Tourists ignore Songkran water-fight ban on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road

[webfact]

 

A large number of locals and foreign tourists flocked to Bangkok’s Khaosan Road last night (Wednesday) to engage in Songkran water fights, despite the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s ban on the usual widespread splashing of water for the third year, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

 

Wednesday afternoon, municipal officials from Phra Nakhon District Office ordered all businesses on Khaosan Road not to allow tourists to splash water and to remove all ice buckets, adding that those who defy the order would be subject to a 100,000 baht fine.

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

Despite the ban, however, many foreign tourists continued to play with water guns, without maintaining any social distancing. Most of them did not wear facemasks.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourists-ignore-songkran-water-fight-ban-on-bangkoks-khaosan-road/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-04-14

 

- Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[RandiRona]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

Despite the ban, however, many foreign tourists continued to play with water guns, without maintaining any social distancing. Most of them did not wear facemasks.

Dirty falang ...dont follow Thailand law....but question remains who arranged the water and ice if those were removed before???

[BangkokReady]

Quote

Tourists ignore Songkran water-fight ban on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

A large number of locals and foreign tourists

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

Despite the ban, however, many foreign tourists continued to play with water guns, without maintaining any social distancing. Most of them did not wear facemasks.

Seems to be an effort to highlight the presence of foreigners here...

 

Getting ready to blame foreigners for any Songkran related covid spikes?

[BangkokReady]

8 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

Dirty falang ...dont follow Thailand law....but question remains who arranged the water and ice if those were removed before???

Very likely that this was started with/by locals.  They're just trying to blame foreigners.

[Whale]

Who sells them the water guns, who provides them with water, who turns a blind eye, who keeps em liquored up?  Not foreigners that for sure. 

 

Its like those big posters en route to the airport threatening those who buy buddha tats or buy Buddha ornaments, but the sellers are never questioned, because they are from the same tribe?

 

[Dart12]

oh no.  Young people living life who have nothing to be afraid of.  Good.  Take the world back.

[Gottfrid]

Started by locals or not, is totally irrelevant. The big questions is why all the foreigners that try to stand so high above all the time, do not choose to abide with the regulations? And yes, It will be all about foreigners breaking the regulations during Songkran, because it´s easier to see the dirt bags that openly show their ignorance by breaking them. Just sad that such ignorant people must come to the country. Go home!

[StayinThailand2much]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

A large number of locals and foreign tourists flocked to Bangkok’s Khaosan Road last night (Wednesday) to engage in Songkran water fights (...)

 

Wednesday afternoon, municipal officials from Phra Nakhon District Office ordered all businesses on Khaosan Road not to allow tourists to splash water (...) adding that those who defy the order would be subject to a 100,000 baht fine.

Yeah, punish the foreign tourists but not the locals, that will work! Shows not only the attitude towards tourists, but also that authorities are helpless to enforce rules as soon as a large number of locals decide not to follow them.

 

 

 

[TheScience]

I just can't believe after two years that there is still enough riff raff in Thailand that this is a thing.

 

Even more shocking is someone would fly in, brave the inconsistencies in covid policies - to drench strangers with dirty water while drinking overpriced alcohol.

 

Oh wait a minute... Thailand, KSR, dirty backpackers, Instagram...it's all making sense now

[mancub]

17 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Started by locals or not, is totally irrelevant. The big questions is why all the foreigners that try to stand so high above all the time, do not choose to abide with the regulations? And yes, It will be all about foreigners breaking the regulations during Songkran, because it´s easier to see the dirt bags that openly show their ignorance by breaking them. Just sad that such ignorant people must come to the country. Go home!

Do you seriously believe that tourists are aware of all the rules/regulations that are changed on a daily basis ?

The bigger question being why the locals encourage it.

Why openly sell water guns then?

Why supply an ash-tray next to a non-smoking sign ?

 

[Dart12]

hey, what brings people in  ?  and what do they like?

ok.  ban it and claim they are hurting others since we already know none of them will get sick.

[BangkokReady]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

Started by locals or not, is totally irrelevant. The big questions is why all the foreigners that try to stand so high above all the time, do not choose to abide with the regulations?

The locals being involved is absolutely relevant.  It completely nullifies your second sentence here.

 

Just think about what you have written for a second.  It doesn't matter if the locals started it but you're wondering why the foreigners broke the rules?  Seriously?  If the locals are involved, if the locals took part and maybe even started and encouraged it, then it isn't foreigners putting themselves above locals in their choosing not to follow the regulations.

 

The way your comment reads is like the foreigners came along, saw all the locals peacefully following the regulations, wearing masks, social distancing, not drinking, and then just ripped off their masks and started a water fight completely separate to the locals in the vicinity.  Do you actually believe that?

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

The locals being involved is absolutely relevant.  It completely nullifies your second sentence here.

 

Just think about what you have written for a second.  It doesn't matter if the locals started it but you're wondering why the foreigners broke the rules?  Seriously?  If the locals are involved, if the locals took part and maybe even started and encouraged it, then it isn't foreigners putting themselves above locals in their choosing not to follow the regulations.

 

The way your comment reads is like the foreigners came along, saw all the locals peacefully following the regulations, wearing masks, social distancing, not drinking, and then just ripped off their masks and started a water fight completely separate to the locals in the vicinity.  Do you actually believe that?

