Songkran Festival 13 To 15 April

[cmdream]

Chiang Mai will return to traditional celebrations this year. No motor traffic will be allowed around the moat, no public drinking of alcohol. Not sure about the pubs

and bars and the Thai / Farange drinking thing. So what do you think, is this a good thing to return CM to traditional Thai customs or let the madness continue.

[Ulysses G.]

They should either just leave Songkran alone or simply ban the whole holiday. Slowly, but surely, they are taking all of the fun out of it anyway.

[swain]

I think its great that they will take the cars out of the equation around the moat. No public drinking? I think it will be doubtful they can enforce that.

I always have a good time, the problem for me has always been getting to and from town. Will have to be creative this year, sitting in a car for hours trying to get a parking spot leaves a lot to be desired.

[JuniorExPat]

Chiang Mai will return to traditional celebrations this year. No motor traffic will be allowed around the moat, no public drinking of alcohol. Not sure about the pubs

and bars and the Thai / Farange drinking thing. So what do you think, is this a good thing to return CM to traditional Thai customs or let the madness continue.

This is a fantasy, yes? As in a dream as in a "cmdream"?

JxP

[BlackArtemis]

Why not 1 day traditional, 1 day with cars and 1 day without.

[john b good]

Chiang Mai will return to traditional celebrations this year. No motor traffic will be allowed around the moat, no public drinking of alcohol. Not sure about the pubs

and bars and the Thai / Farange drinking thing. So what do you think, is this a good thing to return CM to traditional Thai customs or let the madness continue.

Your handle is appropriate (dream)

Connecting Thai & Farang is like comparing grains of sand with potato's (or water melons)

There are 66 million Thai's in the realm and perhaps a quarter million farang (at any given time)

Which grouping is gonna cause the greater amount of problem and from which grouping are the greater number of casualties gonna come from.

I suggest from "the grains of sand"

[debcmai]

Wow...I really hope this is not true. This is my son and his bud's senior year...they have almost all been here since they were small. They LOVE songkran...water fights and all, like all the young Thais do. I really hope that they can enjoy this peculiar pleasure one more year.

Or, do you think, with the political climate so HOT, they are trying to ward off any possible incidents? I do remember last year, when all the kids were in the back of our truck, ( hubby and I safely ensconced in a LOCKED cab of the truck, thank you very much) that suddenly there were some upset...fighting. Don't know if it was gangs, but it was scary, really and there was no where to drive away, and our cab could not hold all the kids. We just prayed like crazy and slowly, the traffic started moving again and it all calmed down again. Does anyone else remember that incident from last year?

Anyway...usually we LOVE songkran. Such a lovely soak in the hot hot hot....

[Mapguy]

Chiang Mai will return to traditional celebrations this year. No motor traffic will be allowed around the moat, no public drinking of alcohol. Not sure about the pubs

and bars and the Thai / Farange drinking thing. So what do you think, is this a good thing to return CM to traditional Thai customs or let the madness continue.

Yeah...right....dream on!

[mcgriffith]

Chiang Mai will return to traditional celebrations this year. No motor traffic will be allowed around the moat, no public drinking of alcohol. Not sure about the pubs

and bars and the Thai / Farange drinking thing. So what do you think, is this a good thing to return CM to traditional Thai customs or let the madness continue.

I understand your OP, in the "wishful thinking" category.

But some members might be confused by the authoratative tone of the thread title.

Obviously, this is not going to happen.

Unless Dublin closes down all motor traffic downtown on St. Patrick's Day, that is...

[Mestizo]

I understand your OP, in the "wishful thinking" category.

But some members might be confused by the authoratative tone of the thread title.

Obviously, this is not going to happen.

Unless Dublin closes down all motor traffic downtown on St. Patrick's Day, that is...

Actually, I believe this is true. Several of my Thai coworkers have been talking about it all week.

-Mestizo

[mcgriffith]

I stand corrected if this is true, but we the members would like to see a press release from the CM municipal office before we would believe it.

I'm not saying that this wouldn't be a good idea, as a matter of fact I think it is a great idea.

But it would wreak havoc on the daily commerce of this large city.

And I don't think the hundreds of businesses in the moat area would like to learn that there will be no delivery of supplies by motor transport.

Will they be bringing these in on bicycle rickshaws, or by elephant caravan?

