HAPPY THAI NEW YEAR!!

I am going to give you a quick run down on the Songkran festival here in Thailand.

I am not exactly sure how to spell it correctly as I have seen it as both Songkran and Songkhran. However, one needs not know how to spell it, to enjoy it. Songkran is the Thai New Year and is celebrated with a water festival, where the country just has one huge water fight that lasts 5-6 days. It marks the beginning of the wet season. Many Thai people will go to the temples and give rice to the monks. Because of the water festival it is impossible to stay dry. Pick up trucks carrying loads of children with water pails is a sure way to get wet unexpectedly as you are walking on the street.

Also, innocent bystanders are never really as innocent as they seem, with many holding water guns or buckets behind their backs, waiting until you are in the perfect position to receive the maximum amount of water possible from a blow. Water is also thrown from upper floors of buildings.

My advice:

1. Carry as little on you as possible. NO camera, mobile. Keep your money in a ziploc bag.
2. Wear old clothes as many times powder is mixed with the water.
3. Lock your vehicle doors, they can open them very quickly to get you wet.
4. Wear good shoes that will stay on when running and wet. I'd suggest sport sandals as you want to be able to run from a mob quickly.
5. Wear quick drying clothes and a bathing suit. Jeans take forever to dry.
6. Avoid motorbikes. They are very dangerous when wet and are major targets for water.
7. Avoid the songthaew. This one is obvious. You will get very wet sitting in traffic when you are not closed in.
8. If you cant beat them, join them! Get yourself a water gun or bucket and get in on the action!!

Even though the festival is a lot of fun, sometimes it is mixed with too much alcohol. Unfortunately, a lot of the moonshine is poorly produced with toxins. On Friday alone, 45 people were killed and 500 people were injured. Most of these accidents were alcohol/traffic related.
Last year during the 3 day festivities, there were over 4000 accidents and 361 people were killed on the roads. This was on the news this morning. Let's pray this is a safe year.