Outstanding video, Pat. You are the only guy that combines the history of BKK, with architecture, current stuff, and cats! Most other channels focus on bar girls and massages. Please never stop what you are doing... kap khun krap.
Thanks a lot for the compliments. I know no other way to present an area. Bit of everything that almost nobody else covered! And throw a few cats in, can't go wrong!
Pat - whatever you do, please don't stop making these kind of videos. They are excellent in terms of content and production quality. These are not the regular vlogs, these are mini documentaries and I learn so much about my favourite city in the world! So thousand thanks to you Pat and keep up the great work!
Silom the place where the unexpected delivers like no other place on earth. First found Silom in 1995 happy · happy days · lunch and afternoon bar chat in the Madrid Bar · anybody who was anybody in Bangkok frequented this great bar · great music · excellent food · barroom banter and much much more... Many an afternoon progressed into drinking in both Patpong 1 and Patpong 2 late into the night at the many night clubs and agogo bars... I still visit Silom because I just love Silom!!! Thanks Pat live your insight into all things Bangkok...
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched this exceptional video. This is the video equivalent of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the richness of its detail and relevance to world culture…plus cats!
I have been to Bangkok many times. From the 80s until now It is fascinating and at the same time sad how quickly the city is changing so fast. Unfortunately, much of the rough charm disappears more and more😥
Safari bar was one of the best places in the late 80´s, 90´s, Ting & Mark the Dj´s that played 60-80´s rock & could sing a couple of Swedish songs! and then Goldfinger bar with equally good taste in music managed by Randy who had a handsign for every drink to his bartenders, a "dangerous" place if the right crowd was there - to many free drinks & stupid drunk before crawling out from the place 5555 many americans there, retirees, embassy staff, good old days
Silom was the district the first time I went to Thailand 10 years ago. I stayed at the Crowne Plaza just opposite Lumpini Park. This was the first time that the receptionist actually took me to my room and showed me around. There are some great bars in the area as well :-)
I had no idea that the BTS was brand new when we first visited Bangkok. I was taken aback by how clean it was...little did I know it had just been opened.
Remember the British Club well. My friend was a member and invited me for lunch and a game of tennis every week in the late 90's. It was a welcome oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
Once again, another great video! I have too many stories from the Silom area to know where to begin from many fights, getting shot at by the Thai military back in 1992, to meeting my wife on Patpong Road. I grew up in that area. It's sad how quiet it has become over the years. I love the way that you include the old pictures, comparing Silom then to Silom now. Keep up the great work!
Haha, same with me. I was working out and checked my phone and then CZcams. I saw it at the top of the list and hurried back to my room to watch on laptop.
Perfect timing on video. I was looking for something to do this afternoon. Now I'm going to walk down Silom to the river then maybe towards Chinatown. Silom/Patpong area was always my favorite area along with Siam. I miss the old Patpong. The museum is awesome, everyone needs to go and say hi to Sucky. I have always stayed at the Asia Hotel from the early 90's. I try not to, but always end up there. I did not know about the ghosts until your last video. I don't if it's because of the video or what but I have heard strange sounds this time. Safety... I can't tell you how many times in my younger days (the 90's) that I walked back to the Asia Hotel from Patpong in wee early morning hours stumbling, I'm sure. I never felt unsafe. Love all the vlogs Pat. I have done a lot of cool stuff in BKK since watching them. Chinatown has become one of my new favorite places. The bars around "Soi" Nana are cool but pricey. Thanks again.
@@BangkokPat Again thanks for the Vlogs. I had a awesome walk down Silom . I ran into Thairish Pete, I saw a lady at Silom Village I use to buy antiques from that I haven't seen in years. Had a drink at the old theater turned hotel and then a beer and dinner at Jack's on the river. Damn it I just sat all the way to Sala Dang while typing on BTS. I was going Asoke.
Noriegas Bar brings back memories … a friend of mine Peter Driscoll, had a band called the Cruisers, and they played in many venues in Bangkok during the 2000’s including doing a regular gig at Noriegas 😂
Watching this video at 2.30am back in Australia. The ghost story of the woman and little girl in the Holiday Inn has guaranteed I won't be getting back to sleep tonight. Shattered the Narai is coming down. Was the first hotel we ever stayed at in BKK. Awesome buffet as mentioned. Once again a great video Pat. So well put together with beautiful images, thoughtful angles and top notch editing and music.
Nice video Pat - I used to love staying in the Swiss Lodge , daily breakfast in MM's and dragging my various victims across silom road trying to beat the traffic day or night 5555 great memories
Lovely Pat! I'm loving the ghost which you made appear... I mean, I hope it was you who did it?! 👻 I'm not surprised the evenings are your favorite part of the day 🐈 Thanks again!
Cheers mate, I do enjoy being out on the city streets at night! But, which ghost? I haven't watched the actual video since uploading so maybe you must be mistaken mate.......
