Pattaya Songkran Survival Guide

[redwood1]

My game plan day by day....

 

1. stock up on food and beer.

2. stay at home.

3.stay at home

4. stay at home.

5. stay at home

6. stay at home.

7.stay at home.

8. stay at home.

9. stay at home.

10. stay at home

[johng]

Better stock up today then  as they will start the madness tomorrow.

[JoseThailand]

Thanks man, I already escaped

[Unamerican]

Sound advice: I shall be there at 5pm today for the beer . . . And the larb moo tod! 

[save the frogs]

1600 ml water blaster lazada

 

 

 

[Ralf001]

My game plan day by day....

1. Stock up on food and for the wife.

2. Move to hotel on brightside, get on the beers and bongs, run amok.

3. get on the beers and bongs, run amok.

4. get on the beers and bongs, run amok.

5. get on the beers and bongs, run amok.

6. get on the beers and bongs, run amok.

7. get on the beers and bongs, run amok.

8. get on the beers and bongs, run amok.

9. check out of hotel and return darkside to the wife

10. relax before return to work.

[topt]

Was it JSixPack who used to write, for a number of years, a very detailed and accurate primer on Songkran in Pattaya - or another poster?

[redwood1]

 

Yep it was Joe 6 Pack.....I bet his old threads are on here some where...

Joe 6 pack changed his name to another name that I forget now.

The new name he used was also writing Songkran guides....

So I am 110% sure it was the old joe6 pack with a new name...

 

I asked the new name if he was Joe 6 pack......But he would never answer me for some reason...

[BexMan]

When I first heard about Songkran I thought it would be fun to experience it ONE day. I wouldn’t mind joining in for one day and getting wet, but not multiple days on end when you want to just pop to the supermarket.

[madone]

7 hours ago, redwood1 said:

My game plan day by day....

 

1. stock up on food and beer.

2. stay at home.

3.stay at home

4. stay at home.

5. stay at home

6. stay at home.

7.stay at home.

8. stay at home.

9. stay at home.

10. stay at home

How dull this conversation is year after year.

Dealing with Songkran is simple -- participate or don't. 

It is clear which times and areas you need to avoid if you want to stay dry.

There are also plenty of places that celebrate one day only.

 

 

[Photoguy21]

If you are in Pattaya at this time do not go out on a motor bike. It is far more dangerous than usual and that is saying something.

[Unamerican]

And @madone makes it duller than ever! 

[Ralf001]

2 hours ago, BexMan said:

When I first heard about Songkran I thought it would be fun to experience it ONE day. I wouldn’t mind joining in for one day and getting wet, but not multiple days on end when you want to just pop to the supermarket.

pop to the supermarket when it opens in the morning.

[petermik]

Most of us grew out of water pistol antics in our early teens.... the sight of grown up supposedly adults... especially those who have flown in solely for this Thai festival wandering around day after day looking for easy targets to humiliate beggars belief... perhaps they were bullied at school when they were younger 🙄

I'm away from Pattaya down in Southern Thailand where the Festival is celebrated in the correct manner for 1 day only and finishes at dusk....

[norsurin]

Stay in my country.I really dont like songkran.For me its a nightmare.

Many years ago i headed to mochit bus station middle of songkran day.On my way to surin.I was told i had to wait for my bus until 5 am next day.I just went back to sukumvit and had fun.The bus started about 5 am and i fell asleep right away.I woke up after 7 hours and thought i was near surin.I get shocked when i realized we just arrived saraburi .took 15 hours before we arrive surin.They said it was about 80.000 people travel from mochit that day.

[jacko45k]

Trapped... Mrs takes the truck and I am left with the motorbike. I should go with her you might say, and yes, Songkran in the village is more enjoyable than the infantile and sometimes downright aggressive thing it is in Pattaya. But it goes on too long, and I really am out of place... I am all grown up and grumpy now!

I often wonder if I should hire a little car to at least get to the supermarket and restock on pies and the like......

[NoshowJones]

20 hours ago, save the frogs said:

1600 ml water blaster lazada

 

 

 

If I was in Pattaya the guy with that contraption and shooting it over me had better prepare for a stay at the Pattaya Hospital.

I understand you are allowed to hit back in self defense in Thailand especially when it involves two farangs.

[NoshowJones]

17 hours ago, BexMan said:

When I first heard about Songkran I thought it would be fun to experience it ONE day. I wouldn’t mind joining in for one day and getting wet, but not multiple days on end when you want to just pop to the supermarket.

Do not take part in it at all instead of acting like a stupid school kid.

