The 2018 Pattaya Songkran FAQ (long)

[JSixpack]

 

THE 2018 Pattaya Songkran FAQ

Answers and Survival Tips

 

"Probably one of the best ever posts on TV."
     --rgs2001uk

"Thank you, Jsixpack for the great read!"
     --whitemouse

"He's back."
     --champers

"Can you really milik [sic] this sad FAQ any further ?"
     --londoedan

 

GAG! That time again, cesspoolians.

 

 

TROLLS! Your favorite taunts are already answered in the Q&A: grumpy old git (#22), hiding and scared (#24), and But saying anything against Songkran is a whinge (#19). The differing "demo graphs " (to use forum spelling) between those who like Songkran and those who don't are explained here: i lurv me tats & patts songkarn. See the bottom of the page for links to 20 more silly assertions. Attacks against JSixpack are also answered in the FAQ About The Songkran FAQ. Learn more about JSixpack in his profile. Readability: According to the averaged readability scores, the average grade level needed to understand the FAQ is 7.1. If that's above your level--enjoy water/powder/ice throwing, bye. Off topic posts and flames will be reported and deleted.

 

[I tried to put a lot more graphics on this page to liven it up a bit but I ran out of space--TV has a size limit on posts. Also the youtube links caused issues and had to be removed as well. But I did give a youtube search link.]

Purpose

The purpose of the FAQ is threefold:

• Information, Q&A
• Commentard repellent
• Survival guide.

 

The FAQ has nothing to do with facilitating, liking, defending, or celebrating Songkran water/ice/powder throwing.

 

This ain't a playpen for our usual Pattaya haters, bashers, and trolls. Nobody cares about your useless, irrelevant 'pinions about Pattaya and about those who visit, live, or work in Pattaya. Post those in some other thread, as those are NOT the subject of the FAQ. Here's the whinge thread and  The ultimate bum gun thread, the latter also about gun selection and squirting water.

 

The FAQ is all about how Pattaya noob residents and normal tourists may best cope with the long Songkran disruption. We are

 

• venting legitimate complaints about the 10-day length of Pattaya's Songkran,
• exchanging timely information about avoiding it, and
• discussing how best to survive it.

 

And we're givin' JSixpack a few laughs in the digressive, long, web version of FAQ here: https://goo.gl/i41Cco. The webpage (pages, as it got too long for one page) will be taken down immediately after Songkran.

 

Who should read the FAQ; who should not

 

Noob residents and normal tourists should read the FAQ. On the other hand, if

 

• you're experienced;
• have read the FAQ before;
• are a big bad water hooligan (oooh!); or
• just think you're tough and know it all anyway

 

then you don't need the FAQ. Buzz off unless you have something useful to contribute for the purpose of the FAQ.

What's the FAQ? Is the FAQ needed? 

 

The FAQ is based on personal observations and forum posts about Pattaya Songkran made over the last 6 years. It is updated yearly. Post any useful, relevant info here you may have and I'll be happy to incorporate it into the FAQ.

 

It is needed for some, yes. Though the likelihood and intensity of the water/ice/powder throwing (ICE & POWDER--don't forget) may be less, even much less, this year--consistent with the trend of the past few years--you CAN still get unexpectedly songkraned anytime at many places around Pattaya. A kid with a squirt gun? A teenager throwing bucket of ice water in your face? A hooligan with a PVC gun?

 

And Songkran can still be filthy and violent, as indeed it was last year.

 

CHONBURI -- Local police said Thursday they were searching for a group of youths who were seen tossing bags filled with urine and other foul fluids at passing motorcycles and cars.

Saha Group-Laem Chabang posted photos of youths chucking bags of urine, rotten eggs, fish sauce, pla-raa and motor oil Thursday early morning, Chonburi motorists redirected their travel routes to avoid the Liap Chai Fung Bridge for fear of being soaked in grime.

     -- Happy Songkran? Motorists Pelted With Urine, Fish, Motor Oil

 

PATTAYA: -- A Nigerian man on a night out in Pattaya was set upon by a mob of Thais after arriving in his car in Soi 7 during Songkran celebrations. The 35 year old was set upon with bottles and helmets after he got out of his car to confront people who had hit his vehicle.

