Popular Post webfact Posted April 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted April 14, 2022 file photo by Michael Bridge Songkran, also known as the Water Splashing Festival, is an age-old celebration to mark the start of the Buddhist New Year. Buddha images are bathed, and younger Thais show respect to monks and elders by sprinkled water over their hands. However, over the years the Thai traditional Songkran festival held every April has been taken over by tourists, expats, and younger Thais, as an excuse to drench everyone in sight and drink the days away. Most provinces held the festival over three days, however Pattaya decided to hold theirs over a 10-day period to boost tourism. On the last day, the city usually came to a standstill as over 500,000 converged on Pattaya for an almighty water fight. Songkran celebrations will go ahead after a two-year hiatus due to Covid; the government has said while adding that health and safety measures will still need to be followed. This year the Thai government has said people may still celebrate Songkran however without all the water splashing. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe file photo Although they tried to start a water battle in Bangla Road in Phuket, authorities have now put a halt to it. I for one have enjoyed the fun in the past drenching friends, however in the past for ten days central Pattaya was a no-go area, unless you wanted to run the gauntlet. I am sure it was the same in parts of Bangkok or Phuket. However, if the weather continues to remain hot, expect some folks will need to cool off with a few buckets of icy water, especially in the rural provinces. It may be unwelcome news for the hospitality industry that had hoped for an influx of foreign tourists, however, for many residents, it is a relief not to have to get out the waterproofs. Enjoy your dry holiday! -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-15 - Cigna 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 Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Swiss1960 Posted April 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted April 14, 2022 The "influx of foreign tourists" this year did NOT not happen because water splashing was not allowed... it did not happen because of the entry restrictions that still exist when travelling to Thailand. Only if those entry restrictions are completely gone - at least gone for all vaccinated tourists - THEN the influx of foreign tourists might happen again, and THEN the question about what impact water splashing rules have on tourist numbers can be asked. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post daveAustin Posted April 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted April 14, 2022 Good for boring autocrats and long in the tooth farang, bad for the young uns that want some fun I guess. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timendres Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 3 hours ago, webfact said: This year the Thai government has said people may still celebrate Songkran however without all the water splashing. Apparently, the word did not filter down, or was simply ignored, given the photos I have seen from Khao San and other locations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 49 minutes ago, timendres said: Apparently, the word did not filter down, or was simply ignored, given the photos I have seen from Khao San and other locations. I can't be everywhere but it seems subdues in many areas too. Khao San I care little of..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Boomer6969 Posted April 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted April 14, 2022 Good, definitely. Nice tradition that has turned moronic, so please do away with it, permanently. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hotchilli Posted April 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted April 14, 2022 4 hours ago, webfact said: However, over the years the Thai traditional Songkran festival held every April has been taken over by tourists, expats, and younger Thais, as an excuse to drench everyone in sight and drink the days away. Most provinces held the festival over three days, however Pattaya decided to hold theirs over a 10-day period to boost tourism. A festival scuppered by commercialism... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesimps Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 2 hours ago, daveAustin said: Good for boring autocrats and long in the tooth farang, bad for the young uns that want some fun I guess. Even when I was young I can't imagine me spending the whole day squirting water at people who were doing exactly the same thing without getting bored to death. I did just that in the first of my fifteen years of living here and swore I'd never do it again. Which I haven't. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vandeventer Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 To sum it up, a wet Songkran for 15 years old and younger is great. But a dry Songkran is much better for the 65 years old and older. So as for the ones in the middle, who actually gives a s--t what they think? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jacko45k Posted April 15, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted April 15, 2022 2 minutes ago, vandeventer said: To sum it up, a wet Songkran for 15 years old and younger is great. But a dry Songkran is much better for the 65 years old and older. So as for the ones in the middle, who actually gives a s--t what they think? You create a strange social order where only the voices of the under 15s and over 65s has relevance, yet do none of the work. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vandeventer Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 6 minutes ago, jacko45k said: You create a strange social order where only the voices of the under 15s and over 65s has relevance, yet do none of the work. Thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimmer Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 An off topic post has been removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jumbo1968 Posted April 15, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted April 15, 2022 I am sure the restaurants and bars benefited from a dry Songkhran, people knowing they would be unlikely to be dowsed with freezing cold water would go out for a beer or a meal. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedrogaz Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 Good news. