Where I Chose to Live in Bangkok Rama 9 Neighborhood Guide (Fortune Town, Central Rama 9)

Today I go over the neighborhood I chose to live in Rama 9. This wasn't an easy choice as there are so many great areas in Bangkok for an expat to live and it just all boils down to preference. I've also purchased a condo in this area and having lived here for the past 3 years, I can't say I regret it. I have easy access to public transportation and the convenience of a major shopping mall, Central Rama 9 right at my doorstep. As a plus, Fortune Town across Central Rama 9 is a great place for me to get all my electronics which is something that's important as a vlogger always having to upgrade and buy new camera equipment. Ultimately this is just my opinion of why I live here and some may not prefer the more gentrified neighborhoods such as Rama 9 but for me it's a place that holds a good balance between modern conveniences but also in reach of all the adventures. This is why Rama 9 is a popular place for many expats who live here.
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[@kpsingh79]

While I have visited Thailand(3 times) and singapore (2 times), my wife and I truly have learned immensely by watching your videos. As a US Citizen ourselves we would love to migrate to Thailand and hopefully able to make much better and educated decisions related to it after having viewed your videos. Your perspective is unique as in you also analyze and make decisions that would affect you as couple. Most south east asian channels usually only provide a perspective of a single male looking into migrate. Anyhow keep up the great work!

[@livetravelasia]

Thank you for the feedback. I am glad to hear my videos are helping people. Don't be afraid to throw in suggestions for other topics you may be interested in in the future. I can't shoot everything due to time constraints but I'll keep it in mind and talk or shoot the topic if I get a chance :)

[@Rai_Koroshiya]

Great Video Ethan, your neighborhood is pretty dope. I like the sprawling hallways and various levels that hide all sorts of shops and restaurants. Reminds me of the intersecting subway and malls in Japan. The conversation with Brain was interesting. Similarly, I had to delay my Asia relocation plans back a season or two, as I am trying to transition to a remote job in tech before I make the jump to Thailand.

[@livetravelasia]

Yeah as great as it is out here, if you can getting a remote job is good :)

[@ue7483]

I will check out your condo building next time I'm there! I stayed in chewatai residence last year which is close to fortune tower but they didn't offer anything below 4 MB.

[@livetravelasia]

Yeah mine isn’t as convenient located but worth it for the price I think. It’s also more quiet around here but important not to face the clubs

[@Hanamichi6666]

i lived there one year, sadly i had to come back for working. I miss that place so much. I envy you!

[@livetravelasia]

You can make it back!

[@Hanamichi6666]

@@livetravelasia not without a job and find a network engineer job in thailand is not that easy

[@livetravelasia]

Damn... have no idea about that field. Sorry to hear that... Save that money to retire asap!

[@KingShaf7]

really enjoyed watching this vlog as it gives us foreigners an insight into the malls etc of bangkok and day to day life....... here in the uk, all the malls are usually closed by 6pm or over the xmas period at about 8-10pm

[@livetravelasia]

6pm! Wow that’s early... the malls here close around 10 but people are still in there cause movies close around 12. I think in the states it’s at least until 10 as well

[@livetravelasia]

Jukrapope Jitpimolmard yeah that would be annoying... I thought things here closed early cause in Korea everything is open very late.... had no idea England was worst

[@samrusskiusa6848]

I learnt about many places, and more, in this single video, compared with at least 10 or 15 other vloggers YT channel videos to get the same bulk of critical Bangkok information😊

[@livetravelasia]

I am so glad you found this helpful!

[@youarehere0]

Dude. The last bit with you just chatting it up with your newfound mate was profound. It was so real. I've only been there once and it was the only time I've traveled in the last 15 years. That was back in August. But I'm going back late this month for a while (this time on my own...without a girl). I don't know. I have a very good job in the US. I'm so curious to how I will feel if the three weeks I spend there will be absolutely amazing, because I'm not particularly impressed with living here other than the money I'm making, which is a HUGE motivator to stay here. Just thoughts going through my head right now.

[@livetravelasia]

Yeah there's definitely tradeoffs. You'll have to decide what works for you :)

[@ThaiWithSarah]

Next time count me in. I always go for movies alone lol.. I love movie (Wed) nights!