      -- Nigerian man beaten after giving the middle finger in Pattaya

 

The FAQ attempts to prepare you non-hooligans and all songkran refuseniks, in particular the noobs, for all possibilities.

 

Heed yer FAQ, boy!

DISCLAIMER

Although the FAQ draws upon the past, it ain't guaranteed to apply in every detail to this year's event. Nobody cares whether you read the FAQ or pay any attention to it. Though some of the FAQ is obviously for entertainment purposes (notably my own), I regard the advice in the Survival section as quite sound, based on my own and other forum members' experiences; and yes, I follow that advice myself.

 

Your experience greatly depends on where you stay in Pattaya and your mode of transportation. Best: living on the Darkside and driving a car/truck. Worst: living in Central Pattaya and walking or riding a motorbike or baht buses. Unfortunately, riding a bike can be unpleasant and at least somewhat risky anywhere, anytime. Crashing a bike and injuring a rider is the prized goal of any hooligan, 'cause the police seem to unofficially permit it during Songkran, and the perp would be difficult to find or apprehend.

 

QUICK ANSWERS

WHAT & WHO

A gentle, charming, traditional water blessing ceremony for the new year performed by the smiling, friendly natives of Thailand. Whoops! Dreamin' there for a sec . . . .

 

A sadistic, filthy water-ice-and-powder throwing war, radiating from the bar areas, in which for 9 days drunken mobs of farang and Thai hooligans have legal license to cause maximum injury to whomever they encounter.

 

Vids

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pattaya+songkran+2017

 

 

It's also a really noisy period. If you stay in an area that has noise sometimes, it's going to be much worse. Sound trucks cruise around, too.

 

You may try to check the Pattaya webcams here: http://pattayastreetcams.com. But it looks like few cams if any are working nowadays. (What? Farang-installed webcams NOT WORKING???)

Read Observations on the 2017 Songkran here.

WHERE

 

All the way from Naklua to Jomtien, radiating from the bar areas. That includes Wong Amart & Sois Khao Talo and Khao Noi. The worst areas are Beach Rd. and 2nd Rd. in Pattaya. Walking Street and Soi Buakhao are war zones for the duration. Jomtien Beach Rd. starts slower but by the 13th builds to Hooligan Hawg Heaven in the bar areas.

 

Side streets off the main roads may have pockets of Songkran revelers and, as the peak day approaches, may have checkpoints you can't safely pass without being soaked, iced, and powdered.

Besides that, open trucks full of drunken revelers with barrels of water, ice, and powder continually cruise the streets like Taliban, more so as the peak day approaches. You can get songkraned anywhere in the city. It partly depends on your luck.

 

WHEN

 

Starts tentatively on April 11th by premature ejaculators and goes through the 19th in the AM. Picks up intensity gradually through the period. The 18th and 19th are by far the worst days. If your survival strategy is to lie low , do most of your shopping no later than the 10th. Thereafter, if 2015-17 is any indication, shopping in the mornings is relatively safe outside the bar areas from the 11th through the 17th and even the afternoons, mostly (outside the bar areas).

 

On 4/17/2017 at 1:37 AM, tropo said:

I wish I could give you some information from around the bar areas, but as far as the rest of Pattaya is concerned....

 

I've been out on my motorcycle all week (house hunting - talk about bad timing) and haven't been wet yet - including today (Sunday). I've been to Big C Extra (riding from Pratumnak area) every day this week and managed to avoid getting wet. I've had a few close calls, but it seems rather subdued. I avoid 2nd Road and Soi Buakhao, but it's been OK on Pattaya Tai, Pattaya Klang, 3rd Road, Thepprasit, Thappraya and Sukhumvit Roads. There are a few Thai people throwing water on most of the side sois, but they mostly leave you alone if you ask them too.

 

3 more days to go. I'll be out again over the next 2 days and will stay at home all day on 19.

 

See detailed timeline below or at the website.

