The 2018 Pattaya Songkran FAQ (long)

[rott]

On 3/29/2018 at 9:30 AM, rott said:

Came on as per usual to confirm the finish date. As Bangkok finishes on the 15th I will go there for the 16th to 19th and then on to Pattaya on the 20th. Might even have a drink or two in JSixpack's favourite (not) bar.

 

As per every other year i tell myself that in Chumphon it only lasts one day (if that is still correct) must go there and as per every other year I do not bother.

 

Well done again for the thread JS.

I am now informed that Chumphon Songkran is three or four days         but Koh Tao is only one day due to the local water situation.

[InMyShadow]

I wonder how the roaming herds of obese tourists are going to be sold on Songkran?
"Come bathe in the delightful tropical waters of our revamped tropical paradise. Walk, breath fresh fragrant air, dine on tropical delights - and feel the pounds just melt away as Thai ladies drop sprinkle drops of holy water upon your heads."

Obese tourists.? Not many fat Russian and Chinese around. What your seeing are the locals.. Maybe even your own reflection

[soistalker]

I arrive in Thailand on Thursday the 12th and leave the country three days later on Sunday.

What do I do about registering at immigration if they are closed Thursday and Friday? What happens at the airport immigration?

[rott]

13 hours ago, soistalker said:

I arrive in Thailand on Thursday the 12th and leave the country three days later on Sunday.

What do I do about registering at immigration if they are closed Thursday and Friday? What happens at the airport immigration?

If you are leaving after a few days why do you need to register.? At the airport you will go through immigration the same as everyone else. Stop worrying. And by the way how is your mate from the other forum.?

[soistalker]

8 hours ago, rott said:

If you are leaving after a few days why do you need to register.? At the airport you will go through immigration the same as everyone else. Stop worrying. And by the way how is your mate from the other forum.?

I need to register as I will be staying at my condo.

what mate? What forum?

[chicowoodduck]

Not sure which is worse, Songkran or reading the Songkran posts in TV? ???

[JSixpack]

59 minutes ago, chicowoodduck said:

Not sure which is worse, Songkran or reading the Songkran posts in TV? ???

 

Part of the reason I created the FAQ is 'cause I got so tired of reading the same ol' Songkran posts. So it's reduced the thread length by about 2/3.

 

[balo]

Wake me up when it's over.

 

 

[lastminutebozo]

Damn it the fortnite servers are down.

[tropo]

4 hours ago, JSixpack said:

5 hours ago, chicowoodduck said:

Not sure which is worse, Songkran or reading the Songkran posts in TV? ???

 

Part of the reason I created the FAQ is 'cause I got so tired of reading the same ol' Songkran posts. So it's reduced the thread length by about 2/3.

 

Could these type of posts in a thread specifically designed to save these people the trouble of posting indicate the IQ of people who enjoy Songkran? I thought only very drunk people and children enjoyed it, but the category of people with low mental capacity deserve an honourable mention.

Edited April 11, 2018 by tropo

[JSixpack]

24 minutes ago, tropo said:

Could these type of posts in a thread specifically designed to save these people the trouble of posting indicate the IQ of people who enjoy Songkran? I thought only very drunk people and children enjoyed it, but the category of people with low mental capacity deserve an honourable mention.

 

There's quite a bit of overlap between the drunks and the IQ impaired.  

 

On 3/11/2018 at 4:38 PM, JSixpack said:

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.

 

[SurfRider]

. 

Stickman-Bangkok has a few suggestions for proper 2018 Songkran weaponry . . .

 

[siam2007]

still life as usual along Sukhumvit. Hope it stays that way. Chose to go out only after sunset, though

[Pattaya46]

On ‎02‎/‎04‎/‎2018 at 6:58 PM, InMyShadow said:

Obese tourists.? Not many fat Russian and Chinese around. What your seeing are the locals.. Maybe even your own reflection

Uh? Is "the locals" the new way to call USA & UK retired expats? 

Easy to spot everywhere in Pattaya. Just look for a bar and a guy behind his beer.

Many really obese guys; some even needing an electric scooter to move...

[morrobay]

Made a special trip to look at the Beach rd festivities , early afternoon today ,(19th) Central rd to Central Festival. In past few years there were commercial stages with dancing coyote girls. Today nada, nothing but thumping music and some over dressed folks on stage . Is this a juanta change . Overall - forgetaboutit. Just chaotic loud music , people just walking around. 

