SURVEY: Songkran--Big Event or Big Waste of Time?

[Scott]

The Thai government is granting September 4 and 7 as a substitution for the previously canceled Songkran.   In your opinion, is this a good opportunity for families to get together or a dangerous waste of time?  

 

Please select the option which best describes your opinion and feel free to leave a comment.

[Rmac442]

Their version of Easter ..so let it be ..

Problem really is the 'body count' from accidents that goes with it !! 

[RotBenz8888]

Good luck with social distance and wearing masks during the drinking binge. But then again, there aren't any covids here anyway... 

[Tarteso]

Big Event or Big Waste of Time?

It’s fun but a waste if time, gas and water. Sadly youth and children haven’t too much alternatives for fun and government very little imagination to know how to entertain them.

 

[JusticeGB]

I stay indoors at Songkran. This year I had planned to go to Saigon but my flights were cancelled. I had to wait 3 months for my refund then I booked a trip to Manilla and had to wait 4 months for a refund. Luckily I didn't manage to go because of the subsequently imposed covid19 restrictions. Songkran in Pattaya lasts well over 10 days and is particularly dangerous. Soi Buakoi doesn't even stop at 6pm. I was 5km away from a Songkran area when I was knocked off my motorbike and spent 5 weeks in bed. The person who knocked me off could only afford to mend my bike and offer 6,000 compensation. Now I will just stay in my condo for future Songkran festivals and order in my food.

[Brunolem]

A number of farangs, tourists rather than residents, deserve a large share of the blame for having transformed the inoffensive Sonkgran festival into a festival of debauchery and stupidity! 

 

Just have a look at the mayhem in Khaosan Road... 

[JingerBen]

49 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

A number of farangs, tourists rather than residents, deserve a large share of the blame for having transformed the inoffensive Sonkgran festival into a festival of debauchery and stupidity! 

 

Just have a look at the mayhem in Khaosan Road... 

You're right, farangs have played a large part over the years in transforming Songkran into a free-for-all water fight.

   But Thais themselves have gone along with alacrity.

[The Barmbeker]

I like it!

In April!

For one day!

After that it becomes annoying TO ME!

But I don't have a problem with people celebrating - I just wish, the RTP would do their job and make traffic safer, during that time!

 

...I don't really see the use of doing it in September...

[The Barmbeker]

56 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

A number of farangs, tourists rather than residents, deserve a large share of the blame for having transformed the inoffensive Sonkgran festival into a festival of debauchery and stupidity! 

 

Just have a look at the mayhem in Khaosan Road... 

Yeah, sure!

Blame it on the foreigners!

Because the frail and immaculate Thais had no choice but to go along and most do it only reluctantly...

>sarcasm off<.

[5633572526]

The only votes that matter are the votes of Thai citizens.

their country their holiday.

In the words of so many on this forum “if you don’t like it Leave”

[RichardColeman]

vote they do it in the middle of the rainy season

[Max69xl]

The replacement days have nothing to with Songkran which is the Thai new year. It's about giving back 3 postponed public holidays. The last two are the ones in early September. One is already replaced. 

[Moonlover]

6 hours ago, Rmac442 said:

Their version of Easter ..so let it be ..

Problem really is the 'body count' from accidents that goes with it !! 

Your comment about the 'body count' is very much a myth. Traffic accidents and the ensuing deaths carry on daily throughout the year. Holiday or no holiday.

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, JusticeGB said:

I stay indoors at Songkran. This year I had planned to go to Saigon but my flights were cancelled. I had to wait 3 months for my refund then I booked a trip to Manilla and had to wait 4 months for a refund. Luckily I didn't manage to go because of the subsequently imposed covid19 restrictions. Songkran in Pattaya lasts well over 10 days and is particularly dangerous. Soi Buakoi doesn't even stop at 6pm. I was 5km away from a Songkran area when I was knocked off my motorbike and spent 5 weeks in bed. The person who knocked me off could only afford to mend my bike and offer 6,000 compensation. Now I will just stay in my condo for future Songkran festivals and order in my food.

How were you knocked off your motorbike, did someone throw a pail of water over you? If not, then what has songcran got to do with it?

[ramrod711]

4 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

How were you knocked off your motorbike, did someone throw a pail of water over you? If not, then what has songcran got to do with it?

It wasn't the water in the pail, it was the 5kg block of ice.

[NoshowJones]

7 minutes ago, ramrod711 said:

It wasn't the water in the pail, it was the 5kg block of ice.

Well we will just wait and see if the poster answers and tells us.

[mike787]

Have toilet water jetted into your face and talcum powder inhaled is NO thrill. 