My memories of Silom go back to 1982, when I spent my first night in the old Victory Hotel. My late cousin owned the still-thriving Lambert Gems on Soi 17, and I look forward to spending more time in Silom whenever I visit the kingdom. Thanks for revealing so much history.
finally my favorite area of Bangkok! I can't imagine a better place to stay BTS and MRT are right there, Siam square shopping malls two stops away, great nightlife options I like night clubs around Soi 2
Pat - I love your videos. What an amazing city. I was there last year and can't wait to visit again. Probably sometime this year. I have always been fascinated by history. And I am just so impressed by Bangkok's embracement of the past while moving ahead to the future. I have learned so much about Bangkok and Thailand from your videos. It's almost like being able to travel back in time!
Silom is one of my favourite places. I normally go to an outside Gym in Lumpini each morning. I use to go to the government gym (B20 per year) but they have a very strict dress code including bringing an additional pair of shoes to exercise in and shorts are not permitted. I use to have a few friends that I would drop in and see in Patpong. Great sign there outside of one of the clubs ' Fifty gorgeous girls and maybe one or two ugly ones'. I've noticed that a few small bars have tried to reopen. There was always rumours of closing down Patpong and redeveloping the site. I think this may now be highly likely. I use to like having a beer in Molly Malones and they had a great Sunday roast. Fortunately Shenanigans and the Paddy Field are just down the road. Have seen some great videos filmed in the Ghost Tower and understand that you can pay off the security guard to get in.
Patpong is rumoured to be in its final days, there's no way it could survive in its present form, unless there was a huge influx of tourists within the next 2 months, but the other issue is that the days of sex tourists filling the area tipping and spending big are long gone, the demographic has changed and maybe patpong hasn't realised that. The Ghost Tower no longer has security, there were too many issues. The current keepers are under strict orders I was told but I've been a few times and have no interest in going up all those crumbling stairs.
Remembering my first trip to BKK was I'm 1989, it's so amazing as the city was sleepless then. I could see throngs of crowd still enjoying outings - drinking, eating etc a until 5 am in Patpong area. People was friendly and always wearing a smiling face everywhere then. The Thais I met were friendly and sincerely to show me around, inviting me for dinner together etc. I have fallen in love with Thailand especially BKK since then. Those were the days..... Nowadays Patpong area looks so haggard like an old man, things have changed tremendously after Taksin to over the power, most of the night spots stop at 1 am, the night Bazaar along Silom already losing it's lustre. The whole Silom road looks so dead at night. Gone are the days....
I have been to Bangkok many times but only to Silom once. Coincidentally, it was to meet a Cambodian friend at Molly Malones back in 2016. I did not realize it had closed. There was nothing remarkable about it for my wife and I other than our daughter-in-law's name is...Molly Malone. Great video. We will have to check it out--and many other places you have explored--on our next visit. Cheers!
oh so very many happy memories from silom , today its just a shadow of its former self 25 years ago , great video , nice to see it all again , those memories just come flooding back ,, take it easy see you on the next video
Silom by night - I remember wandering around Silom the first or second time I came to Bangkok and getting thoroughly lost (this was pre-smart phone). Took me about two hours before I figured out where I was and how to get back to the train. It was very interesting, lots of things to see. Patpong just turned out to be a couple of rows of market stalls, pretty much the same stuff I found at Chatuchak except twice as expensive. All the "tiger shows" were upstairs, I'd been warned about those. Not much to see outside the bars - when I peeked in through one of the doors it was just 2-3 girls standing around on a stage, barely moving. The video montage brings back memories of that time. I THINK I saw the "and a few ugly ones" sign. (I remember a sign in an alley in Chiang Mai once - "3 old dogs, one young dog and a stupid one" - maybe it was in homage to this?)
Cheers for the nostalgia, we all were in BKK for the first time, I took a wrong bus route and got lost which I'll do a video on next week. I really thought my directional sense was on top form, but Bnagkok is different!
Another good informed video that hold the attention of the viewer. I first visited the Silom area in 1976 while living in Singapore and used to visit Bangkok almost monthly till 1992 when I moved full time to Nonthaburi. Your videos bring back good memories. Keep up the good work.
Hi Pat! first-time caller long-time listener. Always love to listen and see about the history of Bangkok, its present time, it's street life rhythms, street food and best of all - what is a Bangkok video without it's night scenes :) No one else out there is doing this kind of storytelling - It's so refreshing. I have a request for a video, could you cover some of the canals? What is left of them? Life along them, how they are now and were used in transport; before the BTS? Would be really cool! - Cheers!
Hi Robert, thanks! I've been getting around many canals lately and choosing which ones to feature. Some were always there but others were dug for a particular purpose.
Fantastic video trip down memory lane, love he old photos too. Silom was always a place to explore while staying at the Dusit, close walk to Patpong and my temp office over at Sathon. Had to alert crossing Rama IV to get to Lumpini, before the flyover was built. There was house that was turned into a restaurant down Silom on the north side, past Patpong and the Hospital. It's gone can't see it on Google.
Silom was the first area I lived as an expat in Bangkok so it will always be a special place to me. It’s a shame Molly Malones is gone, I enjoyed the quiz nights there back in the day.
The best by far generic Bangkok straight forward practical CZcams creator. For travel, food and party life and retired expats there are hundreds of other options. Kudos, and a big hug from Portugal!
