I’ve always lived outside the centre of Bangkok. Ladprao was where I first lived, folowed by Nawamin, Tao Poon and now La Salle. I see so many articles talking about trendy areas of Bangkok and all I think is thank god I don’t have to live in those places!
Atmosphere
“Chic” “European feel” and “cosmopolitan” are words often branded around to describe places like Ari, Thonglor and Ekkami. It makes me feel a bit sick just thinking of that. Sure for some people maybe that is your thing but I have no desire to live in that kind of place.
I feel the pompous atmosphere of these places even whilst on the BTS going through them. With millions of “instagram cafes” and streets with all the bars featuring in the latest “Top 10 must visit drinking holes off the beaten track (but within four BTS stations of SIAM)” article – it just doesn’t appeal to me. These “Top 10” lists (which most places probably pay to be on) are as fake as the atmosphere in the areas themselves.
I’ll talk a bit more about accommodation in a bit but even the condos and houses in these areas act like they’re better than everyone else!
On the odd occasion I end up in Thonglor or Ari (not usually my choice) you can just feel the ooze of hipsters and those out to show off. These areas are where Thai people like to go if they have a bit of money or want to be “seen”. I also get the same impression about people who live there, “Oh my place is in Ari” as if this is something to be proud of.
You Live Past On-Nut? Really?
Like, Bangkok ends at On-Nut right?
I’ve had colleagues in the past have hour long commutes just because they want to live in a trendy area. What’s the point if you’re shattered from traveling?
25,000 Baht for a Studio – Deal!
One of my Thai friends is a real estate agent who only deals with Ekkami and Thonglor. She showed me some of the rooms she was trying to push. 25sq meter studios for 20,000 a month, 30sq meters that’ll be 25k a month. I’ll pass on those but it seems a lot of people don’t…
Around five years ago I was invited to a house party in Thonglor. It was a 10 minute motorbike taxi ride from the BTS in a sketchy looking area and the house was pretty old and almost un-furnished. The owner said he paid 75,000 baht a month for it and said “well, it’s in Thonglor” . I felt like saying “Well you live in a shit hole and it isn’t really in Thonglor” but I was actually quite enjoying the party and didn’t want to get kicked out.
Being just a single stop away from these trendy areas your rent will actually be a normal price. You’re still allowed to visit these areas if you live outside them you know…
In the end if you’re happy to pay top dollar to be in the heart of the trendiest areas then good for you but it isn’t for me.
A Bad Imitation
Every time I’m in a so-called trendy area I get the impression that they aren’t naturally trendy but are trying to copy ideas from other cities and countries to feel trendy. It feels faker than the 200 baht Barcelona shirts sold along the streets.
These areas haven’t organically become great to live in, they have just been added to and decorated to look so. You could argue that in most cities this happens and it is partially true but I’ve never been in a cafe or restaurant in Ari and felt oh yea this would have happened regardless of development in the area. I guess what makes them trendy is that it isn’t originally how the street was, it’s just modern and less Thai.
It breeds a sense of trendy. Condo developers are rushing to squeeze rooms into every spare lot in these areas. They know that people here, Thai and foreigners, follow trends and crazes and owning a condo in one these areas really appeals to these people.
Blame the Media!
I never read any of these “top 10” clickbait articles about Bangkok. I know that from certain websites or newspapers they are going to have opinions exactly the opposite of mine. I also know they will be focused on certain areas such as Thonglor and Ekkami. The problems is they seemingly have quite a bit of influence over many people and it helps create a “trendy” image for places.
Things have got better recently but in the past I couldn’t go more than 30 minutes without seeing an article about the top 10 new restaurants/ cafes / gyms / craft beer bars / pet salons in Thonglor.
It’s Spreading!
I can see trendy cafes and craft beer joints working their way down the BTS. On-Nut is a slightly less Hi-So version of Thonglor these days. Even down in Sukhumvit 105 we are starting to see local places being torn down and expensive restaurants and condos being built.
To be honest I have nothing against a nice restaurant or bar but I don’t want to live somewhere which doesn’t feel at least a bit Thai. The problem with areas like Thonglor or Ari is that really they aren’t as good as their foreign counterparts. The “trendy” areas of London or New York knock the socks off the equivalent areas here in Bangkok but even in those cities I tend to avoid those areas as I prefer more traditional places.
Bangkok is changing and I just hope the whole city doesn’t become “trendy” or it’ll be a real shame.
I live in Phrakanong, a stone throw from W District. A 32sqm condo at 8000 baht a month. I moved to live in Bangkok in May 2018.
An older condo, but I hardly spend much time in it.
Fully furnished with older furniture, and a brand new washing machine on the balcony. It really depends on what we seek, as a retiree I can’t afford a 25K condo in the HiSo area of Bangkok.
True Allan everyone chooses based on their needs.For some people 30-50k a month is fine for rent but for me if I had that budget I would rent a house somewhere further down the BTS line just to be in somewhere more real.
If you want to live somewhere more “real” move out of Bangkok. I love Bangkok but it is an international city more than a Thai city if you ask me