Thailand Medical Tourism Blog Contest-Finalist

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Mike

You may remember that back in September I entered the Thailand Medical Tourism Blog Contest being run by the Tourist Authority of Thailand(TAT). Well I can now tell you that I have  been selected as one of the twelve finalists from the 70 entrants and will be travelling to Bangkok on 21 November 2010 to partake in the activities associated with the competition.

I know from the comments I received on my original post and the one entitled, Medical Tourism Thailand-A Matter of Ethics? that people have mixed views about TAT and the contest. Well I have no issues with that since we are all different and have different views, opinions and motivations.

For me personally I see it as an opportunity to find out some first hand information on the subject which I can share with others whilst enjoying the hospitality of my hosts. With a bit of luck, I will also get to visit an area of Thailand that I have not explored, since the venues for contestants after our meeting in Bangkok are Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Phuket.  From that list I would prefer Samui or indeed Bangkok since my time visiting the Thai capital has been limited.  Unfortunately I don’t get to know where I will go until the 21st when a lucky draw will take place at the welcome dinner. Given my preferences I have a sneaky feeling I will draw Pattaya- you know how Murphy’s law works ;-)

Of course the week long activity is not a free lunch and for my part I will be required to blog about my experiences on a daily basis during the event with follow up posts after we leave Bangkok.

This does not however mean that Thailand-Blogs will suddenly take on a new guise based on medical tourism to Thailand.  The competition organisers have provided each contestant with a unique blog which is where all the posts about my experiences will appear. It is also the vehicle by which the winner and runner up will be selected. Since the judges will use the media each contestant uploads to chose a winner based on things like content, authority, unique visitor count and persuasiveness.

So dear readers if you want to follow my adventures, which I hope you will whatever your views, on this rather unique opportunity(for me) then you will need to read my medical tourism blog which you can find here. I shall also be using my normal Twitter and Facebook to keep my followers updated, along with Flickr and You Tube for photographs and videos.

Thailand Blogs of course will still go to press as normal ;-)

By the way I have recently added a page to Facebook called “Thailand Today,” which is aimed at answering the many questions this blog receives about Thailand.

Stop Press:

The contestant itinerary page is now open and gives details of each programme-absolutely brilliant I have to say. Great locations, superb hotels and a host of activities-well done to TAT and the organisers.

Related posts:

  1. Thailand Medical Tourism Blog Contest.
  2. Thailand Medical Tourism Blog Contest-The Experience
  3. Thailand Medical Blog Contest Winners
  4. Medical Tourism Thailand-A Matter of Ethics?
  5. How to Plan a Medical Tourism Trip to Thailand
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  • http://www.danploy.com/diary.htm DanPloy

    You have some interesting company there, Mike. Good luck with the contest.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Thanks Dan, yes I thought the same. I fancy I’d better enjoy the trip cos I can’t see me hitting the prizes!

  • http://thailandlandofsmiles.com Talen

    Mike, Congrats on becoming one of the finalists and hopefully that will lead to winning the contest.

    I don’t think I would stand a chance as the subject matter would probably put me to sleep on the first day..unless of course there are pictures that could be cool.

    Only 11 people to beat out and I think you’ll do well.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Talen thanks. Afraid I don’t know enough about social networking to really stand a chance, but I might set my sights on the best content prize, photographs and write ups are my stronger points. I got a really nice email this AM from a winner of a similar contest and he has pointed me in the right direction.

      Might see you in Pattaya if my predictions are correct ;-)

      • http://thailandlandofsmiles.com Talen

        If you do head to Pattaya let me know and I’ll buy you a beer…

        • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

          Talen I certainly will. Been checking out the hotels this afternoon, all 5* looks a great week to come.

  • http://www.jonathan-russell.com/ Jon

    Hi Mike,

    Though I am arguably an outspoken critic of the contest I appreciate that your interest and participation is genuine, Mike, so sincere congrats and best of luck with the competition.

    I’ll certainly be following with interest.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Jon, likewise, many thanks. I was reading a couple of the replies from the event organiser to those posts on Asian Correspondent recently……interesting.

      I intend to make the most of the opportunity keep your fingers crossed for me, Samui or Bangkok would suit ;-)

      • http://www.jonathan-russell.com/ Jon

        I’d definitely fancy Samui, were it up to me. Any plan to seek divine assistance in addition to finger crossing? Always enjoy your stories with monks and religious ceremonies/sacrifices.

        Btw if you end up in Bangkok do let me know.

        Re the organisers. There has been some dialogue to and fro so we’ll see what happens. Criticism, even when constructive, is always a tricky issue in Thailand as we both well know.

        • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

          Jon I may visit my fortune telling monk friend, who last time let me down a little(regarding women if you remember). Currently Duen can’t quite get her head round the competition, sure she thinks I’m off to find a new lady ;-)

          I will contact you if I am in BKK I may need a beer or three. Regarding your last point….yes ;-)

  • Lloyd

    Congratulations.

    I checked out a few of the other contestants blogs and just about fell asleep reading them, something I also noticed was the high percentage of spam advertising vs page content, a couple of them its actually hard to find the content amongst the garbage! But I guess thats social media for you.

    Enjoy the trip, I’d be interested in any articles on up-market mammographers and their master pieces ;-)

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Good morning Lloyd and thank you. I thought this might rattle your cage ;-) I will certainly keep my eyes peeled even though I’m sure your interest is only cosmetic.

  • http://www.thaisabai.org Martyn

    Congratulations Mike and best of luck with the final, I’ve got a feeling you might pull something out of the bag. I certainly hope so.

    If you are lucky enough (snigger) to draw Pattaya then get down to Walking Street one night and pull yourself a real life sex op lady boy. An interview and detailed photos could be the winning scoop. Make sure she understands what you’re on about when you tell her,

    “I’m just going to get my Canon out.”

    I’m sure TAT won’t want Bangkok Post headlines mocking their competition with words similar to this.

    ‘ ENGLISH TAT MEDICAL BLOG FINALIST ELOPES TO PHUKET WITH LADYBOY AFTER WINNING BIG PRIZE MONEY”

    Perhaps Samui might be a better finals location for you.

    Good luck and I’ll be rooting for you. I really do hope that lovely Englishman with the big Canon wins.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Martyn thanks. Nice to wake up to a smile. Having spent some time researching the itineraries last night I don’t think I would mind Pattaya.

      Not sure my journalistic talents are up to the test on Walking Street as you suggest, sound more like Andrew Drummond’s pitch to me ;-)

  • Vs

    Dear Mike,

    Congrats! I look forward to seeing you in Bangkok within soon!

    Kindly,

    Victoria Svederberg, Novasans

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Thanks Victoria, have a good trip.

  • http://thaiconnoisseur.blogspot.com Peter_M

    Congrats Mike. If you take Martyn’s advice you will certainly see blog traffic to your site increase exponentially from what I understand of SEO dynamics, which is admittedly not very much. Wherever you end up I hope you are prepared to partake in all the sanuk activities the Thai organizers will undoubtedly arrange for you, including the obligatory karaoke sessions, the tightly packed minivan excursions and the hilarious evening dinner shows in which the medical tourism blogger finalists will be expected to dress up as transvestites and sing and dance to entertain the crowd and earn their keep :-) Good luck and enjoy the experience. I am really looking forward to the forthcoming reports.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Peter, thanks. As long as the sanuk doesn’t run to actual gender reassignment I reckon I might survive given the rather opulent surroundings.

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