[@livetravelasia]

Oh we'll invite you. We go almost every week here haha

[@Sebernica]

No video / photograph reason >> Business secrecy, prevent copping displayed merchandises (u could be business competitors spying). Apart from that, there's a general thought, image of things or people has slowly constitute as asset. Some people don't wanna be in your video. May be they don't want to reveille their alibi. Or, if u film a couple, later on a wive find out her husband was cheating on her by walking with another lady, etc... This idea has slowly become universal. I used my phone to film on Metro link once and was told by the train operator to switch off. Even in Europe, I went to UK 3 months ago, and was told filming is prohibited too. But mainly this rule can only be enforced in private entity places. Nobody can stop u from filming on beaches or state park. FYI, Big C, Robinson, Central, these malls forbid u from both filming & photography, but if u do quick selfie, I guess nobody can catch u in time. I think in the future, it'll be harder for vlogers, universally.

[@livetravelasia]

Ben yeah I think this is the case... I know in Seoul the business secret thing is a reason I was given which blows my mind cause I could copy display w a picture... catching other people cheating in the act is funny but than again it probably happens lol. But as for the future, they may try to regulate it more but we will probably have technological advances to have smaller cameras that match it. The exposure and publicity that companies will want on social media will always be something that will compete w their fears of things being copied or the privacy of their customers. Ultimately the rule of thumb is you shouldn’t show in public what you don’t want the public to see and people will self monitor cause there will be eyes everywhere

[@ismailqursoy]

I love the spirit of the fortune town mall too Ethan! But the cheapest massage parlours are in soi buakhao in pattaya. 100 baht for 1 hour foot or physical massage ( : the ladies are old but they are really know how to massage ( :

[@livetravelasia]

Ismail Gursoy haha wow that’s really cheap. I wish they had something like that in Bangkok!

[@livetravelasia]

Haha maybe you can share the secret! Lol

[@Sidetracked_in_Macau]

Hey, you never showed us the neighborhood! Just the mall. But still a good channel, I just saw you were talking about this neighborhood in another channel and it made me curious to see it.

[@livetravelasia]

Yeah actually I chose to focus on the main area here that people go to but I have a more extensive walk through the whole neighborhood in another video that's like an hr long as well lol. Should probably do a better job titling the videos but I didn't plan to make two videos like that haha

[@Sidetracked_in_Macau]

@@livetravelasia I'll search for that :)

[@JohnLee-ht2pq]

The mercury hotel attached to fortune is old but nice and reasonably priced. Super convenient.

[@livetravelasia]

I've heard good things about them :)

[@naren2k6]

I have been to BKK more than 25 times, but have really never explored area's on the MRT line, might be time to explore this part of Bangkok on my next trip. Gr8 video. I have always prefered the BTS lines to MRT.

[@livetravelasia]

If you’re just visiting I think there are more points of interest on the bts but as a resident I like the mrt haha. But I am biased probably since I live on it and know the places to go on there. It may be a different story if I lived on the BTS. I particularly like ari area. One thing the mrt has over the bts however is that its underground and I don’t have to be sweating waiting for the trains to come :)

[@naren2k6]

@@livetravelasia We should talk, I am seriously looking to buy in a condo, just never could figure out the area's outside of Asok and Nana area's or Siam, wonder if you can help?

[@livetravelasia]

I pretty much say most of my opinions in these videos. Not sure what else I could add haha

[@TaiwanCameron]

Great video! I plan on moving to Bangkok next year myself. So videos like this give great insight.

[@livetravelasia]

Glad to be of help :)

[@williamfeders8073]

I really enjoy ur video .. greetings from Uruguay 🇺🇾

[@livetravelasia]

Awww thank you!!! I want to go to Uruguay one day too. You guys are soo good at football

[@fulltimeforeigner5640]

Great content! Helped me out heaps 😀

[@livetravelasia]

Frank Kenney music to my ears!

[@nicobic]

The "no video" was amusing, good call keeping it.;) I need to repair my Canon 60D embedded flash, it's the mechanism preventing it from lifting. Hope this place can fix it. 1st massage add was 150/hr foot, onsite: 190 (old poster maybe.?...). Still cheap. Thai & Foot massage are one of my hobbies. Great way to get an hr Thai tutoring provided they don't speak English. Hence interestingly enough, the cheaper the price the more chance they don't.:-)

[@livetravelasia]

Yeah 150 for foot massage but I like the Thai full body. I paid extra for shoulder the other day and they did a really good job. The 60d is a very capable camera

[@rowenyap3215]

I'll be checking it out next week

[@livetravelasia]

Great maybe you’ll run into us on Wednesday

[@thespecialist7442]

Thank you man, really useful there😊😎

[@livetravelasia]

You're welcome!