[save the frogs]

I found a trick. I'm carrying my umbrella. 

But they might assault me even more if they see that I have a shield.

So might not work. 

 

[topt]

On 4/11/2025 at 10:00 AM, NoshowJones said:

I understand you are allowed to hit back in self defense in Thailand especially when it involves two farangs.

Where did you understand that from?

So because someone squirts you with water you are saying you will beat them up........

Quote

On 4/11/2025 at 10:03 AM, NoshowJones said:

acting like a stupid school kid.

 

or worse in your case.

[NoshowJones]

20 minutes ago, topt said:

Where did you understand that from?

So because someone squirts you with water you are saying you will beat them up........

or worse in your case.

That's exactly what I'm saying, but beat them up is not the term I would use, a squirt of water is nothing, but soaking someone who is not participating or going about their business is just pure assault especially with ice in the water, or the water being dirty as it sometimes is. So grow up and behave yourself.

[save the frogs]

12 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

That's exactly what I'm saying, but beat them up is not the term I would use, a squirt of water is nothing, but soaking someone who is not participating or going about their business is just pure assault especially with ice in the water, or the water being dirty as it sometimes is. So grow up and behave yourself.

 

Yeah, I've changed my stance on this whole thing and agree with you. 

I thought it was harmless fun, but I swallowed some water and got some water in my eye. I was afraid of getting an eye infection, which is possible with dirty water. 

And you have to wash your clothes. Minor inconvenience maybe, but not if it's multiple times over several days. Once is ok, maybe. 

It should be in designated areas only where people choose to participate. 

I got a cheap thin raincoat from 7-11 and I will also wear glasses to protect my eyes. It will be madness on the 19th everywhere from early morning. 

 

[topt]

3 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

So grow up and behave yourself.

This coming from someone who implied they would put someone in hospital if they got sprayed - very mature.........

[topt]

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

Yeah, I've changed my stance on this whole thing and agree with you. 

I thought it was harmless fun, but I swallowed some water and got some water in my eye. I was afraid of getting an eye infection, which is possible with dirty water. 

And you have to wash your clothes. Minor inconvenience maybe, but not if it's multiple times over several days. Once is ok, maybe. 

It should be in designated areas only where people choose to participate. 

I got a cheap thin raincoat from 7-11 and I will also wear glasses to protect my eyes. It will be madness on the 19th everywhere from early morning. 

 

If you know this, presuming you have been here a while, you take the necessary steps to avoid it. It is not rocket science and unless you have to go to work using a baht bus/bike or similar it is avoidable with a little forethought.

 

And for the avoidance of any doubt I also don't participate and try to stay well clear even avoiding coming in to Soi Buakhow last night to pick up a Sunday roast.....

[rattlesnake]

On 4/10/2025 at 11:47 AM, Photoguy21 said:

If you are in Pattaya at this time do not go out on a motor bike. It is far more dangerous than usual and that is saying something.

 

Those who complain about Songkran are most likely those who don't have cars. When using a car, the only differences are traffic jams on the main roads (avoidable by using side roads) and some splashes on your car (that's where the windscreen wipers kick in). As for the rest, not that much changes, nobody is going to spray you on Makro's or a shopping center's parking lot so you can go shopping and do stuff, you just can't walk around freely outside everywhere and the motorbike stays parked for three days… Really not that big a deal.

[smedly]

water splashing usually stops at about 7pm except for 18th and 19th but not this time, soi buakeow at 1am 13th they were still at it soaking people that very obviously did not want to participate - saw some very angry exchanges taking place with these idiots 

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, topt said:

This coming from someone who implied they would put someone in hospital if they got sprayed - very mature.........

I have made my point clear so this debate is now over so the best thing you can do now is just run along. 

[georgegeorgia]

On 4/10/2025 at 7:47 PM, Photoguy21 said:

If you are in Pattaya at this time do not go out on a motor bike. It is far more dangerous than usual and that is saying something.

Ok 

... Academic brilliance!!!

[georgegeorgia]

How many deaths so far??

[Photoguy21]

14 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

 

Those who complain about Songkran are most likely those who don't have cars. When using a car, the only differences are traffic jams on the main roads (avoidable by using side roads) and some splashes on your car (that's where the windscreen wipers kick in). As for the rest, not that much changes, nobody is going to spray you on Makro's or a shopping center's parking lot so you can go shopping and do stuff, you just can't walk around freely outside everywhere and the motorbike stays parked for three days… Really not that big a deal.

It isnt unless you get some who throw large containers of dirty water over you