Locations Map: www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1iP6aM6ZKpnk9X5ztHK5tzczXgEEbo4sH&usp=sharing Rental Prices are taken from the Hipflat website but if you shop around or just visit the condominium/apartment's office you might find a better deal direct from the property owner.
I have a request for content consideration please. What area would you recommend in Bangkok where the sidewalks are passable and not crammed with carts selling wares. It is bad enough walking when it is daytime and there isn't space to walk safely plus dodging oncoming people, etc. How much more when it is busiest time of the day. Walking on the street isn't any safer having to doge cars and motorbikes. One area I find decent is Asoke area. Would you recommend this or any other area? Thanks in advance.
I moved away from Bangkok 5 1/2 years and moved to the middle of nowhere near the Cambodian border..I'm the only farang in my neighbourhood and although I didn't intentionally try to get away from Farang, it is what it is and couldn't be happier.Growing food,fruit trees and 100 or so Chickens...Thank Buddha for the internet and can watch videos like this lol..Good one Pat.
Great comment. About the internet.. could you comment on the quality/speed etc? Is fiber available? And how close are you the closest population center? Size and disposition? Is cannabis generally safely available Thanks so much.
I'm in a borey in Phnom Pehn. I'm the only western foreigner here and the locals consider me a bit different just for that reason. Just like yourself though, I didn't do it to avoid foreigners, I purchased here due to the size of the house and the price. I wade into the foreigners every weekend on riverside about a half hour away, where I have many western friends.
The Thai people are mostly kind and polite but become hardened and jaded when too many tourists or "ex pats" are around. A general tip is that as soon as you cross the river to the Thonburi side the number of farangs drops dramatically, and there is a nice provincial feel.
Many Thais make a difference between tourists and foreigners who live in that area. I.e. near my building are (at least in normal times) a few taxi-no-meter guys who try to rip off any tourist who comes near to them. They are friendly with me, one of the farangs who lives there.
@@edgar9651 yes that's true for those who speak some Thai and fit in with Thai culture. But when I first arrived it was a painful learning process to get somewhere along the way to that goal, and I certainly rubbed some Thais up the wrong way. Too difficult for tourists to get very far! The "ex-pats" often expect the Thais to speak fluent english, which is absurd!.
This is correct. And this is the most important reason not to live in an area with Farang. One farang is OK. Two or more is not OK. Otherwise, the demeanor of Thai people react quickly and change for the worse
I love the irony of so many foreigners doing/not doing all the same things that they complain about foreigners doing/not doing in their own home country. Not learning the language, not trying to fit in, only mixing with their own. I like the advice that if they're not someone you would drink or hangout with or be friends with at home, then why would you do it here.
Not to argue but in the 8 years I've been in Chiang Mai, I've met people I would have never met in the West, and learning from them and experiencing their cultures is a great part of living here.
Foreigners who immigrate (legally) usually blend in within 5 years...especially if they are college educated. This is true for every country. The reason to associate with people from your home country with whom you would not otherwise, is because of the value of kinship mixed with the scarcity of opportunity.
@Mark Seymour Oh, that hasn't been my experience. I've met many who speak Thai, have a diverse social group, and live off of the beaten path... but they came here with the intent of immigrating while still relatively young.
Another great video! I lived at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 4 in 2001. The place is called Siam Court. About 4 or so buildings from the entrance to the tobacco factory. It was a nice place and inexpensive at the time. I was single and not much of a monger but I did have my fun. It did get annoying living there after a while and I moved after eight months. It was a good introduction to living in BKK until I got to know the city layout better. The people watching in the Nana Plaza/Nana Hotel area at night back then was lots of fun. I'd buy some chicken satay sticks, a drink, and sit for hours watching the most unique mix of people to be found anywhere on planet earth. Now I couldn't imagine living in that area, it would drive me mad.
I was always annoyed with those old folks that always were telling stories, lived here for 10-20 years and couldn't even communicate with a local.. So i moved down to Samut Prakan, Bang Phli area, more friendly "farangs" that actually accepts that they're living in Thailand and not their home country, and it's a lovely area not too far to Bangkok either. Love your videos keep it up!
Charlie I think that if we can't respect or understand that we are in Thailand and not our home country, then we have nothing to do in Thailand Rak Thais RAk Thailand samer
Interesting to see the price gaps of the condos between the areas. I'm not sure which area I would choose. I don't care if other westerners living around me and "scan" me as long as they not bother me :). My grandfather always sayed "Choose your friends wisley"... It doesn't matter if westener or local. For me is only "the view" an important point for my decission - not the people. Seeing a river, a nice skyline, a park or some green - that are my reasons to choose a place. I'm a "balcony guy" - I stay every morning on my balcony, watching in the far and enjoying my morning coffee. This clears my mind and motivates me every single day.
Buying a condo is a bad deal, you will end up selling it for very little. Many Farangs lose them cheated by owners changing hands. You have to currently put 1 million baht, 32,000 usd in the bank there and have documented 500usd a month coming in for a 1 year retirement visa with no guarantee of renewal or the bank deposit increasing as they are talking about now to 64,000usd. After 3 decades in Thailand, renting is the best, you can move if your neighborhood turns bad and every 6 months situations change in Thailand. Buy insurance, Farangs are targets of break ins in Thailand.
You can also get 12k apartments in the middle of Sukhumvit. Just not in the very newest buildings. Walk a few hundred meters into the Soi and the prices are sometimes pretty good.
Of those three I would say Tao Poon is desirable, due to the river location. You have the choice of an alternative mode of travel into Bangkok's centre to avoid the busy times of the MRT at Tao Poon. And you could always take the MRT at Bang Po station, a lot less people and you could take it the other way to Chinatown
Up in the bush of Isaan, it's relatively easy to avoid farangs. Most either die off or scuttle back to wherever they came from because they've run out of money.
Phra Khanong here, many foreigners, but, of course, more Thai residents. Its very simple: If you want to come in contact with foreigners, just go to one of the several bars only farang use. And if you want to meet Thai people, just go to markets, street food places, etc. Just do one thing: Learn Thai. Its not hard and locals love when you want to integrate.
in 1999 I moved into a small village in Nontaburi, not many Thais, let alone foreigners. Did it because I wanted to try the traditional Thai lifestyle, live in a wooden house, chat to locals, learn about Thai history and culture. Worked out well, learnt so much, especially how to read, as there was no English not even on the menus or busses.
Thanks for the video, Pat. It reassured me that living near Chiang Mai was the right choice. I can't think of anything worse than living in a city made of concrete and cars. I've had that in Europe long enough. But the title of the video is "Surviving in Thailand", not "Living in Thailand". 😁 Here we have a house and a huge garden, it's only 20 minutes to Chiang Mai. When I look out the window, I see trees, fields and mountains in every direction. Most of the "noise" is made by the many birds outside. I can easily walk or cycle many kilometers without having to worry about my health.
@@travelingman9763 It depends. There are years where the air is extremely unhealthy in the hot season, like in Bangkok. Then it is better to wear FFP2 masks outside and keep the air cleaners running inside 24 hours a day. This year is still good but I'm sure the smog will come. The people around are waiting to burn down the forests like every year.
I've lived in Thailand on a retirement visa for 10 years. My observation is that the local Thai do not have the English language skills to scam me out of my retirement nest egg. However, I have come across some English spaking "farang" who clearly had intentions to separate me form my money. I have spent time in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chaing Mai, and Phitsanulok.
