Why modern day Songkran is more like movie ‘The Purge’

By Dan Cheeseman 

 

 

Songkran is on the horizon and already many in the expat circles are planning their escape. Myself included. Put traditional Songkran to one side, the carnage that now goes on through the streets day and night make it a death trap.

 

Think I am joking? A total of 390 people were killed in road accidents during the seven-day monitoring period for the Songkran holiday last year, which was an 11% improvement on the year before. Most of these deaths are motorcycle related. It is not only the fatalities but an increase in youth violence and sexual assaults that are reported each year. How can this still be acceptable in a modern world?

 

It reminds me of the Hollywood horror movie ‘The Purge’. The film story line is simple, the government sanctions an annual 12-hour period during which all criminal activity — including murder — is legal. The usual peace loving population are allowed to vent of steam during this period and this allows – or so the story suggests – a more peace loving community during the rest of the year.

 

 

For anyone outside of Thailand to experience Songkran with streets gridlock with trucks with party revelers drinking hard and throwing ice cold water on passerby’s and motorbikes it would strike them as madness. 

 

Full story: https://danaboutthailand.com/2018/03/15/why-modern-day-songkran-is-more-like-movie-the-purge/

 

-- DAN ABOUT THAILAND 2018-03-16

Oh but, isn't it sanook!  

No, it´s not sanook! It´s pure madness. Songkran is from start a beautiful tradition, that turned into be a moronic activity for brainless dorks.

Edited March 16, 20188 yr by Get Real

Avoid the tourist hotspots and it is still traditional and fun.

 

7 days of madness in Pattaya for example is all about the money and getting wasted.

Nothing to do with Songkran whatsoever.

56 minutes ago, Get Real said:

No, it´s not sanook! It´s pure madness. Songkran is from start a beautiful tradition, that turned into be a moronic activity for brainless dorks.

have to agree, and the fact that it goes on for almost a week just adds insult to injury (death)

 

Thai's are very quick to point the finger when tourists insult their precious culture and yet the greatest insult of all they do by their own hands in the most disgusting disgraceful manner 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

How can this still be acceptable in a modern world?

 

What does the modern world have to do with Thailand?

I experianced only two Songkrans in my 12 years of living here fulltime.  The first was in Surin when I was married.  I actually enjoyed it, I went with my wife and her family to the local reservoir, got soaked, eat and drank a lot came home and that was it.  Going about my business on a daily basis into town was never a problem, I was never pelted with water and white powder.  Fast forward three years and I thought it might be fun to go to Pattaya/Jomtien for Songkran.  Oh boy was I wrong.  If I had to choose who were the biggest di...ck heads the Farangs stood head and shoulders about the rest.  Drunken idiots not satisfied to use a water gun, oh no these clowns had to use buckets or in some cases garbage cans.  I saw them jumping out in the road to dose unsuspecting motorbike riders and as a result there were numerous falls.  That was all it took, one day of that,and told my wife we are out of here.  Ever since I have left Thailand during this period.  With the combination of idiot Thais drunk out of their minds and clueless Farangs trying to look cool I would be foolish indeed to put up with.

My first Songkran in Chiang Mai 10 years ago was more then enough to convince me to stay the hell off my motorcycle and just stay home during this week of total madness. 

2 hours ago, nakhonandy said:

Avoid the tourist hotspots and it is still traditional and fun.

 

7 days of madness in Pattaya for example is all about the money and getting wasted.

Nothing to do with Songkran whatsoever.

LOL. Doesn't matter where you go you are going to get wet.

Even in the country they line up to throw buckets of water on passing buses.

 

I used to love Songkran in Pattaya- great fun, till some idiot started the craze for putting ice in the water. Now I will be hiding for the duration.

25 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

My first Songkran in Chiang Mai 10 years ago was more then enough to convince me to stay the hell off my motorcycle and just stay home during this week of total madness. 

I won't be participating in C M even if I wanted to, as they take dirty water out of the moat to throw on people.

48 minutes ago, idman said:

I saw them jumping out in the road to dose unsuspecting motorbike riders and as a result there were numerous falls.

I agree with most of your post, except it's just as much Thai hoons as farangs.

 

Anyway, specific to the quote- there are NO unsuspecting motorbike riders in Pattaya, unless tourists too ignorant to see what is going on and not use the bike, or Thais that haven't left their room in their entire life till Songkran.

The only surprising thing to me is that more of them don't use raincoats ( cheap in any 7 11 ) to avoid getting their clothes soaked.

It's not difficult to avoid the trash areas.  Leave the country over a water festival and comparing it to a garbage Yank movie is a bit of hyperbole.

Have a nice journey, snowflakes.

55 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. Doesn't matter where you go you are going to get wet.

Even in the country they line up to throw buckets of water on passing buses.

 

I used to love Songkran in Pattaya- great fun, till some idiot started the craze for putting ice in the water. Now I will be hiding for the duration.

I have no issue with getting wet, that's all part of it. In the village it's just more restrained and fun.

 

Usually head to the village for the real Songkran and then back down to Jomtien for the 19th and the festival.

