2014 Songkran FAQ (long)

[JSixpack]

THE 2014 PATTAYA SONGKRAN FAQ

Introduction

OK, let's DO IT AGAIN!!!

(This thread is for general and formal discussions of Pattaya Songkran. There'll be another thread for posting minute-by-minute descriptions of the action, entitled something like "It's Started Already." (Last year's: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/632464-its-started-already/) It's also geared for residents of Pattaya. If you're a yobbo looking for PVC water gun vendors, you're probably not a resident--and this ain't your thread.)

I'd often thought we need a sticky w/ a FAQ (or FAI [Frequently Asserted Ignorance] or FAN [Frequently Asserted Nonsense]) about Pattaya Songkran to avoid so much repetition of ignorance and hot air. Should be a big help to newbies.

And last year's SONGKRAN FAQ did indeed massively cut down on the trolling of the years preceding. That's because, besides giving info, the FAQ already addresses all the usual sneers, grunts, insults, and childish posturing of the troll brigade. Downside: now they take longer to get themselves banned.

This FAQ incorporates relevant information in the 2013 Songkran FAQ and in the 2013 It's Started threads.

Be nice if Phil Conners will put up a helpful Google Map again this year of the hotspots.

Table Of Contents

1. DEFINITION
2. DATES
3. HOURS OF OPERATION
4. LOCATION
5. WHY
6. SURVIVAL STRATEGIES
6.1. Leave
6.2. Go to ground
6.3. Be a target
6.4. Vent
7. THE FUTURE

In the course of the FAQ, the following questions and misconceptions are specifically addressed:

• Q: Who's worse, farang or Thai hooligans?
• Q: What are the dates of Pattaya's Songkran horror?
• Q: Why does Songkran last so long in Pattaya?
• Q: Can I travel to or from Pattaya on the 19th?
• Q: It stops at 6 PM by law, no problem.
• Q: Where is Pattaya's Songkran?
• Q: Long-term residents know the worst areas and can avoid them.
• Q: It's harmless fun and a good laugh.
• Q: It's a Thai custom, farangs should have no say. Nyah nyah NYAH nyah!
• Q: But why is it hooliganism?
• Q: But it's just a lil' inconvenience, heh, heh.
• Q: But I get to see young women in wet T-shirts at Songkran!!!
• Q: So where is the best place to avoid Songkran?
• Q: What about wearing a rainsuit?
• Q: Just ride w/ your car windows rolled up.
• Q: Motorcyclists are safe because they wear helmets.
• Q: Don't worry, the police have instituted a ban on high pressure water guns and PVC pipes.
• Q: But saying anything against Songkran is a whinge.
• Q: Bt nobody's pAin attn 2 ur complaints, nyuk nyuk nyuk.
• Q: f u dnt lk sngkrn u dnt lk pty n tIlnd!
• Q: f u dnt lk sngkrn ur a stick-in-the-mud.
• Q: i luv my tats & pty sngkrn!
• Q: f u dnt go out n fIt, ur a pussy scArd o my BIG BAD supR soaker. Yah, yah, pussy!
• Q: Is Pattaya Songkran in decline?

Without further ado:


1. DEFINITION

A gentle, charming, traditional water blessing ceremony for the new year performed by the smiling, friendly natives of Thailand. Whoops! Dreamin' there for a sec . . . .

A sadistic, filthy water-ice-and-powder throwing war in which for 9 days mobs of farang and Thai hooligans have legal licence to cause maximum injury to whomever they encounter.


Q: Who's worse, farang or Thai hooligans?
A: A question of perennial interest for some reason. Well, consensus has it that in the bar areas the Thai hooligans are usually the equal of the farangs. If you encounter a group of Thais outside of the bar areas, they'll likely be gentler--but you can't totally rely on it, esp. when it comes to the pickup truck revelers.

You'll also encounter a lot more of the (gentler) Thai hooligans at the countless checkpoints set up outside the bar areas. Is it better to be songkraned 3 times by gentler Thai hooligans or once by mean farang hooligans? You decide.