Thanks for the video. I'm an Americam who lived in Thailand from 2016 to 2018 and toured the country in my car. In general, and painting with a wide brush, I found the areas that I enjoyed the most had fewer foreigners , less prostitution and heavy drinking . The Thais seemed more friendly, but there was more of a language barrier. I think Krabi was my favorite. I know the video was about areas in Bangkok, but I only spent 3 months there.
when I first arrived at the end of 2008 I lived in a Thai mansion in Nontaburi and although there was the occasional foreigner around - usually a teacher - I was greeted like a minor celeb quite often when I went out. The local eateries were superb & some of the best I've eaten at period in all my 15 years here. I moved to Withayu which was about as central as you could get but again, no expats in the part where I lived in soi Nailert. Now I stay outside the centre again at Bearings and around the area where I live..............very few expats. Inadvertently I've managed to avoid the expat bubble life and I am glad I did - the ones on fat-cat contracts tend not to make any real attempt to aclimatise and they live as much as they possibly can just as they did before they came. They don't realise that of course and think that eating soi food and and having a full-time nanny (or maid) is acclimatising. The rest are where you'll find some decent guys who don't have their heads up their rear-ends but even then you have to be careful if, like myself, you've actually made a good living here.
Another great video Pat. Your knowledge never ceases to amaze me. You're like the David Attenborough of Bangkok. I am seriously surprised you haven't been picked up by one of the networks as a presenter. Only a matter of time me thinks. Their loss is our gain until then. Love the editing, music and night shots by various stations and railway lines. I'm thinking you must be an insomniac but what better place to be an insomniac in :-D
I'm black and I was in the Philippines a few years ago, and Whenever another black guy walk pass me, You could see the delight in his face as if he was happy to see someone else who looks like him, Even nodding with a friendly smile, I felt like a celebrity.
@@louisfrost4975 A standard phase of Culture Shock (aka cultural adaptation). - Some people simply can not (or will not) progress through the stages and become partially/wholly stuck in one or more of the stages. - Anger is a common symptom of several stages. Other foreigners are easy to pick on. Most agree it is a rather immature response to racially profile all foreigners (or locals) based on a single/couple of bad instances.
@@dorseylandria6119 Can you blame them? With all those nice Hawaiian girls with the waist movement...less competition if they have less black guys, I heard those girls love a chocolate man.
Sublime effort Pat, i did seek solace at times it was more to escape high season tourist madness than other expats. I headed north with my Thailand road atlas and my lonely planet guide book best thing i ever did in Thailand, Lampang was my no1Thai city not many tourists 😀 great seats at 10.20..
Pat. I love your videos and binge on them regularly. I'm from the UK and stay in Chiang Mai on a regular basis . And I have to agree re some expats in Thailand. I have never come across a more angry looking, miserable bunch of guys of a certain age, wondering around the city and loitering in coffee shops etc. I totally don't understand their mentality. As you pass them on the pavement . You nod and acknowledge them, only to recieve an angry stare !!
I remember when I first met my closest foreign friend in Bangkok. My area doesn't have many foreigners, so you always notice when you see a fellow foreigner. Now, I didn't choose the area I live in because of this. It was purely about work and location. Anyway, first time I met my best friend here was in the supermarket. I remember he looked at me and gave me a big smile. He said, "hey, what's up?". First thing I thought was that he's very friendly. We got speaking and he mentioned how there weren't many foreigners in the area so it was nice to see one. He mentioned that he likes football so I invited to the place where I play footsol. After that we became best friends. He is definitely an anomaly. I find many foreigners can be quite territorial. I guess many like the idea that they're the most popular 'farang' and feel threatened when someone younger or more handsome is around. For me, I couldn't care less. If someone is nice to me, I'll always be nice back. But to be perfectly honest, all my closest friends are Western. With my male Thai friends I feel I often have to filter myself. With my Western friends, we make fun of each other. Mock each other's countries and politics but in a teasing way.
Pattaya is a place where I look around and say, “ Yeah, there are too many foreigners”. Otherwise I don’t actively avoid foreigners. I find I need/enjoy speaking fluent English to someone about once a week. I live in Phra Khanong but there is a small Isaan farming village in my future. I’m fine with either living situation.
Pattaya is full of retired expats because it is the cheapest of the big 3 tourist areas. But now it is filling with poorer Russians trying to escape. It was the most devastated area from Covid and estimatef 80% of tourist restraunts and tourists bars are gone. It also is an unsafe City in my opinion and the only City I see many guns in the hands of criminals.
We are all humans.Mostly friendly but also some bitter ones.Like all over the world.Nobody should feel like a foreinger nowhere.Everybody should feel like a human being everywhere.It could be so simple.
Here is a true story for you. I was with my girlfriend riding rented motorcys looking for a place to rent in Cha Am. We saw a nice hose with a number so she called it and the man told her 5,000 baht a month. We met the owner the following day to rent the house. When he got out of the car and saw me he immediately said "if I new it was a Farang wanting to rent I would have wanted 10,000 baht. We got for the 5,000 but the other Farangs on that street were all paying 10,000 baht.
Thanks for the video Pat, I recently moved to Bangkok and just picked the nana and asok area since my initial test and go hotels were there. I see that snobbiness and the entitlement. Glad you made this video, it really opened my eyes up, I have started taking Thai classes and I am really falling in love with the language, food and the culture. I will be checking out those cities you mentioned through BTS lines.
When you said "won't win prettiest street award" to me it kind of does 😳 Your videos give me so many screenshot of lovely Bangkok sights and kitties, thank you 🥰
It seems in places like you're miles from civilisation when actually you aren't. Like many side roads down the canal, like the jungle but you're never more than 100m from the bright lights and traffic.
I recommend Srinakarin. Talad rod fai is awesome. (Train market/ night market) 2 huge malls nearby too. Paradise park and Seacon square. Loads of street food around and a very local feel.
Another great video, Pat. Your camera work and editing is ultra-professional - and whilst I don't necessarily agree with all your opinions, the production quality of your work is head & shoulders above any others I have found covering our corner of IndoChina. Many thanks - and keep 'em coming!
First time I've watched one of your videos. I've lived in Bangkok for 14 years. I came here from Hong Kong and I miss having a lot of expat friends. I'd love it if there were a lot more Western expats here so I could expand my social circle.
@@earinsound mostly old farts and Bangkok is so big there isn't a tight knit expat scene like in Hong Kong or Singapore. I actually know a lot of expats but instead of seeing them all every week some of them I've not seen in years.
Hi Pat.. If you are comfortable doing so.. would love to see .. your family history - where and how and when.. of it all... as you are half Thai. I think it would make for an interesting topic for viewers of your channel. It is quite a unique trait to have being half Thai.. yet for all intensive purposes in your case an English person. How do you identify with being half Thai.. do the Thais recognise it? - indeed do other foreigners recognise it. Since you love to do historical stuff too.. tracing your family tree would be fascinating and who knows may lead to other ideas of places to visit and things to see.
I stayed at The Signature right next to BTS Saphan Khwai during my semester abroad in Bangkok a few years ago. The entire building only had one other farang living in it. If I was to move back to Bangkok, I would probably stay closer to central sukhumvit, somewhere between Ari (already stretching it) and On Nut. Rama 9 and Silom would also be options. Apart from the nearby Chatuchak Market and a giant BIG C, Saphan Khwai didn't really have much to offer.
I think, for me, I would move to an area with fewer foreigners simply to further ingrain myself in the local community and get a more authentic, less “touristy” feel.
Another informative video Pat. I suppose Minburi is too far out to get a mention but there are definitely FEWER foreigners out this way. Keep up the good work.
Congrats @bangkokpat, your videos are getting better and better, super well researched and not sugar-coated. I specially like the contemplative shots of Bangkok at its most honest, both ugly and beautiful at the same time
alot of those condos featured looked very nice and very affordable too , being away from other farangs help keep the rent down ,i too would choose to live well away from others , the thais wont speak to me much because of the language barrier, and im far too much of a reclusive independent loner the isolation and solitude would suit me just fine great video take it easy oh one other thing any chance of going back to the area around the royal orchid sheraton hotel again right next to the choa paya river cheers
Great video Pat, as usual. Expecting an influx of foreigners to join me living at Pradiphat Road now! You should come back in the evening though, when it's a lot more lively - with the street food, restaurants, open air eating places like the Camping Ground and the new Pradiphat Night Market. Cheers.