[harrry]

I understand your OP, in the "wishful thinking" category.

But some members might be confused by the authoratative tone of the thread title.

Obviously, this is not going to happen.

Unless Dublin closes down all motor traffic downtown on St. Patrick's Day, that is...

Actually, I believe this is true. Several of my Thai coworkers have been talking about it all week.

-Mestizo

I was tod about this by my red taxi driver a few weeks ago. I just wonder how it is going to work. If I want to go to the airport from CMU do I have to go via the ring road?

[mcgriffith]

Well maybe we should ask UG, as he owns several business locales around the moat.

UG, what's the word?

Maybe the traffic will be restricted certain hours, or only local residents will be allowed to pass into certain areas (like on Sunday Walking Street) but I find it hard to imagine all motor traffic will be forbidden, all around the moat area, for the 13th through the 15th.

Authoritative sources/press releases, anyone?

[JuniorExPat]

This plan to ban moat traffic was mooted last year, it never came to pass - just think about the practicalities, how do people get to and from or around the old city without using the moat roads?

JxP

[Ulysses G.]

Well maybe we should ask UG, as he owns several business locales around the moat.

UG, what's the word?

The government really don't inform us of these things -You have to hear it on the radio - but most book stores close during the festivities anyway. Books and water are not a good mixture!

[threedot]

I read on cm108.com that it will be closed from midday til 6pm. I am not very optimistic about the enforcement of this if it's really true.

Edit: I'm told that this was also announced on the news. It also announced 200 security individuals (army?) would be placed around the moat. Can anyone confirm this rumor?

Edited April 9, 2009 by threedot

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I love the Songkran party and I'm not sure if it would be a bad thing really if the moat was free of cars.. My main concern would be that it would move the 'vehicular celebrations' elsewhere, where there could be greater speeds and more danger; around the moat it's going so slow that it's actually pretty safe. I did it on the old Lamphun road once and that was far less safe.

That said, a big party without trucks is good too.. Loads of people around the moat, loads of fun.. It'd still be fun no doubt about it.

Now in this particular year when people may not expect roads to be closed it would of course cause utter mayem.. Total gridlock and impossible to get out of it for several hours after the roads are open again. Also, what about the cars that are already on the inside of the moat, does it mean they can't get out? I think the practicalities of this one will make it hard for this year, but I think there could be merit in having at least A PART of town dedicated to non vehicular celebrations.

[orang37]

When, if, the hot plan to ban

Traffic from round the Moat

Is Moot, or not, I'll make plans

For driving around Songkraan.

While not yet octogenarian,

I fear dousing as pedestrian,

Smelly water from a Klong,

Piss of hel_l, so foully strong

My car's no good as a boat;

Sitting still in furnace heat

Is no thrill in traffic bloat,

I end up Muay Thai beat

I value my self-preservation

Over any surgeon's education

instant rewind : on : pan/zoom back nine years to the sauna in the Orchid Hotel fitness center. Conversation between Orang37 (then in human form) and youngish Thai neurologist/brain specialist, educated/board certified at Emory medical school in the US (very fine school), teaching at CMU medical school, and, of course, working in Maharaj Hospital, also.

Then-human-Orang37 : Pretty busy at Songkraan ?

Dr. of Brain : Oh, we have medical students coming here from all over the country to get first hand experience of the rare brain damage to people ranging from babies to old people; every one of the sixteen of us in Chiang Mai involved in neurology, the neuro-surgeons, everybody, we are all on call twenty-four hours a day : this is the most incredible time of year for us !

~o:37;

Edited April 9, 2009 by orang37

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Ok, I just asked around at my office.. Word is that cars would not be allowed around the moat on the 13th only. And if it's a success then perhaps 14 and 15 as well.

So that still makes 12 a full on vehicle day, and I can't imaging the trial on the 13th to go well (if it works at all) so then 14 and 15 will be regular party days as well.

Personally I wasn't planning on my truck anyway as it's out of first class insurance.. I'd have to pay for any scratches myself.

[Ulysses G.]

Some of my staff told me that it is true about no vehicles around the moat, so many Thais are planning to "play" in other areas. This Songkran is starting to look like a real Dud, but you still won't be able to go anywhere without getting wet. From bad to worse!

