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[title]If you have ever found yourself deep in a YouTube wormhole researching Bangkok’s history, chances are you have stumbled across a man in a wig playing a noir detective, or a bloke enthusiastically pointing out a train in Lad Phrao. This is Bangkok Pat. In a digital sea of daily vloggers complaining about the heat or sensationalising 'bar girl' scams, Pat stands out as a calm, knowledgeable and often eccentric archivist of the Thai capital.
Pat’s channel is a treasure trove of the city’s past, present and future. He explores 'Vanishing Bangkok', interviews local characters in 'One Baht Wisdom', and platforms fellow creators in 'YouTube Stories'. But who is the man behind the lens (and the occasional disguise)? We sat down with him to discuss the art of the deep dive, the tragedy of losing architectural gems, and why Tao Poon might just be the next big thing.
The accidental historian
'I didn’t think I would get anywhere with YouTube anyway, so it didn’t bother me,' Pat admits, reflecting on his low-key start. The moniker 'Bangkok Pat' wasn’t a branding masterstroke; it was a nod to his friend, a former teacher known locally as 'Bangkok Phil'.
His first foray into content creation wasn’t about viral fame. It was born from a desire to show a side of the city that most expats – and indeed many locals – overlook. 'I called it "Secrets of Lad Phrao",' he says. 'Basically, I was copying the format of a guy called Geoff Marshall, who does British-based transportation content, mostly trains. I thought, I’ll use that.'
Armed only with a tripod and a curiosity for the mundane, Pat ventured into the streets. 'I was going around and thought, "Shit, I really want to show this. I have to share this with people".' That first video, exploring the nooks and crannies of Lad Phrao, garnered a few hundred views – a modest start, but enough to spark a realisation: there was an audience for the unusual.
Vanishing Bangkok
Perhaps the most poignant series on his channel is 'Vanishing Bangkok'. Here, Pat documents the structures and communities facing the wrecking ball of development. It is a role he takes seriously, often spending days researching old photographs from Thai Facebook history groups and translating comments to piece together a building’s narrative.
He speaks with genuine sadness about the changes to the city’s skyline, specifically the iconic Robot Building in Sathorn. Designed by Sumet Jumsai in the mid-’80s to reflect the computerisation of banking, it underwent a renovation that erased its character. 'To sort of strip it down to its bare concrete and then cover it up… it’s a travesty, really, to hide that,' Pat says. Through his videos, he managed to connect with the original architect, validating the importance of recording these structures before they are lost to glass facades and advertising boards.
'It’s great because people can relate to a lot of it,' he says of the series. He recently covered the NASA Spacedrome, a legendary disco from the ‘90s. The video reached the son of the original owner. 'He said, "Wow, I’ve shown it to my dad and he loves it".'
The man of many faces
Pat is not just a historian; he is a performer. In a landscape where 'authenticity' often means shaky cam footage and unedited rambles, Pat puts on a show. His most popular video features him narrating a character on the run from the law, weaving a narrative about drug smuggling.
'For my next story, I didn’t want it to be a storytelling video like other guys do, just sat there telling you the story. I thought, that’s going to get boring,' he explains. 'So how about I actually play the character? But don’t make it so obviously me. So I’ll disguise myself.'
The result involves wigs, costumes and a noir-style persona that allows him to inject humour and visualisation into the history. He is currently filming a sequel, promising cameos from other well-known Bangkok YouTubers. It is a creative risk that pays off, separating him from the 'point and shoot' crowd.
Navigating the 'slop'
Pat is vocal about the state of modern content creation, particularly the rise of AI-generated 'slop' – videos with robotic voiceovers reading scraped Wikipedia articles. 'You can tell those right away... it’s artificial content,' he says, noting with satisfaction that platforms are starting to demonetise low-effort AI uploads.
He is equally critical of the 'scam' genre that plagues Thailand-based YouTube channels. You know the type: red-faced men ranting about how they were swindled by a bar girl. 'If you dig deep, he’s not a victim. He’s brought it on himself,' Pat argues. He recently released a podcast suggesting that these 'bar girl scam stories' are, in fact, scamming the viewer – recycling cliches for clicks rather than offering any real insight into the culture.
A slow burn love affair
Unlike many who land at Suvarnabhumi and fall instantly under the city’s spell, Pat’s relationship with Bangkok was a 'delayed reaction'. He moved here over 23 years ago, settling in a rough-around-the-edges spot on Phetchaburi Road.
'It was a strange place... the only way in and out was really the buses,' he recalls. It was a steep learning curve, navigating the city on a budget, working teaching gigs in Samut Prakan before the Skytrain reached that far, and DJing house music at venues like Faith Club. 'I think I didn’t really get Bangkok until I’d moved here... you’ve got to go through this to see what’s there.'
This 'slow burn' approach informs his advice to visitors today: 'Don’t believe too much social media. Don’t get wrapped up in other people’s comments.' To find the real city, you have to disconnect from the forums and walk the streets.
Pat’s perfect day
When he isn’t filming, Pat offers 'walking trips' – distinct from rigid tours – where he tailors the itinerary to the guest’s interests. If he were to design a perfect day for a friend, it wouldn't involve the Grand Palace.
'I’d do the tours over walking,' he says, mentioning a recent trip that involved canal boats, the backstreets of Khlong Thom, and the quieter side of Chinatown. For a cultural hit, he suggests looking just beyond the main tourist traps in the Old Town. 'Like the temple with the Royal Cemetery [Wat Ratchabophit]... it’s a really beautiful temple, and then from there, there’s the canal and the moat. Really, really lovely parts in those neighbourhoods.'
For those looking to escape the city buzz without leaving the capital, he recommends the electric boat service on Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem. 'It’s the nearest you’ll get to Amsterdam... it’s all nicely renovated. It’s slow and it’s free as well.'
The future of the city
Having tracked the city’s changes for two decades, Pat is optimistic about Bangkok’s evolution, particularly the transport network. 'The skyline has got higher... the rail network is expanding, the neighbourhoods are getting connected,' he observes. 'Someone who lives in Bang Na can now commute to Siam in a reasonable amount of time.'
So, where is the next hotspot? Pat points to Tao Poon. 'It’s near the river, there’s two MRT lines and it’s largely untouched by expats,' he whispers – perhaps regretting letting the secret out. 'You’ve got Bang Sue train station... you’ve got the old lady whose shop has been there for 80 years, they make their own ice cream. And until people actually go there and look around, they don’t realise what a great area it is.'
He is also keeping an eye on Muang Thong Thani, the 'Golden City' that stalled after the 97 Asian Financial Crisis. With the new Pink Line monorail, he believes it might finally fulfil its potential, and he is currently midway through a deep-dive documentary on the area.
The verdict
Bangkok Pat isn’t just making videos; he is curating a digital museum of a city that changes faster than almost any other. Whether he is in a wig, on a boat, or digging through archives, his mission remains the same: to show that there is more to Bangkok than the cliches.
'Bangkok is welcoming, adventurous, and... value,' he concludes, struggling to sum up the metropolis in just three words. But his work speaks for itself. In a city of constant reinvention, Pat is making sure we remember what was there before.