Interesting look at areas visitors don’t usually see. Where expats live or do not live isn’t high on my checklist of where I would. Many other more important criteria
Those are three areas you could easily blend in and feel like you're well away from the farang ghettos. Places like On Nut have high numbers of them and isn't a very nice area in general so that's one place I would never recommend.
I love these videos. I lived in Bang Khae in the 90's and can't believe how things have changed. A train now? Omg, I would never have left. And Starbucks. Damn.
go to khlong thong...settle in one of the slum areas...combines many advantages : its cheap...farangs fear the area...its 100 percent local thai style...if u can enjoy it there u can make it everywhere
Just caught your channel tonight. Good topic, I have several friends that are of the mind that the only good Expat is one that has moved back to their country of origin. Like your polished approach.
Hi Pat I am happy you made this video as of all the countries i have lived in the world Thailand has to be the worst for expats I have met so far. I have lived in Thailand for 6 months with my thai lady who I have known for 3 years and when I arrived in Chonburi (were my lady is from (( no not a bar girl )) ) , I seeked out expats for help and advice to which i have done in previous countries I have lived, only for a sense of " what are you doing in my House". They are so grumpy and rude and negative about Thailand , Thai's and other expats as well as cannot (will not) learn the language. I find your Channel informative intresting and a Sunday morning breakfast treat from a man with the right attuide towards were we live. I live with Thais in a "hongchow" basic but what do you really need and learning Thai . I have met some good postive expats but IF I am going to make it in Thailand & Asia I need to forget westen ideals bow my head and learn from my thai surrounding not give advice like i was born with a silver spoon and of course listen to you . great advice.
That 333 Riverside is a nice looking building ,fab views from some units Judging by a lot of the pompous comments I've read already i am not at all surprised why some Farang wish to avoid living near others 😂
I think a lot of us that don't want to live with other Farang. I'm a social introvert. So just prefer my own company. I have a small number of friends that are similar to me.
Pat, nice video. I live in Cha-am (for context). I don't want to necessarily want to live around NO farang. But I certainly don't want to live in an area that is SATURATED with farang. (I can tell an area that is saturated when Thai shopkeepers respond to a question I ask in (heavily accented) Thai in English. In general, my experience informs me that the more farang at a given spot, the worse the attitudes and the more irrational the complaints will be, at least by my experience. There is 100% zero chance that I would ever live anywhere on Phuket, almost anywhere in Chonburi...even Hua Hin is too heavily saturated with farang for my taste. I'm not saying Thais are perfect, not saying that Thai culture is perfect, or anything like that, but dammit, we are the foreigners here and it's their country and their culture. It's our obligation as the foreigner in the situation to either adapt to that culture or at least accept it for what it is and tolerate it. Otherwise, go back home!!
I have lived in Bang Sue (same area as Tao Poon but about 1km north of the Lotus that you showed) for over 10 years. I chose it because it had access to river and rail transport and I had know idea if there were westerners there or not. I have 42 sq m apartment with kitchen and bathroom for 7,500 per month, but there are also numerous new condos in the area due to the multiplying train lines. The beautiful walking path alongside Klong Prapa extends foe quite a few kilometres. There are few farangs in the area, a few business owners and teachers and TOEFL students. I find the local people very friendly and super honest. Most will chase you down the street to return 5 baht of extra change. I love that I speak Thai most of the time though there are still plenty of locals that like to practice their English. Most things are also much cheaper than in Sukhumvit or Sathorn. The vast majority of residential properties, and the nicest areas, are north of where you showed along Prachachuen Rd and Krungthep-Nonthaburi Rd.
Outskirts of Khon Kaen city, the few ive met here have been living here 10+ years, we meet and talk about live once in a while, we're all from different countries, but yeah, I did not come here to hang out with farangs, peoole don't even refer to me as farang here, I'm mamuang pum pui, but yeah in a country where English is sparse its sometimes just nice being able to unwind and yap about life from different parts of the world 😊
Cheap, family community is good for my family/kids I take often trips to the Andaman In my village there’s 400 homes Bananas are 20 Bht A cow pad cail is 30 Bht They have little debt tho it’s increasing over the years , they live with low stress /bills. Phones in the last 7-8 years have changed their lives. I’m just a witness of an evolving culture I love Thailand Lots to ameliorate and better They have freedoms even in Covid times in rural areas Kids playing with kids outside They drive dangerously and need to evolve regarding women The farangs are mostly here to take and go back I’m invested in my community Women are going to university more and more It’s improving I wish them good luck
With David Attenborough's voice: "The foreign expats are some recently introduced species that have become part of Bangkok's diverse biosphere beside the locals, the cats and the rats."
I love The cho _ cho training If I wish to go to Bangkok That's i would do take the Cho_ cho traian taking a Ride back and forth to see The new Bangkok . An excellent filming I appreciate you for it's .
Peter I don't think it is essential. Some ? Yes ! I have lived in my area and I do not speak fluently but get by. Just because they don't live down Suko or Asoke does not mean they can't speak English.
Glad you mentioned Tao Poon. I live in Nonthaburi but have visited the area very regularly for the past 6 years. It’s changing super quick, but it still has a neighborhood feel, where you can just walk from the MRT to the mall and there’s lots of interesting shops. My dentist is on Sukhumvit 55 and even though they have the nice shops, it just doesn’t have the neighborhood feel of Tao Poon. Great video by the way.
After 25 years in the LOS it still interests me the farang-Thai couples (presumably in a long term relationship) I come across that can hardly communicate with each other beyond the basics. It's mostly a language barrier thing of course and a big reason farang will seek out the company of other farang and the Thai, Thai company. The main reason I would want to avoid a farang dense locale, or more correctly a touristy area, apart from higher prices, is not because of the farang so much but because of the Thais that, relatively, monied farang attract. To be stared at and cat-called "hello mister", "massage mister" day in day out every time you go to/from your home can get a tad irritating after a while. I accept other long term farang might enjoy this attention and strike up a friendly rapport with these locals but to avoid 'problems' I prefer to keep my distance.
Seen that also sort of sad and creepy in a way. My advice is if you can not speak Thai you are only asking for trouble dating many but not all Thai women. The last place I would date a Thai would be in a tourist area. Having said that I met my partner twenty-two years ago on Koh Samui she barely spoke any English and I was just starting to learn Thai still together after all these years and I love her family also. Never asked a single baht from me.
@@destinationsroadslesstraveled Like your case I have certainly come across exceptions. You might agree Samui was a different place 20 years ago. My first visit there was 1989 and last in 2013. In that time the island and the tourist boom there has attracted vastly many more Thais, from all over the country to find work, many working in the sex/bar industry, much like Pattaya and Patong have. What happens is that these places lose their sense of community with such transient Thai populations that come and go feeding off the tourism industry and despite bringing money into the local economy, has had a detrimental affect in some areas of island life.
@@destinationsroadslesstraveled I met my wife 22 years ago, also. In Bangkok. Always were language issues, but we have made the best of it. She's very sweet and kind. Good luck to you.
I just re-watched this, now that I have the lay of the land (well, sort of) I get much more out of it. It takes me double the running time because I'm going back and forth between the video and google maps :). I think I'll take the boat to Bang Pho and then work my way east to check these areas out. Thanks for another days itinerary.
Glad to hear that Steve! There's a more complete video on Lat Phrao I did a bit after this one. Tao Poon is low key but great for the river and Bang Sue station, Saphan Kwai is not a bad area either. All are within easy reach of Chatuchak Park/Market/railway park. Did I not add a map to this video?.....
@@BangkokPat yes you did add a map, but it was a pinned comment and I didn't see it until I finished the video. I only looked in the notes at the top. I'll look a little further down next time.
Hi. In 2010 I lived at Minburi, outskirts of Bkk, that was a nice house in a gated community, Me the only foreigner I think there. That was OK. my rent was 15k . A bit far from city centers, but near Fashion Island.
