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Songkran, stay or flee?

Traveling_Man

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Traveling_Man Newbie

Traveling_Man

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I shall be returning to Thailand next month for at least a few weeks,, and I realize that I shall be there during Songkran. Now, I have heard good things and bad things about Bangkok during this festival. The bad is that you can get drenched when you are just trying to go about your business. Some Thais, and some Farangs, will have no respect to your wishes that you don't want to get squinted or worse, drenched. Yet, I have also read/heard that Songkran can be a lot of fun. So, how crazy is it? Do I need to worry about getting soaked when I don't want it, or just join in the fun (but not getting water on those who clearly don't want it) and get the biggest water gun I can find?

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khun_lung Newbie

khun_lung

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I shall be returning to Thailand next month for at least a few weeks,, and I realize that I shall be there during Songkran. Now, I have heard good things and bad things about Bangkok during this festival. The bad is that you can get drenched when you are just trying to go about your business. Some Thais, and some Farangs, will have no respect to your wishes that you don't want to get squinted or worse, drenched. Yet, I have also read/heard that Songkran can be a lot of fun. So, how crazy is it? Do I need to worry about getting soaked when I don't want it, or just join in the fun (but not getting water on those who clearly don't want it) and get the biggest water gun I can find?

Yes, you need to worry about getting soaked when you don't want it! If you have a reason to go out and stay dry, I'd suggest calling for a radio taxi to come and pick you up.

On the other hand, yes, it can be loads of fun and as a foreigner you will be a prime target, especially if it's obvious that you're taking part. And leaving Bangkok is not really an option either as Songkran is celebrated country-wide. In fact in some places such as Chiang Mai, it goes on for a week or more whereas in Bangkok it's just three days.

If I don't want to get involved, I will have paid a visit to the supermarket a day or two before Songkran and will just hole up in my apartment.

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Cosmo Newbie

Cosmo

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I shall be returning to Thailand next month for at least a few weeks,, and I realize that I shall be there during Songkran. Now, I have heard good things and bad things about Bangkok during this festival. The bad is that you can get drenched when you are just trying to go about your business. Some Thais, and some Farangs, will have no respect to your wishes that you don't want to get squinted or worse, drenched. Yet, I have also read/heard that Songkran can be a lot of fun. So, how crazy is it? Do I need to worry about getting soaked when I don't want it, or just join in the fun (but not getting water on those who clearly don't want it) and get the biggest water gun I can find?

Yes, you need to worry about getting soaked when you don't want it! If you have a reason to go out and stay dry, I'd suggest calling for a radio taxi to come and pick you up.

On the other hand, yes, it can be loads of fun and as a foreigner you will be a prime target, especially if it's obvious that you're taking part. And leaving Bangkok is not really an option either as Songkran is celebrated country-wide. In fact in some places such as Chiang Mai, it goes on for a week or more whereas in Bangkok it's just three days.

If I don't want to get involved, I will have paid a visit to the supermarket a day or two before Songkran and will just hole up in my apartment.

Cool, sounds like lots of fun.

Do you use waterguns or buckets of water?

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thomaswd Newbie

thomaswd

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I shall be returning to Thailand next month for at least a few weeks,, and I realize that I shall be there during Songkran. Now, I have heard good things and bad things about Bangkok during this festival. The bad is that you can get drenched when you are just trying to go about your business. Some Thais, and some Farangs, will have no respect to your wishes that you don't want to get squinted or worse, drenched. Yet, I have also read/heard that Songkran can be a lot of fun. So, how crazy is it? Do I need to worry about getting soaked when I don't want it, or just join in the fun (but not getting water on those who clearly don't want it) and get the biggest water gun I can find?

Yes, you need to worry about getting soaked when you don't want it! If you have a reason to go out and stay dry, I'd suggest calling for a radio taxi to come and pick you up.

On the other hand, yes, it can be loads of fun and as a foreigner you will be a prime target, especially if it's obvious that you're taking part. And leaving Bangkok is not really an option either as Songkran is celebrated country-wide. In fact in some places such as Chiang Mai, it goes on for a week or more whereas in Bangkok it's just three days.

If I don't want to get involved, I will have paid a visit to the supermarket a day or two before Songkran and will just hole up in my apartment.

Cool, sounds like lots of fun.

Do you use waterguns or buckets of water?

Its a blast when you get involved because there a re allot of cool water guns out in the market that make even more fun...and if all else fails, there is the good old fashon bucket full of mixed diry and oee water...hahaha

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condotown Newbie

condotown

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You are taking your life into your own hands. Only the worst and most depraved elements of society venture out during these so called "festivities".

Now everyone can try to guess if this is tongue-in-cheek or dead serious. I can't tell my true feelings or I would be sure to offend.

Truthfully, the only thing that's stopping me from expounding is that it would be a multi-page rant and I don't have time.

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literature Newbie

literature

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I always tried to not go out during the festival becoz those people who enjoy splashing the water will not care if you want to get soaked.

Once I was going back to home by hired motorbike after renting some novels in a rent book shop on the top of soi. A big group of guys blocked the small road in the soi in order to splash water to people, motorbikes and cars passing them. I could see my fate when the motorbike that I was a passenger was going to pass them. I thought " Oh **** ! :x I can't get soaked becoz the books I just rent would get wet as well and I would be in a trouble when I give them back to the shop" And yeah, the motorbike guy seemed to get along with those guys. He rided slowly and then stopped the bike at that position even though I had told him to not stop riding !!