I lived in Bkk for 8 years. Not one of my fav cities. Some of the areas.in Patpong and Silom I avoided. Im more of a beach tropical fauna person. However I do find these videos interesting for historical purposes. Thanks Pat.
Wow so much to catch up on . Love you pat . I find now I have to reduce my content further because I am not getting to the good stuff. Already gave up commercial TV. But you carnt get Netflix . Ha ha .
Very Good Introduction 😍👍♥️ Yes, I dine at the Labua State Tower restaurant and it's very expensive, and also the service is rather poorly presented. Not worth dining as the food was in small finely portion and the taste don't take me away in this sky high expectations. Once experience is enough. One glass of Jack Daniel Coke costing 300 Baht + service charges apply. I never knew Holiday Inn was so haunted. Thanks for your good research. Cheers ♥️
Thanks Robin, I've noticed many Depeche Mode fans outside of the UK. If I tried that question in the UK I'd be met with confusion and trolls as they aren't that well recieved there, the British public don't ''get'' them I think.
@@BangkokPat It is a stange thing, Depeche Mode will sell out a stadium in minutes in places like Spain or Mexico or Brazil. Or an open air concert in an airfield somewhere like Poland or Sweden or Argentina but they don't seem to have as much love in the UK. I'm Australian, for some reason they refuse to tour here, the last tour being 1994!! I was very pleased to see them inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame (R&RHF) in 2020. I'm glad that whole genre is being excepted for the greatness of what it is. Not sure if you heard how it happened, The Cure (another legendry band) were accepted in 2019. Apparently the (R&RHF) wanted to induct Trent Rezner of Nine Inch Nails but he refused to except it until the Cure were inducted. So after appearently alot of deliberation, with Trent himself used to assist, they convinced Robert Smith of the benefits. Since then the R&RHF have admitted The Cure in 2019, Depeche Mode and Radiohead in 2020 with Duran Duran going in this year. I'm waiting for the year New Order get admitted, I expecting to see an all in brawl between Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner, who now hate each other. I went and saw Peter Hook a few years back playing with his new band Peter Hook and the light. After every song he had something negitive to say about Bernard.
@@robinmasters2530 The electronic sound was popular in Japan & Thailand in 1981 and DM played the Napalai Ballroom in the Dusit Thani twice in 1982. They were supposed to come in 94 but didn't happen.
@@BangkokPat Wow,that's hard to imagine, I suppose it was a little more grimy in 82. That's like a nice function venue now isn't it? A few years ago I discovered that The Cure played a gig in a pub not far from where I live in 1981. The room they played in, was about the size of a tennis court and is now full of poker/slot machines
there was a very nice hotel called Lido Millennium betwen Soi 6 and 8 very affordable, a week's stay cost 9000 baht I stayed there a couple of times in 2014 but it went out of business in 2015 it was a shame, very good location and interiors were pretty fresh, not old from 1980s like in other cheap hotels
Stayed at the Dusit Thani for Songkran many years ago and Labua as well. I think they shot the Hangover 2 up on the rooftop bar there! Both very nice hotels. Another great video! I finally know where Patong is at! Lol
Thanks so much for the video Pat. I came to Bangkok since 1979. Slept in the Victory Hotel the first time, then changed to Narai Hotel which became my second home for 40 years. Really memory lane of Silom ! Thanks again, I enjoyed very much !
“I’m taking a ride with my best friend”: Depeche Mode “Never Let Me Down Again.” Nelson Hays Library next to British Club is worth a visit. I was a member 20 years ago. Silom was my hangout area. I lived on Sathorn Soi 15
I loved this video great historical buildings! I would love to swim laps in that beautiful pool! Sad the Hokkein cemetery was moved. It looked very interesting. And of course the cats!! Thank you Pat.
Pat - this was a walk down memory lane for us. You mentioned the klong on Silom Road. in the early 70s we spent quite a bit of time at Silom Road, staying at the Monti Inn and the Narai (now gone) and the Dusit Thani (also gone.). Silom Road still had a small side klong and also had some sort of Wier which has now gone. Patpong was certainly the red light area then. We have not been back to Silom Road since the 90s and we would certainly not recognise it. We remember the temple and mosque (some good food around the latter). Dont remember the Chinese Cemetery but remember the Bangkok Christian Hospital - had to get our son's all clear certificate for the Australian Embassy before we brought him back to Australia. Remember visiting Robinson's many times as well as the Central Dept store further down the road There was even a food court and shops we used to visit often during our stay - all gone now. Our later visits saw us stay at the Pathuwan Princess and the other one which was owned by the Royal Family I think on Rama IV (cant remember the name) and then the Grand China Princess and Empress and the Grand China (a change of name I believe) in China town. In the 60s and 70s Lumpini park was just that, a quiet, but somewhat dirty park with a few people doing their tai chi exercise, over the years it became more popular and the younger crowd took over with yoga, zumba and various other more vigorous exercises and they even had a night market. Remember the great ice cream carts outside the gates. In the 70s you could hardly walk on the pavements without nearly falling down a hole or breaking a leg! How many cats to you have? Keep up the Then and now photographs.
