Songkran Soon

The Songkran Festival is also known as the Thai New year or Thailand Water Festival, originally celebrated as a way for the Thai people to sprinkle water on their family members and elders for good fortune and pay their respects to images of the beloved Buddha. Today, the festival has transitioned into 3 days of water play fun, splashing locals and visitors alike with buckets of water, water hoses and super soakers as they gather in the streets.

The above paragraph is the politically correct method of describing the world's largest 3 day water fight. Down in Pattaya it is actually 5 days long. In Bangkok the city swells to 12 million people and you can run but you can't hide. You will be found and soaked. There is no escape!

Some tourists arrive in Bangkok unaware of the soaking they will get. You must prepare. Put your phone in a baggie as well as your passport and wallet. You must be prepared for a bucket of ice water to be poured over your head when you least expect it.

I must admit the Thais know how to have a fun time. Unfortunately the death toll is usually around 500 for the 3 day holiday. Motorcycles crashes, people fall out of or off pickup trucks. It is utter mayhem for 72 hours! Alcohol plays a huge role in the party atmosphere.

Here are some pics of the typical action during Songkran (April 13-15 in 2015).

Poor unfortunate did not expect the water drenchin.

 A free for all drenching

Weapon of mass destruction.

Farang friendly

Armed and dangerous - and lovely. 

Young boys being boys with no limits.

Somebody had it coming.

Add a little detergent.

The fire department likes to play as well.

What can I say?

Resistance can be futile.

Grin and bear it ... with a pint or two or three.

Farang couple under gunned.

You will be in her sights!