chonabot

Sounds like you really didn't enjoy it

I loved teaching the masses and will be back at it in a few years

Good luck and hope you have fun anyhoo!

Also known as the Vinegaroon

Both are the biggest festivals of the year in their respective cultures and both have people, like me, who participate for the fun and,

apparently do not understand the reasons behind the event - a simple but obvious similarity methinks.

Having been married to a Thai lady for nearly 20 years and having taught in a Thai school, where

they are heavy on Thai culture, I think I know more than the average joe about these events.

The fact that I like to have some fun now and then..well excuse me

I was invited to partake in water throwing by my students, some teachers and my son, and it was a great few days of just that.

If you feel the urge to go play with the rest of the drunk hello kitty party then by all means

Just trying to make this a religious issue is just absurd and making a comparison between this and Christmas is even worse.

No one is saying that one religion or culture is better than the oter, but you truly do not understand the value of Song Kran if you think running out with a water gun after a few beers, is respecting Thai culture. Then my friend you are seriously delusional.

In the old days it meant something, today it has lost its meaning.

While I agree that Christmas has been over-commercialized, it still holds its true core values and is practices more or less by many familes even Thais.

Let it rest, hey

Oh yeah, now you say it...

Or post before 5 to midnite and move it to my xmas thread - good lad

ps I never mentioned being drunk when chucking water, and I took part in an official School activity - even says so in my contract - as part of taking part in School/Thai Culture activities, it even has it's own sub-section. I tried explaining to them that TV'ers did not agree that the water chucking was part of Thai culture but they just wouldn't have it

Both are the biggest festivals of the year in their respective cultures and both have people, like me, who participate for the fun and,

apparently do not understand the reasons behind the event - a simple but obvious similarity methinks.

Having been married to a Thai lady for nearly 20 years and having taught in a Thai school, where

they are heavy on Thai culture, I think I know more than the average joe about these events.

The fact that I like to have some fun now and then..well excuse me

I was invited to partake in water throwing by my students, some teachers and my son, and it was a great few days of just that.

If you feel the urge to go play with the rest of the drunk hello kitty party then by all means

Just trying to make this a religious issue is just absurd and making a comparison between this and Christmas is even worse.

No one is saying that one religion or culture is better than the oter, but you truly do not understand the value of Song Kran if you think running out with a water gun after a few beers, is respecting Thai culture. Then my friend you are seriously delusional.

In the old days it meant something, today it has lost its meaning.

While I agree that Christmas has been over-commercialized, it still holds its true core values and is practices more or less by many familes even Thais.

Let it rest, hey

After 4 days of SK in Kalasin, real fun, I am in Pattaya for a few days to say good bye to some mates.

Today is the main Songkran day here - already been soaked by all and sundry and off for some more just now - wish me luck

Both are the biggest festivals of the year in their respective cultures and both have people, like me, who participate for the fun and,
apparently do not understand the reasons behind the event - a simple but obvious similarity methinks.

Having been married to a Thai lady for nearly 20 years and having taught in a Thai school, where
they are heavy on Thai culture, I think I know more than the average joe about these events.

The fact that I like to have some fun now and then..well excuse me

I was invited to partake in water throwing by my students, some teachers and my son, and it was a great few days of just that.

I think we can agree that in some ways Songkran resembles Christmas festivities in the west, and in other ways it is poles apart.

But the idea of the thread was apparently that if you complain about Songkran not adhering to its religious intention, but you are not religious at Christmas. You are a big stinky hypocrite.

I enjoy all your posts Chonabot, but I think this wasn't one of your better efforts. Maybe a D-. But as you know, in Thailand no one fails.

It had a good run but I agree, back to the drawing board

Many complained about the westerners lack of understanding, and some Thais.

I merely used Christmas as an analogy as it is the biggest 'religious' festival in the western world. Songkran is undoubtedly the biggest one here.

I guess it stumped a few too many.

But I enjoyed the thread

Merry Xmas all of you

I am 47 and passed my UK test 30 years ago

You missed the point

I have been to KC 9 times in the last 20 years.

There are teribblle hill gradients to deal with and you should go for a slow speed even if you know the roads, other do not.

I have never had an accident and have driven on 6 continents.

Do not drive at 40 if people are throwing water..simple really

You cannot change the laws of Thailand but you should adjust your own rigid attitude

I have lived in 9 different countries and always respect the festivals..why can't you ?