Edited April 9, 2009 by Ulysses G.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Yeah.. at least with all the trucks around the moat it'd kind of concentrated in one area.. Without that, it'll definitely be *everywhere*.. An issue though would be loading up on water; the moat is the perfect reload station for that... Without it.... . hmm... Maybe the Irrigation Canal Road, but it's very hard to get to the water there. (I did it once)

If it's a true disaster on the 13th then I'll be off to Phayao or Khon Kaen or something.

[FarangCravings]

I read on cm108.com that it will be closed from midday til 6pm. I am not very optimistic about the enforcement of this if it's really true.

Edit: I'm told that this was also announced on the news. It also announced 200 security individuals (army?) would be placed around the moat. Can anyone confirm this rumor?

Have not heard about Army but the TPD and TPD vounteers will be out in force and placed at 6 desginated tent stations placed around the Moat each area is a smoke and alchohol free zone maybe thats what you heard about I have not been informed of any army though.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

What will the Tourist Police volunteers do if they see me with my beer in hand?

[heybruce]

Still seems like it's all rumor and speculation. As was mentioned earlier, you can't get in or out of the old city without driving around the moat, and isolating such a large area to all but foot traffic for an extended period would cause problems and upset a lot of people. But that doesn't mean it won't be tried.

[FarangCravings]

What will the Tourist Police volunteers do if they see me with my beer in hand?

Ask you politely to move out of the Alcohol/smoke free zone into an area NOT designated as such a place and allow those that do not wish to drink or be around people that drink and smoke so that they can also enjoy the Songkran celebrations.

You have a right to drink just as people have the right to try and avoid the drunken crazyness and these areas are allocated so famillys and others have a place to bring there kids and enjoy a less boysterous songkran.

Again i am sure it will be at the discretion of the TPD to determine if its just a Dad having a beer with his familly or a bunch of yobos staggering around drunk and causing problems the areas are not that big so theres plenty of places you could be drinking without any issues.

Edited April 9, 2009 by FarangCravings

[Ulysses G.]

There are still machines that sell water for throwing at Thapae Gate - where they are every year. I'm not sure if that means anything.

[cmdream]

What will the Tourist Police volunteers do if they see me with my beer in hand?

Underage drinkers should be careful when they drink in public.

[Mapguy]

There are still machines that sell water for throwing at Thapae Gate - where they are every year. I'm not sure if that means anything.

You are correct. It doesn't mean anything, nor does the post! Cheers!

[Mapguy]

They should either just leave Songkran alone or simply ban the whole holiday. Slowly, but surely, they are taking all of the fun out of it anyway.

"Leave Songkran alone." Interesting thing to say. Fun? Sure....up to a point. What's your point? A smiley face?

I have no intention here to lecture about the traditional meaning and practices of Songkran, which are centuries old. Many still go on. I'll try to scan the city's brochure: in English as well as in Thai!! There are remnants of traditional practice there.

But what tradition, UG, is neglected, "left alone," of which you speak above? Perhaps the problem today is one of wretched excess that you certainly don't condone, but simply just find the best means to personally avoid rather than do something constructive to ameliorate them. Actually, you seem to promote the popular mayhem in the name of increased tourism, which benefits your little shop. Have you visited an emergency room during Songkran! You only seem to worry that water thrown gratuitously at people would damage the books purchased at your quite admirable bookstalls. This you have quipped elsewhere recently on TV Chiang Mai, so, at least, you wrap a lot of your books in plastic wrap, as you have told us in posts before!

Or is your concern for other reasons I dare not mention, since patrons lick their tongues as they leaf through possible purchases! If so, thank you for your support of public health! What's the movie about licking pages and death? Something and the Rose with Sean Connery?

Actually, I think fun is fun, and I don't mind getting wet. But, as I said before, there is wretched excess! Beyond mai phen rai! Things get out of control, and it is sad at least, too often damaging or deadly!

You care about cats. So do I. What about people?

Cheers! , as you would put it! So nice to have smileys!!

Songkran_Schedule.pdf

[dave2]

songkran 2552 has already started in chiang mai

yesterday (the 9th of april ) i got squirted at by a lovely little girl aged about 8 in the afternoon near where i live .

i smiled .... she smiled .... not a problem !

last night ( 10 30 ish ) there were two ladyboys from jucy bar in loy kroh road bar armed with supersoakers spraying anyone within range

luckily for them ... i was out of range !

dave2