At the sudden those guys came around me with the buskets of water and white powder. I shouted to them (with the bitchy looks & voice ) " I don't play (woi) , no no, don't splash . I just rent books and they can't get soaked !! " I can't remember what I said to them more but it seemed they understood me and let me go unwillingly. The motorbike guy seemed to be scared of me after that and finally brought me to home. ( in fact I already got soaked before that becoz a ***** spalshed a busket of water to the bike when it was passing her. I didn't even have a chance to stopl her. :evil: I admit that I would go play on her if I was not on the bike at that moment.

I don't know how could I bring the courage to shout to them. They all were male. I even thought to have a fight if any of them splashed the water...anyway, don't mess with me :twisted:

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Pam_Bevan Newbie

Pam_Bevan

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IF you want to stay dry...Run for the hills...... in another country....

No matter where you go, you will get soaked. I've been thrown water at whilst wearing a suit carrying books. There is no respect for other peoples privacy or person. It is an excuse to grope and touch and do things that can not normally be done. And as i Thai I also say that the people who say they do it for the sake of tradition should go and learn to read a book. The festivities today are not what tradtionally was done. It is not a show of respect, it is simply a excuse. I know it is certainly popular for the exhibitionists in KSR. There is a live show every year.

I probably have offended many people but i stand by my feelings.

Pam

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Niranahm Newbie

Niranahm

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Songkhran of course has to be expeienced if you are new to Thailand, but it's true every year the behavior gets uglier and uglier.

if it was just one day that would be fine, but the "joke" gets old really quickly. On balance I sympathize with the Songkhran haters.

In recent years I've mainly avoided it altogether but I do remember Tawan Daeng being acceptable. They allowed water and powder throwing inside the bar(!) and there was a lot of friendly sloshing of water everywhere (and the usual mock fights as a pretext to flirting) but it wasn't too aggressive to be annoying. That's my recommendation if you tire of KSR or Nana....

(wasabi check the computer forum for the answer in detail-- you have to post off site and link correcty to get pix to display in forums)

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PattayaDaz Newbie

PattayaDaz

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I for one love Songkran...Yes I agree it does seem to be decending into a bit of a drunken riot....the football holigan element now come here specially every year to misbehave but...If you don't have to dress up or have an important appointment it can be a hell of a lot of fun...Just buy yourself the biggest supersoaker you can find..put on you quick dry shorts, thongs/flip flops, t-shirt and enjoy the sh*t out of it...Where else in the world do grown-ups get to behave like kids for a whole week :!: ....Yes some silly sods spraying motorbike riders do ruin it occaisionally but in general its good 'clean' fun.....If you need to go out keep you car windows up and have a good look around before getting out...

While you lot are fleeing for safety... I'll be disapointed cos I always seem to go to work in early April and miss half of Songkran...Oh well I will be out enjoying as much as I can....You won't hear me whinging and grumbling about a little water like some grumpy old bastard....

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Guest

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Just keep in mind! <to myself :P>

No more KSR this year! been 3 years in a roll, i dun know where all thais ppl come from esp MEN! we haven't seen them much in KSR but when's Songkran come i dun know where the hell they come from,, lol i like thais but u know the way they play it's too much sometime and they r mostly drunk and it's not easy to find the toilet,, the big place seem like Buddy and Khoasan center and u have to wait queue like 10 or 15 mins God u know how i feel, wet, cold and wanna pee.

If i have some money this year i may go outside bangkok maybe Phuket or Pattaya, u know tourist place is always fun!

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Malky Newbie

Malky

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Songkhran of course has to be expeienced if you are new to Thailand, but it's true every year the behavior gets uglier and uglier.

if it was just one day that would be fine, but the "joke" gets old really quickly. On balance I sympathize with the Songkhran haters.

This seems to be a good description of Songkran. The first time it is fun but then it's just the same old stuff over and over agian.

It's also the time of year when drunken Thai men all of a sudden want to be your buddy. The novelty of powder being splattered on your face and ice cold water being poured over you gets a bit tiresome. I wouldn't mind it so much if there were bikini clad babes rubbing baby oil on me.

Looks like I will be hibernating in my room for 3 days over Songkran.

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ledendrolague Newbie

ledendrolague

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Well for those who don't want to cheer with the mob, but still want to get wet and have fun, may be can try this out:

Day 1 By the pool

Beef stew of ?foie gras? Thai way

Ox Sirloin with dried poached boletus and Chinese vermicelli

Sorbet with bilberries and cornflowers with drops of lemon juice aromatized with tarragon

Cotes du Luberon, domaine Chasson 2002

Jack H. 2005 from Holland

Fresh Chiang Mai bikini flowers hand picked from Rachada garden or

Fresh guava( bikini is an option) hand picked on Tfs

Day 2 By the pool

Lobster Spring Rolls on green salad bed

Lobster on stick rubbed with red curry paste and breaded, bok choy, lemon grass on stick and coriander

Marinated oysters, English cucumber cappellini and dill

Crusty risotto of King Prawn aromatized with olive oil and soya

Light cup of litchis with pink roses jelly, scented petals, crusty vermicelli and granite made of Muscat wine

Moet & Chandon Don Perignon Rose 1995

Jack H. 2005 from Holland

Fresh Chiang Mai bikini flowers hand picked from Rachada garden or

Fresh guava( bikini is an option) hand picked on Tfs

Day 3 By the pool

Mini Som Tam Burger French style, Baked snails with garlic butter and parsley, Raw King Prawn with home made salty dried strawberry. (Appetizer)

Iced Gin Tonic with lime sorbet

Lasagna

Chocolate cake

Brunello di Montalcino Biondi santi 2000

Jack H. 2005 from Holland

Issan maid to clean all the mess in the kitchen or

not so Fresh guava( bikini is an option) hand picked on Tfs

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