Songkran - thoughts and ideas

[Butch 3,456]

I see Songkran is scheduled for mid April again this year (there's a thing!) . Luckily I'm not in town for it, and a few friends I speak to have already made plans for extended Visa runs / holidays & trips to the village.

 

Songkran is one of those festivals which as a newbie, is the best thing since sliced bread, but the novelty wears off after the first few days and subsequently I know and can recall of only maybe two people who actively seek to return for it.

 

However , April is a good time of the year for Brits to visit as we get 2 bank holidays back to back at Easter weekend, plus another 2 in May, so if they fall in the right order (it differs year on year) we can score a 2 week holiday with perhaps a 4 day weekend plus a 3 day weekend thrown in , which helps score a trip without hitting the holiday entitlement too hard. Of course this only applies if you work for a company and not for yourself.

 

I think I'm right in saying that Songkran in Pattaya is, for Expats , a necessary evil. As we are now into "high" season, I'd like to ask our resident Expats if there has been a noticeable increase in tourist numbers recently, and what your plans for Songkran are, if any.

 

Much like during the lead up to Christmas in the Philippines, my plans would be to lock all the doors, turn out the lights, get a slab of beer and settle down to watch Breaking Bad / Soprano's, and do some work on the car , basically become a hermit until the whole thing has finished.

Edited March 12, 2015 by Butch

[MM 6,562]

Good plan! That's what I do..make a major shopping trip to the food market, provision the house for ten days, and go out as little as possible. Time to catch up on movies.

[Nightrider 340]

Run Forrest Run.....!!!!! As far from Patt's as you can for what seem's like 2 week's these day's........

[InternationalTraveler 282]

 

I think I'm right in saying that Songkran in Pattaya is, for Expats , a necessary evil. As we are now into "high" season, I'd like to ask our resident Expats if there has been a noticeable increase in tourist numbers recently, and what your plans for Songkran are, if any.

 

 

 

Butch,

Last week was a strange one as some of the bars i was in had more customers than at Christmas...yet other bars were empty.

As for Songkran...or as i call it Songkhraam...meaning WAR.

 

Last year i stuck it out for 3-days purposely dodging Sois 6 7 & 8, beach road and Soi Buakhao...even on the back streets got soaked whilst riding the motor bike.

Generally after 7pm it tends to quieten down a bit.....but even then...a dry night of your clothes cannot be guaranteed.

As for staying in...Nah....are you crazy...a little water ....whilst i am still vertical i have to go out.

 

Yes 3- days of ducking and diving was enough for me so took a slow drive down the coast and the ferry over to Koh Chang for a change of pace.

[misteregg 709]

Going to England this year and can't wait to be out of the country for this silly spectacle.

Has nothing good with Thai tradition any more. All the Thais driving round in pick up trucks are not from here, but Issan, looking to cop a few girls in wet t shirts.

Everything I like about Thailand, the polite, ordered society, goes out of the window for these two weeks. I guess that's what happens when you suppress a society.

[jacko 8,815]

Going to England this year and can't wait to be out of the country for this silly spectacle.

Has nothing good with Thai tradition any more. All the Thais driving round in pick up trucks are not from here, but Issan, looking to cop a few girls in wet t shirts.

Everything I like about Thailand, the polite, ordered society, goes out of the window for these two weeks. I guess that's what happens when you suppress a society.

One of your girls told me the other night that there was a big 'fine' for not coming to work over Songkran...

You bought yourself off?

[misteregg 709]

One of your girls told me the other night that there was a big 'fine' for not coming to work over Songkran...

You bought yourself off?

Haven't talked to the girls about Songkran yet, so I suggest she might be lying.

Thai girl not telling the truth, OMB:)

[Gary 4,119]

Years ago, Songkran was a lot of fun, no ice water, no high pressure sprayers and no chunks of ice in buckets of water. It has been totally ruined and I stay away from the idiots anyway I can. I have a good friend who likes to come over this time of year. I told him last year that if he comes over during this corrupted holiday, that he is on his own. No way I will ever be in Pattaya during this bullshit.

[gs joe 1,776]

Years ago, Songkran was a lot of fun, no ice water, no high pressure sprayers and no chunks of ice in buckets of water. It has been totally ruined and I stay away from the idiots anyway I can. I have a good friend who likes to come over this time of year. I told him last year that if he comes over during this corrupted holiday, that he is on his own. No way I will ever be in Pattaya during this bullshit.

