The water festival?

maybenot · Rookie Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Dorset, UK

Not sure that this is the correct section of the forum to post this question - apologies if not.

Can someone tell me when the Thai 'water' festival, (Songkran?) will take place in 2006?

I am planning another trip for a few weeks to Hua Hin in the first quarter of 2006 and wondered if this festival has any major impact/disruption in Hua Hin?

Or indeed, is it an event well worth coming out to see and should I make a point of being there?

Hopefully someone will answer this or have I been barred or sent to Coventry for my previous candid postings, (re my replies to the "Perverts in Hua Hin" thread - I stand by what I said but I cast no aspertions on any single individual - I have no reason to.)

Live and let live but, eh...?

Guess · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 2:33 am Post subject:

Songkran is usually held during the second week of April (13th is the final day) to recognise the begining of the solar new year (or is it lunar).

In Hua Hin it is about as civilised as you can get. Water can only be chucked over people for one day and only during the hours of daylight. (that means it does not affect me at all).

Occasionally very stupid farang who know nothing of Hua Hin etiquette start early and carry on after sundown. This will almost certainly lead to arrest or in extrem circaumstances being being smashed over the head with a bottle by a Thai lady who happens to have a phone her pocket.

It is generally good fun in Hua Hin and the authorities make some effort to make the streets safer unlike Pattaya wher I have seen some terrible accidents caused by the deadly combination of alchohol, motorcycles and water.

We all look forward to your visit (maybe).
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G

maybenot · Rookie Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Dorset, UK

Many thanx for that info Guess.

It will probably occur at the end of our next stay out there then.

It sounds very much like the 'run to the sun' held in Newquay, Cornwall every year, which my partner tells me is very wet, very loud and very in your face! But everyone enjoys it.

I liked your barely hidden sarcasm in your last line "We all look forward to your visit (maybe)". Or maybe not.

Seriously though, if we do get to meet up I'm sure that you will find me a very down to Earth and (hopefully) amiable type of chap with a good sense of humour.

Cheers

Lev · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:10 am Post subject: Re: The water festival?

Bamboo Grove · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:17 am Post subject:

A little bit more exact info: Songkran is celebrated during 13-15th of April every year. In some parts of the country (Chiang Mai, Pattaya) it lasts longer than that. Hua Hin is one of the best places in Thailand to celebrate it (or to suffer it depending how many times you've experienced it) as it's fairly "tame" here. The water throwing usually starts on the evening of 12th in the sois where most of the bars are located. 13th is the major celebration day and during the day time it is next to impossible to stay dry unless you opt for staying in your room. Thank goodness it's not as violent here as it can be in some other places i.e. Bangkok, Pattaya. The throwing here stops at 18.00 and after that it's fairly safe to walk around (which is not the case in the above mentioned places where you are in the war zone for 24 hours.) On the 14th there may still be a bit of throwing but not to the extend of the 13th and again after 18.00, you're safe. In most of places the war can still go on on the 15th, but Hua Hin is already back to normal, although the hords from Bangers still block our streets.
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Guess · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:40 am Post subject: Re: Songkran.

maybenot · Rookie Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Dorset, UK

bj.blackowitz · Specialist Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

Will have to see this year I am afraid .)

will arrive in HH on the 9th , just in time for some wet parties...

MartinJ · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:30 am Post subject: Hope better than last time

I am due in on the 11th a bit late i know but hope still in time.

Something tell me its going to be busy Smile

The statment about a war zone in BKK is not wrong i know, Not saying the area,

but last year, Cussing

sometimes it hurts you know, and it only water mostly Shoot em up

Here to a fun time, never know may put some face to some names Idea

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Bamboo Grove · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:00 pm Post subject:

MartinJ, you're not going to be late. The first "drops" will start falling on the night of 12th.
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知彼知己, 胜乃不殆; 知天知地, 胜乃可全
www.bamboogrove.fi

prcscct · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:45 pm Post subject:

MartinJ · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject:

It goes on longer than i thought then

Now i have to see about changing my flight

I was due to fly out on the 19th at silly o clock in the morning.

It does not go on theat long in Samui or BKK as i remember ? or may the days just be come one and it does

Never mind

Heres to a safe time had by all
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"Do you expect me to talk", No Mr. Bond I expect you to die!

Michael · Member Joined: 05 Jun 2005 Posts: 61 Location: Germany

Will stay in HH during the water fight time. Where I can buy a water maschine gun?
Shoot em up

bj.blackowitz · Specialist Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

till the 19TH?

Oh my god...

will have to change my schedule as well then

lomuamart · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:42 pm Post subject:

Well as I write, its about to pour down in town if the thunder is anything to go by.
About time. The temperature has dropped noticably, so I wouldn't be too worried about a bit of water throwing!!
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