[@thespecialist7442]

@@livetravelasia Keep uploading more videos in thailand, i will be checking updates from you man😎

[@pingbookent]

You should go explore THE STREET too! Open 24 hours (I'm sure you already know that)

[@livetravelasia]

Yeah we've been there quite a bit. They setup the beer gardens already and parking is hard. Want to cover some other places before I do that however :)

[@wrestling2cena]

holy Bangkok of 1 hours! can't wait to watch DAMN

[@livetravelasia]

Haha thank you!

[@hoi514]

There is flooding situation during raining season. I wonder how people deal with it especially in Rama 9 where MRT station is underground but BTS station usually has skywalk that can avoid flooding

[@livetravelasia]

I’ve never seen MRT flood. If anything the MRT is preferable cause bts you’re subject to the elements like heat or rain. MRT is climate controlled

[@grandmasterjo1]

Very enlightening video Gives me one more reason to travel back to Bangkok. Nice to know Pro hifi stores in the mall Can you Pls give a bit more info on the night market at Rama IX Thanks. 👍👍

[@livetravelasia]

The night market is a stop away at the Thailand Cultural Center called Rod Fai. I feature it in my RCA Route 66 Clubbing guide and also in my Huai Khwang Neighborhood Guide

[@yamawowlai]

Yes, you just get off the Thailand Cultural Center MRT' Station then further north follow the Crowd because most of them go there. Then gets through Esplanade mall behind that Mall is the Night Market.

[@grandmasterjo1]

yamawowlai thanks so much. Appreciate. Love ur videos and tips, and ...love Bangkok

[@cesarcajas3272]

Can you mention the areas that gets floated in raining season in Bangkok and the areas that don’t get floated thanks Cesar

[@livetravelasia]

It’s not any particular city or town although generally speaking the east side of Bangkok will flood more but certain blocks of the city will flood so you have to live there for a year or so to understand exactly which streets etc will

[@themoneybank]

moving to rama 9 soon for work from australia, thanks fir vid

[@livetravelasia]

You’re welcome :)

[@themoneybank]

@@livetravelasia I am thinking about staying in life asoke building. Any you would recommend on that area?

[@livetravelasia]

themoneybank that’s the new one by petchavuri right. Not a bad choice. I think rhythm is better but it’s more expensive. If you want to be right next to central Rama 9 and but sacrifice on the facilities and pay about the same price ap aspire is a good choice too

[@themoneybank]

@@livetravelasia awsm thank you so much for your help.

[@livetravelasia]

You’re welcome :)

[@erikjanse3994]

Again great Vid! Do they also sell TV's and furniture? Any suggestions where best to buy TV's (e.g. QLED) and furniture in BKK? Thanks!

[@livetravelasia]

Really depends on your standards for furniture but I don’t wanna spent too much so I end up buying a lot of ikea. They are also resealable as many expats like them

[@wintechpro4107]

You didn't mention the gigantic 600m tower that will be built soon right behind plaza.

[@livetravelasia]

Actually I heard that project is on hold or cancelled after the developer sold the rights to another company

[@vimut2020]

The real reason of forbidding professional camera for filming in the shopping malls is that they are not happy to let you freely do commercial purpose video unless you have officially ask them for the case.

[@livetravelasia]

Makes sense I guess I should be flattered they think I am professional enough to be shooting commercial videos :)

[@hpopov]

I spent 2 weeks in Rama 9 for work. I really needed a massage and I couldn't find a single place ...

[@livetravelasia]

Actually Rama 9 has lots of them. Check out the basement floor of fortune tower. They have massages for only 160 THB for an hr Thai Massage, Foot Massages are even cheaper

[@youarehere0]

Question. Why are so many people in the mall wearing jeans? lol Is that because they never go outside? I'm seriously curious. I know jeans look better, but even for a local, nobody really wears them outside, right?

[@livetravelasia]

everyone wears long pants here. most of the time we are indoors in bangkok and it's always blasting ac. I always carry a jacket too

[@yongxing1848]

Thank you too, I need to buy you a nice steak dinner when I am there.

[@livetravelasia]

Also try out the kobe beef shabu places :)

[@syncmeandroid]

@2:16 "No video" hahahahahahah I'm sorry for your video, but that scene was so funny.

