✅ BANGKOK | Take A Randon Walk | Soi Nana | Chinatown | The River | Hua Lamphong | Matri Chit Road 

I've been trying to work out what I enjoy so much of your videos. Could it be the relaxing images, the cats, or the generous gaps of music without talking? I don't know of any other channel that does it as well as you. Thanks!

I have said it before about your other videos BP and likely will again, just wonderful - the variety of retro juxtaposed with modern, the shooting, editing, the music, and the soothing delivery. You're the man! Always waiting for more.👍

Pat is far better than those geeks that ride or walk around Pattaya saying' the food is great' at every vendor stall! Or this bar is really good , check it out! Pat is actually observing the real life of the place, not based 'on the face of things'!

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 without these videos I imagine going about Bangkok would be limited to malls and whatever Lonely Planet says. The difference you make is genuinely appreciated.

Bangkok, for me, is like no other city ive ever been to^^ (have to read past the first paragraph to get the real meaning). I remember exactly my first time, when i went to Thailand for holidays. I arrived with my German girlfriend in Bangkok and hated every single minute. The smell, the noise, the busyness. I mean, it was so damn smelly everywhere. And dirty too. We were in Royal Benja Hotel and the first evening it was raining heavily. I remember by clothes and my face were literally black from all the dirt/rain/dirty rain/etcetc. I thought "thank god, only 3 days here, then we go to Koh Samui". And i was really happy to be on the island eventually. Koh Samui got me the opposite feeling. I loved it and i loved Thailand after that holiday. So much so it happened that it became my wish to live there. And it became real! I moved to Thailand, found work and that was of course in Bangkok. 10 years have passed living there and now i think its the best city ever :-) Its so cool, and so very very comfortable. Very different from my home in Germany, where everything is difficult. You name it. In Bkk i can leave my apartment and im greeted by 10 different shops selling me the best food in the world. Everything i could ever desire is directly near me. Its unbelievable. Ppl ask me what i do, how i am, or simply chat with me about the local Muay Thai results. And really, i dont mean those who do that for money. Everyone around me knew im not rich and accepted my like any other Thai. In my country, noone asks me anything. Noone smiles at me. I have to drive 10km to find food. I need a car for everything. If i want to see a beach, i have to drive 800km. Then i have the choice, should it be the cold north sea or the overcrouded beach in Italy. If i want to do xy i have to do many things.... In Bangkok, i have the whole world infront of me. 1h to Jomtien, 1h to Koh Samui, 1 h to Phuket, or simply stay in Bkk, because it has everything too (besides a beach). If i want a crowded beach, its here, the empty one also. Thats just 2 examples.... I know not everyone has same things he does and his results vary over mine but my normal day, the things i like, are by lengths easier to find in Thailand and also much more often in appearance. Sdly, i had to leave Bkk and had to go back to Germany, what ended up in a major depression. The life is so different here. I miss Bangkok. It gave me the feeling to be alive because every day i experienced so many different things. In the German city here nothing good ever happens. Its boring, lifeless and without any emotions. Bkk is one single big wave of emotions. Good and bad but at least there are many of the good ones.

At 9:08 , I wonder if the producers of Robin Williams' 1988 film, "Good Morning Vietnam" also filmed in this same area, because at the time, Vietnam was still closed off to outsiders, &, this same neighbourhood also projects 1965 Saigon as well.

I have no idea how you don't have even more subscribers. You have the highest quality content in my opinion.

At 7:19 the Teens of Thailand Gin Bar .This Bar is in the top 50 of asian Bars.

Outstanding !!! When you knew the first time, that you had fallen so much in love with Bangkok, Pat?

Finally made it to Pinklao! I used to live about 5 minutes away from the end of that bridge. Nice neighborhood.

Luv random walkabouts off the beaten track👍👍👍 I have done it many many times in Tokyo and meandering around is great fun and intriguing to see what the throngs of tourists don't. Your historic perspective adds so much to the content. May try some of these if I ever get up to Bkk from Jomtien🤣🤣🤣

Great video, I've learned more about Bangkok from this channel than when I spent what adds up to 10 months in the city. No, I have no idea why someone would put utensils through their face, but hey, freedom of religion and all of that entails.