In an area where there's more foreigners there's also more touts, more scams, and most things will be more expensive. That's what I've found in my travels, generally. No expert on Thailand, specifically, though.
Good topic Pat. I can see the attraction of living in a local area of Bangkok rather than a tourist/expat hub. My reasoning is if you travel to a foreign country you should try to immerse yourself into the local culture. Of course you also get more bang for your buck with your living space that way. Downside from what I saw is the lack of parkland and greenery in those areas. The Bangkok concrete jungle can be a bit depressing for me. That's why I preferred staying in Chiang Mai in a student area outside of the old city when I travelled there regularly. I haven't had to endure too many bitter and twisted expats over the years and have found many travellers and expats to have interesting backgrounds and have been good for a chat.
if you tell your real estate agent in California "I don't want to live near a lot of foreigners", all you have to do is wink, they'll know exactly what you mean. true story.
An incredibly informative exploration of not well known Bangkok neighbourhoods. As you insightfully say in the video "expats" are a highly diverse lot in terms of interests, language, culture and motivation. What I enjoy about your presentations is that you are non-judgmental. You let people draw their own conclusions.
Hello Pat, I am not on Twitter or Facebook. I guess it is along the same lines as not wanting to be close to a lot of other foreigners. A giant condo is not my first choice when I retire. The thought of what used to be there before construction started would bother me. Did a whole outdoor market get knocked down to build a tower of foreigners? then I do not want any part of that. I would rather live in a former guest house amongst Thai businesses.
I don’t think competition over local women fuels most of it. I can speak only for myself, but I want to live in a place with as few faring as possible, For the simple reason I don’t want to discuss politics, or all the other nonsense that I left home for in the first place.
What area are better for accessibility? For example, step free access to stores or restaurants, escalators, and elevators. Perhaps a video would be nice.
Thanks Charles, a great idea but a challenge too. many BTS/MRT stations are step free but getting to the actual station is a challenge itself. Uneven pavements, too narrow.
Lad phrao and minburi area is an up and coming part of the city with the new BTS lines being built. Easy to be by yourself if that is the desire of the expat.
@@BangkokPat very good I will be watching for the videos. I hope when you do minburi you stop by the abandoned amusement park near fashion island. I loved the old pictures of magic land on phanyothin from your older video from this area. I look at that old castle everyday from my house so it was a real treat seeing it when it was open.
You have farangs who complain endlessly about Thai people/culture/policy and you've got farangs who complain endlessly about other farangs. I lived somewhere with fewer farangs simply to save money and learn Thai lol.
My lady friend still works out near BKK's Eastern Ring as soon as I get my Retirement Visa somewhat settled I'm (we are) getting out of this Apartment into a better one somewhere up here.....for now but I can here her now "I no like Heights!......or expensive!" as to the latter pretty much any place here is cheaper than anywhere I lived in the Pacific NW!....my Baht My Choice!
In Thailand since 1994 , At the beginning rented room not far from my work then buy condo at early 2000 at reasonable price near my work. They are foreigner in my complex but not much interaction, back in earlier days got colleagues who were leaving in others complex and have really friendship between the tenants ; party songkraan near the swimming pools ect.. Times change
I know Suttisan/Huai Khwang-- Zero Falang there/20 mins away. Yes there are different reasons why... Other Falangs made up a different demographic when I was there (age, class, outlook).
An area I'll feature as an ideal area with less foreigners very soon. Not a bad area at all. Has a few parts that are a bit dirty but nowhere's perfect.
I had a very small apartment at Lat Phrao which I used 2 days a week, the area was fantastic, but I wouldn’t want to stay 7 days a week, congestion and smog is the killer, but for those 2 days I stayed in the area, absolutely great, often met up with Farangs at the local shopping mall
i paid around 3000 baht/month for a studio off Nanglinchee Rd. years later 4500 baht for a small two story house in a wonderful and noisy muslim neighborhood near Surasak BTS station. those were the days. very few fellow westerners in the immediate neighborhoods, especially Nanglinchee area. i’d go to the fresh market and people would yell, “farang ma laeow!” great being a superstar for awhile haha. damn who lives in these 12000-17000 baht/month condos? surely not all foreigners!?
I think some Farangs may think that they and they alone are on an adventure and if they see another Farnag then it makes them feel less adventurous. If they want to learn Thai then its a good idea to isolate themselves among Thai people only. Its funny though that when Thai people move to London, New York, LA or some place in the Western World they all actively look for each other, as do Chinese, Africans, Arabs, Mexicans but Europeans always try and avoid each other...Weird that, however Ive always noticed that a tourist in an actual tourist area is always complaining about there being too many tourists around them.
For me I avoid most other Western people as a rule. Many are just getting by on a very limited income, always drinking and moving from one girl to the next. IMHO in many cases that lifestyle creates to much drama, my life at 18 was that way but at 60 something life is about peace and enjoying the time I have left surrounded by positive people and living easy. We all have our own path to travel in this life, we are free to live as we please. I'm grateful to have made it this far and still living well.
Locations Map: www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1iP6aM6ZKpnk9X5ztHK5tzczXgEEbo4sH&usp=sharing
Rental Prices are taken from the Hipflat website but if you shop around or just visit the condominium/apartment's office you might find a better deal direct from the property owner.
I want Thai subtitles for Thai people.
Please
@@shena.gun59 Don't youtube have them auto?
I have a request for content consideration please. What area would you recommend in Bangkok where the sidewalks are passable and not crammed with carts selling wares. It is bad enough walking when it is daytime and there isn't space to walk safely plus dodging oncoming people, etc. How much more when it is busiest time of the day. Walking on the street isn't any safer having to doge cars and motorbikes. One area I find decent is Asoke area. Would you recommend this or any other area? Thanks in advance.
@@BangkokPat no, just English version
I moved away from Bangkok 5 1/2 years and moved to the middle of nowhere near the Cambodian border..I'm the only farang in my neighbourhood and although I didn't intentionally try to get away from Farang, it is what it is and couldn't be happier.Growing food,fruit trees and 100 or so Chickens...Thank Buddha for the internet and can watch videos like this lol..Good one Pat.
Are you in sisaket?
Wonderful news, that's life. Enjoy every moment
Great to hear that John. Thanks mate.
Great comment. About the internet.. could you comment on the quality/speed etc? Is fiber available? And how close are you the closest population center? Size and disposition? Is cannabis generally safely available Thanks so much.
I'm in a borey in Phnom Pehn. I'm the only western foreigner here and the locals consider me a bit different just for that reason. Just like yourself though, I didn't do it to avoid foreigners, I purchased here due to the size of the house and the price. I wade into the foreigners every weekend on riverside about a half hour away, where I have many western friends.
The Thai people are mostly kind and polite but become hardened and jaded when too many tourists or "ex pats" are around. A general tip is that as soon as you cross the river to the Thonburi side the number of farangs drops dramatically, and there is a nice provincial feel.
Couldn't agree more.
Thonburi is great !
It is largely Pattaya, Phuket, Khaosan and Nana that’s the area to avoid.
Many Thais make a difference between tourists and foreigners who live in that area. I.e. near my building are (at least in normal times) a few taxi-no-meter guys who try to rip off any tourist who comes near to them. They are friendly with me, one of the farangs who lives there.
@@edgar9651 yes that's true for those who speak some Thai and fit in with Thai culture. But when I first arrived it was a painful learning process to get somewhere along the way to that goal, and I certainly rubbed some Thais up the wrong way. Too difficult for tourists to get very far! The "ex-pats" often expect the Thais to speak fluent english, which is absurd!.
This is correct. And this is the most important reason not to live in an area with Farang. One farang is OK. Two or more is not OK. Otherwise, the demeanor of Thai people react quickly and change for the worse
I love the irony of so many foreigners doing/not doing all the same things that they complain about foreigners doing/not doing in their own home country. Not learning the language, not trying to fit in, only mixing with their own. I like the advice that if they're not someone you would drink or hangout with or be friends with at home, then why would you do it here.
