Sydney Songkran Festival 2006

[skylar]

Hi everyone... Songkran is nearly upon us again. Here's the details as it currently stands on the poster below. Stay tuned for updates!

[Donz]

there should be plenty of Thai girls there for you

[think_too_mut]

there should be plenty of Thai girls there for you

Not really. All couples or families. Been there 4 times.

[Donz]

there should be plenty of Thai girls there for you

Not really. All couples or families. Been there 4 times.

My gf friends been there last 2 years, i might make it my first.

But after going to the one in Thailand i think it probaly wont be worth it.

[skylar]

Just bumping this back up. It's on this SUNDAY! The event's received massive media coverage in state and suburban papers and MX, and I know plenty of single Thais who will be going, both male and female. Again, it's a question of who you hang around with...

[Mighty Mouse]

The weather forcaste is for a warm and fine day.

What spoils these events is the number of boring speeches made by 'officials.'

The variety of food on offer normally saves the day for me. So, with that in mind, there is a good chance that Mighty and his li'l mouse will venture down to Tumbalong Park for a look see.

Edited April 4, 2006 by Mighty Mouse

[skylar]

Hi all, just letting you know that the festival was held today - brilliant weather, and the park was packed.

[chonabot]

Hi all, just letting you know that the festival was held today - brilliant weather, and the park was packed.

Any pics ?

[think_too_mut]

Songkran in Sydney....that's the place where u can see Thais living in the city as zombies and nobody else sees them anywhere again. There are about 15K of them, then about 9-10K students at any time.

A self locked, frightened bunch with no relations to the environment they are in.

I doubt they are or could be any kind of a a community in any regard.

The worst possible migrants, not only to Australia, to anywhere.

[chonabot]

Songkran in Sydney....that's the place where u can see Thais living in the city as zombies and nobody else sees them anywhere again. There are about 15K of them, then about 9-10K students at any time.

A self locked, frightened bunch with no relations to the environment they are in.

I doubt they are or could be any kind of a a community in any regard.

The worst possible migrants, not only to Australia, to anywhere.

Hehe , the native inhabitants of Bradford may have an opinion on that one.

[skylar]

I don't know what you base your judgements on, think too mut... research has been done showing that 63% of the Thai migrant community in NSW are women, and many are married to Australian men. The Thai community isn't like the Viet community, where Viet-oriented suburbs exist. They're a lot less insular a community than the Viet community.

You'll find there are a lot of Thai postgraduate students concentrated at UNSW, USYD and Macquarie. Thaitown is on Campbell Street. As mentioned in another thread, you can find Thai people hanging out at certain places. There's the temples in Annandale, Bundanoon, etc where you'll be able to find Thai people. There's several Thai associations, such as the Thai Welfare Association, Thai Restaurants Association and so forth.

You're just not part of the community, which is why you don't know any of these things.

[Donz]

Songkran in Sydney....that's the place where u can see Thais living in the city as zombies and nobody else sees them anywhere again. There are about 15K of them, then about 9-10K students at any time.

A self locked, frightened bunch with no relations to the environment they are in.

I doubt they are or could be any kind of a a community in any regard.

The worst possible migrants, not only to Australia, to anywhere.

Having a bad day??

[Mighty Mouse]

I was surprised at how well the organisers put the whole show together this year.

Big crowd, great food, good entertainment, everyone very happy.

The Thai community continues to grow at an amazing rate. Soon there will be no need to go to Thailand to experience Thai culture, it's all in Sydney.

A pic of the crowd watching the traditional dancing, cooking demonstrations and the fashion shows. Plenty of food stalls at the rear of the park, everybody pigging out on Thai cruisine.

[Mighty Mouse]

Another pic.

[Neeranam]

Songkran in Sydney....that's the place where u can see Thais living in the city as zombies and nobody else sees them anywhere again. There are about 15K of them, then about 9-10K students at any time.

A self locked, frightened bunch with no relations to the environment they are in.

I doubt they are or could be any kind of a a community in any regard.

The worst possible migrants, not only to Australia, to anywhere.

Hear here, I would never dream of going to a Songkran abroad. It has lost the whole meaning here too. You won't see me out on the street this Songkran, for sure.

Sure, I've been the stupid farang playing it before. It is fun doing it once or twice.

[Mighty Mouse]

Hear here, I would never dream of going to a Songkran abroad. It has lost the whole meaning here too. You won't see me out on the street this Songkran, for sure.

