Rob’s Thai Roving Report

A Sunday with no football planned unexpectedly turned into one of my most enjoyable cycling adventures through the rural Sisaket countryside in early August 2025.

It is surprising just how little is known about the many festivals staged around Thailand, even by expats living there or regular visitors. I'm a prime example. Despite visiting the Land of Smiles nearly 30 times before moving here, I had no idea events such as the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival even existed.

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.