Not to argue but in the 8 years I've been in Chiang Mai, I've met people I would have never met in the West, and learning from them and experiencing their cultures is a great part of living here.
@@topixfromthetropix1674 Sorry, I think you may have misunderstood my meaning. I am with you on that.
Foreigners who immigrate (legally) usually blend in within 5 years...especially if they are college educated. This is true for every country. The reason to associate with people from your home country with whom you would not otherwise, is because of the value of kinship mixed with the scarcity of opportunity.
@Mark Seymour Oh, that hasn't been my experience. I've met many who speak Thai, have a diverse social group, and live off of the beaten path... but they came here with the intent of immigrating while still relatively young.
@@lifesabeach5405 All hierarchy is based on GDP per capita. Japanese rank higher than Russians, for example.
Another great video!
I lived at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 4 in 2001. The place is called Siam Court. About 4 or so buildings from the entrance to the tobacco factory. It was a nice place and inexpensive at the time. I was single and not much of a monger but I did have my fun. It did get annoying living there after a while and I moved after eight months. It was a good introduction to living in BKK until I got to know the city layout better. The people watching in the Nana Plaza/Nana Hotel area at night back then was lots of fun. I'd buy some chicken satay sticks, a drink, and sit for hours watching the most unique mix of people to be found anywhere on planet earth.
Now I couldn't imagine living in that area, it would drive me mad.
I was always annoyed with those old folks that always were telling stories, lived here for 10-20 years and couldn't even communicate with a local.. So i moved down to Samut Prakan, Bang Phli area, more friendly "farangs" that actually accepts that they're living in Thailand and not their home country, and it's a lovely area not too far to Bangkok either. Love your videos keep it up!
Exactly. Nail on the head.
Thanks Charlie, I know a few people who live in that area and would never move anywhere else.
I live in Bangplee too and am the only farang in my "village" but I get on well with the locals and after 13 years feel quite at home!
Charlie
I think that if we can't respect or understand that we are in Thailand and not our home country, then we have nothing to do in Thailand
Rak Thais RAk Thailand samer
Interesting to see the price gaps of the condos between the areas. I'm not sure which area I would choose. I don't care if other westerners living around me and "scan" me as long as they not bother me :). My grandfather always sayed "Choose your friends wisley"... It doesn't matter if westener or local. For me is only "the view" an important point for my decission - not the people. Seeing a river, a nice skyline, a park or some green - that are my reasons to choose a place. I'm a "balcony guy" - I stay every morning on my balcony, watching in the far and enjoying my morning coffee. This clears my mind and motivates me every single day.
Buying a condo is a bad deal, you will end up selling it for very little. Many Farangs lose them cheated by owners changing hands. You have to currently put 1 million baht, 32,000 usd in the bank there and have documented 500usd a month coming in for a 1 year retirement visa with no guarantee of renewal or the bank deposit increasing as they are talking about now to 64,000usd. After 3 decades in Thailand, renting is the best, you can move if your neighborhood turns bad and every 6 months situations change in Thailand. Buy insurance, Farangs are targets of break ins in Thailand.
You can also get 12k apartments in the middle of Sukhumvit. Just not in the very newest buildings. Walk a few hundred meters into the Soi and the prices are sometimes pretty good.
Of those three I would say Tao Poon is desirable, due to the river location. You have the choice of an alternative mode of travel into Bangkok's centre to avoid the busy times of the MRT at Tao Poon. And you could always take the MRT at Bang Po station, a lot less people and you could take it the other way to Chinatown
Good attitude.
Up in the bush of Isaan, it's relatively easy to avoid farangs. Most either die off or scuttle back to wherever they came from because they've run out of money.
Run outta money in Isaan? WTF?
Uh. I took my bar girl there. I think her dad is dying again.
@@robertburnett6348 How is the health of the family water buffalo ?
its a good spot. It's easy to blend in and just live life.
Phra Khanong here,
many foreigners, but, of course, more Thai residents. Its very simple: If you want to come in contact with foreigners, just go to one of the several bars only farang use.
And if you want to meet Thai people, just go to markets, street food places, etc.
Just do one thing: Learn Thai. Its not hard and locals love when you want to integrate.
in 1999 I moved into a small village in Nontaburi, not many Thais, let alone foreigners. Did it because I wanted to try the traditional Thai lifestyle, live in a wooden house, chat to locals, learn about Thai history and culture. Worked out well, learnt so much, especially how to read, as there was no English not even on the menus or busses.
not many thais in nontaburi??? how could that be?
I owned a condo at thonglor near to bts, quiet cozy place with many friendly thais or foreigners and always love to live in BKK kap.🙏
Thanks for the video, Pat. It reassured me that living near Chiang Mai was the right choice. I can't think of anything worse than living in a city made of concrete and cars. I've had that in Europe long enough. But the title of the video is "Surviving in Thailand", not "Living in Thailand". 😁
Here we have a house and a huge garden, it's only 20 minutes to Chiang Mai. When I look out the window, I see trees, fields and mountains in every direction. Most of the "noise" is made by the many birds outside. I can easily walk or cycle many kilometers without having to worry about my health.
How hard is the air pollution to deal with ?
@@travelingman9763 It depends. There are years where the air is extremely unhealthy in the hot season, like in Bangkok. Then it is better to wear FFP2 masks outside and keep the air cleaners running inside 24 hours a day.
This year is still good but I'm sure the smog will come. The people around are waiting to burn down the forests like every year.
What area around Chiang Mai are you located?
@@YuChiGongG Doi Saket
@@riccizepmeusel6899 Thanks.
You have such a great manner and on screen confidence/presence! Not seedy, or cringe inducing, but just factual videos! Well done!
I've lived in Thailand on a retirement visa for 10 years. My observation is that the local Thai do not have the English language skills to scam me out of my retirement nest egg. However, I have come across some English spaking "farang" who clearly had intentions to separate me form my money. I have spent time in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chaing Mai, and Phitsanulok.
Thanks for the video. I'm an Americam who lived in Thailand from 2016 to 2018 and toured the country in my car. In general, and painting with a wide brush, I found the areas that I enjoyed the most had fewer foreigners , less prostitution and heavy drinking . The Thais seemed more friendly, but there was more of a language barrier. I think Krabi was my favorite. I know the video was about areas in Bangkok, but I only spent 3 months there.
when I first arrived at the end of 2008 I lived in a Thai mansion in Nontaburi and although there was the occasional foreigner around - usually a teacher - I was greeted like a minor celeb quite often when I went out. The local eateries were superb & some of the best I've eaten at period in all my 15 years here. I moved to Withayu which was about as central as you could get but again, no expats in the part where I lived in soi Nailert. Now I stay outside the centre again at Bearings and around the area where I live..............very few expats. Inadvertently I've managed to avoid the expat bubble life and I am glad I did - the ones on fat-cat contracts tend not to make any real attempt to aclimatise and they live as much as they possibly can just as they did before they came. They don't realise that of course and think that eating soi food and and having a full-time nanny (or maid) is acclimatising. The rest are where you'll find some decent guys who don't have their heads up their rear-ends but even then you have to be careful if, like myself, you've actually made a good living here.
Another great video Pat. Your knowledge never ceases to amaze me. You're like the David Attenborough of Bangkok. I am seriously surprised you haven't been picked up by one of the networks as a presenter. Only a matter of time me thinks. Their loss is our gain until then. Love the editing, music and night shots by various stations and railway lines. I'm thinking you must be an insomniac but what better place to be an insomniac in :-D
Again an excellent presentation from Pat! Thanks!
Thanks Shaboom!
I'm black and I was in the Philippines a few years ago, and Whenever another black guy walk pass me, You could see the delight in his face as if he was happy to see someone else who looks like him, Even nodding with a friendly smile, I felt like a celebrity.
