It is said that many farang give Thailand a miss in April because of the extreme summer temperatures, and as my first April here began, I could understand why. But just as it was becoming unbearable, along came Song Kran.
It means ‘ to pass’ or ‘move forward’ and is the celebration of the Thai New Year.
Traditionally it is a time where Thai people would put on their best clothes and in a very polite and respectful way, splash water onto the faces of friends and relatives.
Come to Chiang Mai and you will witness the fact that it has ‘progressed’ into a free for all mass water fight that goes on for 3 days officially.
I have to confess to being in two minds over this festival as it is now. Being a bit of a traditionalist, a big part of me would like to witness a more authentic and reverent version of this celebration.
But, as there is clearly little hope of that in Chiang Mai, I for one allowed the child in me to come out, and got stuck in, spending 3 days at moat side, throwing buckets of water at the passing traffic, and 1 day driving round with my motorcycle and sidecart on the receiving end of the roadside throwers and returning fire from the bucket in my sidecart.
It certainly isn’t for the faint hearted, as water flies in all directions, from buckets, water pistols,(many very big pump actioned long distance squirters), and the occasional hose pipe.
And look out for the guys with blocks of ice in their buckets!
if you are in the area you are fair game.
do look out for the occasional flying ice-cube…i got one on the head and they bloody hurt!
there were rumours of acid water being used by some idiots and I did feel the occasional light burning sensation.
be on the look out for alcohol fueled hotspots. we were lucky enough to miss it but the news did show quite a violent fracas between two groups of stick weilding Thais.
