3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

Clearly you're a bit full of yourself, and I suggest you do some reading and googling yourself.

To start with @smedly didn't mean that Songkran was 7 days, he meant that the water throwing last 7 days, and even more in Pattaya.

Secondly, Songkran is not on the 12th and 13th.

Key 2026 Songkran Details:

• Official Dates: April 13, 14, and 15, 2026.

• Public Holidays: April 14–16, 2026.

Finally, many restaurants and bars are closed, other depleted of customers because they can't reach the venue without being soaked, so how would they make money?

Just have a look at the traffic on the main roads in Pattaya, which is about half of what is on normal days.

If you don't understand how that translates to less business, then I can't help you

again 100% correct

12 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

Clearly you're a bit full of yourself, and I suggest you do some reading and googling yourself.

To start with @smedly didn't mean that Songkran was 7 days, he meant that the water throwing last 7 days, and even more in Pattaya.

Secondly, Songkran is not on the 12th and 13th.

Key 2026 Songkran Details:

• Official Dates: April 13, 14, and 15, 2026.

• Public Holidays: April 14–16, 2026.

Finally, many restaurants and bars are closed, other depleted of customers because they can't reach the venue without being soaked, so how would they make money?

Just have a look at the traffic on the main roads in Pattaya, which is about half of what is on normal days.

If you don't understand how that translates to less business, then I can't help you

If you want to be pedantic, the 12th is thai new years eve.
Thai New Year^{[1]: 802 [2]: 127} or Songkran^[1]: 802 (Thai: สงกรานต์, pronounced [sǒŋ.krāːn]), also known as Songkran Festival^[3] or Songkran Splendours,^[2]: 127 is the Thai New Year's national holiday. Songkran is on 13 April every year, as I stated, the 14th is family day. As for water throwing, again, that is a local issue, not nation wide..eg Hua Hin, 12 and 13 only...

AS for "some" restaurants, and bars, being closed, nothing to do with traffic, more to do with staff heading home to be with family....

If you choose to be in Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, where they have extended days...you get no sympathy from me, and I suggest not from many others. Just remember, those extended money making days, are NOT nation wide.

5 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

If you want to be pedantic, the 12th is thai new years eve.

Yes and the 11th is the day before Thai new years eve. 🤣

If you want to talk about pedantic, then probably have a look at what you claimed in your previous posts, especially your reply to @smedly

I have posted the OFFICIAL dates for Songkran, which say it starts on the 13th while the holidays start on the 14th, and you still want to dispute that.

They always say, stop digging when you are in a hole already

5 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

Yes and the 11th is the day before Thai new years eve. 🤣

If you want to talk about pedantic, then probably have a look at what you claimed in your previous posts, especially your reply to @smedly

I have posted the OFFICIAL dates for Songkran, which say it starts on the 13th while the holidays start on the 14th, and you still want to dispute that.

They always say, stop digging when you are in a hole already

sorry mate, but you are so wrong... but I tire of this chat....enjoy the remaining days 555.

10 hours ago, Celsius said:

I keep seeing the same phrase from men on here who built a house and a farm for their Isaan princess whenever the topic turns to her family.

Perhaps some forum posters are under the threat of violence. Praying for their safety.

What a strange comment, what has this got to do with scumbag motorbike taxi thugs?

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

also, just 1 day.

so people who hate it and don't want to take part can call in sick from work and stay home.

converting the entire city into a water war zone for 10 days is not reasonable.

how often to you need to repeat the ritual anyway? I can't imaging people doing this day in and day out for 10 days.

That's the mentality of a lot of them.

Post removed.

@KhunBENQ the link to the new topic was posted hours ago and was in the daily newsletter.

On 4/14/2026 at 11:02 AM, NoshowJones said:

If the foreign tourist squirted the motorcyclists with a water gun then he got what he deserved, only one thing though, why not just one Thai? Oh! don't answer that.

It was equal if weight was the criteria.

4 hours ago, CallumWK said:

Key 2026 Songkran Details:

• Official Dates: April 13, 14, and 15, 2026.

• Public Holidays: April 14–16, 2026.

Terrible nonsense.

Tell Thai Immigration.

Of course 13th is THE Songkran day.

14 and 15 are official holidays.

16 is not a holiday.

It could only be an extra day if 13 to 15 falls on a Sat/Sun.

Immigration open tomorrow 16th.

I understand the temptation to try to think of Songkran as just a single day, equivalent to the western idea of New Year's Day but according to everything I've ever read - and what I still find if I look it up now, Songkran is a three day festival. As I understand it, there isn't just a single Songkran day, all three of the days are as much Songkran as any of the others.

