A complete guide to the Escape to Thailand series — follow Derek and Toy through all his posts covering their life, love, and adventures in Chiang Mai, Thailand
This page is your guide to Escape to Thailand, a series of posts telling Derek’s intriguing but true story. He’d flown 6,000 miles to Chiang Mai for a blind date with Toy, a retired teacher he’d encountered online. What began as a nervous encounter when they met at the airport grew into something neither of them had quite expected. But Derek’s story has more twists and turns to come.
Each post is listed below in order, and the page is updated as new posts are published. Whether you are new to the series or catching up, this is the best place to start.
Post 1. We’re Airborne
Post 2 Blind Date
Post 3 A Thai Thief
Post 4 No Words Spoken
Post 5 Talking To My son
Post 6 Feeding The Cat
Post 7 Spending Time At Toy’s School
Post 8 I Never Looked Back
Post 9 Burning My Boats
Post 10 Feeling Alone
Post 11 A Reality Check
Post 12 Expat Clubs
Post 13 Toy Stormed Upstairs
© Matt Owens Rees 2026