Sure, I've been the stupid farang playing it before. It is fun doing it once or twice.

You were once a "stupid farang" when you first arrived in Thailand as a tourist. Do you now brand all newbie tourists as "stupid?" Perhaps you regard all farangs who dare to join in the fun of Songkran as "stupid" irrespective of where in the world the festival is held.

I must be stupid too because I enjoy mixing with the Thai community who now call Sydney 'home'.

I'd love to see both you and Think-too-mut come to one of these gatherings, stand up and start calling all the Thai's, "zombies." I can just picture the reaction, not a pretty sight.

...and I suppose your children won't be allowed out of the house to enjoy a Thailand Songkran nor will there be any Easter egg hunt at your place either.

How boring you must be. Get a life.

[Donz]

I went to the festival once in sydney, we didnt throw water because we had a drought, we only had the powder which didnt make it fun.

So ive never been since.

[think_too_mut]

I'd love to see both you and Think-too-mut come to one of these gatherings, stand up and start calling all the Thai's, "zombies." I can just picture the reaction, not a pretty sight.

I guess, if you have "special interest" you can always find where to join.

All the years in Sydney and I had not seen a Thai person in my life before going to Thailand.

That's why I was shocked to see how many have been living in the same town as me.

Living at Potts Point, working in City and North Sydney, surfing at Bondi, Cronulla and Manly, never came accross one Thai person.

[Donz]

I'd love to see both you and Think-too-mut come to one of these gatherings, stand up and start calling all the Thai's, "zombies." I can just picture the reaction, not a pretty sight.

I guess, if you have "special interest" you can always find where to join.

All the years in Sydney and I had not seen a Thai person in my life before going to Thailand.

That's why I was shocked to see how many have been living in the same town as me.

Living at Potts Point, working in City and North Sydney, surfing at Bondi, Cronulla and Manly, never came accross one Thai person.

Really,

have you seen any asians in the city??

i see them like everyday.

[think_too_mut]

I'd love to see both you and Think-too-mut come to one of these gatherings, stand up and start calling all the Thai's, "zombies." I can just picture the reaction, not a pretty sight.

I guess, if you have "special interest" you can always find where to join.

All the years in Sydney and I had not seen a Thai person in my life before going to Thailand.

That's why I was shocked to see how many have been living in the same town as me.

Living at Potts Point, working in City and North Sydney, surfing at Bondi, Cronulla and Manly, never came accross one Thai person.

Really,

have you seen any asians in the city??

i see them like everyday.

What does that mean? Are you saying Thais that I have never seen have been all around the place, integrated into the mainstream, doing management, engineering, clark, teaching and any non-restaurant and non-cleaning jobs but I could not tell them apart? Some probably do but I have still to see them.

Thousands of Asians I met were from all possible countries but never from Thailand.

Even had one Lao born engineer working for me.

[Donz]

I'd love to see both you and Think-too-mut come to one of these gatherings, stand up and start calling all the Thai's, "zombies." I can just picture the reaction, not a pretty sight.

I guess, if you have "special interest" you can always find where to join.

All the years in Sydney and I had not seen a Thai person in my life before going to Thailand.

That's why I was shocked to see how many have been living in the same town as me.

Living at Potts Point, working in City and North Sydney, surfing at Bondi, Cronulla and Manly, never came accross one Thai person.

Really,

have you seen any asians in the city??

i see them like everyday.

What does that mean? Are you saying Thais that I have never seen have been all around the place, integrated into the mainstream, doing management, engineering, clark, teaching and any non-restaurant and non-cleaning jobs but I could not tell them apart? Some probably do but I have still to see them.

Thousands of Asians I met were from all possible countries but never from Thailand.

Even had one Lao born engineer working for me.

I know a few Thai's that have great jobs, also a very wealthy Thai family who own a few duty free, tour guide businesses.

But I know alot of Thais that also work in resturants too.

[think_too_mut]

I'd love to see both you and Think-too-mut come to one of these gatherings, stand up and start calling all the Thai's, "zombies." I can just picture the reaction, not a pretty sight.

I guess, if you have "special interest" you can always find where to join.

All the years in Sydney and I had not seen a Thai person in my life before going to Thailand.

That's why I was shocked to see how many have been living in the same town as me.

Living at Potts Point, working in City and North Sydney, surfing at Bondi, Cronulla and Manly, never came accross one Thai person.

Really,

have you seen any asians in the city??

i see them like everyday.