Yes, a nice feeling.
White ex pat's, Australians in my case would behave so bad when I was living in Vietnam. I'd leave the bar the second I heard the accent.
@@louisfrost4975
A standard phase of Culture Shock (aka cultural adaptation).
- Some people simply can not (or will not) progress through the stages and become partially/wholly stuck in one or more of the stages.
- Anger is a common symptom of several stages. Other foreigners are easy to pick on.
Most agree it is a rather immature response to racially profile all foreigners (or locals) based on a single/couple of bad instances.
The total opposite in Hawaii. The negroes here act like they don't want any other blacks here.
@@dorseylandria6119 Can you blame them? With all those nice Hawaiian girls with the waist movement...less competition if they have less black guys, I heard those girls love a chocolate man.
Sublime effort Pat, i did seek solace at times it was more to escape high season tourist madness than other expats. I headed north with my Thailand road atlas and my lonely planet guide book best thing i ever did in Thailand, Lampang was my no1Thai city not many tourists 😀 great seats at 10.20..
Pat. I love your videos and binge on them regularly. I'm from the UK and stay in Chiang Mai on a regular basis . And I have to agree re some expats in Thailand. I have never come across a more angry looking, miserable bunch of guys of a certain age, wondering around the city and loitering in coffee shops etc. I totally don't understand their mentality. As you pass them on the pavement . You nod and acknowledge them, only to recieve an angry stare !!
I lived for many years in the Victory Monument area, not so many foreigners but still centrally located
Where i lived. Loved it.
Two video ideas:
1. Quietest areas to live in. (with the most nature perhaps?)
2. Choosing a quiet condo
Somewhere in the green lung, maybe?
I remember when I first met my closest foreign friend in Bangkok. My area doesn't have many foreigners, so you always notice when you see a fellow foreigner. Now, I didn't choose the area I live in because of this. It was purely about work and location. Anyway, first time I met my best friend here was in the supermarket. I remember he looked at me and gave me a big smile. He said, "hey, what's up?". First thing I thought was that he's very friendly. We got speaking and he mentioned how there weren't many foreigners in the area so it was nice to see one. He mentioned that he likes football so I invited to the place where I play footsol. After that we became best friends. He is definitely an anomaly. I find many foreigners can be quite territorial. I guess many like the idea that they're the most popular 'farang' and feel threatened when someone younger or more handsome is around. For me, I couldn't care less. If someone is nice to me, I'll always be nice back. But to be perfectly honest, all my closest friends are Western. With my male Thai friends I feel I often have to filter myself. With my Western friends, we make fun of each other. Mock each other's countries and politics but in a teasing way.
Thais don't do sarcasm well at all
Pattaya is a place where I look around and say, “ Yeah, there are too many foreigners”. Otherwise I don’t actively avoid foreigners. I find I need/enjoy speaking fluent English to someone about once a week. I live in Phra Khanong but there is a small Isaan farming village in my future. I’m fine with either living situation.
Pattaya is full of retired expats because it is the cheapest of the big 3 tourist areas. But now it is filling with poorer Russians trying to escape. It was the most devastated area from Covid and estimatef 80% of tourist restraunts and tourists bars are gone. It also is an unsafe City in my opinion and the only City I see many guns in the hands of criminals.
Pattaya or as Thais that I know call it farang city
We are all humans.Mostly friendly but also some bitter ones.Like all over the world.Nobody should feel like a foreinger nowhere.Everybody should feel like a human being everywhere.It could be so simple.
Here is a true story for you. I was with my girlfriend riding rented motorcys looking for a place to rent in Cha Am. We saw a nice hose with a number so she called it and the man told her 5,000 baht a month. We met the owner the following day to rent the house. When he got out of the car and saw me he immediately said "if I new it was a Farang wanting to rent I would have wanted 10,000 baht. We got for the 5,000 but the other Farangs on that street were all paying 10,000 baht.
Yeah, always get a more 'local' person to do these negotiations in your place. Usually works out better.
Thanks for the video Pat, I recently moved to Bangkok and just picked the nana and asok area since my initial test and go hotels were there. I see that snobbiness and the entitlement. Glad you made this video, it really opened my eyes up, I have started taking Thai classes and I am really falling in love with the language, food and the culture. I will be checking out those cities you mentioned through BTS lines.
When you said "won't win prettiest street award" to me it kind of does 😳
Your videos give me so many screenshot of lovely Bangkok sights and kitties, thank you 🥰
I've walked around a lot of Tao Poon, it's a pretty solid pick. The main reason is (like you mentioned) the access to mass transit.
@@chestermosburger3113 maybe some people need to go to work in some other part of Bgkk.
It seems in places like you're miles from civilisation when actually you aren't. Like many side roads down the canal, like the jungle but you're never more than 100m from the bright lights and traffic.
Wow, D-Thai apartment, I used to live there too! 4500 for a studio. Great days and I’d love to go back to 2007-2010 when life seemed so much simpler
I added it as I found when I got home that I'd taken a photo of it. It may be a bit of rough amongst the diamonds but some are on budgets!
I recommend Srinakarin. Talad rod fai is awesome. (Train market/ night market) 2 huge malls nearby too. Paradise park and Seacon square. Loads of street food around and a very local feel.
Another great video, Pat. Your camera work and editing is ultra-professional - and whilst I don't necessarily agree with all your opinions, the production quality of your work is head & shoulders above any others I have found covering our corner of IndoChina.
Many thanks - and keep 'em coming!
First time I've watched one of your videos. I've lived in Bangkok for 14 years. I came here from Hong Kong and I miss having a lot of expat friends. I'd love it if there were a lot more Western expats here so I could expand my social circle.
dude there are hundreds of expats in Bangkok!
@@earinsound mostly old farts and Bangkok is so big there isn't a tight knit expat scene like in Hong Kong or Singapore. I actually know a lot of expats but instead of seeing them all every week some of them I've not seen in years.
Great video!
You add a new definition to the term "happy ending" in Thailand
😊
Hi Pat.. If you are comfortable doing so.. would love to see .. your family history - where and how and when.. of it all... as you are half Thai. I think it would make for an interesting topic for viewers of your channel. It is quite a unique trait to have being half Thai.. yet for all intensive purposes in your case an English person. How do you identify with being half Thai.. do the Thais recognise it? - indeed do other foreigners recognise it. Since you love to do historical stuff too.. tracing your family tree would be fascinating and who knows may lead to other ideas of places to visit and things to see.
Nice and no nonsense,subscribed
The prices got me going straight for the currency calculator,i live in Hong Kong and i pay over ten times that
I stayed at The Signature right next to BTS Saphan Khwai during my semester abroad in Bangkok a few years ago. The entire building only had one other farang living in it. If I was to move back to Bangkok, I would probably stay closer to central sukhumvit, somewhere between Ari (already stretching it) and On Nut. Rama 9 and Silom would also be options. Apart from the nearby Chatuchak Market and a giant BIG C, Saphan Khwai didn't really have much to offer.
I think, for me, I would move to an area with fewer foreigners simply to further ingrain myself in the local community and get a more authentic, less “touristy” feel.
Hello, Charan Sanitwong is a great place to live, very local, with the MRT and great views on the Chao Phraya.
Another informative video Pat. I suppose Minburi is too far out to get a mention but there are definitely FEWER foreigners out this way. Keep up the good work.
Congrats @bangkokpat, your videos are getting better and better, super well researched and not sugar-coated. I specially like the contemplative shots of Bangkok at its most honest, both ugly and beautiful at the same time
alot of those condos featured looked very nice and very affordable too , being away from other farangs help keep the rent down ,i too would choose to live well away from others , the thais wont speak to me much because of the language barrier, and im far too much of a reclusive independent loner the isolation and solitude would suit me just fine great video take it easy oh one other thing any chance of going back to the area around the royal orchid sheraton hotel again right next to the choa paya river cheers
Great video Pat, as usual. Expecting an influx of foreigners to join me living at Pradiphat Road now!