Really good content again Pat. Im sure its tiring work doing all that research of the various places you visit. We all appreciate it!

Another amazing video! Have you ever considered putting together a neighborhood by neighborhood guide, whether as a book or website/app? I honestly think you could produce the authoritative history tourism book of Bangkok.

Interesting Video, Nice to see the Old Buildings, with your Clear Information. 🙏

Great vid Pat, very interesting as usual your research work was much appreciated. The best BKK vids. 👍

You’re about the only Tube Vid creator in Travel that I can Stomach….i know the old Bangkok a bit but stopped visiting Thailand 20 years ago….when Asia started getting a lot of Automobiles…I lost interest in the big Cities…I was in Pattaya about 6 years ago and was surprised that it is quite good for a visit off season…I may move to Bangkok into one of the old Areas that you just showed. I wandered in that same Walk…33 years ago….and it is not the usual High Rise glossy new monotonous dream….young people look for….there is a young man with a channel…and he lives….in an old area and in an old apartment with the locals….few People are Travelers but they flood you Tube with boring …hey look at us crap that makes me Puke….they do not GET …THAILAND….they float on the surface like plastic garbage on the Sea.

What a sight. A monitor lizard walking on a foot path with no fear at all. BTW, July 22 Circle used to be known about tyres either for motorcycles or cars/trucks. You get the latest and greatest tyres there and cheaper than anywhere in Thailand. I don't know whether it's still true now. At the end of the video heading to Memorial Bridge (Rama I bridge, the first bridge across Chao Phraya river built over 100 years ago during King Rama 7), you see a 2-story long, yellow building which is over 100 years old. It is the longest and oldest 2-story building in Thailand. It used to be the main building where Suan Kularb school kids studied in. Now the building is preserved as a historical site. This is the oldest govt high school and still is male only school in Thailand with the exception of Vajiravudh College also male-only high school but it's a boarding school. Note: The Memorial Bridge was the first bridge across Chao Phraya River built about 100 years ago during King Rama VII. It was a steel bridge whose middle spans could be raised to allow Navy ship to sail towards the Navy headquarters at King Taksin's Palace near Wat Arun. Later the Navy built a big pier at the mouth of Chao Phraya River and there was no need for the navy ship to come to the headquarter anymore, thus this bridge's middle spans were no longer raised for the last 40 years. I should know because I studied at Suan Kularb school at the foot of the bridge from 1965-69 and saw the bridge raised a few times. The school is the oldest, boys only government school in Thailand built during King Rama V reign. Its 2-storey yellow building was/is the longest 2-storey building in Thailand. Since then a parallel bridge with 6 lanes (King Rama 7 bridge) was built a few decades ago. Then two years ago the skywalk garden was built in the middle of this bridge at the former unfinished Lavalin railway track. It is the great place to relax, watching sun set while drinking a Thai beer. Meanwhile, you can also visit the Flower Market, just 100 meter from Suan Kularb School. Around 9 pm till early in the morning, all types of flowers were trucked in, sorted and arranged to be sold either retail or wholesale. The Flower Market never dies, the business is run 24 hours/7 days per week.

This festival is a Chinese Taoism belief of celebrating the birthday of the 9 emperor of heaven. It's very huge festival in Phuket as well as Chinese community in Singapore and Malaysia... The mediums with weapons are into trance and during the period of trance, their bodies embrace the Chinese deities spirit. They have to take vegetarian for 9 days in order for them to be not hurt by the weapons..

Another great video. Fantastic pace, content, humour and cats! Definitely booking a walking tour next time I’m in town 👍

Can you write a guide to the Bangkok bus routes Pat? I'm sure it would sell very well!! They're such a great way of exploring the city, but I find working out some of the routes unfathomable 😮

Interesting, as a Scottish/European person i saw protestantism as a fairly localised branch of Christianity, perhaps extending to north america, and to colonies of certain European nations but not a branch that would be particularly evangelical in a global sense.

