Why is Songkran disliked by so many Expats?

[webfact]

Why is Songkran disliked by so many Expats?

By Dan Cheeseman 

 

 

Just a few days before the Songkran holidays and I was at Jomtien immigration stuck in a 2 hour queue. At this time of year it is always the same. Expats needing to get re entry permits so that they can leave the country and escape the water fighting.

 

For long term expats Songkran equates to nothing more than – unfortunately – one big dangerous water fight. Well, it certainly does living in Pattaya and this goes someway into explaining why Songkran is disliked by so many expats.

 

I wrote a while back in one or my blogs relating the holiday period to the Hollywood blockbuster the purge, and it was met with mixed reviews from readers. How can a public holiday ever be described as something so sinister? Yes, I get that and it was perhaps going over board, but I do not know any other public holiday in the world where over 300 people are expected to die in the celebrations. It is ridiculous.

 

Just this week authorities said they would try and clamp down on the sales and consumption of alcohol during this period but also added that they felt it would make no difference. It is almost an impossible ‘party’ for the police to get hold of as it is – in the nicest terms – social anarchy. Too many people are involved for it to be controlled. Initially police said they would not allow people to sit in the back of trucks and throw water, and, by the way, it is actually a criminal offense full stop to travel with passengers sitting in a back of a truck, and now police say it will be acceptable. So laws are laxed during Songkran.

 

Us long term expats that exodus the country during this period often get tarnished as party poopers, but I have seen too much over the years to make me this way. I personally know people who have been killed in these celebrations, and it is always when a motorbike is involved.

 

Full story: https://danaboutthailand.com/2018/04/11/why-is-songkran-disliked-by-so-many-expats/

 

-- DAN ABOUT THAILAND 2018-04-12

[impulse]

My first Songkran in BKK, I didn't mind when some too-old-to-be-kids doused me when I passed on the back of a scooter taxi.  Until I got home and found out that my shirt and pants were ruined by bleach or some other chemicals in the water.  I didn't miss the shirt and pants  as much as I would have missed my eyesight had they hit me a little higher.   Same problem when they toss the water with all the talc (?) powder.  And that's not to mention the risk of taking a tumble at speed off the scooter.

Edited April 12, 2018 by impulse

[Maverell]

I was put off songkran about 10 years ago when I had a dustbin of Khlong water deposited on my head, unexpectedly and from behind. I swallowed some and ended up with a serious infection in my stomach. 3 weeks of illness, 1 week hospitalised.  No more thank you.

[robblok]

I think its the GOM factor and the inability to adapt to the locals. 

 

As for the 300+ people dying during the 7 days.. nice to attribute them all to songkran... now if they deducted that amount from what is averagely killed on the roads then you got real numbers. But i guess that is too much thinking for the local expat trying to justify Songkran is bad. 

 

I personally don't participate anymore because of my work but I always had good fun on Songkran. 

 

Of course there are always extra dangers and exceptions.. but that is it just live with it. 

Edited April 12, 2018 by robblok

[darksidedog]

I wouldn't dislike Songkran so much if it was celebrated, as in much of the country for a single day. In Pattaya wherever you go for 10 days you are likely to get soaked, even late in the evening after it is supposed to have stopped. It means you have to think long and hard about being able to go anywhere for an extended period, not to mention putting phone, wallet etc under the bike seat or in a zip lock bag. One day can be fun. 10 days or more is not a party.

[impulse]

1 minute ago, darksidedog said:

One day can be fun. 10 days or more is not a party.

 

Amen to that.  Sometimes, I just want to go out to a nice restaurant for a meal.  Tough to do when you get soaked at every turn.

[robblok]

1 minute ago, darksidedog said:

I wouldn't dislike Songkran so much if it was celebrated, as in much of the country for a single day. In Pattaya wherever you go for 10 days you are likely to get soaked. It means you have to think long and hard about being able to go anywhere for an extended period, not to mention putting phone, wallet etc under the bike seat or in a zip lock bag. One day can be fun. 10 days or more is not a party.