Going by last year , bar owners didn't tool up their bars with water butts as much as before ,

Not many willing as before to pay for ice or water ,

 

on the last few days not a water canon for sale on the soi's , so the price for madness like the cost for Loy Katong ,

may have become to high ,

 

Joe

[js007 795]

Songkran isn't all that bad, is it? For sure, there's usually one day when people seem to go a bit overboard with the water, but other than that one day, the rest of the week seems tolerable. So, unless you absolutely have to go somewhere on the main water fight day, just stay home and read a book.

 

As a side note, I once had to go to immigration on the water fight day, so I hopped on a baht bus early in the morning, hoping to get there and back without being soaked. No such luck. Some idiot girls thought it would be funny to soak every occupant on the baht bus while it was stopped for a light. By the time I got to immigration, my clothes were wet as was some of my paperwork and my passport. Next time, I'll put important stuff in a large plastic bag.

[jacko 8,815]

Haven't talked to the girls about Songkran yet, so I suggest she might be lying.

Thai girl not telling the truth, OMB:)

Darn, fooled again. And she seemed such a sweet thing!

[jacko 8,815]

Songkran isn't all that bad, is it? For sure, there's usually one day when people seem to go a bit overboard with the water, but other than that one day, the rest of the week seems tolerable. So, unless you absolutely have to go somewhere on the main water fight day, just stay home and read a book.

 

As a side note, I once had to go to immigration on the water fight day, so I hopped on a baht bus early in the morning, hoping to get there and back without being soaked. No such luck. Some idiot girls thought it would be funny to soak every occupant on the baht bus while it was stopped for a light. By the time I got to immigration, my clothes were wet as was some of my paperwork and my passport. Next time, I'll put important stuff in a large plastic bag.

Getting drenched can happen any-time for the whole week prior to the last mad day. (18th), and Songkran officially starts about a week prior to that last mad Pattaya day (the holiday and madness likely starts on the 11th, the weekend prior). Even a few days before that people will be looking over their shoulders wary of the first drunk with a water supply.

Define tolerable....... if you came out of your front door dressed for work and someone threw a bucket of iced water over you, would that be?

Edited March 15, 2015 by jacko

[js007 795]

Getting drenched can happen any-time for the whole week prior to the last mad day. (18th), and Songkran officially starts about a week prior to that last mad Pattaya day (the holiday and madness likely starts on the 11th, the weekend prior). Even a few days before that people will be looking over their shoulders wary of the first drunk with a water supply.

Define tolerable....... if you came out of your front door dressed for work and someone threw a bucket of iced water over you, would that be?

 

No, that wouldn't be tolerable. Aside from the last day of Songkran, the only time I ever got wet during Songkran week was down in Phuket when some little kid with a squirt gun squirted me one morning. Just a few drops of water.

[jacko 8,815]

 

No, that wouldn't be tolerable. Aside from the last day of Songkran, the only time I ever got wet during Songkran week was down in Phuket when some little kid with a squirt gun squirted me one morning. Just a few drops of water.

In Pattaya, there is a good chance of getting water thrown at you in and around bar areas for that whole week. Remember Pattaya has a 'late' official songkran.

[graymatter 153]

I have done two Songkrans so far and would love to do another one.

 

Last year I walked down Soi Buakhao. past the “made in Thailand “ lane and saw a small boy with his grandmother. He must have been about 3 pr 4 and he had a water-gun bigger than him but try as he might there was no way he could get more than 6 inches of stream and he looked very frustrated, In the end I needed to sit down on the steps of the massage parlour that they emerged from and lower my head so I could be annointed. The huge grin I got was worth every drop of water and at the end even the toothless smile from grandma as she splashed water from her plastic plate made me feel good.

 

The sprit of Songkran is very strong and says so much about the Thai people.

 

My TGF was quite happy to shack up for a few evenings in the hotel room as we avoided most of the idiots who were standing on the side of the roads shivering like children. Staying in with takeaway and a good movie and some adult fun suits me. . Of course during the day she insisted on going to her bar to "play songkran” and bless her heart she sent me down to soi 6 to keep me occupied while she payed with her mates.

