Location location location; apartment hunting in Bangkok

Two years ago, while I was in England, Husband went apartment hunting all on his own. We’d had a difficult year: Son's iGCSEs, political upheaval followed by not knowing whether we were staying or going and I couldn’t face house hunting. I trusted Husband but I knew if I hated it, I’d have to keep my mouth shut. He found The House. When I returned to Bangkok, we moved from our new, shiny, expensive apartment, The Towers, to a big, old and cheaper place. I got my own room and I liked saving the money so I was prepared to keep my mouth shut and live in the dark. (I don’t really hate it but it is dark…)

I went apartment hunting yesterday. Oddly, Husband is in Europe but I think that’s a coincidence. We aren’t desperate to move but we could be nudged in that direction if tempted by the right property so I went along on some viewings to see what was out there.

The viewings were arranged by which side of Sukhumvit Road they were on (because crossing Sukhumvit can be monstrous) but they could almost have been arranged by the dross in the morning and the nicer ones in the afternoon.

Husband enjoyed my reviews of the properties so I thought you might too. I have changed names and x’ed locations to protect whoever may object to my comments.

I saw two in Hola House (parallel to Soi X...up from Nightclub.) (One was 340sqm.) No worse than The House but not worth moving for.

Then I saw  Mai Ben Lai House which is on Suk X up past the bakers. (380sqm.) It was interesting in the way that The House is - a strange cut off room at one end of the sitting room that could be an office, studio or/and spare room. It was a duplex so bedrooms upstairs. The communal areas were filthy and even the dead cockroach I saw lying upside down in a cupboard had committed hari kari. Again, old and dark and not worth moving from our current old and dark apartment.

Then I saw a bonkers one. (280sqm.) The master bedroom had the bathroom in it with no walls! And the third bedroom was their office space so no other office or spare room for us. It was also five miles into the bowels on the green route (I'd never been that far before) so taxis will never come past and we’ll be stuck there for ever.

Next I went to Premier Homes which is the one you showed me from our balcony - just up the one way bit. (280sqm) The owner was very shouty and had two barking dogs. She lived next door to the apartment for rent. (Not on your f'ing nelly!)

Next I went to Round House on Soi X. (310sqm.) Lovely building, weird apartment because the building is round. Duplex again. Reminded me of the comment someone made about our little house in Cardigan Avenue, 'looks like someone designed it after a night in the pub.’ 

Then it was The View. I didn’t make a note of the size but smaller than The House. Big reception room; tiny bedrooms. Fab views. Light and airy. I almost moved our orange sofa in instantly - it would look so cool here on the white tiles; I'd move here just for the light and modernness. 

Flowers Towers, Soi X. (350sqm.) Big fab kitchen with table in it and halogen cooker! It's a '3+1' which is 4 bed if you're not an estate agent. A young man let us in and then he went back to bed while we looked around! Fabulous views. Really, really liked it but can't put into words quite why (partly because I can't remember but I felt at home as soon as I walked in. I’d take this tomorrow.)

Sukhumvit Soi X. (380sqm.) I can't begin to describe how grim this was. It was four miles into the @rsehole of the soi. There was a little old lady looking after the place who didn't open the gate 'til we rang her. There was no lift, no gym, no tuk tuk. No way.

The Posh Residence.  OMG. Call me shallow and superficial.... tiny but gorgeous. Right on top of shopping area skytrain. Shares the pool with the hotel, has a gorgeous gym, a library. Gorgeous modern kitchen, tiny bedrooms. When will the kids move out? It's perfect for you and me...