Maybe I don't dislike it because where I live in the village that does not happen, only when you go to the real trouble spots. Pattaya is not really Thailand its a big party town. You can expect more trouble there. 

 

Here in the gated muh bahn no problems, if i go out maybe.. but nothing that comes close to Pattaya.. but then again people chose to live in a party town.

[KC 71]

The Original Songkran


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[marko kok prong]

A couple of years ago i went to the Philippines to ; 1 escape the heat ,2 the noise,shall be staying in the house with a/c on until it's finished.

[lovelomsak]

I think the ones who dislike it are that way more from the behavior of foreigners during songkran. . Where I live people are still polite. but they are Thai

[Thongkorn]

It will be interesting to see how the packs of Chinease react when wet through 

[ezzra]

It depends who you asks, younger folks will probably love the wet

unruly mayhem, while older guys who's been in Thailand for number

of years and seen the ugly side of Songrahn will not like it much...

[jimmyyy]

only one day here in the village, which is why we come here every year for songkran.  After that one day, there are special times the kids can go to the temple where the monks supervise them playing with water guns and they have lunch. 

[richard_smith237]

I've had lots of fun at Songkran in the past, in an area designated for 'water play' with likeminded others. 

 

But, Songkran always attracts those unable to temper their behavior, usually a result of drinking. 

 

Now I have a child (4 yrs) I have to be careful where we go and at what times. Why? because I'm extremely wary of some drunk idiot spraying a jet of ice-cold water into my son's face with a powerful super-soaker. 

 

The motorcycle is parked up and will not be used for a the next handful of days until I'm sure no one will launch a bucket of water into my face as I ride by. 

 

We will take my son to an area known for 'soft' water play with lots of young children and considerate adults. 

 

So... its not Songkran I dislike, it the idiots who come out of the woodwork for a few days who believe that 'because its songkran' its ok to behave in an anti-social manner and that there are no rules. 

 

The issue I have is that for the most part there seems to be no rules, 'Dan about Thailands' parallel with the Purge is not too far from the truth - Songkran is a few days of chaotic lawlessness where a handful of fools can ruin it for many. 

 

Of course, to back-pedal and show they were doing something the Police will have to arrest one or two ladyboys for bearing a chest and perhaps one or two more people for 'sexy dancing'.... 

 

 

 

 

[sandrabbit]

19 minutes ago, lovelomsak said:

I think the ones who dislike it are that way more from the behavior of foreigners during songkran. . Where I live people are still polite. but they are Thai

No I dislike it because drunken Thai drivers think the roads here are race tracks during songkran.

[jimmyyy]

Something interesting i am seeing up here in the village.  There are village volunteers starting late afternoon and going into the late hours of the night are stopping all cars coming in an out of the village, if you are drunk you have the option to sleep it off in a area provided if not the cops come and you go to jail.  Seems community based, mother in law was over there all night last night and has to go back again tonight.  Not sure of the legality of it, but everyone agrees that i have spoken to that no one is gonna hit anyone or run into a house in this village during songkron this year. 

[AGareth2]

4 minutes ago, sandrabbit said:

No I dislike it because drunken Thai drivers think the roads here are race tracks during songkran.

and the rest of the year

[sanemax]

I just dont enjoy getting water thrown over me , I wouldnt enjoy it on 361 days of the year and I dont enjoy  for four days over songkran .

    Many older westerners just like it because they can see young ladies in see through tops and they can see a glimmer of female breasts from ladies who dont usually show them

[sammieuk1]

I will be out tomorrow chucking as much water as possible at moody disgruntled Farangs  whilst singing old MacDonald had a farm.   

[sanemax]

2 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

I will be out tomorrow chucking as much water as possible at moody disgruntled Farangs  whilst singing old MacDonald had a farm.   

I do feel that people like you are problematic , deliberately targeting people who don't want to play .

   If you would just play water fights  with other like minded people , the rest of us who dont like water fights would be able to go outside .

[xylophone]

20 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

So... its not Songkran I dislike, it the idiots who come out of the woodwork for a few days who believe that 'because its songkran' its ok to behave in an anti-social manner and that there are no rules. 