The NOISE of Songkran also deserves a mention.

@balo, on 14 Apr 2013 - 23:07:

Right now I am more comcerned about the loud music and Thais screamiing into their karaoke microphones here in my soi all night.

Besides the parties & karaoke, cars & trucks ride around at all hours playing loud music. It can be disturbing, to say the least.

2. DATES

Q: What are the dates of Pattaya's Songkran horror?
A: Starts tentatively on April 11th by premature ejaculators and goes through the 19th. (Hence if your survival strategy is to go to ground (see below), do all your shopping no later than the 10th.)

Picks up speed on the 12th on the inevitable principle of monkey see monkey do because the 12th is the official start of the Songkran holidays in Thailand--but not officially of the Songkran celebration in Pattaya, because different geographical areas have different official Songkran celebration dates. We don't need no stinkin' rules in PTY, however, so here the "celebration" starts the 11th, mostly towards the late afternoon and evening hours.

By the 13th, when Bangkok's Songkran celebration starts, things are getting into full swing. Traffic's not yet too bad--a calm before the storm, as a lot of people have wisely left town. But then the 16th to the 19th is the worst because then the Bangkok hooligans migrate to swell the ranks of Pattaya's own. Expect traffic jams building from the 16th.

On the 18th and 19th travel becomes nearly impossible owing to gridlock and the "festivities." The 19th is the peak day, the climax, of Songkran in Pattaya.

And it is the last day. Yep, Pattaya Songkran always stops on the 19th, late; on the 20th things are back to "normal." Some prescient forum wiser-than-thou will likely "bet" (love these bets) it won't stop on the 19th, but in fact it does--to applause and great sighs of relief.

I've just ridden (3am) through the heart of the bar area zone in Pattaya, along 2nd Road, Beach Road, Pattaya Klang and Pattaya Tai. No one is spraying water. It's over!!!!!







Beach Road was still wet though, so it must have stopped quite late in that area.

The total time taken up by Songkran is really 10 days when you factor in the day of preparation you need to spend--no later than April 10th.

So let's call it 10 days, shall we?

Q: Why does Songkran last so long in Pattaya?
A: It has to do with the nature of the Pattaya's main business.

The vast Pattaya bar scene isn't noted for polite, considerate, civilized behavior; consider the type of workers and clientele: underlying reality strongly asserts itself at Songkran. And so the water throwing is usually started early by mobs of farang yobos in the bars, notably in Sois 7 and 8. They live and breathe for Songkran season; many travel to Pattaya especially for it. The Thais readily join in.

Revealed at last! ME for 10 days!

Q: Can I travel to or from Pattaya on the 19th?
A: Forget it. All roads around Pattaya turn into parking lots. Some, if not all, taxi services refuse to travel on that day. Driving? Member marstons reports it took him 3 hours to get from the motorway junction to the Pattaya Klang intersection on Sukhumvit.

@brummiebob, on 09 Apr 2013 - 18:48:

I've seen tourist that's arrived on the 19th booked a hotel somewhere on beach road and got a taxi down and managed to get in as far as Foodland or Big C car park on central road., their taxi gave up after 3-4 hours, left them to fend for themselves and probably walk the rest of the way to their hotel.

It's also hard to travel out of Pattaya on the 19th. The buses do run, but you'll have to get the station on your own (no Bell Travel pickup) and expect long, long delays.

3. HOURS OF OPERATION

Roughly speaking, it goes on from about 7 AM to 12 AM daily, but any time is possible. Peak hours are from about 2 PM to 7 PM. If traveling, you'll have to weigh the probabilities and choices of routes for least inconvenience.

Q: It stops at 6 PM by law, no problem.
A: Law? No, in Pattaya it never stops at 6 PM. Try 11 PM or 12 AM. Member tropo notes, On some nights and especially the night before the big day on 19th they throw water all through the night - even on 3rd road.