We always stay in the Silom area when we come to BKK. But there are so many places you introduced in this video that we didn't even know about!! And such depth of information.... Well done again, Pat!! Love those alley cats.
Great stuff Pat, Silom was my 1st home in Bangkok for 3 years, such a cool place to explore, especially the back alleys on a folding bike. Would love to see a Bang Krachao Island from you one day mate
I got an involuntary shiver through me with the tale of the ghosts (Holiday Inn hotel?) I'd love to see a whole episode devoted to Bangkok ghost stories!
Perfect timing since I just arrived in Silom yesterday and it’s always interesting to hear about the history and future of any city. Looking forward to spending my trip dropping by a few of these. Many thanks for the video
Thanks, glad it came at the right time for you! Nice area down towards Bangrak, many walking routes from there to the river or towards the creative district (Charoen Krung soi 30) or further to Talat Noi as in my video.
Lot of reasons to like this video but I really enjoyed the renderings of the BTS and MRT construction (also the photos) and the reason for the long escalator. And I'll be checking out the Patong Museum next trip (June). Thanks!
Another good video on Silom thanks Pat, l was only there 2 weeks ago, a nice overview, l missed a couple of things you showed, l will do them in February, thanks again, Laurie
Great stuff Bangkok Pat, very informative and the history content is outrageous, you obviously put in a lot of work researching your new area's before broadcasting. The most informative guy I have met online, keep up the great work and I like your dry humor.
Another interesting articulate video by Pat about Bangkok Silom district. Never knew about the Silom road canal 😳 Pat your knowledgeable videos are simply the best 👍
I hope so Pat. It would be interesting to see how Silom looked long ago. Maybe there is some institution in BKK that houses historical photos of the Bangkok of the past.
Map of locations: www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1dkWEpJkmVwNJQR9ADSAg-KlQdLxJXFKv&usp=sharing
Never Let Me Down Again. Depeche Mode...Showing our age. Haha!
Loving the map!
@@Mattsta2010I like these people singing another song of theirs czcams.com/video/_nZQYEk7ZqE/video.html
Can’t open the map
Outstanding video, Pat.
You are the only guy that combines the history of BKK, with architecture, current stuff, and cats!
Most other channels focus on bar girls and massages.
Please never stop what you are doing... kap khun krap.
Agreed! I just wish there was a Saigon Sam! Cause I'd love to see this type of content with other major South East Asian locations. Keep it up Pat!
Thanks a lot for the compliments. I know no other way to present an area. Bit of everything that almost nobody else covered! And throw a few cats in, can't go wrong!
Pat - whatever you do, please don't stop making these kind of videos. They are excellent in terms of content and production quality. These are not the regular vlogs, these are mini documentaries and I learn so much about my favourite city in the world! So thousand thanks to you Pat and keep up the great work!
Absolutely. These videos wouldnt look out of place on mainstream tv.
Yeah pats good at articulating his message ..really good info
I agree completely!
100%... I wanted to make comment on how good it is, but you covered it..👍
Great work Pat... Truly talented and appreciated.
Silom the place where the unexpected delivers like no other place on earth. First found Silom in 1995 happy · happy days · lunch and afternoon bar chat in the Madrid Bar · anybody who was anybody in Bangkok frequented this great bar · great music · excellent food · barroom banter and much much more...
Many an afternoon progressed into drinking in both Patpong 1 and Patpong 2 late into the night at the many night clubs and agogo bars...
I still visit Silom because I just love Silom!!!
Thanks Pat live your insight into all things Bangkok...
Thanks very much for the story and memories!
Ah yes! The Equalizer had a kick ass opening theme music. Many of the action TV shows from the 80s had really cool opening theme tunes.
i love this city with all its colors, smells and different people. bangkok is unique
Thanks Frank!
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched this exceptional video. This is the video equivalent of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the richness of its detail and relevance to world culture…plus cats!
great history, better and better
Thanks Tito!
Never let me down again. Not that this video did, great as always.
Thanks Brian! Great tune.
Depeche mode - never let you down again (music for the masses)
I have been to Bangkok many times. From the 80s until now
It is fascinating and at the same time sad how quickly the city is changing so fast.
Unfortunately, much of the rough charm disappears more and more😥
Safari bar was one of the best places in the late 80´s, 90´s, Ting & Mark the Dj´s that played 60-80´s rock & could sing a couple of Swedish songs! and then Goldfinger bar with equally good taste in music managed by Randy who had a handsign for every drink to his bartenders, a "dangerous" place if the right crowd was there - to many free drinks & stupid drunk before crawling out from the place 5555 many americans there, retirees, embassy staff, good old days
I love everything about Bangkok but the heat and the humidity. Great video as always.
The weather can be a pain in the ass!
Agree, onetime It was so exhausting walking in the heat, I had to find a place to sit down.
The smell of BKK is unmistakeable & nostaglic- especially when you come back for the first time in a while!
Silom was the district the first time I went to Thailand 10 years ago. I stayed at the Crowne Plaza just opposite Lumpini Park. This was the first time that the receptionist actually took me to my room and showed me around. There are some great bars in the area as well :-)
Good choice of hotel Tim, and there are plenty of places to get a good drink without going near patpong.