 

The issue I have is that for the most part there seems to be no rules, 'Dan about Thailands' parallel with the Purge is not too far from the truth - Songkran is a few days of chaotic lawlessness where a handful of fools can ruin it for many. 

Spot on Richard...........it has now become a time for drunken idiots to run riot; not to respect what Songkran is really about. 

 

Luckily or hopefully, it should last a couple of days here.

[KC 71]

Someone giving it the big one- Gave a warning- be careful !


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[KC 71]

[emoji38]


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[robblok]

Its not only expats that dislike songkran, GF was out in the garden and i dunked a glas of water on her from a safe distance... and said happy songrkan.. i got a few choice words from here none I would repeat here. I guess she does not like songkran... maybe i should hide the knives. 

[dick dasterdly]

1 hour ago, sanemax said:

I do feel that people like you are problematic , deliberately targeting people who don't want to play .

   If you would just play water fights  with other like minded people , the rest of us who dont like water fights would be able to go outside .

Exactly!

 

Someone standing or walking carrying a water gun is obviously happy for a 'water-fight' - whereas it's downright dangerous to throw water at people on 'bikes.

[inThailand]

Because their toupee may fall off!

[jesimps]

3 hours ago, robblok said:

I think its the GOM factor and the inability to adapt to the locals. 

 

As for the 300+ people dying during the 7 days.. nice to attribute them all to songkran... now if they deducted that amount from what is averagely killed on the roads then you got real numbers. But i guess that is too much thinking for the local expat trying to justify Songkran is bad. 

 

I personally don't participate anymore because of my work but I always had good fun on Songkran. 

 

Of course there are always extra dangers and exceptions.. but that is it just live with it. 

Your rosey specs have just got rosier, you strange cloggy. You said it though, you don't participate anymore, and that's where the problem lays.

Songkran's a great festival for those who wish to participate, but for those who have to go to and from work, or are wanting  to visit a restaurant in decent clothes, it's a pain in the arse. 

Driving is a bind too because the roads are gridlocked and dangerous, not even you can deny that.

So, in short, there should be designated areas for the players, the rest of the country should be safe for non-players to go about their business.

Try and wean yourself off whatever it is that you're taking and see the wood from the trees occasionally.

 

[robblok]

4 minutes ago, jesimps said:

Your rosey specs have just got rosier, you strange cloggy. You said it though, you don't participate anymore, and that's where the problem lays.

Songkran's a great festival for those who wish to participate, but for those who have to go to and from work, or are wanting  to visit a restaurant in decent clothes, it's a pain in the arse. 

Driving is a bind too because the roads are gridlocked and dangerous, not even you can deny that.

So, in short, there should be designated areas for the players, the rest of the country should be safe for non-players to go about their business.

Try and wean yourself off whatever it is that you're taking and see the wood from the trees occasionally.

 

Where are you living ? because here there are almost no problems.. empty roads... (outskirts of BKK) not too much water throwing here only in party area's. So here people are not to bothered by songkran you can participate or not, that is up to the people here.. if you don't want it you probably won't get wet.. maybe a lil but nothing like in Pattaya for instance. 

 

Bangkok is perfect during songkran (vehicles wise) gridlock is up country where its normally much better compared to BKK.

 

My rosey specs are just not tainted like many GOM's if you can't adapt or survive a couple of days of this your not made out to live in an other country IMHO.  There are plenty of options to go during songkrang. This is a local party the locals mainly love it so why should some foreigners tell them they can't play. Pretty inconsiderate IMHO to not have the locals have their fun.. they work a lot harder as most of us (hours wise anyway) let them blow of some steam.

[Crash999]

For me it was fun the first time, when I went down to Silom to a free-for-all zone. And in my soi it’s not bad with the kids wanting to toss some water. 

 

But it often gets out of control. People drink and get aggressive. Use dirty water. Or put chemicals in it to stain or sting. And some foreigners go crazy thinking it’s a license to do anything to anyone.

[KC 71]

It will be interesting to see how the packs of Chinease react when wet through 

Songgkran originated in china but everyone celebrated in the rivers


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