October 23, 2026

This Blog is more than a journal of my travels around the world, it's a major memory tool for me in documenting all the events along the way. You often ask me how we take care of medical things, as we travel non stop and today is a perfect example. A fellow resident had posted on one of our WhatsApp groups (this is the main way we all- residents, crew and stateside support all communicate) that she had an excellent contact for anyone looking to get medical appointments in the Pattaya / Bangkok area.

This gentlemen, Alex arranged all the appointments, set up a driver to take you to and from the hospital ( it was an hour drive, each way from the ship) and the pharmacy was right there at checkout in the hospital if you needed. Alex's, the drivers' and the interpreters (I had 3 different ones, over the course of day) that meet you at hospital and whisked you around to the various departments / appointments are all covered, in the cost of the appointments. They have this service well worked out for the large number of expats that live in Thailand.

I had a mammogram and ultrasound done ( the later is typical here because, Thai women are tiny and 85% have dense breast tissue), I had a dental checkup and my teeth cleaned they call scrapped, flossed and polished. And then I had a dermatologist appointment to follow up on one I had back in Singapore in August. I was concerned with a spot on my forehead, that was not healing after the 2 months, since the negative Biopsy done in Singapore. This doctor wanted to remove a larger section of skin similar to a MOHS surgery, but the Thailand version. She talked very fast and her accent made her English, very hard for me to follow. The interpreters, it took 2 of them, got a work out for that consult! After about 45 minutes of back and forth, I agreed to the surgery and she had me on the table in a very short time and I was numbed and done in about 20 minutes!

Here's my before and after surgery photo's - will do a followup after stitches come out in a week or so.

I thought it would be a little invasive to take photo's while in hospital but wanted to show nice the hospital was. Everyone had color coordinated uniforms and the women all have there hair back in these pretty tidy bows. The nurses wear varying levels of caps, with their bows. Almost all the workers have face mask on. The wait times were very short, especially for the expats and the prices were unbelievably low, compared to the USA. I have foreign healthcare insurance, but the deductable is $500, and the cost for all three of the above services was just over 1/2 that.  Thailand is definitely a place I would consider staying for an extended period.

Off the Coast of PATTAYA, THAILAND

By Pat Patrick • October 20, 2026
Off the coast of Pattaya, Thailand a talented and dedicated group of residents, the Odyssey Troubadours , performed A Night of Broadway for the enjoyment of all the other residents and senior staff on board. The group of 20 performed, 15 Broadway songs that had some special Odyssey edits, personalizing them to our journey. We loved it ! Such a clever, talented and fun loving group. I was upfront and focused on getting candid pictures of the talented cast.

NONG NOOCH TROPICAL GARDENS, Pattaya, Thailand

By Pat Patrick • October 20, 2026
We were up for breakfast at 7 and then hired a private small tram to take us around the gardens, for an overview, because it came with a guide. Problem was, guide barely spoke English, so we had a hard time figuring out the history of this crazy place. Even with translate app his answers were questionable. Did it start as gardens? What's with all the statues? Is there a master plan? It seems to be growing with no real connections, that we could make out. Web & Chat GPT seem vague on details too! We had fun with it, finding more and more absurd things, until the heat won out!

PATTAYA , THAILAND ADVENTURE

By Pat Patrick • October 20, 2026
I went on a 24 hour adventure with these fun shipmates into Pattaya, Thailand to explore Nong Nooch Wonder World. Noted on the web as one of the top 10 Botanical Gardens in the World, it is certainly the largest in S. Asia at over 500 to 600 acres. Since the place is so massive; open from 8am to 6pm; the heat is so oppressive and we are at a tender port, we decided to spend the night, so we could be there at the opening, the next day and make a fun night before too!