Rob’s Thai Roving Report

Without a shadow of a doubt, my biggest break when I moved to Thailand came when I went into a restaurant/bar in Minburi owned by a friendly lady who helped me learn about the country, improved my Thai, and took me to places I hadn’t heard of and had no means of reaching before she became my partner and then my wife. And she’s an amazing gardener whose efforts keep me healthy.

It is not unusual to visit a place anywhere in the world and leave wondering whether you have missed something. The time of year, the weather, the beauty, or how many people are there can affect one’s perception. To me, whether I see somewhere during the day or at night is the determining factor, which is why I try to experience both.

Being able to take off to new places without worrying about others is one of my greatest indulgences. I get immense pleasure from exploring, chatting, eating, drinking and, ideally, ending up watching football of any standard. I’ve done it many times in the UK and mainland Europe. Until September 2026, I’d only done one tour longer than a weekend in Thailand. It was time to put things right.

Koh Chang is a stunning island, attracting tens of thousands of tourists each year to its beautiful beaches and natural scenery. However, to reach the ferry to Koh Chang, you pass a couple of towns that are attractive in their own way. Here’s my insight into Chanthaburi and Trat.

Travelling by car with my wife Taew is one of my favourite pleasures. Whether it's being dropped off to meet friends, going to the station to head to football, or going long distances, I get the chance to relax, sometimes navigate, sometimes improve my Thai, but always spend quality time with my good lady. long road trip never fails to entertain me.

There are many pleasures and wonderful things associated with being an expat in Thailand in retirement. The climate and cost of living are two obvious attractions, but to get the most out of living here, it is important to look after one’s body and mind. Good mental and physical health are connected and crucial anywhere, but especially after relocating.

People are often surprised when I mention that one of my hobbies in Thailand is cricket. Even more so when I explain that some Thais play, and the sport is becoming increasingly popular with youngsters. Expats help coach and attend tournaments around the country, with touring teams participating. The Koh Chang Beach Cricket Tournament is among the most popular events.

It doesn’t matter where a football fan is located around the world. The arrival of a new season brings expectation, excitement and hope, and supporters in Thailand are no different. This year, however, they have to wait slightly longer for domestic football to get underway, with the Thailand national team involved in the ASEAN Championship. So what is in store in 2026-27?

For some people, a trip to Thailand is something they have been looking forward to for months or even years. Once the flights are booked and the excitement starts to build, a few nerves and questions are perfectly normal. What should I pack? What will the weather be like? Will I be able to communicate? What is Thai food really like? How do I get from the airport to my hotel? After many years of visiting Thailand and now living here permanently, these are some of the practical things I've learned that can make a first visit easier — and hopefully give you a little more peace of mind before you set off.

My wife Taew and I had been to the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival twice before. While we'd enjoyed both visits, we wanted to experience the nighttime celebrations to complete the picture. So, in July 2026, we booked a hotel and turned it into a 24-hour adventure by adding a few other attractions along the way.

It had been a tough couple of weeks for this farang in rural Sisaket. Nothing that would affect my life long-term, but England getting knocked out of the World Cup when I was certain they were going to win it, followed by the death of Kevin Keegan, really saddened me. However, there is always something that surprises and makes life happy living where I do.

I love living in Thailand, surrounded by beautiful rural scenery, with visits back to our condo in Bangkok two or three times a year to give me a fix of city life. I have been lucky to meet and marry a wonderful lady from a good family. I have worked to understand our cultural differences. But the ‘mai pen rai’ mentality is something I’m always likely to struggle with.

One of the questions I’m asked most often in Thailand is how and why I ended up living here. Even people who have known me for many years are surprised that I now call a rural Thai village in the northeast of the country home, with no other Westerners living nearby. Let me explain.

Thailand’s Bun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival), usually shortened locally to Bun Fai, is one of the country’s most exciting and colourful cultural celebrations. Held mainly in the northeast, especially across Thailand's Isan region and neighbouring Laos-influenced communities, the festival combines tradition, music, food, dancing, and homemade rockets launched into the sky in the hope of bringing rain for the rice-growing season. I love them. Read more to find out why.  

Rainy season in Thailand can produce incredible storms and downpours, feeling even more dramatic in the countryside where we live. With no lightning conductors on the village houses, we switch off electrical appliances and simply sit and wait. When the skies finally clear, opportunities are there to be seized, like when I was up bright and early the following morning for a cycle ride through the surrounding countryside.

Some places continue to attract huge numbers of visitors to Thailand, drawn by its tropical climate, stunning coastline, legendary hospitality, and outstanding value for money compared with destinations elsewhere in the world. One of the most famous is Phuket. Here, I look back on my memories of the island.

Thailand is a large country, with journeys from Bangkok to its northern or southernmost cities taking well over ten hours. While many visitors choose to fly, those on a longer holiday - or anyone living in the Land of Smiles - may prefer the slower, cheaper and often more interesting option of travelling by bus. Here's what you need to know before setting off.

Since moving to rural Sisaket in February 2022, I've visited Ubon Ratchathani many times. It's only an hour away by car, and with trains from Kanthararom, it's easy to reach whether I'm heading there to explore or watch football. Over several overnight stays, I discovered a city with plenty of good food, lively bars and an enjoyable nightlife that's well worth experiencing.

Many of my family and friends knew that I would eventually relocate to Thailand, knowing it was a decision I had made. But even I was unsure about what lay ahead when I met Taew, and we were heading to live in rural Sisaket as a married couple. I certainly hadn’t heard of the nearest town of Kanthararom.

I don't think I'll ever tire of the excitement of an upcoming World Cup. They bring back great memories, especially of watching players from countries that seemed strange and exotic to me as a kid. So, imagine my delight when I discovered that a World Cup was coming to Ubon Ratchathani, just an hour from home. This wasn't the tournament I'd expected to see again. It was the 2026 Seniors World Cup, bringing former professionals and internationals over 40 to Ubon for a week of competitive football. For me, it was an opportunity too good to miss.