I had no idea that the BTS was brand new when we first visited Bangkok.
I was taken aback by how clean it was...little did I know it had just been opened.
The best CZcams channel on Bangkok’s areas in my opinion.
Remember the British Club well. My friend was a member and invited me for lunch and a game of tennis every week in the late 90's. It was a welcome oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
Thank you Pat for the wonderful videos of Bangkok and its history.
Thanks very much Yaslam!
Bangkok is and will always be a city that is the absolute love of my life. Thanks for the excellent content, Khun Pat.
Once again, another great video! I have too many stories from the Silom area to know where to begin from many fights, getting shot at by the Thai military back in 1992, to meeting my wife on Patpong Road. I grew up in that area. It's sad how quiet it has become over the years. I love the way that you include the old pictures, comparing Silom then to Silom now. Keep up the great work!
Thanks to the Thairish Times channel for the heads up about your channel , BP . Great job - very well made and informative , thanks !
lovely flashes of the old photos showing then and now~ nice touch
Hi Pat. The urge to watch the video was so irresistible that I almost forgot to hit the like button. Keep up the good work.
Wow, thanks.....glad you 'liked' the video Alex!!
Haha, same with me. I was working out and checked my phone and then CZcams. I saw it at the top of the list and hurried back to my room to watch on laptop.
Perfect timing on video. I was looking for something to do this afternoon. Now I'm going to walk down Silom to the river then maybe towards Chinatown.
Silom/Patpong area was always my favorite area along with Siam. I miss the old Patpong. The museum is awesome, everyone needs to go and say hi to Sucky. I have always stayed at the Asia Hotel from the early 90's. I try not to, but always end up there. I did not know about the ghosts until your last video. I don't if it's because of the video or what but I have heard strange sounds this time.
Safety... I can't tell you how many times in my younger days (the 90's) that I walked back to the Asia Hotel from Patpong in wee early morning hours stumbling, I'm sure. I never felt unsafe.
Love all the vlogs Pat. I have done a lot of cool stuff in BKK since watching them. Chinatown has become one of my new favorite places. The bars around "Soi" Nana are cool but pricey.
Thanks again.
Great to hear that Jim, people say Bangkok isn't walker friendly, but you just gotta watch your step, literally!
@@BangkokPat Again thanks for the Vlogs. I had a awesome walk down Silom . I ran into Thairish Pete, I saw a lady at Silom Village I use to buy antiques from that I haven't seen in years. Had a drink at the old theater turned hotel and then a beer and dinner at Jack's on the river.
Damn it I just sat all the way to Sala Dang while typing on BTS. I was going Asoke.
Noriegas Bar brings back memories … a friend of mine Peter Driscoll, had a band called the Cruisers, and they played in many venues in Bangkok during the 2000’s including doing a regular gig at Noriegas 😂
History, ghosts, cats and even a windmill.... another perfect video!
Thanks Hans, couldn't miss any cats that night in the park, they are everywhere!
This video reminds me alot of my childhood when the rail lines are being built (the BTS) in 1997-1998, boy i feel quite old rn.
Another very nice lesson with our Bangkok history teacher. In his next life he becomes a DJ. Really well done !!! Thx so much
Thanks for showing Silom in 1980.
I love how you just chucked in a Depeche Mode reference (Never let me down again) right in the middle of a great tour of Silom.
Watching this video at 2.30am back in Australia. The ghost story of the woman and little girl in the Holiday Inn has guaranteed I won't be getting back to sleep tonight. Shattered the Narai is coming down. Was the first hotel we ever stayed at in BKK. Awesome buffet as mentioned. Once again a great video Pat. So well put together with beautiful images, thoughtful angles and top notch editing and music.
There should be someone like Bangkok Pat for every city, but I'm glad you are in my favorite one T_T
Nice video Pat - I used to love staying in the Swiss Lodge , daily breakfast in MM's and dragging my various victims across silom road trying to beat the traffic day or night 5555 great memories
Another banger for mr Bangkok Pat. Awesome job yet again
Thanks!
@@BangkokPat small suggestion: can you make a video on my neighborhood, Pinklao? That’d be great
Lovely Pat! I'm loving the ghost which you made appear... I mean, I hope it was you who did it?! 👻
I'm not surprised the evenings are your favorite part of the day 🐈 Thanks again!
Cheers mate, I do enjoy being out on the city streets at night! But, which ghost? I haven't watched the actual video since uploading so maybe you must be mistaken mate.......
My memories of Silom go back to 1982, when I spent my first night in the old Victory Hotel. My late cousin owned the still-thriving Lambert Gems on Soi 17, and I look forward to spending more time in Silom whenever I visit the kingdom. Thanks for revealing so much history.
I still remember trolling Patpong in the late 70s
I imagine it was a lot better night out back then!
Very unique videos for the best city in world 🇹🇭
finally my favorite area of Bangkok!