You should come back in the evening though, when it's a lot more lively - with the street food, restaurants, open air eating places like the Camping Ground and the new Pradiphat Night Market.
Cheers.
Thanks for this video - very insightful
Cheers mate 😎
Interesting look at areas visitors don’t usually see. Where expats live or do not live isn’t high on my checklist of where I would. Many other more important criteria
Those are three areas you could easily blend in and feel like you're well away from the farang ghettos. Places like On Nut have high numbers of them and isn't a very nice area in general so that's one place I would never recommend.
I love these videos. I lived in Bang Khae in the 90's and can't believe how things have changed. A train now? Omg, I would never have left. And Starbucks. Damn.
Thanks again mate! Great following editing! I’m seeing your number going up🤩 I hope you’re well champ! Cheers🥳
go to khlong thong...settle in one of the slum areas...combines many advantages : its cheap...farangs fear the area...its 100 percent local thai style...if u can enjoy it there u can make it everywhere
Great research, cool montage-esque editing, biting but humorous commentary with heavenly synth music…
I’ve subscribed!
Just caught your channel tonight. Good topic, I have several friends that are of the mind that the only good Expat is one that has moved back to their country of origin. Like your polished approach.
Hi Pat I am happy you made this video as of all the countries i have lived in the world Thailand has to be the worst for expats I have met so far. I have lived in Thailand for 6 months with my thai lady who I have known for 3 years and when I arrived in Chonburi (were my lady is from (( no not a bar girl )) ) , I seeked out expats for help and advice to which i have done in previous countries I have lived, only for a sense of " what are you doing in my House". They are so grumpy and rude and negative about Thailand , Thai's and other expats as well as cannot (will not) learn the language.
I find your Channel informative intresting and a Sunday morning breakfast treat from a man with the right attuide towards were we live.
I live with Thais in a "hongchow" basic but what do you really need and learning Thai .
I have met some good postive expats but IF I am going to make it in Thailand & Asia I need to forget westen ideals bow my head and learn from my thai surrounding not give advice like i was born with a silver spoon and of course listen to you . great advice.
Very clever use of innuendo.
Very interesting video Pat. On Nut is another area with plenty of foreigners.
That 333 Riverside is a nice looking building ,fab views from some units
Judging by a lot of the pompous comments I've read already i am not at all surprised why some Farang wish to avoid living near others 😂
Love your content/videos Bangkok Pat!
Glad you like them Jane, thank you very much 😻😻😻
By far the best informations ! Thank's , good job.
I think a lot of us that don't want to live with other Farang. I'm a social introvert. So just prefer my own company. I have a small number of friends that are similar to me.
I lived in Soi Lang Nam for years, (excuse spelling) Really Appreciate the style & editing of your videos, keep up the good work.
Thanks a lot, you mean Soi Rang nam near Victory Monument?
@@BangkokPat Yes, thats it, great parks, top street food & shopping mall with cinema, that was my little area which made me really like Bangkok.
What an excellent upload. Thanks.
Thanks.
Pat, nice video. I live in Cha-am (for context). I don't want to necessarily want to live around NO farang. But I certainly don't want to live in an area that is SATURATED with farang. (I can tell an area that is saturated when Thai shopkeepers respond to a question I ask in (heavily accented) Thai in English.
In general, my experience informs me that the more farang at a given spot, the worse the attitudes and the more irrational the complaints will be, at least by my experience. There is 100% zero chance that I would ever live anywhere on Phuket, almost anywhere in Chonburi...even Hua Hin is too heavily saturated with farang for my taste.
I'm not saying Thais are perfect, not saying that Thai culture is perfect, or anything like that, but dammit, we are the foreigners here and it's their country and their culture. It's our obligation as the foreigner in the situation to either adapt to that culture or at least accept it for what it is and tolerate it. Otherwise, go back home!!
I have lived in Bang Sue (same area as Tao Poon but about 1km north of the Lotus that you showed) for over 10 years. I chose it because it had access to river and rail transport and I had know idea if there were westerners there or not. I have 42 sq m apartment with kitchen and bathroom for 7,500 per month, but there are also numerous new condos in the area due to the multiplying train lines. The beautiful walking path alongside Klong Prapa extends foe quite a few kilometres. There are few farangs in the area, a few business owners and teachers and TOEFL students. I find the local people very friendly and super honest. Most will chase you down the street to return 5 baht of extra change. I love that I speak Thai most of the time though there are still plenty of locals that like to practice their English. Most things are also much cheaper than in Sukhumvit or Sathorn.
The vast majority of residential properties, and the nicest areas, are north of where you showed along Prachachuen Rd and Krungthep-Nonthaburi Rd.
Outskirts of Khon Kaen city, the few ive met here have been living here 10+ years, we meet and talk about live once in a while, we're all from different countries, but yeah, I did not come here to hang out with farangs, peoole don't even refer to me as farang here, I'm mamuang pum pui, but yeah in a country where English is sparse its sometimes just nice being able to unwind and yap about life from different parts of the world 😊
Big fan of the channel Pat! Quality productions. Keep up the great work.
Cheap, family community is good for my family/kids
I take often trips to the Andaman
In my village there’s 400 homes
Bananas are 20 Bht
A cow pad cail is 30 Bht
They have little debt tho it’s increasing over the years , they live with low stress /bills.
Phones in the last 7-8 years have changed their lives.
I’m just a witness of an evolving culture
I love Thailand
Lots to ameliorate and better
They have freedoms even in Covid times in rural areas
Kids playing with kids outside
They drive dangerously and need to evolve regarding women
The farangs are mostly here to take and go back
I’m invested in my community
Women are going to university more and more
It’s improving
I wish them good luck
With David Attenborough's voice: "The foreign expats are some recently introduced species that have become part of Bangkok's diverse biosphere beside the locals, the cats and the rats."
I love The cho _ cho training
If I wish to go to Bangkok
That's i would do take the
Cho_ cho traian taking a
Ride back and forth to see
The new Bangkok .
An excellent filming
I appreciate you for it's .
I think if you opt to live in these areas it's essential that you learn to speak Thai
Surely your fluent after all this time ?
Peter I don't think it is essential. Some ? Yes ! I have lived in my area and I do not speak fluently but get by. Just because they don't live down Suko or Asoke does not mean they can't speak English.
Definitely helps because in places where Jonny Farang isn't seen that often you will need to learn more than the basics
@@BangkokPat of course.
Greatly enjoy the coherence of your posts Pat. You have a talent in the editing suite and in front of the camera.
Glad you mentioned Tao Poon. I live in Nonthaburi but have visited the area very regularly for the past 6 years. It’s changing super quick, but it still has a neighborhood feel, where you can just walk from the MRT to the mall and there’s lots of interesting shops. My dentist is on Sukhumvit 55 and even though they have the nice shops, it just doesn’t have the neighborhood feel of Tao Poon. Great video by the way.
After 25 years in the LOS it still interests me the farang-Thai couples (presumably in a long term relationship) I come across that can hardly communicate with each other beyond the basics. It's mostly a language barrier thing of course and a big reason farang will seek out the company of other farang and the Thai, Thai company. The main reason I would want to avoid a farang dense locale, or more correctly a touristy area, apart from higher prices, is not because of the farang so much but because of the Thais that, relatively, monied farang attract. To be stared at and cat-called "hello mister", "massage mister" day in day out every time you go to/from your home can get a tad irritating after a while. I accept other long term farang might enjoy this attention and strike up a friendly rapport with these locals but to avoid 'problems' I prefer to keep my distance.
Seen that also sort of sad and creepy in a way. My advice is if you can not speak Thai you are only asking for trouble dating many but not all Thai women. The last place I would date a Thai would be in a tourist area. Having said that I met my partner twenty-two years ago on Koh Samui she barely spoke any English and I was just starting to learn Thai still together after all these years and I love her family also. Never asked a single baht from me.
