Who's looking forward to Songkran

[Westlife]

Who's looking forward to Songkran .

It always makes me smile just before Songkran you start getting grumpy old sods  posting on forums and blogs how horrendous Songkran is !! 

Well I stock up the fridge,get me trunks on and join in with the Village fun.

So are you a lover or a hater



As it says on the link below ------ "I think this photograph shows a lot about the great community spirit most Thai villages have. Thai festivals really do bring village people together and Songkran is so typical of that." 

http://www.thaisabai.org/2011/04/songkran-village-style/

[davureborn]

I have no problem with this once in a year disrespect thing. I do object to having to avoid drunks/ people that are even drunker than me during this period. So as you say, massive purchase of beer and food and hunker down for the three days.
I may buy an extra length of hosepipe so I can irrig/tate/ passers by.

[Westlife]

I may buy an extra length of hosepipe so I can irrig/tate/ passers by.

That's the spirit 

[urleft]

Last year I was the designator driver with a truck load of Thais.  The BIB had a DUI checkpoint at the entrance to the night market but never checked me. 

I just carry a medium sized squirt gun, sometimes wet TGs legs when they are on scooters.  I normally take at least one turn sitting on the tailgate letting the Thais have at the Farang.  I most don't mind until they come up and give me a bucket full in the face or maliciously smear power all over my face.   Then I bring out the squirt gun and give it back to them in the face, eyes, mouth ect, amazing how effective that is. 

Looking forward to this year to see how my angel reacts. 

[Starman]

I used to enjoy the festivities many years ago.

The problem is that it has got too big now.

Drunk people have been mentioned already. This is a pain as they won't take no for an answer. You ask them not to throw water at you but they do. Fine if you are at home or on the way home, not so much fun if you are going somewhere else.

Traveling along main roads, especially the main drag where Makro and BigC are and having to constantly swerve or slow down because some people think it is a good idea to let their small children stand right by the side of the road and throw water at motorcyclists.

Just to add, how many days is it now?

I lived in a place called Prapradeang for 5 years. It is a small district in Samut Prakarn. The ancestry is Mon. They celebrate Songkran one day a year. That is the Sunday after national Songkran. It is great. Water throwing in the day, upto about 3pm. The police then clear the roads and there is parade. People adhere to what people say. If you say no then no it is. I used to get involved for the whole day knowing that it was just that. Only one day.

Sadly in some places they now stretch it out to 5 days and more. A bit much I think.

[Westlife]

I used to enjoy the festivities many years ago.

The problem is that it has got too big now.

Drunk people have been mentioned already. This is a pain as they won't take no for an answer. You ask them not to throw water at you but they do. Fine if you are at home or on the way home, not so much fun if you are going somewhere else.

Traveling along main roads, especially the main drag where Makro and BigC are and having to constantly swerve or slow down because some people think it is a good idea to let their small children stand right by the side of the road and throw water at motorcyclists.

Just to add, how many days is it now?

I lived in a place called Prapradeang for 5 years. It is a small district in Samut Prakarn. The ancestry is Mon. They celebrate Songkran one day a year. That is the Sunday after national Songkran. It is great. Water throwing in the day, upto about 3pm. The police then clear the roads and there is parade. People adhere to what people say. If you say no then no it is. I used to get involved for the whole day knowing that it was just that. Only one day.

Sadly in some places they now stretch it out to 5 days and more. A bit much I think.

I agree to most of your dislikes Starman

I think there's a big difference though between Village fun and the carnage that can be caused in Cities or major towns and maybe one day there will be Songkran zones like in Bangkok set-up in all provinces and hopefully in years to come throwing water on main roads will be outlawed as it is dangerous 

[Westlife]

Top 5 Best Provinces to Visit in The Songkran Festival
 

The month of April is regarded as the grandest for Thais. Aside from the intense heat of summer, this is the month when the well-known “Songkran Festival“. Songkran is Thailand New Year celebrated. Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, has a normal number of passersby during ordinary days. However, when the 13th day of April comes, the backpacking district, Khao San Road becomes impassable because of the thousands of people including natives and travelers who arrive in the place to join the celebration.

Although the festival is done in the whole country, it still varies from region to region. In every region, there are featured head turning events that even other nationalities appreciate. Yet, if there is one common thing to be seen in Songkran festival, that would be the water fight.

As far as the history is concerned, this is the longest water throwing event in the world as this is being celebrated for three consecutive days – starting April 13 to April 15. Just in case you are in Thailand in Songkran 2014, don’t be surprised to see people carrying containers and throwing water to others. Even children are not exempted to get wet during the said event. Like adults out there, children are also equipped with their water guns and do the same ritual.

In spite of being a fun event, Songkran festival also focuses on enriching religious intentions. A day after the event, while men are busy working, housewives dedicate their time in cleaning just every mess at home for they believe that it is a good luck for the present year. Along with this, they also wash every Buddha image in their houses, pay a visit to monasteries and offer food to monks.