You seem to be spectacularly missing the point here but I will have one more go to explain it,after that I will resign myself to the fact that now I know why school leavers have such a poor standard of English with teachers as dense as you!

What part of Farang tourists throwing idea water in your face at 40mph on a scooter is part of tradition or has anything whatsoever to do with Songkran?Even the Thai Government have come out and said that it's a dangerous practice anyway and have tried to stop it,along with pickups and water barrels but you know better than them,do you?

Temporarily blinding someone in control of any type of vehicle is definitely not what Songkran is abut and needs to be stamped out by any means.The fact that most of the time it's idiotic,drunken tourists just makes it worse.You are attempting to defend the indefensible,please try to think about what you are saying in the future,if only for the sake of those poor Thai school kids!

I may be dense..but I know when to slow down...

If anything you have shown your own lack of education by blaming me for the apparent low level of Thai school leavers English on poor old me

There are ways to disagree without using insults, it's called a 'vocabulary'

Good day angry little man ..and keep your speed down you hear?

This is my third Songkran since I moved to Thailand and it has been the best. I have been able to find nice little cafes where I could sit outside during the day and enjoy a nice meal or a good cup of coffee without worrying about getting soaked. It has been quite a change from the previous two years. You all should come down to Georgetown too for a nice, dry Songkran.

David

Sounds ace - where is it exactly bro ?

I am 47 and passed my UK test 30 years ago

You missed the point

I have been to KC 9 times in the last 20 years.

There are teribblle hill gradients to deal with and you should go for a slow speed even if you know the roads, other do not.

I have never had an accident and have driven on 6 continents.

Do not drive at 40 if people are throwing water..simple really

You cannot change the laws of Thailand but you should adjust your own rigid attitude

I have lived in 9 different countries and always respect the festivals..why can't you ?

I must be stupid, sorry I've re read your op and I still don't get your point Chonabot?

Likewise.

It isn't that difficult

I read many posts here about Songkran

Westerners did not like the way the festival impeded their own way of functioning normally over this 7 day period.

I agreed with this sentiment to a point.

But when the same Westerners argued about the way in which Westerners and Thai did not respect the real traditions behind Songkran as their main bugbear,

I had an issue.

Were the same Westerners following religious festivals, because this is what Songkran is, in their own country in a proper manner?

Hence the analogy between Christmas...the biggest religious festival in the Western world, and Songkran..the same.

Is that ok ?

I don't go to church, but I don't think that my avaricious consumerism is directly hazardous to motorcycles or greatly incommodes passers-by, bar the inconvenience of a few spurious sentimental wintry songs from late August in all the shopping malls. I think there's a big difference between wasteful spending on children's toys and tipping iced water over strangers.

SC

Connections are not always obvious, look beyond the physical

I spent it once in Koh Chang and it was an experience not to be missed,(or repeated?)

The problem in Koh Chang is it's just a small island,with only a single lane on either side of the road.This means that there's no way to avoid getting absolutely soaked every time you leave the house!

I ended up just wrapping my phone in a plastic bag every time I ventured out,I don't mind the Thais having fun but the biggest idiots are the foreigners,they're the ones with the ice water,<deleted>?

Having rented a scooter it was actually quite dangerous also to have water thrown into your face at 40mph,plus you got back home with the wettest crotch known to man as that's where all the water pools.After a while you just stop coming out in the day and wait unitl dark,as it's stopped by then!

Enjoy!

Sorry, but why were you riding at 40mph when you must have known that you would probably get a bucket of water of water thrown in your face?

Also, in Pattaya at least, it was the THAIS that put ice in the water.

40mph is a reasonable speed on a modern scooter,it's actually the speed limit for most European roads in a built up area.We're not exactly talking Joey Dunlop (R.I.P.) jumping Ballaugh Bridge then getting his knee down on The Isle of Man TT now are we?

30 is the max in built up areas....if you see that people have water to throw..just slow down and take it. Where are you in such a hurry to get to?

Today I was on the family pick up in Kalasin and witnessed one guy throw talc in my 14 year old's eyes - on purpose, or so it seemed.

I was annoyed and my son was in pain for a while.

I could have easily jumped out of the truck and dished a beating out to this guy.

But I made sure my boy's eyes were ok and we continued on our merry dance.

