In past years, the water-throwing didn't really begin until noon.

Anyone who needed to get business done without getting wet was able to do so just by leaving earlier. No problem.

Those who want to play come out later and spend the rest of the day and evening happily throwing water, powder, and sometimes beer cans at other happy revelers! All afternoon and evening!  But... not before noon.

Well, not any longer.

I tried for a supermarket and drug store run at 10am. 

The Moat roads were at a standstill, with happy revelers throwing water in every direction. At 10am.

I made it to the shops without being 'too' wet (at 10am)  but by 10:30's ride home was as if I was surfing Bondi Beach. Water, water everywhere, and no place to hide.  At 10:30 in the morning.
I enjoy Songkran... when I want to play. Not when I do not.

We don't get a choice any longer.

 

I walked down Sukhumvit Soi 4 (Soi Nana) from Benjakiti Park to Sukhumvit Road yesterday, basically the whole length of Soi 4.

I was meeting a friend who said she thought the water throwing would stop around 9:00PM, it didn't.

I won't be going there on Songkran again.

 

It wasn't too bad from Thai people who were mostly having fun and getting me with water but seemed good humored.

 

Several falang creeps took it too far with shooting me in the face with powerful water pistols at close range.

 

I noticed numerous falangs who seemed to take it too far and really seemed to be basically mean and bullying with hitting people with water. Not being done in a sense of fun, but more just a weird pleasure in causing discomfort to others.

 

I have always avoided areas on Songkran where water throwing was expected in the past.

Now I will also do so in the future.

 

I understand how you feel.  I only went to the gym early in the morning and went to Airport Plaza and got back in by 1230.  So far I have not been attacked.  It seems like the Rules of Engagement in the Water Wars is not understand by many.  I mean if I am armed with a water gun, a hose or a bucket then I am a combatant and you can attack me.  But if I am walking on the street and I am not armed with water ammo weapons then I am not a combatant and as they said in Top Gun "weapons tight".  Also, I thought it was "water dousing" to cleanse for a new start in the new year?  

 

Also, my issue is not with the Thai people who understand what Songkran is actually is but the foreign adult sized children who buy the 300 baht water guns and think it's funny to delieberately aim at peoples faces. 

One thing puzzles me. If next month I squirt a random stranger with a water pistol or throw water in their face , as experiences go , will it be more or less enjoyable for both parties ???

 

If it is hugely enjoyable during Songkran shouldn't it be even better if you take someone by surprise ?

 

Another thing. Would it be improved if the sexes were seperated so that all the men were in one place throwing water at each other and all the women somewhere else doing it.  Safer for the women but would it be as popular.

 

Sometimes human beings mob behavior has hidden depths.  

 

 

22 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

In past years, the water-throwing didn't really begin until noon.

Anyone who needed to get business done without getting wet was able to do so just by leaving earlier. No problem.

 

 

 

Little has changed.

You are right you do not get a choice it is there holiday.   So, deal with it.

2 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

You are right you do not get a choice it is there holiday.   So, deal with it.

Where holiday please?

this morning no problem for me running errands.

but i was told the 17th to 19th it will start from early morning.

i have a thin raincoat from 7-11, plastic pouches for my wallet and phone, and sunglasses to protect my eyes. 

some of the guns people are using are quite elaborate. like really long range. 

it would only be fun at one set time in a designated area. not while you're running errands. 

6 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

...but i was told the 17th to 19th it will start from early morning.

Where are you talking about?  This is the Chiangmai forum and what you were told simply isn't going to happen here.

11 hours ago, CMBob said:

Where are you talking about?  This is the Chiangmai forum and what you were told simply isn't going to happen here.

sorry, i didnt know it was the chiang mai forum ...

No problem.  The last Songkran event here in CM will be a procession tomorrow afternoon from Three Kings to the Governor's residence....and there likely will be some water tossing during that event; other than that, water tossing is pretty much finished here in CM after today.

 

THIS is not Songkran to me...  This is a farang who thinks it's the O.K. Corral. Battle unto death...

Silly activity tailor made for a bunch of overgrown babies.

 

The Don.

50 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

You are right you do not get a choice it is there holiday.   So, deal with it.

 

Sorry, I guess English isn't your first language.

That's OK. We get your message regardless.

Too many foreigners here now destroying the Thai tradition.

Saw a video yesterday, a fat western woman taking her top off exposing herself, it wasn't a pretty sight. 🤮

 

 

54 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Too many foreigners here now destroying the Thai tradition.

Saw a video yesterday, a fat western woman taking her top off exposing herself, it wasn't a pretty sight. 🤮

 

 

Like I said, bloody foreigners destroying the fun Thai tradition. 

 

The whole street was applauding, like to know what the idiot done. 

 

Anyway, I'm out of here, had enough Pattaya Songkran, got a flight to Isaan tomorrow morning. 

 

 

I stay off the scooter during Songkhran, travel in a closed car.

it's all fun and games until you spray the wrong cowboy 

 

 

What do people do with their phones?

While I agree that some farang are rather a pain (especially on outside of the moat on the east side of CM), for the most part the Thais are having a blast.  If you don't want to get wet, just don't venture out for three days after about 11AM.

A few photos over the years of the festivities:

 

27 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

What do people do with their phones?

IP68, sorted.

11 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

What do people do with their phones?

leave it at home.

or ... thais are entrepreneurial ... they sell plastic pouches for phones for 49 baht

60K Baht fine and 3 years in jail if you wet somebody against their will ??

 

 

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

What do people do with their phones?

Never heard of plastic bags 

 

Never saw an Indian

 

 

7 minutes ago, Bill97 said:

Never heard of plastic bags 

 

Never saw an Indian

 

 

No never

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

You are right you do not get a choice it is there holiday.   So, deal with it.

 

Their holiday

 

Especially important in your emphasis

4 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

THIS is not Songkran to me...  This is a farang who thinks it's the O.K. Corral. Battle unto death...

Well, this was how I did it....The reason? I had my wife and 2 daughters trailing & I took the brunt while they had fun.... Many times I fended off some grubby/grabbing hands moving/reaching at my teenaged girls.....

I had to educate a few....

I never bullied or took cheap shots and it all worked out....

This pic though, was taken at a ball game on a scorching hot day.....Both teams decided to take a break (unusual) & the SongKran guns came out.....

I hated Songkran. Not fun. For 15 years I took my yearly holidays during Songkran and left Thailand.

On 4/15/2025 at 4:03 PM, CMBob said:

Ifyou don't want to get wet, just don't venture out for three days after about 11AM.

 

That was then. This is now. 

Thinking I’d stay dry at 10 am I made a run to the supermarket. 
Soaked to the skin before I made it home. 
Good thing I didn’t put in my hearing aids. That would have been a $3,000 loss to the idiot farang who ran out into the middle of the street to get me with a full bucket of water in my face.. at 10 o’clock in the morning. 
 

Songkran has gotten out of hand in some areas.