Just can't stand 7 days of madness in Jomtien/Pattaya.

2 minutes ago, nakhonandy said:

I have no issue with getting wet, that's all part of it. In the village it's just more restrained and fun.

 

Usually head to the village for the real Songkran and then back down to Jomtien for the 19th and the festival.

Just can't stand 7 days of madness in Jomtien/Pattaya.

I think it's 11 days now.

If you look on the Pattaya forum there's a long thread about it by JSixpack.

It’s a unique and fun holiday that a lot of old geezers moan about for the next month on TVF. I like Bangkok’s 3 days of water throwing and recklessness. I don’t know what traffic the OP is yacking on about Bangkok is dead for at least 5/6 days. Almost quiet on the streets. It’s also mainly in just a few areas in Bangkok as well. The ice water is extremely refreshing since it’s sooo hot out. Maybe some of you haters that brag about how many years you have locked yourself up should go out, buy a huge gun and water fight!!  It’s extremely therapeutic! Makes you feel exhilarated! You can take out all your pent up anger and aim your guns right at women and children if you want or Chinese or Russians or DT supporters or surprise spray someone on a motor bike that should have known Songkran was coming for the past year but still decided to drive one. 

An ever increasing number of idiot participants (both ethnic and introduced) celebrating Songkran have taken for many the semblance of fun out of the equation, and inserted recklessness that impacts (often fatally) on others.

Am surprised travel insurance isn't an exclusion during the period, along with scooter hire, para-sailing, walking on a pedestrian crossing?

This phenomenon of idiotic behaviour is not just relegated to Thailand but seems to be pervasive for many celebrations throughout the globe.

Wish I could explain to our cat whilst when darkness falls and he is quaking under the bed for three weeks, as idiots celebrate November 5th (Guy Fawkes) well beyond date.

could the reason be the effects of Hollywood garbage?

I can still remember my first "real Thailand" songkran experience many years ago at my wife's grandfather in Trang.

 

The whole family came together and in the living room there were bowls of flowers and water. The grandfather sat down in a chair and from older generation to younger generation we poured some water over his hands and did a waai. He blessed everyone in the family and this was repeated with other oldies (over 80 years old). Pictures were taken, jokes were told, lots of laughter (kids telling their parents to also take place on the chair because they were so old), and of course loads of food where most families living nearby brought dishes they were proud to present to their family.

 

Oh, and there were no buckets up water, drunk people, traffic accidents, water fights, or shootings taking place in or around the house.

5 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

It’s a unique and fun holiday that a lot of old geezers moan about for the next month on TVF. I like Bangkok’s 3 days of water throwing and recklessness. I don’t know what traffic the OP is yacking on about Bangkok is dead for at least 5/6 days. Almost quiet on the streets. It’s also mainly in just a few areas in Bangkok as well. The ice water is extremely refreshing since it’s sooo hot out. Maybe some of you haters that brag about how many years you have locked yourself up should go out, buy a huge gun and water fight!!  It’s extremely therapeutic! Makes you feel exhilarated! You can take out all your pent up anger and aim your guns right at women and children if you want or Chinese or Russians or DT supporters or surprise spray someone on a motor bike that should have known Songkran was coming for the past year but still decided to drive one. 

You are the self-centred reckless participant who has jumped on a recent bandwagon exuding fun without consideration.

May you not find yourself  having to use any motorcycle through unplanned necessity and then be a statistic with Facebook pictures of your corpse being proffered and adding to serious traffic congestion already exasperated.

 

4 hours ago, nakhonandy said:

Avoid the tourist hotspots and it is still traditional and fun.

 

7 days of madness in Pattaya for example is all about the money and getting wasted.

Nothing to do with Songkran whatsoever.

Absolute BS: I have bicycled through heartland Isan and southern Thailand during Songkran ,off the beaten track , and it came close to being hell on earth, at least for a farang on a bicycle:the Thais' repressed aggressiveness finds full expression: Buckets with dirty water or chunks of ice are flung with full force into your face or aimed at  the crotch of a farang on a moving bicycle, with clear intent to inflict maximum pain, them howling with delight when you writhe in pain.Powder is smeared not only on your face, but into your nose, mouth.That was 15 to 20 years ago.The last 1 Songkrans and I have spent in Cambodia/Vietnam/Philippines etc 

IMO, at Songkran the Thai psyche shows their true colors.

1 minute ago, thecyclist said:

Absolute BS: I have bicycled through heartland Isan and southern Thailand during Songkran ,off the beaten track , and it came close to being hell on earth, at least for a farang on a bicycle:the Thais' repressed aggressiveness finds full expression: Buckets with dirty water or chunks of ice are flung with full force into your face or aimed at  the crotch of a farang on a moving bicycle, with clear intent to inflict maximum pain, them howling with delight when you writhe in pain.Powder is smeared not only on your face, but into your nose, mouth.That was 15 to 20 years ago.The last 1 Songkrans and I have spent in Cambodia/Vietnam/Philippines etc 

IMO, at Songkran the Thai psyche shows their true colors.