I thought about my past and things I wished i hadn't done. ( believe me they are many and most from reaction )....and the day ended well

I must be stupid, sorry I've re read your op and I still don't get your point Chonabot?

Likewise.

It isn't that difficult

I read many posts here about Songkran

Westerners did not like the way the festival impeded their own way of functioning normally over this 7 day period.

I agreed with this sentiment to a point.

But when the same Westerners argued about the way in which Westerners and Thai did not respect the real traditions behind Songkran as their main bugbear,

I had an issue.

Were the same Westerners following religious festivals, because this is what Songkran is, in their own country in a proper manner?

Hence the analogy between Christmas...the biggest religious festival in the Western world, and Songkran..the same.

Is that ok ?

I must say I find such vitriol directed at tourists/visitors to Thailand on Thai Visa rather bizarre and actually rather arrogant - yes tourists don't understand a lot of things about Thailand but does that make them somehow inferior people to residents, haven't we all been tourists somewhere sometime, maybe there should be a law passed that people cannot travel to a destination until they've studied many years on the place and have passed their exams!

I agree on all points, many hypocrites on here, I opened up a thread regarding the same people's attitude towards religious festivals at home. I wondered if they were model religious saints when celebrating at home. As expected not many have responded

Many Thais appreciate our participation in this fun, they don't care whether or not we really understand the meaning, so why should we?

chonabot, not often I disagree with what you write, but when you say that you agree with every of the above points ... I have to reply.

Firstly, I was one of the Thai Visa members having a shot at the 'tourists/visitors' ... but would like to add the longer term repeat tourists and some longer term residents who are probably the worst offenders.

My position is that I absolutely love the Songkran Festival ... both the respectful side, the religious side and the playful side, so I am not advocating to all to become Monks etc.

The other position I have is that I refuse to (in general) celebrate Songkran with Farangs ... even though I am one.

My 2nd Songkran was in Pattaya. Taking the Songthell along beach road we stopped to allow passengers to alight. Having just arrived, I'm in nice clothes, have my suitcase and computer bag ... had a mix of Thai and Farang in the back with me, including 2 old ladies and a Mum with her 2 year old.

At the stop, the Farang entered the back of the truck and with a hose proceeded to spray all of us ... sigh. I'm wet, bags a bit wet, old ladies not impressed, child is crying ...

Later that night we asked the Hotels Tuk-Tuk to take us into Pattaya ... 'No, sorry, can not, Tuk-Tuk not working' was the reply ... bullshit of course ... the Hotel or the driver just didn't want to drive through the crazyiness that is Songkran in Pattaya.

Nor did he want to run the gauntlet of the Farang who had hired a water tanker and was on the main road sitting atop and using the pump assisted fire hose like the police would use a water cannon. ...

What many tourists, short term, long term or repeat don't realise is that Songkran is a game to played.

You pick your targets, you have fun, you battle, you play.

The object is not to saturate any living object.

How do I feel when I have to go to an Office in Bangkok, in the good gear and some idiot decides that, because I am on Silom Rd ... I'm fair game ... and yes, it was a Farang.

So, while it is a sweeping generalisation, if there are Farangs involved in the area to celebrate Songrkan ... I'll defer.

Not last year, but the year before, I was in the back of the pick-up at Bung San (30 odd klms north of Pattaya) with several others having a whale of a time exchanging fire with one an all ... so not a wozer or someone who thinks my shit doesn't stink.

There is no right way or wrong way to celebrate Songkran ... but I prefer how the Thai's do it, and not how, in general, the tourists do it.

I agree

Myself and my family will be spending our last 4 days in Thailand in Pattaya. We have friends there it will be fun

We will be there the 18th Through to 22nd..we will probably stay in the hotel complex until the 20th ..but I may feel a little brave and venture forth

If any TVers wish to have a beer with me - please pm me

Mmmhh.. so your topic is not about Songkran vs Christmas YET it is called Songkran vs Christmas ...

Mmmmh

Read the actual content

Or get a bachelors and start to comprehend a little beyond the headline

I have a blog that may make it easier for you Mmmmhh..is that an acronymmmmmmmmmmh?

Yes, most Thais are uneducated, unsophisticated, uninteresting people that do generally seem to be decent enough and have an easy smile.

Certainly accounts for 99 per cent of the Thai Teachers I have worked with recently.