What does that mean? Are you saying Thais that I have never seen have been all around the place, integrated into the mainstream, doing management, engineering, clark, teaching and any non-restaurant and non-cleaning jobs but I could not tell them apart? Some probably do but I have still to see them.

Thousands of Asians I met were from all possible countries but never from Thailand.

Even had one Lao born engineer working for me.

I know a few Thai's that have great jobs, also a very wealthy Thai family who own a few duty free, tour guide businesses.

But I know alot of Thais that also work in resturants too.

Exactly what I am saying. Out of 25,000 Thais in Sydney you know a few who have "great jobs". What the remaining 25,000 minus "few" are doing and where are they hiding?

My guess, if board members added up "good jobs" and "integrated" Thais they know in Sydney, that would not go far over 1-2% of overall present there.

[Donz]

I'd love to see both you and Think-too-mut come to one of these gatherings, stand up and start calling all the Thai's, "zombies." I can just picture the reaction, not a pretty sight.

I guess, if you have "special interest" you can always find where to join.

All the years in Sydney and I had not seen a Thai person in my life before going to Thailand.

That's why I was shocked to see how many have been living in the same town as me.

Living at Potts Point, working in City and North Sydney, surfing at Bondi, Cronulla and Manly, never came accross one Thai person.

Really,

have you seen any asians in the city??

i see them like everyday.

What does that mean? Are you saying Thais that I have never seen have been all around the place, integrated into the mainstream, doing management, engineering, clark, teaching and any non-restaurant and non-cleaning jobs but I could not tell them apart? Some probably do but I have still to see them.

Thousands of Asians I met were from all possible countries but never from Thailand.

Even had one Lao born engineer working for me.

I know a few Thai's that have great jobs, also a very wealthy Thai family who own a few duty free, tour guide businesses.

But I know alot of Thais that also work in resturants too.

Exactly what I am saying. Out of 25,000 Thais in Sydney you know a few who have "great jobs". What the remaining 25,000 minus "few" are doing and where are they hiding?

My guess, if board members added up "good jobs" and "integrated" Thais they know in Sydney, that would not go far over 1-2% of overall present there.

Alot of them study here, there is heaps of them at Macquarie Uni, some find jobs here and are allowed to stay but many working Visa's get rejected and they go back.

Alot of my gf's friends back home have moved to either the UK or US for work after they graduate.\

Also alot of Thai's are here on working visa's to make abit of cash and then go back to Thailand with good money.

Alot of Thais english isnt up to scratch and employers wont hire them. You usually need to know someone to get a job if you cant speak fluently.

[skylar]

Non-native Thai speakers of English also do a lot of bilingual telephone work, where native English language skills are not as important as Thai language skills are. There are Thai teachers, interpreters and translators. A lot of families have businesses - one Thai family I know has a youth fashion business. Their garments are found in Myer stores around the country. Another Thai is a professional artist. Another Thai family has a clothing alterations business. They are there- it just depends on your circumstances.

The Thai community is much smaller in comparison to some other Asian communities and therefore the opportunities of working with a Thai are significantly less than working with a Chinese person or a Vietnamese person, say. A student doesn't have time to hold down what you would call a 'good' job. A child goes to school, not to work. The elderly don't work either!

[Mighty Mouse]

All the years in Sydney and I had not seen a Thai person in my life before going to Thailand.

That's why I was shocked to see how many have been living in the same town as me.

Living at Potts Point, working in City and North Sydney, surfing at Bondi, Cronulla and Manly, never came accross one Thai person.

The Thai's keep a low profile and have integrated into mainstream Aussie way of life. They don't all live in the same suburb as the Vietnamese do. The Thai's can be found living in most suburbs, including those mentioned by you.

Asians are everywhere in Sydney and Thais make up a large proportion of them.

If you visit the fruit and vegetable markets, go to China Town or socialise in certain parts of the City, you will meet hundreds of Thais.

There are Thai restaurants everywhere in the City of Sydney, North Sydney, Manly, Waverly municipalities, and I bet at Cronulla too. (I don't visit there very often)

At most of the fairs and markets there are Thai food stalls and many of the Asian supermarkets are owned and operated by Thais.

The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned.

[Donz]

Have you ever been to Glebe markets??

I sell shirts there (come buy them all off me)

40% of them are thai stalls

[idlemeister]

All the years in Sydney and I had not seen a Thai person in my life before going to Thailand.

That's why I was shocked to see how many have been living in the same town as me.