I can't imagine a better place to stay
BTS and MRT are right there, Siam square shopping malls two stops away, great nightlife options
I like night clubs around Soi 2
Pat - I love your videos. What an amazing city. I was there last year and can't wait to visit again. Probably sometime this year. I have always been fascinated by history. And I am just so impressed by Bangkok's embracement of the past while moving ahead to the future. I have learned so much about Bangkok and Thailand from your videos. It's almost like being able to travel back in time!
The old photos are really interesting.
Silom is one of my favourite places. I normally go to an outside Gym in Lumpini each morning. I use to go to the government gym (B20 per year) but they have a very strict dress code including bringing an additional pair of shoes to exercise in and shorts are not permitted. I use to have a few friends that I would drop in and see in Patpong. Great sign there outside of one of the clubs ' Fifty gorgeous girls and maybe one or two ugly ones'. I've noticed that a few small bars have tried to reopen. There was always rumours of closing down Patpong and redeveloping the site. I think this may now be highly likely. I use to like having a beer in Molly Malones and they had a great Sunday roast. Fortunately Shenanigans and the Paddy Field are just down the road. Have seen some great videos filmed in the Ghost Tower and understand that you can pay off the security guard to get in.
Patpong is rumoured to be in its final days, there's no way it could survive in its present form, unless there was a huge influx of tourists within the next 2 months, but the other issue is that the days of sex tourists filling the area tipping and spending big are long gone, the demographic has changed and maybe patpong hasn't realised that.
The Ghost Tower no longer has security, there were too many issues. The current keepers are under strict orders I was told but I've been a few times and have no interest in going up all those crumbling stairs.
Remembering my first trip to BKK was I'm 1989, it's so amazing as the city was sleepless then. I could see throngs of crowd still enjoying outings - drinking, eating etc a until 5 am in Patpong area. People was friendly and always wearing a smiling face everywhere then. The Thais I met were friendly and sincerely to show me around, inviting me for dinner together etc. I have fallen in love with Thailand especially BKK since then.
Those were the days.....
Nowadays Patpong area looks so haggard like an old man, things have changed tremendously after Taksin to over the power, most of the night spots stop at 1 am, the night Bazaar along Silom already losing it's lustre. The whole Silom road looks so dead at night.
Gone are the days....
I have been to Bangkok many times but only to Silom once. Coincidentally, it was to meet a Cambodian friend at Molly Malones back in 2016. I did not realize it had closed. There was nothing remarkable about it for my wife and I other than our daughter-in-law's name is...Molly Malone. Great video. We will have to check it out--and many other places you have explored--on our next visit. Cheers!
I thought this was a relaunch of Secrets of Silom and almost didn't watch it but glad I did 👍👍
oh so very many happy memories from silom , today its just a shadow of its former self 25 years ago , great video , nice to see it all again , those memories just come flooding back ,, take it easy see you on the next video
Silom by night - I remember wandering around Silom the first or second time I came to Bangkok and getting thoroughly lost (this was pre-smart phone). Took me about two hours before I figured out where I was and how to get back to the train. It was very interesting, lots of things to see. Patpong just turned out to be a couple of rows of market stalls, pretty much the same stuff I found at Chatuchak except twice as expensive. All the "tiger shows" were upstairs, I'd been warned about those. Not much to see outside the bars - when I peeked in through one of the doors it was just 2-3 girls standing around on a stage, barely moving. The video montage brings back memories of that time. I THINK I saw the "and a few ugly ones" sign. (I remember a sign in an alley in Chiang Mai once - "3 old dogs, one young dog and a stupid one" - maybe it was in homage to this?)
Cheers for the nostalgia, we all were in BKK for the first time, I took a wrong bus route and got lost which I'll do a video on next week. I really thought my directional sense was on top form, but Bnagkok is different!
Another good informed video that hold the attention of the viewer. I first visited the Silom area in 1976 while living in Singapore and used to visit Bangkok almost monthly till 1992 when I moved full time to Nonthaburi. Your videos bring back good memories. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Richard for the kind words. Glad you managed to get some nostalgic memories!
Hi Pat! first-time caller long-time listener. Always love to listen and see about the history of Bangkok, its present time, it's street life rhythms, street food and best of all - what is a Bangkok video without it's night scenes :) No one else out there is doing this kind of storytelling - It's so refreshing. I have a request for a video, could you cover some of the canals? What is left of them? Life along them, how they are now and were used in transport; before the BTS? Would be really cool! - Cheers!
Hi Robert, thanks! I've been getting around many canals lately and choosing which ones to feature. Some were always there but others were dug for a particular purpose.
@@BangkokPat - Can't wait to see them! I'll be staying tuned-in ;)
Fantastic video trip down memory lane, love he old photos too. Silom was always a place to explore while staying at the Dusit, close walk to Patpong and my temp office over at Sathon. Had to alert crossing Rama IV to get to Lumpini, before the flyover was built.
There was house that was turned into a restaurant down Silom on the north side, past Patpong and the Hospital. It's gone can't see it on Google.
As always a great video. Thanks for watching over the cats of Bangkok!
Top notch subjects, footage and history. Thank you Thailand Bound for letting me know about your channel.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks to Peter as well!
Silom was the first area I lived as an expat in Bangkok so it will always be a special place to me. It’s a shame Molly Malones is gone, I enjoyed the quiz nights there back in the day.