[@livetravelasia]

Haha I think so too. That’s why I included it. A break from the ordinary. I also wanted to show you there is a reason I shoot w the camera pointing at my face quite often as people complain why I don’t point the camera forward... it’s not that I don’t want to, but I am more likely going to be harassed over shooting inside for whatever reason

[@livetravelasia]

They told me I couldn’t shoot once near banks which I understand cause maybe I’ll catch ppl entering their pin but all I could think of near escalators is shooting some girls upskirt or something I guess

[@bobbylancer4553]

@@livetravelasia the chic in ur Back was shoot able

[@cogniktive1147]

Dude, those Sirui and Benro tripods are at least $30-$40 less than what I can find on Amazon here stateside - more so if those costs include the heads. BTW, 3200 baht should be less than $100 USD, not $150. ;) BTW, I think I've mentioned before a few weeks ago that I'll be arriving in BKK on Xmas day and staying for two weeks. Let's meet up if our schedules permit. My itinerary is in flux and a little packed much of the first week, but let's try to figure something out. How do we contact each other? I don't see a way to message you on here.

[@livetravelasia]

Yeah I shop around a lot before I buy camera equipment. Sirui and benro is cheap out here and if it’s displayed w the head it includes it. I got mine for a steal for how much American amazon charges. They have other lesser known brands too that charge even less but seem almost like carbon copies as well. I buy the sirui however for resale purposes. You can add me on line okyungmoon or message me on Facebook or Instagram at livetravelasia

[@cogniktive1147]

Cool beans. Line it is. Screw FB. Hah Benro is legit. I have their monopod. I assume that western brands such as manfrotto and gitzo are still expensive, yeah?

[@livetravelasia]

Yeah... if it's not made in China or Thailand... it's gonna be expensive The brand is less to do with the price. Like western digital HD for example are not expensive out here

[@pingbookent]

I'm Thai and I think GIGSHOP is too pricey. You better buy another place. Eg. If you want to buy SD CARD go to JET or JIB it is much much more cheaper than GIGSHOP or go check ZOOM CAMERA. btw LOVE your channel.

[@livetravelasia]

Haha thanks. SD cards I get them from American Amazon still or get on Lazada. JIB does have good sales sometimes for SD cards and Hard Drives, even headphones so I get those there. Gigshop is good for zhiyun gimbals and tripod. Some of the other stuff is pricey. I like them cause they give me 10 percent cash discount. It was by far the cheapest I found. Digilife is really good too especially when they have promotions. Not sure if I tried Zoom camera but if it was fortune I am sure I asked their prices. Thank you so much for the feedback and thank you for loving the channel! Really means a lot to me :)

[@syncmeandroid]

@44:24 "the ladies do a really good job" I bet you. They always do a good job. 😁

[@prescottpizza]

I bought a keyboard for my Surface Pro at Fortune Town in 2017. I was staying with my wife (girlfriend at the time) at her apt in Samut Prakan. I likes that area and wished I had more time to spend there. The guy who made you quit filming at Central must have been a part of the communist party? Ayn Rand would have been concerned. LOL

[@livetravelasia]

Yeah not sure why they don't let you film

[@prescottpizza]

@@livetravelasia I am just busting your chops for being liberal. I am have socially liberal ideas but very conservative financially. I just watched another one of your videos. My wife and I enjoy. She is from Surin. Do you have any videos in Surin?

[@chermarl5955]

hi Oppa!

[@livetravelasia]

Hi Cher!

[@armyman3666]

"Neighborhood Guide" the entire video is about a mall lol

[@livetravelasia]

In Bangkok the neighborhood is the mall

[@foldenrim9345]

Have you met any csgo players?

[@livetravelasia]

Yeah lots of them. One of my students was really into it but it’s not as popular as pubg out here which is by far the king of fps

[@foldenrim9345]

thats good news. csgo is pretty dead amongst my former circles back in the states. it would be nice to have somewhat of a regular group of players to run competative matches with

[@livetravelasia]

Rainbow six siege seems like counterstrike on steroids. Have you tried it?

[@foldenrim9345]

@@livetravelasia no. ill check it out. whenever i get settled down

[@nptsmirabilis]

ก้ามปู (gaam bpoo) = muscular

[@livetravelasia]

:)

[@陳勝偉-m7c]

✌🌞🌞🇹🇭❤

[@livetravelasia]

Thank you!