Thanks so much Pat. Your videos really help me when I'm not in Thailand and make me want to visit these places on my next trip. Brilliant work as usual!

Very enjoyable video! 53 was the bus number that used to run by my house, in the ‘States. Very cool.

Pat I've been to thailand only once and I've seen your so much of videos that are so useful and informative for all of us, the next time i will come , i will make sure to take a walking tour with you along with the cute cats 🐈 ❤😁✌️

Other brilliant video pat can not wait to see your next video

Bangkok Pat is one of the best out there. Thanks for all the videos. ! Ive watched every each and one of them.

Great update from Bangkok in late october, cheers👍

Hey Pat! It took you long enough to get the obligatory cat shots in 555. 🐈😺😸🐱🐈‍⬛ Re the traditions of the vegetarian festival, which originated in Phuket, and I've been to several times. *I know my grammar isn't the best here, but that's besides the point. Some background on the festival itself: From Wayfair travel's site: The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, otherwise known as Vegetarian Festival or Jay Festival, is a Taoist celebration that sees Thailand turn vegan for nine days, with the most colourful festivities taking place in the city of Phuket. However, this vegan festival is a little more extreme than just switching from pork to tofu. Phuket’s vegetarian festival traditions include macabre scenes of ritualised mutilation, impaling, cutting, partial skinning and bloodletting, as well as intentional wrapping or standing near fire crackers as they are lit - all without any anaesthetic! Strict participants should obey a set of 10 rules, though many simply change their diet: Do not kill animals Do not eat meat or animal products Do not steal Do not harm others physically or mentally Do not tell lies or swear Do not flirt or touch people of the opposite sex Do not drink alcohol or take drugs Do not gamble Do not wear ornaments, including those made of metal or leather Do not share utensils, cutlery or food with those who are not obeying the 10 rules Other guidelines include wearing white for the duration of the festival, and menstruating and pregnant women should not participate. The story goes that a wandering Chinese opera group fell ill with malaria in Phuket, so they switched to a strict vegetarian diet and prayed to the Nine Emperor Gods for their health. The group made a full recovery and the tradition has continued ever since. As mentioned above, Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival is not for the fainthearted. During this time, masong (people who invite the spirits of the gods to possess their bodies) can be seen acting out gruesome rituals in a trance-like state. These include piercing of body parts, walking across hot coals and climbing blade-ladders. And from PSmag dot com re the self-mutilation: Taoists believe that by inflicting pain and torturing themselves, the mah song are redirecting bad luck and misfortune away from the community and onto themselves. This ensures that the coming year will be one of prosperity. In this way, the self-mortification is not unlike the austerity practiced by the rest of the participants in Phuket: all are engaging in acts of asceticism in order to achieve a higher state of spiritual purity. Still, the mah song also seem to draw on the ancient practice of ritual sacrifice: in each case, religious adherents are sacrificing themselves and their bodies as offerings to please the gods.

Fantastic video Pat! Great to see this beautiful side of Bangkok

Thanks for the walking on Santiphap Road. That’s the road my parents grew up on. Fortunately for me, I spent a handful of my childhood and teenage summers at my grandma’s house. She and my aunt lived in the same house until the last one passed away in 2013. Thanks for the video, got to see the house again and also learn some history and old pictures❤

Your channel is unique for what it shows. Your videography and narration are great and the quiet scenes of the ambient sound make it very distinctive as one other commentator said. I hope this gets you a decent meal or two there.

Do you happen to know what they did with all the bomb shelters in Bangkok after WW2?

Great video again Pat After all these years I still love to ride those 8 thb red busses and getting the paper ticket is the 🍒 on the cake ,mate

Really enjoyed your video!!! Thank you for taking us down memory lane ❤you’re the best 👍🏽

Another great video,I just had to share this one.thankyou🙏

Sagacious. Hope you get an increase in income now that I cant block ads on RU-vid 😆

Great video with a really good story to keep watching. I can watch the whole video and feel like it only short video.

The most interesting channel about Bangkok, by far! Thank you, Pat!

