The Thai Adventures of Rob B

A local rocket festival in rural Sisaket sounded like the perfect Sunday outing. What we didn’t expect was to end the day dancing through village lanes as a young Thai man prepared to enter monkhood.

I thought I was getting used to the format of Songkran celebrations in our countryside Isan village. How many times must I remind myself never to presume anything in Thailand? Once again, I expected a quiet evening at home, only to end up at a local Muay Thai boxing meeting.

Betong is one of Thailand's most intriguing destinations — yet many visitors have never even heard of it. Tucked away in the country's deep south near the Malaysian border, it combines spectacular mountain scenery, multicultural heritage, excellent food and a fascinating recent history.

Travelling through Thailand with my wife Taew, her cousin Q, his wife Ann and their son Indy was always going to be an adventure. They were taking us south towards their home in Hat Yai, but our journey gave us the chance to discover places we might otherwise have missed, including Samut Songkhram, which I'd experienced many years earlier.