Songkran 2003

[george]

Songkran will take part in Thailand from April 11th to April 14th 2003. Sonkran is the Thai New Year.

Water pistols banned in Thailand:

http://www.thaivisa.com/index.php?514&backPID=10&tt_news=218

[Rinrada]

OK, So call me a miserable sod-no fun anymore-Party pooper (as the yanks say)or whatever but am I the only one who now goes out of his way to avoid Thai New Year "songkran" in LOS /Bangers/Pat like the plague.

I have done all the usual respectable "in town" cultural formalities over the years ...in the temples,chatting up the all the georgeous little birds with their polite water blessings,and got sensibly "Hogmanay" style merry,,But no more....

If I want to take a shower -I will but in my own time and place and not in rancid foul smelling ditch water-aka- Sukhumvit road .-

Velly fun-ee..wai you no laff....  

I am glad the Government has decided to ban those bloody water guns because unfortunately about 3-4 years ago some poor "ki nok" shortly missed the opportunity of a visit to Bum rum grad-(well named 1st Syl.) for a removel operation involving said water gun.

I have noticed that Thai Intenational is flying half empty from Heathrow at the moment ..wonder why? te-he-he --never mind ..Mai-pen rai...but "Mai Nam"

[SeaVisionBurma]

Must say I agree wholeheartedly with Rinrada....

....the first 2 or 3 years Water festival is "velly funny", however the chaos wears thin after time.

Much better to get away and stay dry and sane for a few days.  Phuket in particular is a double-edged sword this year, with the Annual Bikers week being run through the main drag of Patong.  (If you're a biker, enjoy)

I'll stay tucked away on my little island up in Myanmar with some mates, and the only liquid drenching will be the pouring of booze down our throats, to take away the heat.

Happy New Year

[lopburi3]

Water pistols banned in Thailand

Not true.  Only the high pressure piston type guns are banned.  A walk through Lotus will provide a good view of the type of weapons you will be facing.  And "water pistols" are going to be the least of your worries.

[fester]

So, the Water War 2003 is finally here. Any causalties yet?

[dlfisher]

Isn't it nice to live in Thailand where this is about the worst thing we could possibly experience, short of actually looking for trouble. That said, laptop stays at home for a few days.

I can't say I mind it too much, but I can see your point too. I lived through the riots in Los Angeles, so everything after that is gravy.

Stay dry or dress for the occcasion and best of luck.

DF

[pschef]

I must admit in past years here in the North of Thailand, water throwing started around the 1st of April till after the new year finished. This year however the kids waited until about the 10th, maybe they got scared after warnings issued. Right now back to normal, getting soaked just going out to shop or whatever. Like most expats who have got fed up, I stay home for the duration. Use the car for shopping, never go on motorbike anymore. Dangerous!!! :blues:

[flackjacket]

Re Rinrada-Why Thai Inter is flying only half full ?

Have you thought that the outbbreak of SARS might not be a partial cause, not to mention the downtown rumble in Iraq. Just read the world press and it will become a lot clearer.

Some Farangs might not like the water part of Songkran but remember we are the visitors even if we live in Thailand. Thailand is for the Thais and the water festival is their way of having fun. (sanuk sanuk) and it does not cost them money, an important thing to note.

[george]

I've got email complaints from a couple of people saying that the "real" Songkran is tomorrow April 12, not today April 11.

I am soaked already, but can someone enlighten me of the correct date of the official Sonkran?   All press releases are talking about April 11.

I am amazed, and wet.

[Rinrada]

Re Rinrada-Why Thai Inter is flying only half full ?

SARS-Fear of catching something from the unknown-

the dreaded "Lurgy".

Now suggested to be a relation to the common cold.

Iraqi War-Fear of being brought down by a SAM while on the way to LOS.