Good one Pat , very interesting ,, love to paint round china town

Another interesting one, from this great channel. Small thing: "Where Tourists Don't Go"??? Why so afraid of being a "tourist"? I guess a lot of us spending time/working here in BKK can not be considered as natives. Don t be ashamed. 22 July Roundabout??? Just don t get it. Actually kind of well known I guess, just next to Hua Lamp, old station partly still working and Chinatown, now very accesible by public transport. A lot of tourists still passing through here. Compared to more remote areas, we are here almost in the center. Keep up the good work, a lot to explore! (An idea: maybe more remote, head west of Chao Phraya. Some small channels, been using the boats here myself going to work, maybe interesting to cover in a video, and yes usually very few "tourist" there.)

Correct!. Nana Plaza is the centre of the Universe

Lol, just got on bus 53 at Thewet as any morning heading to the MRT, plugged in my headphones and put on RU-vid, just to end up with a synced view of Klong Krung Kasem through my window and my screen

Cool name, Brown Sugar Jazz Bar.❤❤

Hi Pat, That hotel “ Sahai Sahakit 1 Hotel,” must be where they shot the beginning scene of “Only God Forgives.”. Pretty cool, Keep up the good work.

I always know I'm in for a treat when I come to watch one of your vids. Always well-researched great info., fascinating locations, professionally shot and edited. Cheers, Pat. How do I get in touch for a walking tour next time in BKK?

hey pat..another top video. I've got some handle on the buses using the bus map app. which curiously doesn't take bus 53 across charoen sawan 36 bridge and indeed travels charoen krung Rd. and not yoawarat.

Awesome video from the number one tour guide of Bangkok ❤❤

Great video! Some of my favorite parts of the city. Love that area around Hua Lamphong and northern part of Chinatown. Some very interesting architecture, good food, fun to explore. Cool to see the vegetarian festival stuff as well.

Ha, ha, Pat Was watching the clip around Chinatown, said to Lene that this looks like the Vietnamese film set! Next minute, there you are giving us a plug. Thanks mate, at least you found the name of the production. Good research as always! Cheers Simon. Back soon, be in touch

8:44 as in the Movie "Only God forgives"

A lot of the buildings are slums but at the same time beautiful…..very few cities are like that.

Chinatown is one of my favourite areas in Bangkok! Really enjoyed exploring it.

Excellent content I lived in BKK for about 10yrs. U might want to consider doing an eps on all the weird museums in the city. I recall going to the seashell museum it’s down by the river near the peninsula hotel. I think there is a museum of prison / death sentence prisoners, also the famous Thai serial killer that was a cannibal use to be on display embalmed some place in BKK but I think he was removed and cremated a few years ago.

Great video and research.

"I bet the mallets help the taste" Great observation!

THANK-YOU SO MUCH PAT….for your hard work and deep digging into Bangkok History…like you….i miss the old City….missed the 50s 60s 70s …caught the last glimpse of those Colorful Days….your Videos too give us an idea of what modern development does with the Formula they use to create more glitzy Condos and Malls…everywhere in Asia…you See that the Guys in the 50s 60s 70s…had the most original style and creativity. Thanks for the memories passed on and a view of what we missed. Thank you for the CATS I FEED STREET CATS EVERYDAY. I WILL FEED SOME IN BANGKOK. I HOPE.

Another very interesting video, you definitely lead the pack when it comes to discovering this wonderful city.

When I first came to Bangkok I got lost in this area trying to find Chinatown. Great memories, thank you.

friend, by the way, Where do you buy your polo shirts? The thai clothes does not fit well on me, way too large or way too short. Normally i get size L in Europe and that's it!

Another enjoyable video Pat. 🙏👍

Thanks as always yet another interesting video. This why I like your channel. It's been said before one of the best channel's about Bangkok and Thailand

Another excellent video...thanks for your hard work

15 bus, no, not sayam Square. Banglamphu & the other end , wherever that ìs.

G'Day pat ! this what exploring is all about , looking at how the real local life exists , everyone can see the touristy stuff but you get amongst normal life in Thailand ! keep em coming ... Catchya...😁😉😃

A fantastic video looking at the less well known places in Bangkok, everywhere there is interesting story to tell

Actually, Hua Lamphong Station is a small station next to Bangkok Railway Station. But locals often refer to it as Hua Lamphong Station.