 

Even on the last days which I remembered as mayhem I was well prepared for getting soaking wet and drinking from 12 noon to 9pm. The TGF was off with her mates and I ran into a few of mine as we ventured up and down soi 7 and soi 8 with frequent trips along beach road. I was soaking wet, lady boys rub talc in my hair, strange girls gave me wet sloppy kisses and a few dick head farangs attempted to remove my eyes with water cannon from 5 feet away. This was the culmination of the Songkran week and the streets were alive with dancing , music as 10 different stereos attempted to drown out the ones next door. I was soaked and despite the plastic holder for my wallet around my neck even my baht was drowning.

 

Every now and then I would dash into a bar and buy another Heineken which was the only safe way to drink as one after another farang with their water cannons tried to dilute my beer. During these side trips into bars that I have never been in, you get adopted by the locals as they wage war on the bar across the Soi. I throw a few water buckets and retreat to the rear of the bar and watch to look on the faces.

 

Somehow the girls eyes are wider than usual and you can not be mistaken...You are in the land of smiles. Girls who normally spend hours applying make-up have converted back to natural young women who are just wanting to have fun. They would rather pour water on you than bar fine you and somehow you understand.

 

Eventually you head back to your room. You have walked miles (no one rides a motor bike on songkram), you have drunk more than you should have and getting home and dry is looking very attractive. As you near your room you notice the wet foot prints heading to your door and you realise that the TGF has only just got home.

 

You open the door and lying on the bed is a naked TGF. "I wait you for long time" she says with a naughty grin. You know the truth but who cares....A great way to end Songkram.

 

For those who have been you will know what I mean. You might have a different opinion but its all in the POV.

 

For those who haven’t been I will offer this picture that I found years ago. Don’t know who took it and several people have claimed it but it tells you why I love Songkram

 

Edited March 17, 2015 by graymatter

[BeerBelly 1,026]

I don't yet have the negative opinion of Songkran that many Expats exhibit. I've only experienced Songkran twice and on both occasions it was in small doses. Last time was in Pattaya, but only for the first few days. There were some idiots about at night spraying water, but for the most part I stayed very dry over the holiday unless I went out during the day.

 

This year, however, I'm planning on staying in Pattaya for the duration. I suspect it will get old before it ends and I too will decide to spend more time in my condo than out on the streets.

[atlas2 4,329]

Bought a new Songkran shirt last week.

 

Bought a small water-proof bag from a chandlers.

 

Pair of Tevas

 

Old shorts.

 

 

I shall avoid most of the days but wholeheartedly play on the main one until about 4pm.

 

I always enjoy it and always have a great sexual encounter somewhere. The girls, even in the afternoon are wet and drunk and excited…And with everybody leaving town they are hard-up and horny!

 

There's a lot to be said for a cold wet rampage in a dingy room with a girl you haven't been formally introduced to.

 

 

 

 

[gs joe 1,776]

The sprit of Songkran , last year ,

 

Joe

Edited March 29, 2015 by gs joe

[Gawd Elpus 798]

Songkran is a pain in the arse. Great for the Thais, and if it were just a couple of days it might be fun, but it goes on and on in Pattaya and can get dangerous. I have seen Westerners even firing water canons at the street vendors. As a chlld, I used to love water fights in the summer, but then I was a child. The thought these days of traveling to Thailand to get wet through for a week, is not at all appealing to me. I will be arriving a few days after its all finished thank God and will avoid the Rambos. If it were Carnival in Rio, it would be a different story. Each to their own, and if you enjoy it, I hope you have fun, but not my idea of pleasure and never has been. Last time I was in town for Songkran, I got a pair of expensive prescription sun shades blown off of my nose, which consequently got crushed under the wheels of a bah bus, and came off of my bike the day before, when I got ice water sprayed in my face whilst driving and went out of control. By the end of the week, I developed "red eye" and was laid up for a few days, not feeling well at all. Songkran is great for the Thais, and part of the culture, but it is one part of the culture I can well do without, personally. 2 days of it could be fun, but a whole week, just gets tedious for me.

Edited March 29, 2015 by Gawd Elpus

[gs joe 1,776]

Songkran is like going to the beach and trying to avoid sand ,

 

It's well documented , so your going to get wet , your going to run into the odd dickhead ,

not the best time to ride the bike , or walk the soi with a suitcase ,

wear the bling , take photos without water proofing , as you will be a target , not right but it's the way it is ,

 

So some preparation is a must , hard but if you choose not to its your own fault ,

 

Joe

[yorta2 693]

I have done two Songkrans so far and would love to do another one.