[Grumpy John]

Living in Pattaya for 4 years I was over the Songklan silly season by year 2.  It's much better here in the village.  If you want to be in the water fight it up at the wat after the volunteer monk gives the blessings. Other wise its just a parade around the village with the local......people! They hassle everyone for booze or a donation but it's all in fun.  The wife gives a 6 pack of wine coolers. She says it's for the girls....let the men buy their own whisky and beer. ????

[Moonlover]

7 hours ago, Rmac442 said:

Their version of Easter ..so let it be ..

Problem really is the 'body count' from accidents that goes with it !! 

And it's just dawned on me that your 1st line is wrong as well.

 

Songkran is the Thai new year. You really must do a bit of study on Thai culture and traditions.

Edited August 16, 2020 by Moonlover

[johng]

21 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

How were you knocked off your motorbike, did someone throw a pail of water over you? If not, then what has songcran got to do with it?

My very first Songkran (about 1998) I was riding a decrepit old banger of a motorbike quite slowly along a main road in Phrae (the outback or sticks of Thailand)

there was a lone kid and his father waiting  on the side of the road with a bucket of water..as I passed  the kid skilfully and egged on by father landed the full bucket of water right in my face knocking of my spectacles and rendering me momentarily blind ( yes I wasn't wearing a helmet bad boy bad boy )

After they had retrieved my eyeglasses I said a few choice words and continued on ,  a few  hundred meters along the road  a group of teenagers had set up a  "watering station"   and threw another whole bucket of

water onto the engine/spark plug  which killed the bike dead  they then doused me in ice cold water.

[NoshowJones]

1 minute ago, johng said:

My very first Songkran (about 1998) I was riding a decrepit old banger of a motorbike quite slowly along a main road in Phrae (the outback or sticks of Thailand)

there was a lone kid and his father waiting  on the side of the road with a bucket of water..as I passed  the kid skilfully and egged on by father landed the full bucket of water right in my face knocking of my spectacles and rendering me momentarily blind ( yes I wasn't wearing a helmet bad boy bad boy )

After they had retrieved my eyeglasses I said a few choice words and continued on ,  a few  hundred meters along the road  a group of teenagers had set up a  "watering station"   and threw another whole bucket of

water onto the engine/spark plug  which killed the bike dead  they then doused me in ice cold water.

These are people who are not fit to be part of the human race.

[OneMoreFarang]

It should be entirely up to the Thai people.

[Rancid]

Well, the Thais don't seem to protesting about western holidays. Songkran loses its appeal the more you age and the more you go through, how soon we forget the fun of our first one.

[PatOngo]

15 hours ago, Scott said:

or a dangerous waste of time?  

Noooo! It's a sanook Thai cultural experience!

[realfunster]

6 hours ago, Brunolem said:

A number of farangs, tourists rather than residents, deserve a large share of the blame for having transformed the inoffensive Sonkgran festival into a festival of debauchery and stupidity! 

 

Just have a look at the mayhem in Khaosan Road... 

You and all those that liked your post, quite frankly, haven’t got a clue.

 

I have enjoyed Songkran at a number of provincial Thai towns over the years and it’s as bad, if not worse, than Khao San Road. In fact, these were the only occasions I have ever felt unsafe in Thailand. It was like being at a moody football match in the 80s. Way too many seriously drunk people and gangs of lads steaming around looking for trouble. Similar behaviour can also be seen at upcountry music events on a regular basis. I doubt some of these people have been to Bangkok, let alone Khao San.

 

Your proposition that foreign tourists have somehow bastardized Songkran across the entire nation and wholesome Thais have been corrupted by said foreigners is ridiculous.
 

It actually sounds like something those nationalistic zealots in Government would come out with...

[CorpusChristie]

10 hours ago, Rmac442 said:

Their version of Easter ..so let it be ..

Problem really is the 'body count' from accidents that goes with it !! 

Accidental road deaths during Songkran are usually lower than other days 

[pontious]

Songkran has been cancelled this year. These are just the two days they owed the public. 

[elliss]

11 hours ago, Rmac442 said:

Their version of Easter ..so let it be ..

Problem really is the 'body count' from accidents that goes with it !! 

 

 

       In summary .

 The death total , will be more than Covid-19 , pandemic panic . caused.. 

 

[DJ54]

It’s not the best of times to take more holidays due to many business closed because of Covid 19. But it’s not going change so let it be. 

 

Folks that work in BKK with families in NE it’s going to be pushing the limots of traffic and safety of drivers trying to reduce driving time. It’s a

good 8+ hours with no traffic.. probably 12+ with traffic which will cause fatigue if only one driver,... 

 

Hopefully people error more towards safety and be responsible drivers...

not trying to drive back with hangovers...

[scammed]

my answer hings entirely upon the issue if i am going to be attacked

on my scooter or not.

can someone clarify what is coming ?