As Jingthing has pointed out, the total time taken up by Songkran is really 10 days when you factor in a needed day of preparation. So we residents are calling it 10 days.

 

Hours: Roughly speaking, it goes on from about 7 AM to 12 AM daily, but any time is possible. Peak hours are from about 2 PM to 7 PM. The chances of your being songkraned start increasing rapidly from about 10 AM. Earlier than that, since school's out, kids may be eagerly waiting for you in the 'burbs. No, it doesn't stop at 6 PM.

 

Immigration normally follows Thai official holidays and so will be closed the 12th - 16th as Songkran has been extended this year. You may call and check: 038 252 750. So will the Post Office. At no time will the "boarders " (to use forum spelling convention acquired from past lodgings) with neighboring countries be closed.

 

Q: Can I travel on the 11th?
A: Should be no problem, except the bus station may be a bit more crowded owing to the exodus from Pattaya. Avoid bar areas in the afternoon.

 

Q: Can I travel to or from Pattaya on the 18th or 19th?
A: Forget it. All roads around Pattaya turn into parking lots. The 19th is worse than the 18th, but, as noted, Pattaya is affected also by Naklua's Songkran on the 18th. Some, if not all, taxi services refuse to travel on the 19th.

 

The buses leaving Pattaya do run on the 19th, surprisingly, but you'll have to get to the station on your own, heh, heh (no Bell Travel pickup) and expect long, long delays, even late in the evening.

 

If you think you may have a medical emergency on those days, better to get out and stay near a hospital elsewhere, because nobody's moving out the way for an ambulance.

 

Q: How's travel on the 20th?
A: If it's a workday, Sukhumvit should be normal but around town traffic will be worse as a lot of people will need to go shopping. If it's on a Sunday, traffic will likely be worse than for a usual holiday weekend because many of the arrivals will probably be out shopping, too.

 

SURVIVAL

1. Leave (Ding, ding! WINNER)
2. Lie Low
3. Be a target
4. Vent

 
(Extended advice about these 4 courses of action is given in the FAQ Survival webpage.)

 

Leaving is the best thing you can do for yourself. Here's a fact: nobody who left town to miss Pattaya Songkran has ever expressed the slightest regret at having done so. Quite the contrary. Do a search; see if you find any post wistfully exclaiming, Man, sure wish I had a bucket of filthy cold water with large chunks of ice thrown in my face! Nah, you won't find any such. What you WILL find are posts from people who wish they'd left while they could have.

 

Leave, and instead of dodging drunken idiot water hooligans, fighting traffic, endangering life and limb--or being confined at home, if you lie low --you're in Vung Tau, Vietnam, relaxing by the pool with a drink and Vietnamese lovelies. Pity from afar the poor sods left behind. Come back refreshed and satisfied after Songkran: it never even happened!

 

Go where?

Neighboring countries? Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam. Book early if you're going to Clark or Cebu.

 

 Cambodia, maybe: Siem Riap gets recommendations; go there cheaply overland from Pattaya.

 

Airport's really crowded around Songkran so get there early. Immigration also starts getting packed about a week before.

 

YOU could be in that line!

 

In Thailand

 

Any small town with a shorter, gentler Songkran cycle would be OK. Nearby, Bang Saray has won a strong recommendation, but leave early the morning of the 20th before Bang Saray's Songkran starts. (But in 2017 stravers said the 20th was not bad at all: The park had boxing, music, games for the kids, and street food galore. Most of the town was in the park. No water throwing and big smiles. My hotel cost only 499 baht/night.

 

Further afield, information is sketchy. Nong Khai, one of the better, is probably representative. Member cdmtdm said on 2014-03-16 19:21:37 that it lasts for 5 days but only full on for two of those. The "full on " is nothing like Pattaya's.

 

Bangkok's Songkran is only 5 days (12th - 16th) and not bad at all away from the tourist areas. Hua Hin has been mentioned. Most any village will do if you can stand the boredom (in absences of friends/family there), roosters crowing, and the morning announcements. You really need to speak basic Thai.