 

Last year I walked down Soi Buakhao. past the “made in Thailand “ lane and saw a small boy with his grandmother. He must have been about 3 pr 4 and he had a water-gun bigger than him but try as he might there was no way he could get more than 6 inches of stream and he looked very frustrated, In the end I needed to sit down on the steps of the massage parlour that they emerged from and lower my head so I could be annointed. The huge grin I got was worth every drop of water and at the end even the toothless smile from grandma as she splashed water from her plastic plate made me feel good.

 

The sprit of Songkran is very strong and says so much about the Thai people.

 

My TGF was quite happy to shack up for a few evenings in the hotel room as we avoided most of the idiots who were standing on the side of the roads shivering like children. Staying in with takeaway and a good movie and some adult fun suits me. . Of course during the day she insisted on going to her bar to "play songkran” and bless her heart she sent me down to soi 6 to keep me occupied while she payed with her mates.

 

Even on the last days which I remembered as mayhem I was well prepared for getting soaking wet and drinking from 12 noon to 9pm. The TGF was off with her mates and I ran into a few of mine as we ventured up and down soi 7 and soi 8 with frequent trips along beach road. I was soaking wet, lady boys rub talc in my hair, strange girls gave me wet sloppy kisses and a few dick head farangs attempted to remove my eyes with water cannon from 5 feet away. This was the culmination of the Songkran week and the streets were alive with dancing , music as 10 different stereos attempted to drown out the ones next door. I was soaked and despite the plastic holder for my wallet around my neck even my baht was drowning.

 

Every now and then I would dash into a bar and buy another Heineken which was the only safe way to drink as one after another farang with their water cannons tried to dilute my beer. During these side trips into bars that I have never been in, you get adopted by the locals as they wage war on the bar across the Soi. I throw a few water buckets and retreat to the rear of the bar and watch to look on the faces.

 

Somehow the girls eyes are wider than usual and you can not be mistaken...You are in the land of smiles. Girls who normally spend hours applying make-up have converted back to natural young women who are just wanting to have fun. They would rather pour water on you than bar fine you and somehow you understand.

 

Eventually you head back to your room. You have walked miles (no one rides a motor bike on songkram), you have drunk more than you should have and getting home and dry is looking very attractive. As you near your room you notice the wet foot prints heading to your door and you realise that the TGF has only just got home.

 

You open the door and lying on the bed is a naked TGF. "I wait you for long time" she says with a naughty grin. You know the truth but who cares....A great way to end Songkram.

 

For those who have been you will know what I mean. You might have a different opinion but its all in the POV.

 

For those who haven’t been I will offer this picture that I found years ago. Don’t know who took it and several people have claimed it but it tells you why I love Songkram

 

songkram.jpg

 

I like your take on this one, graymatter, but when you said, "Every now and then I would dash into a bar and buy another Heineken which was the only safe way to drink", I was brought to think, I would rather be half-drowned, or maybe fully drowned, that to have to drink a Heineken. I guess it's just not to my taste....

[Butch 3,456]

Just a shameless bump, I think Songkran started today or yesterday didn't it?.

 

Is town busy or is it business as usual albeit a bit wetter?.

[graymatter 153]

I can't talk for all of Pattaya but its business as usual in most places. I usually get a few T/shirts in a plastic bag so I can sit in a gogo without dripping touch.

 

Missed last year but the year before the girls virtually shut up shop on the last day so they could "play Songkran" We headed down soi 6 and most of the bars were actually closed. It was quite surreal. Fortunately, I arranged a home visit with a meal in my room after 7pm and my friend was ore than happy to come over and get dry after standing in second road all day.

 

Just a point...if you ride a bike on the last two days you need your head read. Most dangerous days of the year.

[Chang_paarp 253]

I have done Songkran in Ubon Ratchatani, Yassothon, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Bangkok and "the darkside" . It has always been silly complete with ice.

 

It can be fun for all:

 

Even the young

 

 

[jacko 8,815]

Just a shameless bump, I think Songkran started today or yesterday didn't it?.

 

Is town busy or is it business as usual albeit a bit wetter?.

I hear water chucking started last weekend around Soi 7-8 area.