Day 10 - Monday 6 February 2017

Infection........If things were normal I would in any case be heading north today. My plan was to return to Bangkok on Thursday but more likely Wednesday as my funds are now quite low. Reaching Ban Krut in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province would be ideal. I mentioned earlier that this is one of my favorite locations from a previous visit. However it’s not meant to be. Overnight the first signs of cellulitis returning appear and I’ve been caught out yet again by being too far away from facilities to address the problem. My best hope now is the reach Ranong Hospital just 45 minutes drive away.
Ranong Provincial Hospital........Ranong Provincial Hospital is busy as are all government hospitals especially on a Monday morning but even more so as this border town also supports treatment for those who can afford it coming across the border from Myanmar. After registration at 10am it takes another hour and a half to get assessed by a nurse but the wait then to see a doctor isn’t too bad. The doctor here recognizes the symptoms but this hospital cannot handle direct injection of antibiotics. The best he can do is offer oral treatment but will this work? As I accept the situation it is also important to get to a larger hospital and with some medication available I need to at least close the distance to Bangkok as best I can. However the advice I have is not to drive, nor do I feel like it. As it’s not practical to ask Katoon to drive the whole distance without a break we need to stopover somewhere or take a chance that one of the larger provincial hospital can help. As we start our return journey, as if we didn’t have enough to contend with, another problem arises. Warning lights appear on the dashboard of the car. They appear to show that there is a problem with charging the battery. Katoon thinks we should take it to a Toyota garage which would mean more delay. However when she makes contact with the owner, he doesn’t think there’s too much to worry about so we carry on, reaching Prachuap Khiri Khan itself by late afternoon. It’s the best we can do as we look for accommodation. While we’ve needed to stopover here a number of times, I’m not prepared to use one I know which involves climbing stairs. There must be an alternative and there is.
Sahm Ao Resort........Google Map Sahm Ao Resort (Three Bays Resort) must be a new build as I haven’t noticed it before passing through Prachuap Khiri Khan. It’s easy to spot on the left of the main road heading north. Curiously it’s advertised as a driving range and sure enough there is one at the back. However it functions otherwise as a motel. All the rooms are on ground level which is most convenient. The rooms are spacious with all the necessary requirements that I need. At just 500 baht it seems a bargain. Unusually there are huge glass doors and windows covering both front and back but while there are drapes of course I would prefer more privacy. Hopefully I will get a peaceful night. Today I’ve existed on snack foods picked up at filling stations but it’s all I seem to have the appetite for. Outside I hear the swish and strike of golf clubs. There is plenty of space for the driving range but evidence of the recent floods can be seen near the T’s where there is still standing water. I’m not really sure about the function of accommodation and driving range together. Perhaps it’s simply a way of making some use of available land. They certainly have plans to extend the accommodation further I note. As the day draws to a close I’m reminded that we are not far from the main road and the inevitable traffic noise. Next Page.