 

Even the Darkside is a lot better than Pattaya proper, esp. in which to lie low: Sukhumvit may be problematic during peak hours, but you can probably make it to the 7/11 without any major problems. Don't get complacent over there:

 

I live on the darkside Kho Noi and Went for Sunday dinner 6 pm on my motorbike, saw a few kids with what looked like their mom armed with buckets. I shouted, please no, but got an ice cold wave. The woman was so enthusiastic directing her kids to aim for our face's. Great shot nearly had us off the bikerocky123, 2014-04-14 00:54:50

 

Lying low mainly means staying in except for furtive shopping expeditions early in the morning or very late at night. However, this depends to an extent on where you're staying and your mode of transport.

 

TIMELINE

10 Apr - Survival Preparation

The last day either to leave or stock up comfortably without having to avoid the bar areas, though in the neighborhoods you may encounter kids with squirt guns (school's out). By now stockpiling and hording may already have led to shortages.

11 Apr - Hooligans Gather

Pattaya Songkran gets going in the afternoon of the 11th in the bar areas, especially around Sois 7 and 8. Not yet hard to avoid on a bike, but baht bus riders will be easy targets.

Q: Can I travel on the 11th?
A: Should be no problem, except the bus station may be a bit more crowded owing to the exodus from Pattaya. Avoid bar areas in the afternoon.

12 Apr - Monkey See, Monkey Do

Picks up speed on the 12th on the inevitable principle of monkey see monkey do because the 12th is the official start of the Songkran holidays in Thailand--but not officially of the Songkran celebration in Pattaya. Actually, different geographical areas have different official Songkran celebration dates. We don't need no stinkin' rules in Pattaya, however.

12 - 15 Apr - Spreadin' Out

Bangkok's Songkran begins on the 12th (utter madness in the tourist areas) this year and so Pattaya ramps up as well. The pestilence reaches the Jomtien and Naklua bar areas and a bit more into remoter sois.

Tonight was a stupid night to go by bus as early as 8. It was a test of sorts. Failed!

I was hit about 30 times.
     --Jingthing, 2014-04-13 23:03:23:

Traffic's not yet too bad--a calm before the storm, as a lot of people have wisely left town. However, those remaining now don't have quite enough to do, so it's natural they start to spend some time playing Songkran. Immigration, as previously noted, and the Post Office have closed for official holidays.

Reports from last year had it that things were in full swing in the bar areas on the 13th. Even in Jomtien:

https://youtu.be/FSdn3m1TM9M?t=85

 

16 - 17 Apr - Hooligan Migration

Bangkok's Songkran ending on the 15th, Bangkok water hooligans begin migrating to Pattaya to swell the ranks of Pattaya's own. Traffic may worsen, though there usually isn't gridlock until the 18th (spillover from Naklua's Songkran) and the 19th.

18 Apr - Naklua

Naklua's official Songkran day is the 18th, meaning gridlock on Naklua Rd., North Pattaya Rd., and Pattaya Klang, for most of the day; Wong Amart is effectively sealed in. Spillover spreads into Pattaya itself, lots of Taliban trucks cruise around, so it's a bad day most everywhere. "Festivity " continues through Pattaya's peak day on the 19th.

19 Apr - The Climax And End

The 19th is the peak day, the climax, of Songkran in Pattaya. Chaos spreads to the side roads, e. g., Sois Khao Talo and Khao Noi.

Just returned from Khao Talo - "death wish alley ". Total mayhem from one end to the other. It has to be the most dangerous strip of road in the world at the moment.
--WitawatWatawit, 2014-04-19 15:53:07:

Traffic gridlock will last well into the late evening and "festivity " will continue past midnight. But the 19th is the last day. Yep, Pattaya (AND Naklua AND Jomtien AND Najomtien) Songkran always stops on the 19th, late; on the 20th, even if the date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, things are back to "normal. " Some prescient forum wiser-than-thou will likely "bet " (love these bets) it won't stop on the 19th but in fact it does--to applause and great sighs of relief.

