Swimming In The Moat

[MassivePuffin]

Just wondering if anyone has ever swam all the way around the moat?

[anselpixel]

Can't wait to see where this one goes.

[cmsally]

Can't wait to see where this one goes.

Probably about a kilometre and the next topic will be "farang stuck in sluice gate"

[WinnieTheKhwai]

You can't swim all around because you get to water gates and other obstructions. You could get out at those places, but it's not easy to get out of it everywhere. If you get someone to run with you to help you out then it's possible though.

As for timing, Songkran sounds like a good time to do it, as they fill it up to the brim, making it easier to get out to go around obstructions. And there will be plenty others in the moat, making you look less freaky for doing it.

I think there are better aquatic challenges around Chiang Mai though, for example to swim across Huay Tueng Thao lake, or from bridge to bridge on the river. Be careful of the tourist boats there though.

Edited February 21, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai

[necronx99]

Wouldn't he bottom be kinda..iccky?

rubbish, slime, fecal stuff, critters, discarded knives, weighed down corpses, discarded knives IN weighed down corpses.....iccky.

[NancyL]

The old city is 1 miles square, so a swim around the moat would be some very good exercise -- 4 miles of swimming plus all the additional exercise of hauling oneself in and out of the moat multiple times because of the gates and road crossings.

I agree, if you're going to do this, Songkran is the best time. Rest of the time they always have a section or two drained or in the process of being drained.

[Semper]

Wouldn't he bottom be kinda..iccky?

rubbish, slime, fecal stuff, critters, discarded knives, weighed down corpses, discarded knives IN weighed down corpses.....iccky.

Probably, and this is the water you get thrown at you during Songkran.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Wouldn't he bottom be kinda..iccky?

rubbish, slime, fecal stuff, critters, discarded knives, weighed down corpses, discarded knives IN weighed down corpses.....iccky.

If you could reach the ground. Again: it's deep!

[BlackArtemis]

Multiple times during Songkran, the first time I lost 10lbs the next week... They did multiple tests and didn't know if it was bacterial, viral, parasite, or fungal haha...

Ever since then my immune system has been fine during songkran.

Dead dogs, road run off, and medical waste makes a body strong.

[ratcliffe]

I haven't swam round the moat, but I've swam in it............ my BD's Songkran! Didn't do me any harm, but be careful you don't get caught on anything!!!!

[Tywais]

You might want to wrap the jewels in a plastic bag and wear goggles. I got a serious testicular bacterial infection (swollen to about 4 times the normal size) from being soaked in the moat water during one Songkran. The doc knew right away what it was and that it was not uncommon during that period. That and eye infections.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

You might want to wrap the jewels in a plastic bag and wear goggles. I got a serious testicular bacterial infection (swollen to about 4 times the normal size) from being soaked in the moat water during one Songkran. The doc knew right away what it was and that it was not uncommon during that period. That and eye infections.

And ear infections.

Got to remember that about the testicular thing; anything in that region happening during Songkran and I know what the suspicion would be.

[Ulysses G.]

Wouldn't he bottom be kinda..iccky?

rubbish, slime, fecal stuff, critters, discarded knives, weighed down corpses, discarded knives IN weighed down corpses.....iccky.

Probably, and this is the water you get thrown at you during Songkran.

They clean and chlorinate the moat right before Songkran nowadays.

[barefoot1988]

what? testicular infection during songkran? 4 times the size?!

[wolf5370]

You might want to wrap the jewels in a plastic bag and wear goggles. I got a serious testicular bacterial infection (swollen to about 4 times the normal size) from being soaked in the moat water during one Songkran. The doc knew right away what it was and that it was not uncommon during that period. That and eye infections.

[Tywais]

what? testicular infection during songkran? 4 times the size?!

Yeah but the size increase did not extend to the more important part.

Quite painful walking, looked like a cowboy just off the saddle.

[orang37]

Well, I think an appropriate finish to your swim in the moat ... if you don't find yourself in an ambulance being taken to a hospital during, or afterwards ... would be to go to one of the "fish spas" and immerse your head in one of the fish tanks, as many times, for half-an-hour or so, as you can while holding your breath, and let the little Turkish garrufarufa fish clean the scum off your face.

And, be sure and keep your eyes wide open. After that, perhaps a spritzer of the cheapest Thai whisky for that mint-clean fresh-all-over feeling.

~o:37;

[necronx99]

what? testicular infection during songkran? 4 times the size?!

Yeah but the size increase did not extend to the more important part.

Quite painful walking, looked like a cowboy just off the saddle.

I don't get it, the boys are a sealed unit.

Unless you had a.....

[Semper]

Wouldn't he bottom be kinda..iccky?

rubbish, slime, fecal stuff, critters, discarded knives, weighed down corpses, discarded knives IN weighed down corpses.....iccky.

Probably, and this is the water you get thrown at you during Songkran.

They clean and chlorinate the moat right before Songkran nowadays.

Good to know. I'll do my laundry there before the event start, and save a few baht on the water bill.

[Tywais]

what? testicular infection during songkran? 4 times the size?!

Yeah but the size increase did not extend to the more important part.

Quite painful walking, looked like a cowboy just off the saddle.

I don't get it, the boys are a sealed unit.

Unless you had a.....

You might want to refresh yourself in anatomy as you will find there is a nice path to them for bacteria to find its way (vas deferens).

This was about 15 years ago so don't know how well the current water treatment may be helping.

