What are your plans for Songkran this year?

[Bruce Mangosteen 664]

Songkran in Pattaya (nominally) runs during the week of April 13 this year.  That's fairly late, so there's plenty of time to plan for it.

Funny, when I lived there, I never felt like I wanted to leave the country to avoid it.  For most of the celebration we stayed around our condo in View Talay 1, which featured bars, restaurants and small shops on the ground floor (that didn't allow water inside), and Foodmart was just outside the compound.  It was actually quite enjoyable to hang out and watch the kids have run.

I normally went out into it once or twice during the week.  If one of Lady M.'s kids drove down we'd go join the mad traffic inching through town, drinking beers and chatting with people alongside the road. I felt welcomed by the Thai folk, who would almost always ask my permission to sprinkle me with water or gently smear my face with the white paste.  I had a similar experience with Songkran in Ayutthaya and other places outside the tourist zones.

Otherwise, our favorite thing to do was to hang out in front of TQ.  There we'd drink and engage in water fights with passers-by, with a dry towel and a toilet always right at hand.

What are your plans?  If you're in country, will you try to escape or stay up-country?  If not, will you avoid Thailand, or go there but dodge the party?

[sailingbill 1,129]

Despite being a crusty curmudgeon I also enjoyed the holiday. Went to the relative safety of the Corner Bar Soi 6   traveled up the dry 6/1 without a motorcycle, phone or wallet. An added plus was the wet t shirts and panties on 6.  Upcountry past couple years we put a tent and an inflatable pool with appropriate WMD on the road. The neighborhood kids and nieces and nephews come by and I'll make pizzas and grill hamburgers. Reminds me to lay in a supply of St. Teresa rum for the festivities. 

[TheFiend 1,189]

I hate Songkran and on the occasions where I've been in Thailand for Songkran I've avoided being in Pattaya for it...... This year I've booked to arrive on the 20th April, so I've manage to avoid it again!!!

Next year planning on being in Thailand for Songkran but will be up north and trying to avoid getting wet!!!

[Bruce Mangosteen 664]

9 hours ago, TheFiend said:

Next year planning on being in Thailand for Songkran but will be up north and trying to avoid getting wet!!!

As long as you stay away from the tourist areas, you should be able to avoid the water cannons.  I love the small children who are having fun splashing water and don't mind getting a bit wet from them on a hot afternoon.  It's just a whole different atmosphere, much more fun and relaxed, and easier to write off as a charming indigenous festival than when you get pelted with water or bombed with a sack of powder by some drunk, hulking farang.

[sinbinjack 267]

I am still recovering from a wound on my lower leg that was caused by a motorbike accident because I was trying to avoid getting soaked . That entailed me with a week in hospital and operation and a further week in hospital when I flew home 12 days early, costing me a nice £3000 I did not expect to pay. I detest their stupid Songkran more for the idea that it now lasts a week and that Farangs seem to the worst offender with stupid water cannon whilst most Thais are quite happy to just sprinkle you . I am hoping my leg is enough better so I can come for my usual month but this year that month will be July August, because I will never be in Thailand during Songkran ever again.

[Bruce Mangosteen 664]

6 hours ago, sinbinjack said:

I am still recovering from a wound on my lower leg that was caused by a motorbike accident because I was trying to avoid getting soaked ...etc.

That sucks mate, sorry to hear.

[sinbinjack 267]

On 2/13/2025 at 2:11 PM, Bruce Mangosteen said:

That sucks mate, sorry to hear.

The accident was totally my own fault and I compounded that by not immediately going to the hospital and rather just treating it myself until it was so infected I needed to have the op. Luckily It has healed quite well so far ,I did get an MRSA infection when it was almost healed  but ,I got rid of that ,not easily, and its well on the mend now as its completely scabbed over and just adding skin now.

[Olded 250]

I'm going to stock up on beer and keep my old ass inside the house.

[Bruce Mangosteen 664]

6 hours ago, Olded said:

I'm going to stock up on beer and keep my old ass inside the house.

How different is that from your normal routine?  

[thegrogmonster 120]

Not really my scene so I try to avoid it if I can.

We were in Udon Thani last year in April and I flew back to Australia a few days before it started. The missus loves it and she stays longer in Thailand to enjoy it. She always spends the early part of Songkran in the village just outside Udon Thani. She then brings a tribeful back to our place in Pattaya to enjoy the madness of the last few days of this festive period.

Edited February 22 by thegrogmonster

[Olded 250]

19 hours ago, Bruce Mangosteen said:

How different is that from your normal routine?  

Not really a whole lot but I still like to see young wet titties but not enough to get wet over

[LordFlash 59]

Will be in BKK so I think a trip to khao san road might be on the cards. Never been there so should be an experience. 

Either that or Silom Road.

 

[Bruce Mangosteen 664]

9 hours ago, Olded said:

Not really a whole lot but I still like to see young wet titties but not enough to get wet over

I agree that it would be more fun if it was less aggressive.  I don't especially mind getting wet if I know it's coming, I just don't want to have a high-powered hose turned on me.

[Bruce Mangosteen 664]

Welp, the fog surrounding my 2025 trip to Thailand is clearing, and it looks like we'll be there for Songkran.  In that case, I suspect we would spend part of the week in Ayutthaya with the family, and part of it in Pattaya.

More to come as the dust settles...

[Bruce Mangosteen 664]

As I said in the other thread we land on the 18th, so I THINK we just miss Songkran.