 

[JSixpack]

IT'S OVER

 

We cesspoolians have again emerged victorious! We successfully outlasted the annual 10 days' siege, avoided accidents, injury, and infections. Most of us deprived the hooligans and peanut gallery of ANY sadistic fun at our expense.

 

Good riddance to 'em. The cleanup's begun; we can travel freely; and all the delights of Pattaya are moving back into position and awaiting our return. Massage? Buffet at the Hilton? Brews with views? It's a beautiful day to dive headfirst back into the cesspool. I'm gettin' back in! (Well, after such much-needed shopping.)

 

I hope we all had a pleasant trip or hibernation.

 

Though last year's was the mildest Songkran in memory, 2018's was even milder. Outside the bar areas on non-peak days, travel was not much inconvenienced. (It's too bad, however, that for many the convenient travel does after all lead through the bar areas.)

 

COULD PATTAYA SONGKRAN BE DYING OUT?

 

Nah. As long as we got beer bars, bar girls, and idiot farangs, Pattaya's Songran will probably last 10 days. It's the excessive length that's the problem.

 

A cursory look at the videos on youtube reveals the "festivities" in the bar areas were the same as in past years. Didn't see no "traditional dress." There was the usual talk of confiscating PVC guns. Maybe they got some, but the vids show plenty remaining.

 

And despite the talk of cracking down on drunk drivers

 

THIS YEAR’S Songkran festivities saw a higher death toll – 418 – compared to last year’s 390, the Road Safety Centre said yesterday.

This year also saw a higher number of injured people with 3,897 cases in 3,724 road accidents. Last year, 3,808 people were injured in 3,690 road crashes.

     --Songkran death toll higher than last year, statistics show

 

They're not counting Pattaya's extended holiday in them stats either!

 

For next year's FAQ I'll go through this thread again (and some others) and pick up anything that needs adding. This was also the shortest primary Songkran discussion thread in recent memory as well.

 

Tnx from me and on behalf of the members you posters helped by your information and moral (if that's not too strong a word in connection w/ Sin City here) support. I'm packing up the web version of the FAQ till next year.

 

 

Edited April 20, 2018 by JSixpack

[DrTuner]

It's over, but now that everyone is wiggling out of their hideouts, just how crowded are the supermarkets today/this weekend?

[torrzent]

2 hours ago, JSixpack said:

we can travel freely; and all the delights of Pattaya are moving back into position and awaiting our return. Massage? Buffet at the Hilton? Brews with views? It's a beautiful day to dive headfirst back into the cesspool. I'm gettin' back in! (Well, after such much-needed shopping.)

I second the motion!

[tropo]

7 hours ago, JSixpack said:

THIS YEAR’S Songkran festivities saw a higher death toll – 418 – compared to last year’s 390, the Road Safety Centre said yesterday.

Was that the total of the "7 dangerous days"? If so, then the death was slightly under the national daily average of 60 and a bit.

[balo]

8 hours ago, JSixpack said:

THIS YEAR’S Songkran festivities saw a higher death toll – 418 – compared to last year’s 390, the Road Safety Centre said yesterday.

So the humankind has not evolved since last year then , another year wasted. 

 

[champers]

1 hour ago, tropo said:

Was that the total of the "7 dangerous days"? If so, then the death was slightly under the national daily average of 60 and a bit.

I believe the routes to the North and North East are choc a bloc full before and after the Songkram holiday. Traffic is not going fast enough to cause the most serious damage. Songkran and New Year in January are red herrings as far as traffic casualties are concerned. So many more people and extra vehicles are on the roads at these times.

Edited April 20, 2018 by champers

[JSixpack]

15 hours ago, tropo said:

Was that the total of the "7 dangerous days"? If so, then the death was slightly under the national daily average of 60 and a bit.

 

14 hours ago, champers said:

Songkran and New Year in January are red herrings as far as traffic casualties are concerned. So many more people and extra vehicles are on the roads at these times.

 

Good point made here:

 

 

[tropo]

On 4/20/2018 at 10:58 AM, JSixpack said:

COULD PATTAYA SONGKRAN BE DYING OUT?

