Saturday 4 July 2026

Good morning Bangkok. Happy Saturday. Happy Fourth of July to the 63% of this readership waking up in America.

🌡️ Weather: 26-29°C (79-84°F). Cool and rainy. Tropical Storm Maysak has strengthened over the South China Sea and TMD is warning of heavy to very heavy rain across Thailand through July 6. Flash flood risk, rough seas, and a weekend best spent indoors or under cover. Check conditions before any travel.

The Office of the Prime Minister confirmed on July 1 that Thailand scored 80.0 out of 100 in the 2026 index published by International Living, the US-based lifestyle and retirement publication that has been ranking retirement destinations for over three decades. Deputy Government Spokesperson Captain Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn said the ranking reflects Thailand's competitive healthcare, affordable cost of living, climate and infrastructure. Thailand finished first in Asia and ninth worldwide, ahead of traditional retirement heavyweights across Europe and Latin America.

This is now the second international retirement ranking in a single month placing Thailand in the global top ten. The Expatriate Group ranked Thailand second in the world in early June. International Living has now placed it ninth globally and first across all of Asia. Thailand offers a combination of healthcare quality, cost of living, lifestyle and infrastructure that very few countries can match. Two separate international indices have confirmed that you made the right call.

Bottom Line: #2 in one index. #9 in another. #1 in Asia in both. Rankings are marketing, but two separate organizations reaching the same conclusion in the same month is data. If you have friends or family still debating whether to make the move, forward this issue. The evidence keeps stacking.

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The crash occurred at approximately 5PM on June 29 when a Mercedes-Benz collided with eight vehicles on a road in Wang Thong Lang district. Several images and videos of the scene were shared on Thai social media, including footage posted by Facebook user Nannicha Sathaworn. The driver told police he lost control of himself after a heated argument with his wife. The vehicles struck included parked cars and motorcycles along the road. No fatalities were reported, though property damage was extensive.

Two weeks ago a man drove his SUV into the swimming pool at Chulalongkorn University after an argument about condominium rent. Now a man has driven a Mercedes into eight vehicles after arguing with his wife. Bangkok has developed a pattern of men resolving personal frustrations by converting automobiles into emotional support projectiles. The driver was detained at the scene. Insurance claims are expected to be complicated by the fact that "my wife upset me" is not typically listed as a covered event in Thai motor policies. For anyone who parks on a Bangkok street, the story is a reminder that your vehicle is only as safe as the emotional state of the person driving the Mercedes behind it.

Bottom Line: Eight vehicles. One argument. Zero injuries, thankfully. If you are having a bad day, please do not get in your car. Call a friend. Go for a walk. Take a Grab. Do anything except turn a marital disagreement into a multi-vehicle insurance claim on a public road.

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The website describes their food philosophy as "feels like a warm hug, but in the form of food," and on a rainy Saturday morning in July when Tropical Storm Maysak is keeping most of the city indoors, that is exactly the energy a brunch spot should deliver. Featherstone sits on Ekkamai Soi 12 inside a heritage-style house with a vintage aesthetic that blends bistro, cafe and lifestyle shop into a space where antique trinkets and quiet tables share the same story. The menu is Western comfort food done with care: the breakfast pizza with egg and bacon, the crispy chicken skin with mashed potato, the creamy mushroom with truffle oil, and the rustic braised pork ribs are all popular orders. The cold brew ice cube latte is the coffee order that shows up most in Google photos.

The tiramisu is the dessert closer. "Everything is so perfect. The staff, the food, atmosphere," one reviewer wrote. "Loved their chicken skin mashed potatoes and egg bacon pizza," wrote another. The 4.6-star rating across 973 Google reviews, 5.0 on Facebook across 163 votes, and 11,600 Instagram followers reflect a cafe that has quietly become one of Ekkamai's most reliable weekend spots. On a stormy Saturday when outdoor plans are cancelled and you want a room that feels warm, a plate that feels generous and a coffee that takes itself just seriously enough, Featherstone is the call.

TIP: Go at 11:30AM opening for the quietest table. The chicken skin with mashed potato is the starter. The breakfast pizza is the main. Reserve on rainy weekends.
Address: 60 Ekkamai 12 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. BTS: Ekkamai. Phone: 097 058 6846 Website: seefoundtell.com. Hours: Opens 11:30AM Saturday, closes 10PM. Last order 9:30PM. Rating: 4.6 stars, 973 Google reviews. Price: ฿400-1,200 per person.

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Have a wonderful Saturday, and see you tomorrow morning.

— Patrick