I Want To Live In Or Near Bangkok

[wasabi]

I love the hustle and bustle of Bangkok but every time I stay more than a few weeks I get a sore throat or bronchitis due to the pollution. Is there anywhere on the BTS or MRT line with lower pollution than the lower Sukhumwit area whilst having many shops and things to do? If not is there anywhere with frequent buses or shuttles to the BTS or MRT? One person I know has mentioned Rangsit. I'll be coming to Thailand to study Thai language for a year and the school I attend will most likely be near one of the BTS stations so I'd like it to be as easy to get there as possible.

[londonthai]

the further you go the cleaner it will be and cheaper - the problem is with travelling time to your school.

so first choose a school and than try to find an accommodation. Schools aften offer some form of accommodation on a campus or homestay with a thai family. This second option is much better in your case as you can practice your language by interacting with the members of the family and with the neighbourhood.

finding an accommodation should be easy even after you arrive to bangkok - just walking in the neighbourhood of school will give you several appartment blocks to choose from. Usually they have at least one available immediately or within the nearest future.

yes, the air pollution is a problem in bangkok - the west side of the river is less industrialised, commercialised and less populated. There are still a lot of canals, orchards, gardens and empty land with overgrow and the lifestyle is more traditional, slower. However, there is no fast transport here yet - but it will change within the next years.

[Travel2003]

Try Chatujak area (close to Central Plaza, Phahonyothin Road).

Away from the polluted down town, but still along the Sky train line.

Also cheaper places to live.

[chatette]

I used to live in a fruit forest on klong bang kruai in Nonthaburi and travel too and fro by boat. There are public boats along Klong Bangkok Noi that connect with Ta Chang, by the Grand Palace, until quite late or you can take small, superfast water taxis for a higher cost, but still quite cheap for regulars. Klong San Saeb connects with the skytrain at Sapan Hua Chang at Ratchatewi, or with the subway at Asoke/Petchburi. On the eastern side of town, you can try Sukapiban 3 and connect downtown using Klong Saen Saeb public boats (no water taxis) right now. I used to do this until relatively recently when I got sick of driving. The boats have lights inside so you can read while commuting, which is quite pleasant. The downside here is that the boats don't operate when the water level in the canal is too high as they can't pass under some of the lower bridges, which will restrict you to the congested land route. That only applies a couple of weeks a year, tho. The sky train will eventually extend out to Lad Krabang in the east, which will give you much more options for cleaner air. Do keep the water routes in mind, tho, when looking at your MRT connections.