Good To See Brown Sugar Made It Through The Pandemic. Thank You For The Excellent Content, Mr. Pat!!

Pat, you are legend!

Very good Sir cannot get enough of Thailands history thanks

hey pat. bus route 53 has the crossing in one direction of the loop and yoawarat Rd. the other direction no crossing and charoen krung Rd. what the u no what.

Thailand started bus service in Bangkok nearly 100 years ago, it was run by private bus operators at a reasonable price but still making a decent profit. However, about 45 years ago, a certain political party campaigned to make bus in Bangkok free and when this party came to power as a coalition govt, it nationalized bus services, buying the private operators and created Bangkok Mass Transport Authority (BMTA) to run a free bus service for a few years. When the govt could no longer afford the huge annual subsidy, it allowed the BMTA to charge a cheap ticket price for non-aircon buses and then introduced air-con buses at 2-3 times the price of non-aircon buses. The non-aircon buses have been running at a loss since then up to today while the air-con buses run at break-even. The BMTA then granted private bus operators to run non-aircon and air-con buses again about 30 years ago to reduce the BMTA's mounting debts as private operators seem to know how to run buses at a decent profit even though they charge the same ticket fares as BMTA's own buses. To this day, BMTA non-aircon red/orange buses are still relatively cheap at 8 baht, one of the cheapest fare in the world. Every year, the national govt allocates a supplementary budget to shore up BMTA's inefficient operation. It is apparent that the first populist policy of Thai govt does not work as is the case worldwide such as the bankrupted Venezuela and the father of populist policy Argentina which seeks IMF help at least 6 times since WWII. Note: Since early this year, there is an aircon electric bus service (Thai Smile Bus) running dozens of routes in Bangkok under BMTA's concession. Bus fare depends on distance. You can pay by fill-in Hopper card bought from bus conductor or cash. Right now there is a 40-baht all day promotion if you pay by Hopper card. Even if the fare exceeds 40 baht, you pay only 40 baht. It's great if you plan to tour Bangkok using this promotion. You can also download TSB app to know when a particular bus is coming at your bus stop. The Hopper card can also be used at Thai Smile Boat service at a flat rate of 20 baht for all distance. The promotion also includes 50-baht for bus/boat combined service right now.

this is a great idea, ride the bus lines. I used to grab random busses in S.F. to find interesting things when I lived there. I used to ride the 18 I think it was because it let me off near where I was living in Tha-it but it wound it's way thru LOTS of poor neighborhoods picking up maids, and other workers before it got to Sukhumvit.

quite impressive how they let the Viet culture come to town, the banh mi bread exposed brings straight away to HCM :D

China Town, the best place to buy a lot of things, I often order small items on the Internet, for larger things like drills, chainsaws or other devices I prefer to see and touch the goods and also get a guarantee from the dealer. I have often had bad experiences with online retailers. e.g. ordered a cell phone and received 2 rolls of toilet paper... money is gone... sender cannot be read. or in the case of warranty cases, I was not given any service... worthless guarantee... if I buy in a store I can contact the dealer. That's why China town...and ultimately I can see whether a product is "Made in Thailand" because job security in China isn't important to me...rather where I live

Hi Pat, I just spent a week at The Krungkasem Srikrung Hotel and was fascinated by all of the goings on in the industrial areas of Chinatown, during the daytime. When I told an enterprising tuk-tuk driver that I wasn’t going anywhere, that I was just walking around, he looked at me like I was crazy! 🤣

As always, amazing. That old video from 1905, unbelievable. Your tours are like being there myself. Well done, thank you.

love the videos pat! Love this new concept of random walks! Keep it up! Super fun! Re: Veggie fest, i always saw it as they are hurting themselves to pay back the suffering to animals on behalf of the meat eaters... makes up for the karmic cost of eating meat... something along those lines! Thanks for sharing!

WOW Pat who knew !!!!! every time i get on the 53 bus i end up in Plumbsted ! am i doing something wrong ?

