Songkran Already Underway In Pattaya

Thailand's biggest holiday, the Thai New Year, called Songkran, has begun here in Pattaya. Songkran traditionally involves sprinkling of water on the hands of the elderly as well as on Buddha statues. Occasionally some light-hearted throwing of water on your friends in what is the hottest time of the year is also done.

In modern times however, that all has been replaced by the world's largest water fight, with high-powered water cannons meeting drunken revelry for the better part of a week. Oh... and avoiding the festivities is not an option, unless you choose to remain inside your house. Any trip to any place is guaranteed to get you wet, as every person stands outside their house and lobs buckets of water onto every passing motorist. (Obviously, thousands upon thousands of motorcycle accidents per day in Thailand are a major problem during Songkran.)



Remember that these blue PVC water
cannons are no longer allowed bec-
ause they can hurt people with their
high pressure water stream. Police
will take them away and fine you if
you have one.Pattaya, of course, is one of Thailand's favorite Songkran destinations, with Beach Road being the "main drag" for the water/alcohol-fueled party. Tens of thousands of people line the road, or ride by in the backs of pickup trucks, throwing water. The area around the intersection of Pattaya South and Pattaya Third roads is another major party area.

This year, following the pattern of recent years, the authorities are trying to curb the massive death toll that Songkran brings about through extensive anti-drunk-driving campaigns, and the banning of the high-powered PVC-pipe water cannons seen in this photo here. (If you are caught with one, it will be confiscated by the police, and you will be fined.) Also, I have been told that the baby-powder mud that is always smeared all over everyone's faces has also been banned... although the number of cars I have already seen driving around all covered with caked-on powder tells me that that is not the case.

Anyway, for the next week, I won't be going anyplace during the daytime (Songkran festivities always finish at sundown) unless it is an emergency. If you are a fan of this holiday, have fun and be safe... and most importantly, be nice.

By the way: The word "สงกรานต์" (Songkran) is quite similar to the word "สงคราม" (songkram), the word for war. Quite fitting, eh?