 

Nah. As long as we got beer bars, bar girls, and idiot farangs, Pattaya's Songran will probably last 10 days. It's the excessive length that's the problem.

Even if dying down a bit, it doesn't change much for the average punter. Let's say, for example, you need to take a 2km trip for shopping or to a restaurant. One bucket of water achieves the same result as 10. When you're wet, you're wet. 

 

I did get out and stay dry on most days this year, but I was nowhere near the tourist/bar areas.

[JSixpack]

21 hours ago, tropo said:

Even if dying down a bit, it doesn't change much for the average punter. Let's say, for example, you need to take a 2km trip for shopping or to a restaurant. One bucket of water achieves the same result as 10. When you're wet, you're wet. 

 

I did get out and stay dry on most days this year, but I was nowhere near the tourist/bar areas.

 

Very true. And when you're crashed, you're crashed. And when your helmet or windshield is obscured by paste, you're not seeing as well as you should be. Conditions are dangrous enough at the best of times.

 

It's hardly uncommon to need to go through the bar areas for one reason or another. Sometimes they can be avoided only at considerable inconvenience. Central, for example, right in the middle. Villa--if not for Songkran, I'd have dropped by to pick up a few things . . . . 

[THAILIBAN]

On 4/20/2018 at 1:39 PM, DrTuner said:

It's over, but now that everyone is wiggling out of their hideouts, just how crowded are the supermarkets today/this weekend?

 

not crowded at all, because people have been able to go shopping undisturbed (and DRY) during the past few days. I went to Hypermarkets twice and did not see a single water canon or pick up with revelers along Sukhumvit, though I avoided April 18/19 (noticed a lot of Songkhran activity on the 18th from my high-floor balcony)

[tropo]

3 hours ago, THAILIBAN said:

 

not crowded at all, because people have been able to go shopping undisturbed (and DRY) during the past few days. I went to Hypermarkets twice and did not see a single water canon or pick up with revelers along Sukhumvit, though I avoided April 18/19 (noticed a lot of Songkhran activity on the 18th from my high-floor balcony)

The traffic during most of the Songkran week (or 10 days) was light, so people with cars would have found shopping extra easy.

[Songkran18]

On 4/11/2018 at 5:02 AM, JSixpack said:

 

There's quite a bit of overlap between the drunks and the IQ impaired.  

 

 

Had no problem leaving leaving Pattaya on April 11th as some have indicated. Walked up to teller to purchase my train ticket to Bangkok and was on the next bus out. Made my flight to CNX without any problem. 

 

As far as Songkran; I loved it ? I get it can be tiring after a while I suppose if you live in Thailand. This was y first and I took in all the pageantry and official ceremonies in the Old City. Maybe Songkran in Pattaya is like comparing Carnival between Rio and Bahia.  I found it amazing up north. I did partake in water fights that Friday and that was enough. I left to Chiang Rai the next day.  

 

I'm in Bangkok now, enjoying my last two days in Thailand. I did visit Pattaya for four nights. When I return home, I'll write my impressions through the prism of a short stay. It obviously won't be a definitive. I can definitely see the draw, but it's certainly not for me. Very unique place, for sure. 

[tropo]

33 minutes ago, Songkran18 said:

Had no problem leaving leaving Pattaya on April 11th as some have indicated. Walked up to teller to purchase my train ticket to Bangkok and was on the next bus out. Made my flight to CNX without any problem. 

2

You must have the dates confused. The only water playing going on on April 11th is maybe on Beach Road Soi 7 and 8 near the bars. There's never a problem getting around on the 11th.

[Songkran18]

On 4/24/2018 at 7:02 AM, tropo said:

You must have the dates confused. The only water playing going on on April 11th is maybe on Beach Road Soi 7 and 8 near the bars. There's never a problem getting around on the 11th.

I'm not confused about the dates. It was indicated here  that the 11th was the so-called  exodus from Pattaya. Got to Chiang Mai with no problem that day. 

[tropo]

3 hours ago, Songkran18 said:

I'm not confused about the dates. It was indicated here  that the 11th was the so-called  exodus from Pattaya. Got to Chiang Mai with no problem that day. 

You were confused about the significance of the 11th. Escaping can be achieved any day, even early on the 19th. A lot of people on here mention that they are leaving, but I'm not sure if there's any actual "exodus".