There won't be the temple fair at the Golden Mountain this year around Loi Kra Thong Festival in November as usuual. Just read from news somewhere and can't remember the reason given by Wat Saket. I haven't visited my favourite boat noodle shop near Saint Gabriel school on Sam Sen Rd for long time and will carry on until the Purple line is completed.

Hi Pat, no, I don't understand the piecing parts by the Vegeterians either. I understand that when the Christians do it, it's a way of them suffering along with Jesus Christ, you know, piecing & flogging themselves up as it was done to Jesus on his way to his crucifixion. I'd love to know the reason of the Vegeterians though.

Those men are mediums. They are part of the traditions of Southern Chinese folk religion. They are mediums for the various gods of the Chinese folk religion pantheon. They basically come out for every temple festival to spread blessings and chase away evil spirits. Sticking knives into their bodies show that that the gods are truly present. Some may also act as fortune tellers or exorcists. You can find these mediums in chinese communities around the world. I have even seen them making a comeback in Mainland China. Although I have never seen them in Western countries.

Love the bus rides. Think I’ve done the same bus

What is that monster 2:16 in the video? It looks huge... Are they dangerous to humans?

Love the old buses 🚌. Great video again Pat 😊

🗡🔪🪚⚔️Those who stab the sharp thing through their cheek are believe to be vessels of Chinese gods that is in the body during vegetarian festival and mainly to show of Gods superpower. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😁

Always happy to see a new video from you pop up, Pat!

Young men used to hang around the bus stop in front of that soapy massage parlor which became today Mustang Blu, so they could peep inside and yearning for the services they couldn't afford.

"center of the universe". I liked that one 😂

Not sure when this was filmed, but the Taoist temple behind my parents' house (in the Kuala Lumpur area) just finished a week-long festival, complete with parades, lion dancers and a dragon on poles, burning of giant incense sticks... Perhaps the Chinese festival we see in this video is the same one. 14:29 - down south we usually associate this sort of thing with a Hindu festival called Thaipusam, and it's the Tamils who celebrate that rather than the Chinese. The connection with vegetarianism? I suppose it's something like Lent - it's another aspect of self-denial, self-sacrifice and suffering to better oneself, perhaps? From what I understand, in Thailand there are a lot of part-time vegetarians - they're only vegetarians during festivals and such. So not eating meat would be self-denial for a certain amount of time. Putting metal objects through your face would be something similar, it induces suffering or pain, and would be a form of self-sacrifice. 19:50 - Pat, ever actually shot a rifle? 😂 Though it probably wouldn't matter that much in this case...

You are one in a million BP…..❤🎉

Great Job, Pat! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this picturesque and info. filled production! Keep it up! Thanx, again.

These are individuals in trances by deities/divine beings, demonstrating supernatural powers thus piercing items through themselves without much pain

_'We don't admit foreigners in this hotel.'_ Chairman Mao Hotel.

The name "vegetarian festival" certainly gives people the wrong impression. The daoists do indeed eat a vegetarian diet for the month prior, as it is seen as a sign of purity. Despite this, the festival itself doesn't seem to celebrate vegetarianism. That's why I shy away from calling it the vegetarian festival and instead use the name "nine emperor gods festival"

"thanks for watching and i'll see you soon".... very true in my case!.... lol Not long now Pat before i depart LHR for Bangkok.... I might chase a few of those old red and orange buses on this trip although i have visions of ending up in some far flung point of Bangkok and somewhat lost!.....

Thanks Pat, fantastic vid.

I discovered that traffic circle while waiting for the electric boat ride through the canal. I didn't see any scantily clad ladies but I did notice lots of tire shops. Learning the history behind the names of the circle and the side roads was interesting. Thanks Pat

I have to admit I did used to have a little walk from Hua Lampoong to the 22 roundabout and did on several occasions happen across some of the afforementioned scantily clad ladies....

You are truely gifted, what an utter joy to watch your videos. This was a treat for all the senses and I wasnt even there ! the visuals, eye for detail information , editing etc all combine to produce a triumph, thank you ssoooooooo much