Paper masks-Fear of having to wear one and make like Dr Kildare and getting caught by an "official"while sitting eating som tam and being sent to Bang Kwan for 2 weeks R&R...but I am only here for 2 weeks holidays..krup.kru.krup-sorry-sorry-

Order now Cancelled-Good.

Finally the "luvely" water festival when all  the happy little Ar..h...s using  weapons of mass destruction think its funny to deposit dirty,filthy,turgit,minging,feotal contaminated H2O all over the same happy(ATM-Sex Tourists-Honest I am a real traveller -I am only here to study the what-its) holiday makers....saa-si-mile.-better that SARS-Denge or Hep B.

:ghostface:

If thats fun considered fun then I would prefer to go back to running my old bar in Basra (DCM 1981)A salam -a leec-um.

Lots of tourists with tin hats.

[george]

VENUS’ VISION: 'Sai diao': not the coolest dress for Songkran

Published on Apr 12, 2003

Twenty-year-old Porn has bought a new top, a spaghetti-strap blouse and plans to wear it on Songkran day. She is no big fan of this kind of top but for the upcoming fun-filled festival, it's a very practical choice. For one, it's highly suitable for any watery battlefield: the top gets soaked and dries easily.

To Porn, wearing such a top is not a big deal for her because it'll be just another day that the young lady will be in sai diao (or "one strap", the Thai name for spaghetti-strap). Little did Porn know she can't follow her dress code preference now that Cultural Minister Uraiwan Thienthong has announced the crackdown on sai diao in many of Songkran's celebration areas.

Her reason is that such a revealing blouse might induce sexual harassment. And not only the top but also hot pants are ruled out by the minister. Instead of hot pants, Uraiwan kindly suggested that ladies wear simple Thai sarongs.

"Doesn't she know that we have not grown up with sarongs and that they can slip off from our bodies anytime we're on the run?" Porn asks.

Her friend Dao wonders what if she and Porn take no notice of the dress code announcement and leave for Songkran fun spots wearing their usual outfits?

Well, what they've heard is that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration police will order them out of the area.

"That's terrible and it really kills the joy of our festival," says Dao as she pictures in her mind young female revellers being banned from water-splashing areas just because they are sporting the government's unfavourable top. The two young ladies can't find any reason to justify the ban on si diao. If they can't even enjoy the freedom to be themselves during the country's biggest and most entertaining celebration, what remains of "freedom" for them?

"It's our basic right," Porn protests. "We buy our own clothes, wear them on our bodies, and don't harm anyone."

"Perhaps in the future the ministry would consider launching a proper dress code for us for all festivals," Dao says.

The two girls are not the lone dissenting voices. Many others have voiced their disagreement through various media, especially on the Net. Since Uraiwan cites sexual harassment as the reason for the ban, it leaves many people wondering if the ministry views the revealing fashion as an important cause of sexual harassment. And if the government has enough policemen to look out for the sai diao, why can't the same police force protect women from being the subject of sexual harassment during Songkran? And how about farang revellers who would certainly join the water battles in their own revealing outfits?

The ban on the spaghetti-strap demonstrates just another example in Thai society of women being the victim of problems caused by men. If not sexual harassment, the related government agencies prefer to link the sai diao fashion as a factor in cultural decline. A government radio programme even states that young women shouldn't wear sai diao on Songkran if they love the nation. What the heck is going on?

Dao sees such a statement as a way for grownups to deny that culture is also a dynamic thing.

"If sarong and sabai (breast wrap) were once their culture, sai diao is now our culture," Porn says. "But the point is, no fashion can really harm a country's dominant culture as exemplified by Songkran. It's not that we will wear sai diao to the temple or a religious event. We wear this comfortable top to play at splashing water."

And if we must blame someone, Porn and Dao would love to blame the minister who has already killed the spirit of "fun-filled" Songkran.

In the old days, Songkran - like other festivals in this country - gave a chance for young ladies to go out. It let them dress up and look as pretty as they could. They came out in breast cloths, not Western-style blouse, as was their lifestyles. When they were splashed, we could imagine how revealing they were.

