Bicycling Can Be Dangerous to Your Health

I always strive to be honest with my readers and today is no exception.  Due to the injury to my left (and dominant) hand, it will be a slow process to write this and I will go for brevity.

I left Chiang Mai, Thailand on Monday for a routine overnight visa run to Vietienne, Laos, expecting to return Tuesday evening.  Tuesday morning, I rented a bicycle to do some sightseeing.  I pickup truck suddenly overtook to pass and then cut right in front of me causing a collision.  A moment later, I was on the roadway in a busy traffic circle with blood gushing out of my hand.

In brief, I was taken to a hospital where after several hours I had many sutures placed in my hand.  Amazingly, beside a bump on my forehead and some skin off one knee, there were no other injuries!

No x rays were taken and I was just told, “your bill is paid, you can leave.” Apparently the father of the young man who hit me paid the bill.   There were no post-op instructions; heck, no one spoke English.  First though, I had to go to the local police station and pay a bribe of 800B (US$27) to leave the country.

I missed my plane, stayed overnight, during which my wound seeped blood.  After paying $10 to replace a blood-soaked pillow, I barely managed to make a flight to Chiang Mai the following morning sporting a crimson soaked bandage covered by a plastic waste can bag.

Relieved to be in a country with excellent medical care, a friend took me to University Hospital where I found out I also had a broken metacarpal.  A surgery was required immediately and four temporary J wires were inserted to help prevent bone infection.  I am presently recovering at Chiang Mai Ram Hospital.  The level of care I have been receiving is amazing and I am very grateful that my injuries are not worse.  I have had a dedicated hand surgeon (Fellow: MASS General) assigned as my primary doctor.  This is better care than I would receive in the USA.

Ironically, this is some of the best wifi I have had in four years of travel.

The wires will stay in for 3-4 weeks.  I will require physical therapy and possibly a skin graft later on.  I expect to fully recover.

The high degree of my emotional detachment coupled with full presence and engagement through these days has surprised even me.  I am in good spirits.  A few friends have Skyped me (you are welcome to–it’s free).  A few new friends in CM have been most helpful.

I had planned to be heading south about now to get my SCUBA certification.  That and all other travel plans will be placed on hold for now.

However, I do intend to continue my journey and once my hand is better I can resume blogging.  Meanwhile, there are over 100 posts on this site for you to enjoy and much useful travel information.  I will continue to reply to comments here as well as on my FB page.  Heck, I might even get a few Instagrams up in a day or two.

All the best.

Travel safely; travel well.

Philip, aka the Dimensional Heart TravelerTweet