable plant resource. Don’t forget to see the Glass house, Rainforest Collection, Aquatic House. |
| 12.30 | Lunch |
| 15.00 – 16.30 | Visit CM Dental Clinic for 60-minute Dental Check up, Cleaning & polishing |
| 17.00 | Return to your hotel. |
| 17.30 – 19.00 | Spa Consultation and advice treatment (60 minutes) at The Dheva Spa and Wellness, Mandarin Oriental |
Afterwards, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:
• Dhara Dhevi
Med Properties to visit:
• The Dheva Spa and Wellness, Mandarin Oriental (60 mins. Treatment)
• CM Dental Clinic (60 mins. Treatment)
See & Do:
• Mae Sa Elephant camp
• The Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
• Mae Sa waterfall
• Orchid and butterfly farm
25 November, 2010
| 07.00 | Check out and breakfast |
| 08.00 | Leaving for further exploration of the city’s health facilities. |
| 08.30 – 10.00 | Visit Chiangmai Ram Hospital for 60-minute of ABI |
| 10.30 – 12.30 | Visit Ratika Skin and Health care clinic for a 60-minute Sunburn program |
| 12.30 – 13.30 | Lunch |
| 14.00 – 15.30 | Visit Sarinya Clinic for 60-mimute Laser for Facial Lifting and Rejuvenation/facial Whitening and Rejuvenation. |
| 16.00 | Drive up to visit the Temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, spectacularly situated on a mountaintop at an altitude of 3,520 feets. The temple’s golden pagoda contains Buddha relics, and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world throughout the year. Its compound offers an exhilarating view of Chiang Mai city and surrounding countryside. |
| 18.30 – 19.45 | Check in at Rarinjinda and experience a 45-minute Elements of Life (EL) for your revival experience at Rarinjinda Wellness and Spa. |
| 20.00 | Enjoy the evening dinner at hotel |
| 21.00 | After dinner take a walk to explore Chiang Mai night market for the varieties of handicrafts products. |
Accommodation:
• Rarinjinda Resort
Med Properties to visit:
• Chiangmai Ram Hospital (60min.)
• Ratika Skin and Health care clinic (60min.)
• Sarinya Clinic (60min.)
• Rarinjinda Wellness and Spa (45 mins. Treatment)
See & Do:
• Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
• Chiang Mai night market
26 November 2010
| 08.30 | Breakfast |
| 10.00 | Check out and leave hotel |
| 11.00 | Flight check in at Chiang Mai airport, head to Bangkok, lunch on the plane |
| 13.45 | Arrive Bangkok |
| 15.00 | Check in to a hotel and get ready for the farewell dinner |
| 17.00 | Stand by for the transfer to farewell dinner |
Post competition
26 November 2010
| 19.00 – 21.00 | Farewell dinner at Kinnaree Restaurant |
| 22.00 | Back to hotel and get ready to fly back home tomorrow morning |
27 November 2010
| 06.00 onwards | Check out and leave to airport (For those who have morning flight) |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Lunch in the hotel (For those who have late afternoon flight or night flight) |
| 13.00 onwards | Check out and leave to airport (For those who have late afternoon flight or night flight) |
The itinerary looked full, and it was! Surely, it was exhausting yet fun. Till my next travel contest!
Also read:
Thanks for this news.