 

20 April - Return Of Pattaya Normal

Technically Songkran ends in Pattaya (and in Nakula, Jomtien, and Najomtien) the AM of the 20th. (Where does it go on the 20th? Bang Saray, where the official day is on the 20th.) Get up in the morning to find things eerily quiet, if it's not a workday; go out and marvel you don't have to worry about dodging buckets of ice water. (Now it's all the leftover trash you'll have to dodge!) Unbelievable contrast with the previous day. Early on you'll see a lot of evidence remaining. For at least a week you'll still encounter songkraned cars and bikes on the road. Injured "participants " will however be much less visible . . . .

For more, see the webpage, which has extensive advice on the survival strategies and a Q&A that answers every question that's arisen in the past few years and addresses all the usual hooligan and troll arguments for Songkran.

 

Webpage FAQ Table Of Contents

Intro
    -has a FAQ about the FAQ deflecting the usual troll attacks
The 5 Ws
Survival
    -very extensive section
Q&A
Future

Q&A addresses these questions/assertions:

 

1. 1 Who's worse, farang or Thai hooligans?
2. 2 Must read What are the dates of Pattaya's Songkran horror?
3. 3 Can I travel to or from Pattaya on the 18th or 19th?
4. 4 Why does Songkran last so long in Pattaya?
5. 5 It stops at 6 PM by law, no problem.
6. 6 Long-term residents know the worst areas and can avoid them.
7. 7 It's harmless fun and a good laugh.
8. 8 It's a Thai custom, farangs should have no say. Nyah nyah NYAH nyah!
9. 9 But why is it hooliganism?
10. 10 But it's just a lil' inconvenience, heh, heh.
11. 11 But I get to see young women in wet T-shirts at Songkran!!!
12. 12 Latest Love Songkran 'cause it's freedom from the boredom of the nanny state.
13. 13 Editor's Pick Songkran keeps you young.
14. 14 So where is the best place to avoid Songkran?
15. 15 What about wearing a rain suit ? (Cf. Q. 13 for ideal wear)
16. 16 Just ride with your car windows rolled up.
17. 17 Motorcyclists are safe because they wear helmets.
18. 18 Don't worry, the police have instituted a ban on high pressure water guns and PVC pipes.
19. 19 But sayin anything against Songkran is a whinge.
20. 20 nobody's payin attn 2 ur complaints, nyuk nyuk nyuk.
21. 21 if u dont like songkarn u dont like patts n thailand!
22. 22 if u dont like songkarn ur a grumpy old git. Grumpy old gi-it! Grumpy old gi-it!
23. 23 i lurv me tats & patts songkarn!
24. 24 if u dont go out n fight, ur a wimp scared o my BIG BAD Super Soaker. Hidin & scared. Yah, yah, wimp!
25. 25 Update Is Pattaya Songkran in decline?

 

[The manic]

Get a private car from my condo to the airport the day before, fly to Vietnam, then return the day after it's all over. 

[poanoi]

lol, you have a clear talent sixpack, tho i have yet to define that talent.

i wish to add: that its not completely safe on 20,

i had timed my transport of my computer to morning 20, when i

sensed a chill in my spine, a pick up with stupid smiling thais on their way back

on a pickup still armed, i tried to show them it was a computer, but alas, they had to attack

 

[johng]

OMG. Is it nearly "that time" again....I'll have to start stocking up food and beer.

[tropo]

I love the countdown clock on your website: https://goo.gl/i41Cco

 

Nice touch!

 

30 days, 18 hours and 41 minutes LOL

Edited March 11, 2018 by tropo

[InMyShadow]

My condo complex has 3 thai pool bars and an english pub and villa market next door. I wont even know there is a songkran

 

No way Im getting forced out to spend 30k going to Vietnam or Cambodia , Philippines which are all a huge step down from thailand !!

[tropo]

This will be the shortest 30 days of the year followed by the longest 10 days.

[tropo]

3 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

My condo complex has 3 thai pool bars and an english pub and villa market next door. I wont even know there is a songkran

 

No way Im getting forced out to spend 30k going to Vietnam or Cambodia , Philippines which are all a huge step down from thailand !!

