Living in Bangkok: Why We're Leaving Our Dream Condo 🇹🇭

Summary of the subtitles

Moving plans & why they’re leaving Bangkok

• They moved into their dream condo in Phrom Phong about 3.5 years ago, initially planning to stay long-term.
• They’re moving out next week, mainly due to an earthquake that shook Bangkok (aftershocks from a Myanmar quake on March 28).
• After the quake, they accelerated their search for a “forever home,” especially because they felt unsafe living as high as 38 floors.

Neighborhood lifestyle: why Phrom Phong is their favorite area

They strongly recommend Phrom Phong for Bangkok living because it offers:

• Direct access to a BTS station (on Sukhumvit)
• Easy local movement options: motorbike, Grab, tuk-tuks, and walking
• Three major malls right by BTS:
  • EmQuartier
  • EmSphere
  • Emporium (they note one mall has their gym and another their favorite supermarket)
• A huge variety of food—“100–200 restaurants” within walking distance
• Nightlife variety:
  • Rooftop bars
  • Pubs and cocktails
  • Quieter beer spots
• Parks and green space access:
  • Benjasiri Park for strolls
  • Walkable access to larger parks like Benjakitti and Lumpini

Downsides they call out:

• Heavy traffic (typical for Bangkok)
• Higher rent than many other areas outside the city center
  • Example: 25,000 baht/month+ even for a 1-bedroom, with much more for larger units/buildings

Condo/building highlights: Park Origin (Phrom Phong)

• Their building is Park Origin, described as a complex with six towers.

What they praise:

• Gardens, a waterfall, and a kid playground area
• Upstairs amenities:
  • A modern gym
  • A yoga studio
  • A kids play area (mentioned again)
  • A pool table
  • A co-working space used daily
• A rooftop swimming pool with wide city views (they describe it as especially impressive on clear days)
• 24/7 security and access controls:
  • Face recognition
  • Key cards for floors/apartments
• Private parking
• Overall management: “super secure, safe, clean, well-managed”

Their apartment: what it’s like day-to-day

• Apartment size: 57 square meters
• Early rent mentioned:
  • Initially 36,000 Thai Baht/month

Layout & living habits:

• Kitchen includes fridge/freezer, microwave, laundry machine, and a hob with a tiny sink
• They often eat dinner in front of the TV (dining area is mostly storage/utility)
• They don’t use one TV—they have two
• Work setup: they film/edit videos from the main living/office area

Items/collections mentioned:

• Vinyl collection, including Taylor Swift records
• Shoe collection and travel souvenirs—space feels fuller over time

Storage problems (major negative):

• Storage cupboards described as a mess
• The walk-in wardrobe is essentially too small; they share a tiny cabinet and struggle to stay organized

Practical downsides:

• It starts to feel crowded over time
• High-floor exposure:
  • Wind and rain can hit windows hard during storms
  • Some water intrusion risk in heavy rain
• Noise from the city:
  • school announcements
  • sirens/ambulances/police
• Rental restrictions:
  • Can’t make marks/changes (deposit concerns), so they can’t personalize easily (e.g., hang frames)
• Lift experience:
  • Waiting time/delays when traveling to/from the 38th floor
• Neighbors:
  • Mostly fine (they mention one quiet Thai neighbor)
  • Other residents were removed in the past for noise/smoking
  • Building/tower rules seem to reduce tourist short-stay issues

Health/safety & tech routine: VPN usage (NordVPN sponsorship)

Their protective routine while working/traveling:

• They keep their VPN enabled even at home when working.
• They rely on the VPN on potentially “dodgy” Wi‑Fi in:
  • cafes
  • hotels
  • airports

What the VPN is described to do:

• Encrypt connection to protect personal data and passwords on public Wi‑Fi
• Help access familiar websites/streaming services
• Provide “next-gen antivirus” protection (blocking scams/malware/online tracking)

Promo details mentioned:

• Discount link/code: nordvpn.com/paddydoyle
• Includes “4 bonus months” and a “30-day money-back guarantee”

The earthquake experience & the psychological impact

Earthquake details (as they describe it):

• The quake was followed by aftershocks felt in Bangkok.
• They noticed shaking while in bed and bathrooms; pools/water features visibly sloshed.
• Alarms went off.
• They grabbed essentials (passports, phone, wallets) and ran down the staircase.
• In the fire exit/stairs, pool water was gushing down.
• They saw cracks and damage signs; someone was bleeding from a suspected tile injury.
• The building didn’t fully collapse, but there was cosmetic damage and wall/tile cracking.

Mental aftermath:

• Even after returning to the apartment, fear lingered.
• He described weeks/months of waking up panicking and feeling the building move in his sleep while editing.
• Conclusion: he doesn’t want to live so high up again—38 floors felt too risky psychologically.

Their “forever home” update

• They eventually found and bought a new condo together.
• Key specs:
  • Older unit in an older building
  • Low-rise
  • Not far from where they are now
• Renovation:
  • Renovating for about 6 months
• Timeline:
  • They’ve moved through a difficult period of searching
  • The next episode will show the new apartment

---

Notable locations, products, or speakers mentioned

• Neighborhood/areas: Phrom Phong, Asoke, Pom Prong, Khlong Toei
• Transit: BTS on Sukhumvit
• Malls: EmQuartier, EmSphere, Emporium
• Parks: Benjasiri Park, Benjakitti Park, Lumpini Park
• Other landmark: Queen Sirikit Convention Centre
• Building/company: Park Origin (their condo building)
• New condo: low-rise (unnamed in subtitles)
• Product/sponsor: NordVPN (promo link: nordvpn.com/paddydoyle)
• Speaker mentioned: Mrs. P (their wife, referenced as the person who did a viewing while he was away)