Who in their right mind would ride a bicycle during Songkran?

Of course you were an easy target.

48 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

It’s a unique and fun holiday that a lot of old geezers moan about for the next month on TVF. I like Bangkok’s 3 days of water throwing and recklessness. I don’t know what traffic the OP is yacking on about Bangkok is dead for at least 5/6 days. Almost quiet on the streets. It’s also mainly in just a few areas in Bangkok as well. The ice water is extremely refreshing since it’s sooo hot out. Maybe some of you haters that brag about how many years you have locked yourself up should go out, buy a huge gun and water fight!!  It’s extremely therapeutic! Makes you feel exhilarated! You can take out all your pent up anger and aim your guns right at women and children if you want or Chinese or Russians or DT supporters or surprise spray someone on a motor bike that should have known Songkran was coming for the past year but still decided to drive one. 

"Pent up anger and aiming at women and children..."

 

So, your that guy. 

At least 92% of your post was accurate.

Edited March 16, 20188 yr by HLover
Added content

I don't like this updated way of Songkran either but are you sure that our holidays are the same?  Easter, Christmas and the rest are they the same as they were, say, twenty years ago?

35 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

Oh, and there were no buckets up water, drunk people, traffic accidents, water fights, or shootings taking place in or around the house.

worth nothing then 5555

32 minutes ago, HLover said:

"Pent up anger and aiming at women and children..."

 

So, your that guy. 

At least 92% of your post was accurate.

I don’t  get your comment. I have a lot of fun with the kids on Silom in BKK and some of their moms as well. We spray water at each other and some of those kids catch me off guard a little later and get me good! 

There are also a lot of posters on here who do seem to have pent up anger towards women as you may know. Some against their own kids too. 

1 hour ago, Paul Catton said:

You are the self-centred reckless participant who has jumped on a recent bandwagon exuding fun without consideration.

May you not find yourself  having to use any motorcycle through unplanned necessity and then be a statistic with Facebook pictures of your corpse being proffered and adding to serious traffic congestion already exasperated.

 

There seems to be thousands and thousands having fun at Songkrsn so I don’t think it’s just me lol. How do you get “ self centered” out of having fun spraying water which is what you are SUPPOSED to do on this fun holiday. I don’t have Facebook either. I don’t like it. Why on earth would you ride around on a bike in the water throwing areas because of a “unplanned necessity” ?? Take a taxi, ambulance or your friends car. 

21 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

There seems to be thousands and thousands having fun at Songkrsn so I don’t think it’s just me lol. How do you get “ self centered” out of having fun spraying water which is what you are SUPPOSED to do on this fun holiday. I don’t have Facebook either. I don’t like it. Why on earth would you ride around on a bike in the water throwing areas because of a “unplanned necessity” ?? Take a taxi, ambulance or your friends car. 

Look at life through your own narrow perspective enlightened by the immediate circle you keep that reinforces same conduct by now is far too many.,  

Speakers on utility vehicles were sparse and relegated to City use for advertisement of Muay Thai boxing ventures.

Now every <deleted> wants to impose themselves in any neighbourhood

exuberanting same.

It is easy for participants to try and absolve themselves of their inconsideration, and waging a general warfare using water bombardment to persons needing to go about their daily business.

The festival has gone too far with idiocy prevailing actions and needs to be brought back to intention and Sanook for all.

1 hour ago, ostyan said:

I don't like this updated way of Songkran either but are you sure that our holidays are the same?  Easter, Christmas and the rest are they the same as they were, say, twenty years ago?

Songkran has been this way for at least 20 years and probably longer. Hardly "updated".

I fly into BKK on 30th March, after a well-deserved holiday from my job in Myanmar.

Detailed health check, go to the bank, buy some things, then fly out on 4th April for a week's dirt-bike riding in northern Laos.

Back to BKK on the 11th, buy a few more things and fly back on the 12th to enjoy the water festival in Myanmar and some more riding in the Shan hills and Inle Lake.

Sorted! :)

8 minutes ago, Paul Catton said:

Look at life through your own narrow perspective enlightened by the immediate circle you keep that reinforces same conduct by now is far too many.,  

Speakers on utility vehicles were sparse and relegated to City use for advertisement of Muay Thai boxing ventures.

Now every <deleted> wants to impose themselves in any neighbourhood

exuberanting same.

It is easy for participants to try and absolve themselves of their inconsideration, and waging a general warfare using water bombardment to persons needing to go about their daily business.

The festival has gone too far with idiocy prevailing actions and needs to be brought back to intention and Sanook for all.

My first Songkran was in the 90s, and it's probably been going on long before that. Most of the Thais involved in it probably weren't even alive when it became as it is today. I don't think it could be worse now than it was in the 90s as it was full on then. 

The only difference, and the reason I don't participate now is the ice.

 

As for speakers, in the early 90s I was extremely annoyed by a van selling fruit with a very loud speaker that kept pace with me as I walked along Jomptien Beach Rd.

I'm more disturbed by unmuffled m'bikes and longtails, though.