Maybe they're a step down from Thailand overall, but during Songkran in Pattaya, they are all a step up. I'll be staying home too, as avoiding the negative aspects of Songkran is not hard to do with a little experience.

 

Last year I had to look for a rental house during Songkran, over the whole 10 days. That was fun! I went out quite a bit and it definitely seemed a lot tamer than years gone by. Of course, I stayed well away from bar areas.

Edited March 11, 2018 by tropo

[HLover]

Absolutely beautiful. Bravo!

[JSixpack]

39 minutes ago, tropo said:

Last year I had to look for a rental house during Songkran, over the whole 10 days. That was fun! I went out quite a bit and it definitely seemed a lot tamer than years gone by. Of course, I stayed well away from bar areas.

 

That was helpful info for the FAQ (hence I quoted your post) for revealing the relative safety away from the bar areas during the daytime. A few years ago, you'd have run into serious checkpoints. So shopping during the day IS now possible w/ circumspection--you did have "a few close calls."

 

 

On 4/17/2017 at 1:37 AM, tropo said:

I wish I could give you some information from around the bar areas, but as far as the rest of Pattaya is concerned....

 

I've been out on my motorcycle all week (house hunting - talk about bad timing) and haven't been wet yet - including today (Sunday). I've been to Big C Extra (riding from Pratumnak area) every day this week and managed to avoid getting wet. I've had a few close calls, but it seems rather subdued. I avoid 2nd Road and Soi Buakhao, but it's been OK on Pattaya Tai, Pattaya Klang, 3rd Road, Thepprasit, Thappraya and Sukhumvit Roads. There are a few Thai people throwing water on most of the side sois, but they mostly leave you alone if you ask them too.

 

3 more days to go. I'll be out again over the next 2 days and will stay at home all day on 19.

 

[The manic]

56 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

My condo complex has 3 thai pool bars and an english pub and villa market next door. I wont even know there is a songkran

 

No way Im getting forced out to spend 30k going to Vietnam or Cambodia , Philippines which are all a huge step down from thailand !!

Saigon is great.  Really Kicking.  I love exploring other countries and will visit DA Nang too.  Would not consider Philippines.  So Song Khran is a good excuse for me too travel out of Thailand. I leave Pattaya every month to explore Thailand too. 

[tropo]

13 minutes ago, JSixpack said:

 

That was helpful info for the FAQ (hence I quoted your post) for revealing the relative safety away from the bar areas during the daytime. A few years ago, you'd have run into serious checkpoints. So shopping during the day IS now possible w/ circumspection--you did have "a few close calls."

 

 

I'd forgotten all about that post. It's good to get information fresh from people in the thick of it. I should add, I wasn't riding around blind - I was being very careful and vigilant. It wasn't easy staying dry and I was actually surprised that I did. This year someone else can test it out LOL.

 

If I really have to get to areas that will be in the full-on drench zones, I have a very thick poncho that is very effective in keeping me dry. Surprisingly, although I look typhoon-proof in it, people still try LOL.

[tropo]

13 minutes ago, The manic said:

Saigon is great.  Really Kicking.  I love exploring other countries and will visit DA Nang too.  Would not consider Philippines.  So Song Khran is a good excuse for me too travel out of Thailand. I leave Pattaya every month to explore Thailand too. 

(just to add balance)... Each to their own. If I required an escape it would be to the Philippines.

[Peterw42]

Songkran, is that the money you pay the parents when you marry a bargirl ?

[HLover]

5 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Songkran, is that the money you pay the parents when you marry a bargirl ?

No, that's called being duped.

[Peterw42]

OP, I was thinking a "rules of engagement" guide ie: who cops the full force of the super soaker 5000 and who gets a small respectful splash.

 

I usually work on the principle of "if they are carrying", pistol, bucket hose etc, its game on, blast and be blasted.

Water verses water, you dont bring out the super soaker 5000 against a cute thai girl gently putting powder on your face.

 

Anyone wearing a raincoat or poncho etc is just asking to get wet, under the raincoat.

 

Old lady pushing a noodle cart, nurse in uniform going to work, a polite splash,

 

Someone mobile on a bike a small splash etc, if they are stopped its game on.