Silom in Thai mean windmill in the old day ,so the windmill at Silom intersect with Narathiwas is to symbonet this.
Fascinating video, I recently stay at Lebua tower and yes the drinks at the roof top bar are extremely expensive, but the view is to die for.
The best by far generic Bangkok straight forward practical CZcams creator.
For travel, food and party life and retired expats there are hundreds of other options.
Kudos, and a big hug from Portugal!
I lived in Bkk for 8 years. Not one of my fav cities. Some of the areas.in Patpong and Silom I avoided. Im more of a beach tropical fauna person. However I do find these videos interesting for historical purposes. Thanks Pat.
Pat attack! Enjoyable as ever sir. Thanks!👍
DM. Never let me down. Perhaps someone else already got it. Liked The Verve joke. Great videos!
🙄🏁🏁☘😎😎🇸🇩
Good video
Lumpini Park is a right dump
If it wasn't for the cats I'd not set foot in the place.
Wow so much to catch up on . Love you pat . I find now I have to reduce my content further because I am not getting to the good stuff. Already gave up commercial TV. But you carnt get Netflix . Ha ha .
Very Good Introduction 😍👍♥️
Yes, I dine at the Labua State Tower restaurant and it's very expensive, and also the service is rather poorly presented. Not worth dining as the food was in small finely portion and the taste don't take me away in this sky high expectations. Once experience is enough. One glass of Jack Daniel Coke costing 300 Baht + service charges apply.
I never knew Holiday Inn was so haunted. Thanks for your good research. Cheers ♥️
Another great take on Bangkok, thank you!!
Noriegas Music Bar…. Sure remember that 😀
A friend of mine Peter Driscoll and the Cruisers”
Excellent video. I love Silom, I've been staying there over 20 years. Much nicer that Sukhumvit
Thanks, l agree. Much better than Sukhumvit, nicer for walking around and quieter on weekends.
Brill, brill, brill. Thoroughly enjoyed your latest video Pat. Don't know what's next but am sure it will be just as informative and interesting.
John
Another great video Pat, the song you were after was 'Never let me down again' from one of the all time great bands, Depeche Mode!!!
Thanks Robin, I've noticed many Depeche Mode fans outside of the UK. If I tried that question in the UK I'd be met with confusion and trolls as they aren't that well recieved there, the British public don't ''get'' them I think.
@@BangkokPat It is a stange thing, Depeche Mode will sell out a stadium in minutes in places like Spain or Mexico or Brazil. Or an open air concert in an airfield somewhere like Poland or Sweden or Argentina but they don't seem to have as much love in the UK. I'm Australian, for some reason they refuse to tour here, the last tour being 1994!!
I was very pleased to see them inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame (R&RHF) in 2020. I'm glad that whole genre is being excepted for the greatness of what it is.
Not sure if you heard how it happened, The Cure (another legendry band) were accepted in 2019. Apparently the (R&RHF) wanted to induct Trent Rezner of Nine Inch Nails but he refused to except it until the Cure were inducted. So after appearently alot of deliberation, with Trent himself used to assist, they convinced Robert Smith of the benefits. Since then the R&RHF have admitted The Cure in 2019, Depeche Mode and Radiohead in 2020 with Duran Duran going in this year. I'm waiting for the year New Order get admitted, I expecting to see an all in brawl between Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner, who now hate each other. I went and saw Peter Hook a few years back playing with his new band Peter Hook and the light. After every song he had something negitive to say about Bernard.
@@robinmasters2530 The electronic sound was popular in Japan & Thailand in 1981 and DM played the Napalai Ballroom in the Dusit Thani twice in 1982. They were supposed to come in 94 but didn't happen.
@@BangkokPat Wow,that's hard to imagine, I suppose it was a little more grimy in 82. That's like a nice function venue now isn't it?
A few years ago I discovered that The Cure played a gig in a pub not far from where I live in 1981. The room they played in, was about the size of a tennis court and is now full of poker/slot machines
Never Let me Down Again, Depeche Mode (1987) - Music for the Masses. For mine their best album
Thanks Stuart, one of their best albums that defined their sound, and a very interesting video too, ''Strange''
there was a very nice hotel called Lido Millennium betwen Soi 6 and 8
very affordable, a week's stay cost 9000 baht
I stayed there a couple of times in 2014 but it went out of business in 2015
it was a shame, very good location and interiors were pretty fresh, not old from 1980s like in other cheap hotels
Stayed at the Dusit Thani for Songkran many years ago and Labua as well. I think they shot the Hangover 2 up on the rooftop bar there! Both very nice hotels. Another great video! I finally know where Patong is at! Lol
PAT in PAT Pong love the nostalgic photos you should interview Mr. 'see' from laos
Even though I was hoping you'd change into a polka-dotted shirt for the Holiday Inn part, still a very informative video. Thanks!
Loved your "Bangkok Karma". Waiting...👌🏻
Thanks, announcing screenings soon.
Great video Pat. Love the cats. Have one myself. Thanks so much.......Sal : )
Thanks so much for the video Pat. I came to Bangkok since 1979. Slept in the Victory Hotel the first time, then changed to Narai Hotel which became my second home for 40 years. Really memory lane of Silom ! Thanks again, I enjoyed very much !
