Songkran '07

[prcscct]

It's upon us once again. The mass exodus seems to have started today from the Pattaya side here. Bumper to bumper outbound and full busses. Local city traffic decreasing.

The big celebration day here is not until April 19 so perhaps a week of low traffic and then all hell will break loose the evening of April 18. Good time to lock yourself away at home.

I used to enjoy going downtown and mixing it up but it's become dangerous. I almost lost an eye in 2005 from a high pressure water gun. A yearly tradition here with visiting farang tourists (not expats) is to get a 55 gallon drum and fill it with water and ice, place it in a beer bar area and pay the girls to dip themselves into it. Becomes a wet shirt competition at the same time.

Anyway, what craziness is planned for HH, and how many of you are venturing out of town for the period? Pete

[Jockey]

Weird - Thai new year takes place on different dates - strange country we live in?

[STEVE G]

As I understand it, the actual celebration days are the 13th,14th and 15th of April, but in different areas the partys can go on for several days longer.

[prcscct]

Honestly Jockey, I believe the official, official days are the 13th and 14th country wide, where Thai's and normal people pay respects to their elders and practice the CORRECT way to celebrate the holiday.

In a place like Pattaya, apparently they need to separate the 'real' from the 'bizarre' by about a week to make sure all sane people are off the streets before the farangs are let loose. Good strategy. Pete

[Big Boy]

Memories of last year...........................................wish I was there.

However, one bad memory...........................4 consecutive salvos from JW's iced Weapon of Mass Destruction - it ended my day rather quickly (at least until he moved on). He's never told me why - was I just too big a target?
_________________
Green Army position 21
Burnley 0 - 0 Plymouth Argyle
Who said, "I've dumped PAFC for Eutopia at Liecester?"
Ian Holloway (job seeker extrordanair)

[DingDong]

Songkhran in Hua Hin is celebrated on 13th April. Stay out of the town if you don't want a good soaking. Great fun if you arm yourselves with water jetguns and pitch up with some friends around town centre. There is a constant procession of pick up trucks loaded with youngsters and water tanks. Don't be afraid of people carrying bowls of white paste - it's talc and a small amount is usually applied on the face for good luck but usually slapped liberally over fallangs. Funniest thing I ever saw was a fallang trying to get to the Hilton along Naretdamri Road carrying golf clubs and in smart golfing clobber - and he was slaughtered! Didn't help that he lost his rag which just made him fair game to the locals! It's a brilliant day.

[lomuamart]

I think, strictly speaking, that Songkran is 13-15th April.
In HH the water throwing is reserved for the 13th only (as has been said). There's no guarantee that you won't get wet after the 13th, but within town you should be OK.
I can't decide what to do this year.
Two years ago, I was recovering from a motorbike accident and so couldn't get my leg wet. I went out on the 12th with a plastic bag around it on that day and just let it all happen.
Last year, I was boring and stayed indoors.
This year - watch out all and sundry. Everyone is fair game.
The only exceptions are monks, old people and babies.
Also don't ride your motorbikes.
_________________
"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

[cockneyrebel]

If it's water fun and games you're after I'd recommend Chiang Mai or anywhere in the North. I was there 2 years ago and had a fantastic time, which lasted for a whole week not just 3 days.
I spent the entire week in a bar owned by a Brit with loads of others of all nationalities and a huge arsenal of water weapons and 45 gallon drums full of iced water. It was my first Songkhran and I made the most of it, but you have to watch out for people squirting you with water from the river...makes the skin itch.

[Big Boy]

DingDong wrote:

[prcscct]

As a side note, stating last night and continuing today I am finding my dial up internet connection to be unusually fast and trouble free. This may be a hidden benefit of most of the population out playing and away from work, schools and internet cafes. . Maybe we/I will have 3-4 headache free days. Pete

[prcscct]

Now the sad part, I'll try to update this over the next week.

Day 1 of the 7 most dangerous driving days: 51 dead and 546 injured.

Pete

[JW]

Hi Big Boy, shame we wont see you this year - last year you were just a bit unlucky - you were walking by at just the wrong times!! When the water was ICY COLD.
My weapon has disappeared - big shame! Got a pumber making a new improved version!! Will be ready next year.

[The understudy]

Hi there Y'all in Songkran Season Thailand!!!

Ohh yeah I haven't seen expirienced Songkran in Thailand for two consecutive years allready But I had expirienced Songkran fest among the Thai Community in Los Angeles, California. but I would like to expirience Thai style Songkran fest again.
But I wonder does it make sense to waste Water in such amount to splash and soak ourselves silly while over 40 Provinces are suffering from drought. would it be better to sent the water that we splash to help those provinces in drought?
But not to spoil all the festive mood I'm looking forward by organising a Songkran Soaking and splashing among Thais here in Berlin myself!!!!
Pete as I heard from your account that Traffic has picked up in Pattaya allready? I hope Traffic and People flow in Hua Hin willl be manageable and people in Hua Hin do the Soaking and splashing in a sanely manner!

Your's the understudy!!!
_________________
Kie Adi Mundie (Me) Jedi MAster, Grand Jedi Council Member, a wunderfull handler of the Jedi Sword! Got killed execution style by his own clone army that he led. "RIP!!!"

"Working HARDER make it BETTER Moving FASTER Makes us STRONGER"

[prcscct]

[Big Boy]

JW wrote: