Water, water everywhere ... (Songkran)

Member Name: doctordarke2389

Product:	Songkran
Date:	27/07/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You'll soon dry out

Disadvantages: You'll get VERY wet!

The Thai Songkran festival is a rather curious, almost personal affair that the Thais take very seriously indeed, but noting that, in slightly different forms, it also happens in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma). It is the local New Year, and has certain astrological aspects to it, specifically the entry of the sun into signs of the zodiac.

I was in Thailand working from the 6th-13th April this year, during which Songkran occurred. An academic friend of mine who lives and works in Bangkok advised me to get some waterproofs, which admittedly rather puzzled me. So, this review will now mostly be my personal observations rather than any specific, wider cultural analysis in too much detail.

The matter of waterproofs, silly as it may seem, refers to the ritual throwing of water as a form of 'cleansing', or 'renewal'. So, if you have money or anything 'delicate' on your person, wrap it up or leave it in your hotel safe. The Thais use this time to literally saturate anything that moves; they station gangs on street corners or anywhere really to ambush passers-by and soak them with water dispensed via bucket, hose, fire engine, pressurised water pistol, or indeed anything that comes to hand.

The problem is that many Thai traditionalists believe that the festival should be toned down, due to the many (usually alcohol-related) incidents like throwing water in the face of passing motorcyclists. My further view is that the event is totally manic - I lost count of the number of dousings I was subjected to, and I also noted the number of short-tempered farangs (foreigners) who lost their cool with locals and violence erupted occasionally.

The bar I used as my base of operations down Sukhumvit Soi 4 engaged in an ongoing water fight with the bar over the road, which was fun admittedly, but perhaps not for the passers-by caught in the crossfire. But, and given that the Thais are mostly a peaceable, friendly and approachable race, the fun was genuine and no real malice aforethought.

Howevere, it is a manic experience, and I'm not sure that I would be quite ready for another dose of the mayhem any time soon. Maybe in about 10 years ..

The ritual, it is noted, is also marked by the daubing of chalk on people, to mark the bestowing of blessings by Buddhist monks, but now used liberally by just about anyone. So, if you're a hardy soul and not afraid of being serially soaked, give it a go. 'Incidents' apart, it's a good laugh, and I enjoyed it tremendously.

Summary: Not for hydrophobiacs