For those who have no idea about the event, Songkran is the counterpart of New Year that is being celebrated in western countries. Thailand, similar to other nations, is also divided into regions and when it comes to Songkran celebration, there are highlights in every region that everyone shouldn’t miss when visiting the place. Actually, there are top five places to visit during the festival such as:

1 Bangkok Songkran Festival

Situated in the heart of Thailand, Bangkok also top favorites of Songkran Festival. The water fights will be held in various spots around Banglamphu, most notably Khao San Road, Rattanakosin Royal Square, Phra Athit Road, Santhichaiprakan and Wisut Krasat. There will be plenty of action so remember to bring along your bucket or water pistol! You should also leave any valuable electronics at home or in your hotel as there is a very high chance that they could get damaged from all the water being thrown around. Simply place some money into a waterproof bag and then head on out to enjoy the fun.

2 Chiang Mai Songkran Festival

Chiang Mai, the Rose of the North, is renowned for one of the grandest Songkran celebrations in Thailand. Visitors can take part in the opening ceremony for the Songkran Festival with a wonderful parade around Chiang Mai city. They can also go local and pour some jasmine-scented water on a Buddha image and elders, enjoy Lanna-style cultural performances and traditions, and try out various northern foods along the streets.

3 Pattaya Songkran Festival

Pattaya is topographically situated in a place surrounded by rice crops. For them, Songkran festival is celebrated to ask for rain especially that planting days is nearly to come. There is a parade in the city during the day of the celebration.It will end up to the Beach Road where cultural events are to be shownb. However, the grand finale also ends up with the water fight event. Being in the place, you might get surprised that a pail of water could be thrown to you. Thus, you should have your own water cannon to protect yourself.

4 Phuket Songkran Festival

After the disaster that happened several years ago, Phuket still joins the praise of good luck in the 2014’s Songkran festival. Apart from the refreshing soak from barrels, water guns and buckets, folks in Phuket visit their family members and offer a prayer. Plus, they add Thai fragrance to their water and use it to clean their houses, Buddha images and household shrines which they believe is good luck.

Visitors can join in a communal Thai New Year merit-making ceremony, witness a procession of Phra Phuttha Sihing Buddha images along Patong Beach, and pay homage to elders with scented lustral water. A range of events will be held at Loma (Dolphin) Public Park and the port, and the Jungceylon activity plaza overlooking Patong Beach.

5 Khon Kaen Songkran Festival

Situated in the heart of Northeast Thailand, Khon Kaen has brought lots of surprises this Songkran festival 2014. Being known as the “Sticky Rice” capital, the city also has several forms of entertainment to be awaited such as the parade of decorated ox carts, food fair, Petanque competition and many more.

Whether for fun, for religious worship or for any purpose, Thailand has lots of hidden things waiting to be discovered. The scenic views, the rich tradition, friendliest people and extraordinary dishes all are combined to put a smile on everyone’s face. However, it’s not just enough to read about their culture. In Songkran festival, you are invited and always welcome to join the water splashing phenomena.  April is just a few months away. Grab this opportunity before you run out of time!

http://songkran2014.com/top-5-best-provinces-to-visit-in-the-songkran-festival/

[KhunG]

I enjoy Songkran in our village.  Around here if you walk away from the road up to the porch, you're off limits, other than if a relative or friend wants to gently pour some water on your hands for luck.  It's good to be able to take a break.  Unlike a lot of places, when motorcyclists wave off the revelers, they'll get through unscathed, though with a bit of a verbal lash.

When you're ready to play, come on down to the road.  Also, there are a lot of extended family in the area, so we take over a sharp curve in the road where everyone slows down and "gang up" on other revelers passing through.  Between pickup trucks passing through it's open season on each other.

Though my five year old has visited Thailand several times in the past, this will be her first Songkran.  Should be interesting.

[White]

Hi I'm new to this forum,can anybody reccomend me to a good reasonable local buider in buriram who can give me a quote for a small bungalow.

[Westlife]

Hi I'm new to this forum,can anybody reccomend me to a good reasonable local buider in buriram who can give me a quote for a small bungalow.

http://www.buriramexpats.com/forum/index.php/topic,8192.new.html#new

[BuriramFreeAds]

11 years of being in Thailand, I still hide away during Songkran!

Don't get me wrong, it's great to see everyone in a festive mood.

The one thing I disagree with is the throwing of water at people on motorbikes, this should be stopped, enforced and backed up with a national TV campaign. Soooo many deaths occur from this practice!

Max

[Westlife]

Another great day in the Village at Song Kran.

He's a photo of my wife in her Pink Bikini ,the Stepson and the wife's Brother ( who always seems hanging around when I'm out for some reason ) having some Song Kran Fun 

[davureborn]

I hope that you are joking.

[Westlife]

I hope that you are joking.

Of course I am....it really is her real brother 

[Westlife]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPFKeMe1iPg