The Christmas / Songkran analogy is not meant to compare the two festivals, moreso the hypocrisy of TV posters bemoaning the lack of traditional understanding of this festival.

Some people got it

I spent it once in Koh Chang and it was an experience not to be missed,(or repeated?)

The problem in Koh Chang is it's just a small island,with only a single lane on either side of the road.This means that there's no way to avoid getting absolutely soaked every time you leave the house!

I ended up just wrapping my phone in a plastic bag every time I ventured out,I don't mind the Thais having fun but the biggest idiots are the foreigners,they're the ones with the ice water,<deleted>?

Having rented a scooter it was actually quite dangerous also to have water thrown into your face at 40mph,plus you got back home with the wettest crotch known to man as that's where all the water pools.After a while you just stop coming out in the day and wait unitl dark,as it's stopped by then!

Enjoy!

It doesnt stop after dark. Last night in Koh Chang at 9pm I ventured out to get some food and the typical tourist trash was still trying to knock over motorcycles by hitting them in the face with icewater. Next year I carry a water cannon full of urine for the tourists.

I must say I find such vitriol directed at tourists/visitors to Thailand on Thai Visa rather bizarre and actually rather arrogant - yes tourists don't understand a lot of things about Thailand but does that make them somehow inferior people to residents, haven't we all been tourists somewhere sometime, maybe there should be a law passed that people cannot travel to a destination until they've studied many years on the place and have passed their exams!

I agree on all points, many hypocrites on here, I opened up a thread regarding the same people's attitude towards religious festivals at home. I wondered if they were model religious saints when celebrating at home. As expected not many have responded

Many Thais appreciate our participation in this fun, they don't care whether or not we really understand the meaning, so why should we?

Very few youths in the West know what Christmas is truly about anymore. Not since it was hijacked by Coca Cola and other corporations and turned into a corporate money making event.

Very few youths in Thailand know what Songkran is truly about anymore. Not since it was hijacked by Air Asia and other corporations and turned into a corporate money making event.

A sweeping generalisation methinks.

Perhaps the kids parents in the west are more at fault with not educating their children about Christmas, but they probably lost the plot some time ago.

Regarding kids in Thailand not understanding Songkran...hmmmm

I teach at a government school here and can tell you that, from my perspective, they know a damn sight more about the origins and reasons than you or I.

Hmm yes... Exactly what Thailand needs. A developing country that has a lot of people getting drunk and splashing water at people who don´t want it instead of spending that day improving the financial structure of this country. I don´t mind Song Kran really if we followed the traditional way.

Now it has been twisted into something else. I find the tourists worse than the Thais in this matter.

I can get it when you have kids and you wanna show the kids some fun but when a 60 year old tourist run in the crowd with waterpacks like a Ghostbuster, you start to wonder where this world is heading.

A lot of the Thai's splashing water work away from their villages and only come home once or twice a year.

Please allow them a few days sillyness before they get back to 'improving the financial structure'

As a Westerner yourself, do you celebrate Christmas in the traditional way, as you imply others should celebrate this religious festival?

The OP has asked for information about Kalasin. Let's drop the discussion of pay. For those interested in the issue of pay, there are other threads that would be more appropriate or you are welcome to open another one.

Thanks.

Understood, I have offered information on Kalasin as I live and work here. I am still waiting to see if Kirsty is going to be teaching

in the town, and what school, or in a provincial village school.

Why not just work in one of the EP's or TSM's then, so you don't have to work any evenings/weekends? and get two months off with full pay.

Only 2 schools in Kalasin with those departments and the teachers tend to stay in those roles for a long time, hence few vacancies..

I managed to clear about 50/60k per month, then found a writing sideline that paid more than that for 3 hours per day.

So money was not an issue.

I taught TSM 4 hours per week for the 8k extra, to be honest it was more fun teaching the bigger classes as the TSM / MEP tended to be rich kids with crap attitudes.

Teaching the bigger classes ( 50 plus ) is an experience I believe all foreign teachers need to try at least for one year

Lots of schools in Kalasin only pay 10 months, the EP and TSM modules usually pay 12.

But, as Kirsty says, money is not the motive here.

I was on a 10 month contract also, managed to get an extra 8k per month teaching extra classes, also you can earn 20-30k extra with 'Son piset' after school/weekends.

Surely the comparison is Western New Year with Sonkran?!

This is a lively thread but not many seem to have got the point - never mind