@@destinationsroadslesstraveled Like your case I have certainly come across exceptions. You might agree Samui was a different place 20 years ago. My first visit there was 1989 and last in 2013. In that time the island and the tourist boom there has attracted vastly many more Thais, from all over the country to find work, many working in the sex/bar industry, much like Pattaya and Patong have. What happens is that these places lose their sense of community with such transient Thai populations that come and go feeding off the tourism industry and despite bringing money into the local economy, has had a detrimental affect in some areas of island life.
@@destinationsroadslesstraveled I met my wife 22 years ago, also. In Bangkok. Always were language issues, but we have made the best of it. She's very sweet and kind. Good luck to you.
Used to live around Saphan Kwai in 2008 when it was a bustling nightlife area. Great times back then, but it’s changed a lot
I just re-watched this, now that I have the lay of the land (well, sort of) I get much more out of it. It takes me double the running time because I'm going back and forth between the video and google maps :). I think I'll take the boat to Bang Pho and then work my way east to check these areas out. Thanks for another days itinerary.
Glad to hear that Steve! There's a more complete video on Lat Phrao I did a bit after this one. Tao Poon is low key but great for the river and Bang Sue station, Saphan Kwai is not a bad area either. All are within easy reach of Chatuchak Park/Market/railway park. Did I not add a map to this video?.....
@@BangkokPat yes you did add a map, but it was a pinned comment and I didn't see it until I finished the video. I only looked in the notes at the top. I'll look a little further down next time.
Hi. In 2010 I lived at Minburi, outskirts of Bkk, that was a nice house in a gated community, Me the only foreigner I think there. That was OK. my rent was 15k . A bit far from city centers, but near Fashion Island.
Thanks Thomas, I'm planning a video of Minburi very soon.
Your channel is great! 👍
In an area where there's more foreigners there's also more touts, more scams, and most things will be more expensive. That's what I've found in my travels, generally. No expert on Thailand, specifically, though.
Good topic Pat. I can see the attraction of living in a local area of Bangkok rather than a tourist/expat hub. My reasoning is if you travel to a foreign country you should try to immerse yourself into the local culture. Of course you also get more bang for your buck with your living space that way. Downside from what I saw is the lack of parkland and greenery in those areas. The Bangkok concrete jungle can be a bit depressing for me. That's why I preferred staying in Chiang Mai in a student area outside of the old city when I travelled there regularly. I haven't had to endure too many bitter and twisted expats over the years and have found many travellers and expats to have interesting backgrounds and have been good for a chat.
if you tell your real estate agent in California "I don't want to live near a lot of foreigners", all you have to do is wink, they'll know exactly what you mean. true story.
An incredibly informative exploration of not well known Bangkok neighbourhoods. As you insightfully say in the video "expats" are a highly diverse lot in terms of interests, language, culture and motivation. What I enjoy about your presentations is that you are non-judgmental. You let people draw their own conclusions.
I had an Airbnb in Tao Poon for a month. A great condo at the Tree Interchange that offered great views of the city and river.
Hello Pat,
I am not on Twitter or Facebook.
I guess it is along the same lines as not wanting to be close to a lot of other foreigners.
A giant condo is not my first choice when I retire. The thought of what used to be there before construction started would bother me. Did a whole outdoor market get knocked down to build a tower of foreigners? then I do not want any part of that. I would rather live in a former guest house amongst Thai businesses.
I don’t think competition over local women fuels most of it. I can speak only for myself, but I want to live in a place with as few faring as possible, For the simple reason I don’t want to discuss politics, or all the other nonsense that I left home for in the first place.
What area are better for accessibility? For example, step free access to stores or restaurants, escalators, and elevators. Perhaps a video would be nice.
Thanks Charles, a great idea but a challenge too. many BTS/MRT stations are step free but getting to the actual station is a challenge itself. Uneven pavements, too narrow.
like Pat's 'down to earth' outlook that's reflected in this interesting vid .
new sub. drum roll.
Lad phrao and minburi area is an up and coming part of the city with the new BTS lines being built. Easy to be by yourself if that is the desire of the expat.
I've just done Lat Phrao and I'm due in Minburi this week...
@@BangkokPat very good I will be watching for the videos. I hope when you do minburi you stop by the abandoned amusement park near fashion island. I loved the old pictures of magic land on phanyothin from your older video from this area. I look at that old castle everyday from my house so it was a real treat seeing it when it was open.
You have farangs who complain endlessly about Thai people/culture/policy and you've got farangs who complain endlessly about other farangs. I lived somewhere with fewer farangs simply to save money and learn Thai lol.
Sounds like you did the sensible thing. Good points!
Hey mate love these videos. British guy wants to relocate to Thailand with girlfriend. Keep the videos coming…any advise much appreciated :)
I'm doing a video covering that shooting this week.
My lady friend still works out near BKK's Eastern Ring as soon as I get my Retirement Visa somewhat settled I'm (we are) getting out of this Apartment into a better one somewhere up here.....for now but I can here her now "I no like Heights!......or expensive!" as to the latter pretty much any place here is cheaper than anywhere I lived in the Pacific NW!....my Baht My Choice!
No beating around the bush with you mate
No point beating around the bush, get straight to the point!
Very informative, Pat. I enjoyed this.
Thanks Ed, I'm due in Pattaya in a couple of weeks would love a chat mate.
In Thailand since 1994 , At the beginning rented room not far from my work then buy condo at early 2000 at reasonable price near my work. They are foreigner in my complex but not much interaction, back in earlier days got colleagues who were leaving in others complex and have really friendship between the tenants ; party songkraan near the swimming pools ect..
Times change
I know Suttisan/Huai Khwang-- Zero Falang there/20 mins away. Yes there are different reasons why... Other Falangs made up a different demographic when I was there (age, class, outlook).
An area I'll feature as an ideal area with less foreigners very soon. Not a bad area at all. Has a few parts that are a bit dirty but nowhere's perfect.
I had a very small apartment at Lat Phrao which I used 2 days a week, the area was fantastic, but I wouldn’t want to stay 7 days a week, congestion and smog is the killer, but for those 2 days I stayed in the area, absolutely great, often met up with Farangs at the local shopping mall
i paid around 3000 baht/month for a studio off Nanglinchee Rd. years later 4500 baht for a small two story house in a wonderful and noisy muslim neighborhood near Surasak BTS station. those were the days. very few fellow westerners in the immediate neighborhoods, especially Nanglinchee area. i’d go to the fresh market and people would yell, “farang ma laeow!” great being a superstar for awhile haha. damn who lives in these 12000-17000 baht/month condos? surely not all foreigners!?
9:40 ... we are very glad as well that you didn't take the highflying job !!! Otherwise we wouldn't be able to see your great videos !!!!!
Great info Pat.... Thank you once again 👍
I think some Farangs may think that they and they alone are on an adventure and if they see another Farnag then it makes them feel less adventurous.
If they want to learn Thai then its a good idea to isolate themselves among Thai people only.
Its funny though that when Thai people move to London, New York, LA or some place in the Western World they all actively look for each other, as do Chinese, Africans, Arabs, Mexicans but Europeans always try and avoid each other...Weird that, however Ive always noticed that a tourist in an actual tourist area is always complaining about there being too many tourists around them.
Wow...what a awesome channel ! Subscribed ! Greetings from Portugal
Thanks Antonio, glad you've found the channel!
Farang vs Farang I didn't experience as much in BKK (to be fair I didn't meet many) but I did in Japan.
For me I avoid most other Western people as a rule. Many are just getting by on a very limited income, always drinking and moving from one girl to the next. IMHO in many cases that lifestyle creates to much drama, my life at 18 was that way but at 60 something life is about peace and enjoying the time I have left surrounded by positive people and living easy. We all have our own path to travel in this life, we are free to live as we please. I'm grateful to have made it this far and still living well.