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Bones Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 My first year Songkran, in Pattaya, was wild. Bands playing, parades, girls, froth wars and beers etc. But like most things, the novelty wears off. That was 2008 and I was a 50 year old tourist. Now been living here married close on 10 years so things change. I still understand the fun of it but choose not to participate. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camelot Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 If you think Pattaya or Khao San were wild, spare a thought for citizens and visitors to Chiang Mai. That was where it was all happening. I have never seen such craziness. Loved it when I was younger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Bones Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 18 minutes ago, Camelot said: If you think Pattaya or Khao San were wild, spare a thought for citizens and visitors to Chiang Mai. That was where it was all happening. I have never seen such craziness. Loved it when I was younger. Yes, I first came for the Chiang Mai Cricket 6's in '93. Didn't have a clue about Songkran. Had to lock taxi doors going back to hotel and airport. That Klong (water?) was/is not nice. Didn't consider myself a tourist back then....just naive.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shackleton Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 The tradional way of celebrating Songkran I am all for Agree with writer. It's been taken over by Tourists expats including young Thais with Alcohol being involved spoils it for some people 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burma Bill Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 10 hours ago, webfact said: Enjoy your dry holiday! Yes thank you, but not dry in Cambodia - yesterday in Siem Reap with boat trips, riverside bars and restaurants all able to sell alcohol with food or just to drink! Also water "fights". Photos taken by a friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyExpat57 Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 The art of compromise is all but dead. If those in charge would make certain areas "water battle enabled" and let the fun fly, while letting the rest of us go on with our dry lives, then everybody would be a winner. I know the guy who managed the largest scuba shop in Pattaya a few years back. He told me of a story where he was taking some irreplaceable documents to the Instructor Examination and they were destroyed because of Songkran idiocy. That is the sh!t that ruins it. Section it off for those who want it and leave the rest of us alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefaultName Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 Post-Covid, 2 or 3 days of water could be fun. 10 days in Pattaya is a nightmare. Keep it short and sweet please. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 8 hours ago, hotchilli said: A festival scuppered by commercialism... Much the same as Christmas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzaa09 Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 8 hours ago, hotchilli said: A festival scuppered by commercialism... Yes. Remembering that such traditional celebratory observations have little or nothing to do with a morphed Occidental mindset. Guaranteed that the overwhelming percentage of Farang [even long time fanciful residents] haven't a clue as to what Songkran might be or what it represents. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 6 hours ago, Lucky Bones said: My first year Songkran, in Pattaya, was wild. Bands playing, parades, girls, froth wars and beers etc. But like most things, the novelty wears off. That was 2008 and I was a 50 year old tourist. Now been living here married close on 10 years so things change. I still understand the fun of it but choose not to participate. Exactly, it's not compulsory and is easily avoided. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Thailand said: Much the same as Christmas? Christmas, New Year, Easter, you got it, every country is the same. And you know Thailand, it's not slow to jump on something and milk it for all it's worth...???? Edited April 15, 2022 by hotchilli 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unblocktheplanet Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 Look, it's all about Covid. This is not irony: Covid thrives on fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex8912 Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 6 hours ago, Thailand said: Exactly, it's not compulsory and is easily avoided. But why year after year after year do several posters always complain and show their grumpiness and stupidity about a holiday they have an ENTIRE year to prepare for? If I hear one more motorcycle guy whine about getting sprayed with water during Songkran especially IN Pattaya IN the main areas where people water play I'm going to puke on them instead! It's much more gross then the mostly fake " klong water " stories! Here's my yearly advice and I'm telling you Pattaya guys now. 2023 Songkran will be EPIC!!! You can be stubborn and ride your motorcycle around or prepare more and live under your bed that week or go away and spend a few baht for a change from your dismal life or RENT A CAR THAT WEEK! Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 21 hours ago, Jumbo1968 said: I am sure the restaurants and bars benefited from a dry Songkhran, people knowing they would be unlikely to be dowsed with freezing cold water would go out for a beer or a meal. It has been so hot for the last couple of days a dousing with cold water sounds good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mania Posted April 16, 2022 Share Posted April 16, 2022 Quote Is a dry Songkran good or bad news for Thailand? In some ways it is good. Because every time this dictatorship removes yet another right of the people with some lame excuse of safety yet allows swimming for instance or uses water canons to control protesting students (during worse delta covid time) they show who they are. Eventually the camels back will be broken & anarchy will break out. This junta may think it would go unnoticed by the world if they fired again on their own people in what ever guise they claim but I think not So long story short, Yes remove more & more freedoms till they get off the couch & take their country & freedoms back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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