You misinterpreted my comment. I did not mean they stand above regarding this single thing. The standing above, was the attitude of posters on this forum, that always seems to be above the Thais. However, most of you like to stay here anyway, right? How you read it, is totally up to you. My opinion is that as a visitor of a country you show some respect and do not engage in breaking the rules just because you see locals do that.

No, I do not believe they did it separate from the locals. Never wrote that! You might put a lid on your justifying imagination a little bit.

[AventurasEnMadrid]

The way this article is written is absurd. I was there as I am currently staying on KSR and tons of restaurants and bars were starting the water fights and locals made up perhaps 75-80% of people using waterguns, throwing water from buckets, hoses etc. It was packed and police arrived around 11:30 PM. Anyway, police come every night to KSR in a show of force at which time the music stops and tables are removed from outside...then they open up again when the police leave. 

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, mancub said:

Do you seriously believe that tourists are aware of all the rules/regulations that are changed on a daily basis ?

The bigger question being why the locals encourage it.

Why openly sell water guns then?

Why supply an ash-tray next to a non-smoking sign ?

 

No, you not get it to be the fault of the locals. The only fault on them is that they play, not fault them for foreigners playing.

Yes, I think they are aware, it´s just to read the news. I simply thing to do and a duty to keep yourself updated.
It´s up to the locals to encourage it as much as they want. How hard can it be to say no to a water fight as an adult. A 5 year old, I would understand.

I am not for openly sell water guns. However, it´s more stupid to buy one, when you know you are not allowed to use it.
So, if the locals put out water, then you must break the rules? Really, are we that weak?

[Docno]

No problem - just add a dash of disinfectant to the water and say you're fighting the virus and keeping people safe...  

[BangkokReady]

31 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

The standing above, was the attitude of posters on this forum, that always seems to be above the Thais. However, most of you like to stay here anyway, right?

I don't consider myself to be above anyone, based on race or nationality.  If there is an individual whose actions I want to discuss or condemn (or even celebrate), Thai or foreign, I will do so, as is the nature of most online forums.

 

31 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

My opinion is that as a visitor of a country you show some respect and do not engage in breaking the rules just because you see locals do that.

While I would agree for more serious matters, like underage sex, rape, murder, hard drug use, drinking and driving, etc., I think something like joining in with a gang of locals on a party street throwing some water around is fine.  You are entitled to disagree with that, of course.  Legally, they are as culpable as the locals.  Morally, I don't see anything to really object to.

[StayinThailand2much]

41 minutes ago, AventurasEnMadrid said:

Anyway, police come every night to KSR in a show of force at which time the music stops and tables are removed from outside...then they open up again when the police leave. 

What a nice place to come for a holiday! Not!

[vandeventer]

Most tourist come to Thailand for it's freedom and happy life style. Word of mouth travels fast. So let them have fun, after all it's only water guns!

[chang1]

3 hours ago, TheScience said:

I just can't believe after two years that there is still enough riff raff in Thailand that this is a thing.

 

Even more shocking is someone would fly in, brave the inconsistencies in covid policies - to drench strangers with dirty water while drinking overpriced alcohol.

 

Oh wait a minute... Thailand, KSR, dirty backpackers, Instagram...it's all making sense now

I can't believe nobs like you still want to live in Thailand where people go to have fun. Why don't you try Monaco? You'll be right at home there or would you be considered riff raff?

[Aussieroaming]

The RTP has no financial incentive to enforce road rules but they are quite willing to grab some low hanging fruit and threaten people with fines or jail for squirting water on each other. 

[chrischronic]

The water fighting is going on all over. My TikTok feed is flooded with Thais only in small towns partying and playing water and also foreigners in tourist areas. 

[BangkokReady]

20 minutes ago, chang1 said:

I can't believe nobs like you still want to live in Thailand where people go to have fun. Why don't you try Monaco? You'll be right at home there or would you be considered riff raff?

It's weird.  I don't particularly like Songkran, but in terms of the activities going on, even now, there are way more Thais doing this than foreigners. 

 

If the foreigners are riff-raff, then surely the Thais are too?  Or is there some way that if Thais do this it's OK, but if foreigners do it they're the lowest of the low?  I suspect the latter is the case in these people's heads.

[TheFishman1]

I’m very happy that the Thai people follow all the rules all the time TIT

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Despite the ban, however, many foreign tourists continued to play with water guns, without maintaining any social distancing. Most of them did not wear facemasks.

Foreigners again, so who sold them water guns and allowed them access to water to splash around?

[Skeptic7]

Ignored right here on Jomtien Soi 7 too. Had a few too many beers and got soaked. Got splashed with alot of water too!  

[Cake Monster]

Such misdemeanors are small potatoes in a largely unruly society, where a Police presence is only to gouge Money

[krobert6]

I seen them filling swimming pools in Bandu Chiang Rai 50m from a Police Station ( not a falang in sight) - maybe just fancied a swim to cool down

[Greg O]

Happy New Year , relax and enjoy , drink and make merry ! The water play on the beach here ( Hua Hin) is cool and fun but ice in the beer ? My Buddah ...

[it is what it is]

 

bottom line; you can have have all the rules in the world but if there is little enforcement, and inconsistent, or no, consequences for breaking the rules, then it's all just white noise...