Living at Potts Point, working in City and North Sydney, surfing at Bondi, Cronulla and Manly, never came accross one Thai person.

The Thai's keep a low profile and have integrated into mainstream Aussie way of life. They don't all live in the same suburb as the Vietnamese do. The Thai's can be found living in most suburbs, including those mentioned by you.

Asians are everywhere in Sydney and Thais make up a large proportion of them.

If you visit the fruit and vegetable markets, go to China Town or socialise in certain parts of the City, you will meet hundreds of Thais.

There are Thai restaurants everywhere in the City of Sydney, North Sydney, Manly, Waverly municipalities, and I bet at Cronulla too. (I don't visit there very often)

At most of the fairs and markets there are Thai food stalls and many of the Asian supermarkets are owned and operated by Thais.

The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned.

Very well said, with some luck and enough migrants, buddhism will take over from intolerent religions and the Easter Show may then have a procession of Buddha's with people respectfully splashing.

After I first travelled and returned home, it was like the blinkers had been taken off. I started to recognise facial features, languages, dress and behaviour which distinguishes people from one another. What felt like a bunch of Italians, Chinese, Greeks and Germans, was exposed as a myriad of cultures and people from Europe and Asia.

Has anyone seen the movie Crash ? a brilliant expose of prejudice and human interaction. At least the people in the movie have lives and react, although very badly sometimes.

The question I have for some of you is:- if you hate the Thai people and the Thai culture, why are you on this forum, why do you go to Thailand at all ?

Please spread your bigotry, your poison and your self loathing somewhere else.

[Tippaporn]

All the years in Sydney and I had not seen a Thai person in my life before going to Thailand.

That's why I was shocked to see how many have been living in the same town as me.

Living at Potts Point, working in City and North Sydney, surfing at Bondi, Cronulla and Manly, never came accross one Thai person.

The Thai's keep a low profile and have integrated into mainstream Aussie way of life. They don't all live in the same suburb as the Vietnamese do. The Thai's can be found living in most suburbs, including those mentioned by you.

Asians are everywhere in Sydney and Thais make up a large proportion of them.

If you visit the fruit and vegetable markets, go to China Town or socialise in certain parts of the City, you will meet hundreds of Thais.

There are Thai restaurants everywhere in the City of Sydney, North Sydney, Manly, Waverly municipalities, and I bet at Cronulla too. (I don't visit there very often)

At most of the fairs and markets there are Thai food stalls and many of the Asian supermarkets are owned and operated by Thais.

The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned.

Very well said, with some luck and enough migrants, buddhism will take over from intolerent religions and the Easter Show may then have a procession of Buddha's with people respectfully splashing.

After I first travelled and returned home, it was like the blinkers had been taken off. I started to recognise facial features, languages, dress and behaviour which distinguishes people from one another. What felt like a bunch of Italians, Chinese, Greeks and Germans, was exposed as a myriad of cultures and people from Europe and Asia.

Has anyone seen the movie Crash ? a brilliant expose of prejudice and human interaction. At least the people in the movie have lives and react, although very badly sometimes.

The question I have for some of you is:- if you hate the Thai people and the Thai culture, why are you on this forum, why do you go to Thailand at all ?

Please spread your bigotry, your poison and your self loathing somewhere else.

to , idlemeister. That is, if you haven't been welcomed eslewhere already.

I think think_too_mut thinks too much . . . trash. I'm not even an Aussie (and proud of it, too ), but couldn't help agreeing with the likes of idlemeister and MM. I don't understand either, given the obvious contempt shown by think_too_mut towards Thais, why he/she would post on TV!!! His/her opinions of Thais as zombies and migrants is laughable to anyone who has Thai friends and knows Thai people, but sad as he/she is just another example of the disgraceful dogmatism that some people unwisely choose to adopt.

Little do these people realize how low they bring themselves by slagging off other cultures while thinking of themselves as existing so far above some illusory cut. They embarass themselves by spouting their narrow-minded prejudices in public but are generally too ignorant to realize it.

It's rare that I flame people since it's not my style but I'll make the infrequent exception here.

[Mighty Mouse]

Hey Tip,

Take a bow.....

....you just received a standing ovation from an appreciative audience.

[Ulysses G.]

The worst possible migrants, not only to Australia, to anywhere.

I could name a lot of nationalities that make Thais look like they came down from heaven in comparison, but I won't.

I take it you don't like easy going people, Thai girls or Thai food?