 

Any small child who shoots you, its compulsory to feign great injury, and fall to the ground etc

 

Any car window thats down an inch , fair game.

 

Any female in clothing that may cling when wet, of course.

 

Never eyes and ears, especially with the stupid military grade blue pvc guns, they can literally take out an eye and it was probably just refilled from a big tub of filthy water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JSixpack]

48 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

OP, I was thinking a "rules of engagement" guide ie: who cops the full force of the super soaker 5000 and who gets a small respectful splash.

 

I usually work on the principle of "if they are carrying", pistol, bucket hose etc, its game on, blast and be blasted.

Water verses water, you dont bring out the super soaker 5000 against a cute thai girl gently putting powder on your face.

 

Anyone wearing a raincoat or poncho etc is just asking to get wet, under the raincoat.

 

Old lady pushing a noodle cart, nurse in uniform going to work, a polite splash,

 

Someone mobile on a bike a small splash etc, if they are stopped its game on.

 

Any small child who shoots you, its compulsory to feign great injury, and fall to the ground etc

 

Any car window thats down an inch , fair game.

 

Any female in clothing that may cling when wet, of course.

 

Never eyes and ears, especially with the stupid military grade blue pvc guns, they can literally take out an eye and it was probably just refilled from a big tub of filthy water.

 

 

That topic is off topic here, though I'm reminded of the famous scene in Butch Cassidy about rules:

 

 

 

You may start another topic to discuss that as it falls under "facilitating."

 

The FAQ has nothing to do with facilitating, liking, defending, or celebrating Songkran water/ice/powder throwing.

 

 

Edited March 11, 2018 by JSixpack

[KittenKong]

I only ever have one question about Songkran: which country to go to this year to avoid it?

Leaving Thailand on the 8th and not coming back until two full weeks have elapsed seems to do me nicely, though at a pinch I would extend my absence to the entire month of April, as I did last year.

Edited March 11, 2018 by KittenKong

[gk10002000]

3 hours ago, InMyShadow said:

My condo complex has 3 thai pool bars and an english pub and villa market next door. I wont even know there is a songkran

 

No way Im getting forced out to spend 30k going to Vietnam or Cambodia , Philippines which are all a huge step down from thailand !!

I went out of my way to  be in Pattaya during Songkran once back in 2005.  Hated it.  I was staying at Flipper lodge or Flipper House, I forget which one now.  It was just too much of a pain.  Can't walk around as I like to do.  Can't hop on a baht bus to go to Big C without getting doused.  Being soaked is not the way to go out and eat barbecue at Big C or to sit and watch a movie.  And several times even at night after 7 some idiot Farang would still want to shoot water.  One guy ran across the street and up the stairs to douse me while I was just popping my head out to see if it was safe to go!  I tried to change my schedule to go out late, sleep in, hit the hotel pool, eat in etc.  and that made it tolerable but not really how I wanted to spend every day.  I was really mad one early AM morning when I was coming back from walking street and some Thai jerk went out of his way to douse a pretty young lady who was dressed in her work uniform for some hotel or business and completely soaked her while walking beside her for several yards.  She was on her way to her professional work job, company color skirt, etc.  The bars have their seats and cushions covered in plastic, the city looks a mess.  I can imagine two or three days of it.  Big block party on a hot day throwing water.  No problem.  But there is just no way to enjoy other things in the city during this time.

[The manic]

12 hours ago, tropo said:

(just to add balance)... Each to their own. If I required an escape it would be to the Philippines.

Too violent crap food no culture boring sex ...in Saigon you can smoke pot openly ....just like Thailand in the old days... Philippines the outpost of the worst of Chinese, Spanish and Yankee imperialism.....A rape victim of history eating dog food run by a murderous mad man.... Dirty and dangerous and charmless.. The Zimbabwe of Asia. 

[tropo]

1 minute ago, The manic said:

Too violent crap food no culture boring sex ...in Saigon you can smoke pot openly ....just like Thailand in the old days... Philippines the outpost of the worst of Chinese, Spanish and Yankee imperialism.....A rape victim of history eating dog food run by a murderous mad man.... Dirty and dangerous and charmless.. The Zimbabwe of Asia. 