Great video and always thank-you for your time....
Very interesting as always.....
Thank-you Pat 🇹🇭🇭🇲🙏B
“I’m taking a ride with my best friend”: Depeche Mode “Never Let Me Down Again.”
Nelson Hays Library next to British Club is worth a visit. I was a member 20 years ago. Silom was my hangout area. I lived on Sathorn Soi 15
I loved this video great historical buildings! I would love to swim laps in that beautiful pool! Sad the Hokkein cemetery was moved. It looked very interesting. And of course the cats!! Thank you Pat.
Pat - this was a walk down memory lane for us. You mentioned the klong on Silom Road. in the early 70s we spent quite a bit of time at Silom Road, staying at the Monti Inn and the Narai (now gone) and the Dusit Thani (also gone.). Silom Road still had a small side klong and also had some sort of Wier which has now gone. Patpong was certainly the red light area then. We have not been back to Silom Road since the 90s and we would certainly not recognise it. We remember the temple and mosque (some good food around the latter). Dont remember the Chinese Cemetery but remember the Bangkok Christian Hospital - had to get our son's all clear certificate for the Australian Embassy before we brought him back to Australia. Remember visiting Robinson's many times as well as the Central Dept store further down the road There was even a food court and shops we used to visit often during our stay - all gone now. Our later visits saw us stay at the Pathuwan Princess and the other one which was owned by the Royal Family I think on Rama IV (cant remember the name) and then the Grand China Princess and Empress and the Grand China (a change of name I believe) in China town. In the 60s and 70s Lumpini park was just that, a quiet, but somewhat dirty park with a few people doing their tai chi exercise, over the years it became more popular and the younger crowd took over with yoga, zumba and various other more vigorous exercises and they even had a night market. Remember the great ice cream carts outside the gates. In the 70s you could hardly walk on the pavements without nearly falling down a hole or breaking a leg! How many cats to you have? Keep up the Then and now photographs.
Great video Pat. When I was in BK, I stayed in Bang Rak. Very close to this video! And I liked it there!
I love walking the streets there ! Great video Pat !
Cheers Bill, there's a lot of options for walking once you get to the bottom of Silom Road, so much to see!
What a great video... should be bought by tv-stations.
Thanks!
We always stay in the Silom area when we come to BKK. But there are so many places you introduced in this video that we didn't even know about!! And such depth of information.... Well done again, Pat!! Love those alley cats.
Unbelievable engineering in Bankok 💪
Lived over the river for two years. Walked through Patpong every day. Was on its last legs before C-19, Can’t see it surviving much longer.
There are stories of it going under, and being redevloped. Who knows...
Great stuff Pat, Silom was my 1st home in Bangkok for 3 years, such a cool place to explore, especially the back alleys on a folding bike. Would love to see a Bang Krachao Island from you one day mate
I got an involuntary shiver through me with the tale of the ghosts (Holiday Inn hotel?) I'd love to see a whole episode devoted to Bangkok ghost stories!
I'm doing it at the moment!
@@BangkokPat Great to hear, Pat. Perhaps there are enough stories to make up more than one episode? haha
Another very interesting, and entertaining video Pat, You have made me think there is a Horror movie to be made in Bangkok. " Demon Cats of Bangkok "
Another very enjoyable and interesting video Pat ! Keep up the good work !..
Thanks Jon!
Been on many a good boat ride at Lumpini Park.
State Tower also house two Michelin stars restaurants, Chef's Table and Mezzaluna
Perfect timing since I just arrived in Silom yesterday and it’s always interesting to hear about the history and future of any city. Looking forward to spending my trip dropping by a few of these. Many thanks for the video
Thanks, glad it came at the right time for you! Nice area down towards Bangrak, many walking routes from there to the river or towards the creative district (Charoen Krung soi 30) or further to Talat Noi as in my video.
Great video. You make other youtubers look pretty ordinary.
Thanks Neil!
Lot of reasons to like this video but I really enjoyed the renderings of the BTS and MRT construction (also the photos) and the reason for the long escalator. And I'll be checking out the Patong Museum next trip (June). Thanks!
thumbs up
Thanks Jeff!
another great video by the main man Bangkok Pat...keep up the great vids!
Thanks Richie!
Thanks. Entertaining video - and informative, too!
Cheers Rex!
Another good video on Silom thanks Pat, l was only there 2 weeks ago, a nice overview, l missed a couple of things you showed, l will do them in February, thanks again,
Laurie
Thank you Laurie
Great stuff Bangkok Pat, very informative and the history content is outrageous, you obviously put in a lot of work researching your new area's before broadcasting. The most informative guy I have met online, keep up the great work and I like your dry humor.
Another interesting articulate video by Pat about Bangkok Silom district.
Never knew about the Silom road canal 😳
Pat your knowledgeable videos are simply the best 👍
Thanks, wish I could find more photos of the canal!
I hope so Pat. It would be interesting to see how Silom looked long ago. Maybe there is some institution in BKK that houses historical photos of the Bangkok of the past.