[Beetlejuice]

what? testicular infection during songkran? 4 times the size?!

And I know some guys that would pay a fortune to have their private parts enlarged four times they’re size.

They say that a person falling into the moat would die from disease first before he/she drowned.

In the past I had often seen rats scurrying across it`s banks.

Anyone who decides to take a dip in there must either be crazy or have a death wish.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Anyone who decides to take a dip in there must either be crazy or have a death wish.

Kids swim in it all the time.

Lots of people are in it during Songkran.

They all live happily every after.

[MassivePuffin]

Thanks for all the replies. Some good suggestions! Looks like Songkran may be the best time to attempt something like this. Although, I see people swimming in the moat pretty much all year round, the fact it's a little bit cleaner and higher then would make things easier and safer, for me and my balls!

@cmsally- I remember seeing the video a while ago of a fat Thai kid who had been stuck in the gates for a few days in nothing but his y fronts!

Perhaps I'm weird for thinking about this, but still surprised no one has done this yet!

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Perhaps I'm weird for thinking about this, but still surprised no one has done this yet!

Other Famous Chiang Mai Challenges That Have Never Been Done Before:

- Going down Doi Suthep in a soapbox car

- Down Huay Kaew Falls in a barrel

- Base Jump off Floral Condominium

- Parasailing at Mae Ngat

- Lowering your pants around the Thapae Gate trannies and running like hell.

- Chiang Mai Underwater World of Horrors Moat Submarine, scuba and/or snorkeling.

- Pole sitting record on top of the Wat Prathat Doi Suthep pagoda

- Loi Krathong Car Floating

- Wat Chedi Luang Rock Climbing

- Car bowling at Central Airport Plaza

- Moat jet ski, with ramps to cross roads. Variation: moat water ski pulled by ultralight.

- Going to Pai on rollerblades

- Lao Khao Ice Luge

- Train surfing through Khun Tan tunnel

- Nawarat Bridge Micro-Bungee Jump

- Hilltribe Granny Tossing

- Renting a C-130 Stratotanker aircraft, filling with water and letting it go downtown for Songkran

Edited February 22, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai

[cmsally]

Perhaps I'm weird for thinking about this, but still surprised no one has done this yet!

Other Famous Chiang Mai Challenges That Have Never Been Done Before:

- Going down Doi Suthep in a soapbox car

- Down Huay Kaew Falls in a barrel

- Base Jump off Floral Condominium

- Parasailing at Mae Ngat

- Lowering your pants around the Thapae Gate trannies and running like hell.

- Chiang Mai Underwater World of Horrors Moat Submarine, scuba and/or snorkeling.

- Pole sitting record on top of the Wat Prathat Doi Suthep pagoda

- Loi Krathong Car Floating

- Wat Chedi Luang Rock Climbing

- Car bowling at Central Airport Plaza

- Moat jet ski, with ramps to cross roads. Variation: moat water ski pulled by ultralight.

- Going to Pai on rollerblades

- Lao Khao Ice Luge

- Train surfing through Khun Tan tunnel

- Nawarat Bridge Micro-Bungee Jump

- Hilltribe Granny Tossing

- Renting a C-130 Stratotanker aircraft, filling with water and letting it go downtown for Songkran

The problem is someone might take you up on this. Judging by the things on the telly, they might make it into a successful TV series.

Meanwhile I look forward to seeing the "Massive Puffin" swimming around the moat. A Massive Puffin swimming in the moat would certainly provide quite a spectacle.

[Greenside]

I should make an appointment with the doctor before you try it.

[binjalin]

A really stupid idea and illegal - isnt that against TV rules?

[Tywais]

A really stupid idea and illegal - isnt that against TV rules?

Would you mind passing on a link to the fore mentioned law as I'm not aware of it. How many Thai kids have been arrested.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Other Famous Chiang Mai Challenges That Have Never Been Done Before:

- Going down Doi Suthep in a soapbox car

- Down Huay Kaew Falls in a barrel

- Base Jump off Floral Condominium

- Parasailing at Mae Ngat

- Lowering your pants around the Thapae Gate trannies and running like hell.

- Chiang Mai Underwater World of Horrors Moat Submarine, scuba and/or snorkeling.

- Pole sitting record on top of the Wat Prathat Doi Suthep pagoda

- Loi Krathong Car Floating

- Wat Chedi Luang Rock Climbing

- Car bowling at Central Airport Plaza

- Moat jet ski, with ramps to cross roads. Variation: moat water ski pulled by ultralight.

- Going to Pai on rollerblades

- Lao Khao Ice Luge

- Train surfing through Khun Tan tunnel

- Nawarat Bridge Micro-Bungee Jump

- Hilltribe Granny Tossing

- Renting a C-130 Stratotanker aircraft, filling with water and letting it go downtown for Songkran

The problem is someone might take you up on this.

I was thinking the same thing with some of them: "Hey wait a minute, this is actually a great idea!"

It can't possibly be more lame than http://segwaygibbon.com/

More:

- Running with the Bulls, through Moon Muang Soi 2.". (A.k.a. 'Running with the Farangs'. )

- Elephant paintings. Not that lame ass art made by elephants, but actually find a live elepgant and paint it. In a Nancy Chandler color scheme. (Thus making it traditional Chiang Mai style)

And they say Chiang Mai is boring.

Edited February 23, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai

[BlackArtemis]

Hmm, I like that soapbox derby idea....