Enough of your manic bashing in bold letters. I enjoy my time in the Philippines. Have a go in the SE Asia forum if you want to vent your frustrations.

[tropo]

2 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

 

Anyone wearing a raincoat or poncho etc is just asking to get wet, under the raincoat.

 

On the contrary. I've managed to stay quite dry in a poncho on my motorbike. I'd wear one to get across town if I had to get to my destination dry, not down Soi 6, 7 or 8.

[wpcoe]

My first year in Pattaya (2004) I naively left for dinner around sunset via baht bus down Jomtien Beach Road.  I was dressed in a nice shirt and pants and got blasted with a bucket of dirty water while in the back of the baht bus.  Promptly got out, turned around and went home.  Shirt was stained beyond saving.  Lesson learned.

 

Every year since, I'm part of the 9+ day Exodus, usually going to New York City, an old favorite haunt of mine with nice spring weather.  As the OP says, the madness is always over by the time I return late night on the 19th (land close to midnight at Suvarnabhumi, get to Pattaya around 2:00am on the 20th.)

 

One year the madness apparently made it into my condo building when they tossed the manager into the swimming pool.  Actually, I quietly snickered about that as she was an absolute b****, but to know you're not safe even in your building to dash to the minimart in the lobby would add to the stress if I tried to weather the storm and stay at home.

[JSixpack]

6 hours ago, wpcoe said:

One year the madness apparently made it into my condo building when they tossed the manager into the swimming pool.  Actually, I quietly snickered about that as she was an absolute b****, but to know you're not safe even in your building to dash to the minimart in the lobby would add to the stress if I tried to weather the storm and stay at home.

 

Happened to me at my condo building years ago. Security guard soaked me good before I could even get to my bike in the parking lot. Didn't see it coming! 

[JSixpack]

9 hours ago, tropo said:

On the contrary. I've managed to stay quite dry in a poncho on my motorbike. I'd wear one to get across town if I had to get to my destination dry, not down Soi 6, 7 or 8.

 

I've worn an entire rainsuit. Worked great except ponchos and rainsuits are pretty hot esp when the sun's out. I got wet from sweat.

 

Good far as that goes but as you know when you're on a bike your head can get blasted, hit w/ a chunk of ice, and shield powdered over. It's a blood sport for the hooligans.

[torrzent]

Any chance of an update thread with anything new from last year, or at least highlight the new parts. 

Edited March 12, 2018 by torrzent

[JSixpack]

44 minutes ago, torrzent said:

Any chance of an update thread with anything new from last year, or at least highlight the new parts. 

 

18 hours ago, JSixpack said:

Who should read the FAQ; who should not

 

Noob residents and normal tourists should read the FAQ. On the other hand, if

 

• you're experienced;
• have read the FAQ before;
• are a big bad water hooligan (oooh!); or
• just think you're tough and know it all anyway

 

then you don't need the FAQ. Buzz off unless you have something useful to contribute for the purpose of the FAQ.

 

 

[torrzent]

2 minutes ago, JSixpack said:

  18 hours ago, JSixpack said:

Who should read the FAQ; who should not

 

Noob residents and normal tourists should read the FAQ. On the other hand, if

 

• you're experienced;
• have read the FAQ before;
• are a big bad water hooligan (oooh!); or
• just think you're tough and know it all anyway

 

then you don't need the FAQ. Buzz off unless you have something useful to contribute for the purpose of the FAQ.

Does this mean no?

[JSixpack]

8 minutes ago, torrzent said:

Does this mean no?

 

Yes. Quite a few minor updates but the only item of significance to readers of previous FAQs affects a few who might need to visit Immigration at the time--and who further don't know about the extension:

 

Immigration normally follows Thai official holidays and so will be closed the 12th - 16th as Songkran has been extended this year. You may call and check: 038 252 750. So will the Post Office.

 

And there's Observations on the 2017 Songkran here.

[bkk6060]

Angeles City Baby!!