On 4/14/2026 at 11:39 AM, Shammy said:

Coward scum, gutless filth, kicking people on the ground, & the expat cowards,watching, any of those kicks could have killed them. You motorcycle taxi mafia are disgusting. Taxi Numbers 1, 7 12, 13, working in Pattaya, Soi 6 area, shouldnt he too hard to find them.

You see the aggression, hatred towards tourists, really this is how you bring dishonour, shame, disgrace, upon yourselves, your families, your job, Soi 6 aye..

These young farang deserve a beating , they have NO discipline, they think they can muck up in Thailand like they do in their own country and there's no repercussions

Their behaviour is tolerated in Phuket and Bali , but try to do this Philippines,they won't be kicking the young farangs in Philippines they will be stabbing them

1 hour ago, georgegeorgia said:

These young farang deserve a beating , they have NO discipline, they think they can muck up in Thailand like they do in their own country and there's no repercussions

Their behaviour is tolerated in Phuket and Bali , but try to do this Philippines,they won't be kicking the young farangs in Philippines they will be stabbing them

Can you really post here supporting unwarranted violence?

20 hours ago, save the frogs said:

converting the entire city into a water war zone for 10 days is not reasonable.

Well that really is only for the one day. 19th in Pattaya. From 11th to then it is really only the bar and tourist areas that are war zones.

On 4/14/2026 at 5:14 PM, Reddavy said:

20 year old expats. 😱WOW.

Perhaps reading is not your best quality. 😗

Has a Thai ever in the history of time had a fight one on one?

On 4/15/2026 at 10:04 AM, CallumWK said:

On 4/15/2026 at 9:58 AM, Aussie999 said:

Pattaya have an extended holiday... read as extra money making period.... but, as I clearly stated, the extended period is NOT Songkran, no matter how they advertise it.

Nobody, other than the water trucks, make some extra money. Businesses LOSE money. Bars - restaurants - shops are depleted of customers during those days

I contradicted you already that Songkran is a money losing event, not an extra money making one. So let's hear what a businerss owner has to say about that.

Songkran’s finished… and once again, it depends which side of it you were on.

From the outside, it looked like pandemonium in the best way, packed streets, heavy traffic everywhere, bars full, restaurants slammed, money flying around.

If you were here for a few days, you’d probably think Pattaya is printing cash, as a business owner Songkrans a godsend.

But that’s only half the story.

Behind all of that, businesses are dealing with rising supplier prices, stretched staff, delayed deliveries, and the pressure of trying to keep everything running smoothly while the whole city is at full capacity.

You get through the rush… then almost overnight it slows right down again, and you’re back to balancing everything out.

That’s the part that doesn’t get shown.

Social media captures the crowds and the madness, it doesn’t show you the prep, the pressure, or what comes after.

Songkran is still one of the best times of the year here, but it’s definitely not as simple as it looks from the outside.

Be honest… was this the best Songkran you’ve had, or just another one?

Sharples Traditional UK Chip Shop and Elite Thai Realty back with a bang tomorrow guys.feeling grateful with Sharples Traditional UK Chip Shop at Pattaya, Thailand.

5 hours ago, CallumWK said:

I contradicted you already that Songkran is a money losing event, not an extra money making one. So let's hear what a businerss owner has to say about that.

Songkran’s finished… and once again, it depends which side of it you were on.

From the outside, it looked like pandemonium in the best way, packed streets, heavy traffic everywhere, bars full, restaurants slammed, money flying around.

If you were here for a few days, you’d probably think Pattaya is printing cash, as a business owner Songkrans a godsend.

But that’s only half the story.

Behind all of that, businesses are dealing with rising supplier prices, stretched staff, delayed deliveries, and the pressure of trying to keep everything running smoothly while the whole city is at full capacity.

You get through the rush… then almost overnight it slows right down again, and you’re back to balancing everything out.

That’s the part that doesn’t get shown.

Social media captures the crowds and the madness, it doesn’t show you the prep, the pressure, or what comes after.

Songkran is still one of the best times of the year here, but it’s definitely not as simple as it looks from the outside.

Be honest… was this the best Songkran you’ve had, or just another one?

Sharples Traditional UK Chip Shop and Elite Thai Realty back with a bang tomorrow guys.

Very good point. It is similar to a business in the West that tries to solely rely on the Christmas/New Year rush. The rent doesn't go away, the business rates, the staff wages, the National Insurance contributions, the taxes. It might just stop you from going under but you are only putting off the day when you do.

On 4/16/2026 at 10:13 PM, Pompeygeezer said:

Has a Thai ever in the history of time had a fight one on one?

In the boxing ring!

14 hours ago, jacko45k said:

In the boxing ring!

Obviously. But a rollabout on the cobbles they can't fight one on one.