No wonder that history professor Paothong Thongchua expressed worry about the ban on spaghetti-strap blouses. As an expert in traditional Thai fashion, Paothong understands well why the sai diao crackdown doesn't make much sense.

Porn and Dao and many other young ladies are so delighted by Paothong's comments. The ban is inappropriate and doesn't fit the spirit of Songkran. Paothong shares an opinion with many women that Uraiwan should have had launched a more democratic PR campaign, giving warning or advice rather than banning the outfit outright.

The academic's observation that the breast cloth of old is a bigger worry and more revealing than sai diao came just in time for young people like Porn and Dao who still have time to find their own comfortable yet genuine Thai fashion choice.

Why not? Breast cloths are friendly to Thai culture. More importantly, the minister hasn't banned them.

Veena Thoopkrajae

The Nation

[bob6023]

I have the best way to avoid the song ron chaos.

just don't go there until it's over. Having been shot in the mouth by what tasted like sewer water I avoid it like the plauge. And with the SARS epidemic it could very well be serious. It's their country and if they enjoy, more power to them.

[george]

Our newsfeed now says (16:00 on April 13, 2003):

The Songkran death toll are now 106 people

http://www.thaivisa.com/index.php?514&back...514&tt_news=260

Great to be home safe drinking Beer Chang instead of making kamikaze trips on the big roads a day like this...  

:ghostface:

[fester]

(Report from our friends at khaosanroad.com - 13 April 2003)

OK - so officially everything was supposed to start on 13 April 2003, but put a Saturday before Songkran and you can guess what's going to happen... Thousands of revellers turned up to Khaosan Road to warm up for the main event today (Sunday 13 April 2003). If yesterday was anything to go by, Songkran is going to be pretty spectacular this year. There are some pretty solid sound systems pumping out some pretty good sounds so the stage is set for a great time! Get down there!

The build up to Songkran this year has been less than usual though - there have been attempts to stamp out water pistol use and the smearing of powder. On the Tanao Road end of Khaosan there was a stall set up by Thailand's Ministry of Culture. They were giving away small plastic bowls to encourage the traditional 'sprinkling' of water and discourage the ritual dousings that Songkran on Khaosan Road is famous for. Even stranger - recorded messages going out through loudspeakers suggesting people have a 'Thai-style' Songkran. Needless to say people got caught up in procedings - the plastic bowls were simply used to mix up white powder and water! The local press followed a pretty fierce debate by Thai standards. Subject: Appropriate attire for women during Songkran. Check out the Bangkok Post's coverage of the debate which included a visit to Khaosan by a member of the government!

Anyway, fact is people are going down to Khao San to enjoy themselves and it's business as usual. Have a great time! Click here to find out just exactly what Thai people are saying as they throw water at you!

[Rinrada]

The Songkran death toll is now 106 people and 5000 injured in a bloody start to the long Songkran holiday.

Figures for the first 24 hours.

Sars - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has killed 117 has infected more than 3,000 people across the world since it first appeared in in November.

Figures for the first 6 months.

No Comment....sad

:ghostface:

[george]

The Songkran death toll is now 106 people and 5000 injured in a bloody start to the long Songkran holiday.

Figures for the first 24 hours.

Sars - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has killed 117 has infected more than 3,000 people across the world since it first appeared in in November.

Figures for the first 6 months.

Interesting figures Rinrada, wihile comparing them!

Reports this morning:

http://www.thaivisa.com/index.php?514&backPID=10&tt_news=263

Road deaths climb to 192 amid revelry

11,561 hurt; drunk driving main cause

[fivevenoms]

Had my own little interesting taste of Songkran....

Went to my friend P'Kong's house here in San Francisco, and was promptly assaulted by my three Thai friends bearing bowls of water and powder.....Who knew?  I knew I would get wet, but nobody told me I would smell funny all night.  Ah well.  Happy New year.