4. LOCATION

Q: Where is Pattaya's Songkran?
A: All the way from Naklua to Jomtien, radiating from the bar areas. That includes Wong Amart. The worst areas are Beach Rd. and 2nd Rd. in Pattaya. Walking Street and Soi Buakhaow are war zones for the duration. Jomtien Beach Rd. starts slower but gradually builds to Hooligan Hawg Heaven:

@LALes, on 08 Apr 2013 - 17:27:

Try Jomtien Beach Rd, on the 19th if you want to see the End Of The World. Every nitwit and his brother is out. The huge trucks with the humongous stereos are cruising up and down Beach Rd. blaring that crap all day and all night and traffic is not really moving so, from my condo window, I have to endure the whole bloody mess. Don't even think about going outside because that's worse.

Side streets off the main roads usually have pockets of Songkran revelers and may have checkpoints you can't safely pass without being soaked, iced, and powdered.

Besides that, open trucks full of drunken revelers w/ barrels of water, ice, and powder continually cruise the streets like Taliban. You can get songkraned anywhere in the ciy.

Songkran pickup truck revelers

Naklua's official Songkran day is the 18th, meaning gridlock on Naklua Rd. for most of the day; avoid, unless you're a water hooligan, of course. Wong Amart, then, is effectively sealed in.

Q: Long-term residents know the worst areas and can avoid them
A: You have to know Pattaya really well to avoid all clusters of beer bars. Besides, many residents do ride the baht buses-esp. what with the traffic and parking situation nowadays--and most buses travel via the Beach Rd/2nd Rd circuit. And there are the Taliban trucks out continually cruising the streets.

Baht bus travelers under attack

Photo credit: SurfRider


5. WHY

Q: It's harmless fun and a good laugh
A: No, vehicle accidents and injuries do happen because of the water, powder, and ice throwing. Eye and ear infections are not uncommon as much of the water is quite filthy. In fact, one TV member almost lost an eye to infection. Fights break out (see the threads here and here ).

Let's have some testimonials:

> Has anyone here ever seen or heard of a motorbike having an accident while getting water dumped on them from a pickup?

I guess you don't live in Thailand.
I have seen many accidents caused by idiots throwing a bucket of water at a passing motocycle.

Iced water is the latest stupid idea, and has an even worse effect.
Last year I saw some idiot farangs throughing water with ICE CUBES.

Complete and utter idiots.

It's not just throwing water at moving motorcycles. I nearly had a very bad accident driving a car down a straight highway at about 90 kph, when all of a sudden a couple of kids darted out and threw two buckets of water that hit my windscreen. The force of water against my windscreen moving at 90 kph cause a huge noise and caused me to momentarily be unable to see do to the water.

This sort of thing is very, very dangerous and could cause one to lose control, whilst killing themselves and perhaps other who may me standing along the side of the road. Throwing buckets of water at passing vehicles has nothing to do with the real meaning of Songkran, and of course I would be dreaming to think anything would ever been done to stop it.

Sad but true. Some years back I was driving back from work taking a back road when a pick-up truck of drunks going in the opposite direction, hurled ice which smashed my windscreen. When I eventually found a garage I had to join the queue for a new windscreen!! Some call this good fun.

@oohlalanev, on 29 Mar 2013 - 08:39: Has anyone here ever seen or heard of a motorbike having an accident while getting water dumped on them from a pickup?
@SteeleJoe, on 29 Mar 2013 - 09:00: Yes.
@Keesters, on 30 Mar 2013 - 08:23: yes, me

Most adult residents of Pattaya ain't laughing. We've been through multiple Songkrans; we know quite well what it's all about. Women don't think being groped is a good laugh either. I recall a singularly bitter post about that by a farang woman.

Q: It's a Thai custom, farangs should have no say.
A: Thais and farangs force the farangs to participate whether they want to or not; ergo, they have a say even though the powers-that-be pay no attention.

Q: But why is it hooliganism?
A: Simply because the hooligans force everyone to participate whether they want to or not. And they attempt to injure their victims as much as possible, having no fear of prosecution. See this old clown? For shame!

Watch me make her crash her motorbike!

Photo & caption credit: SurfRider

@tlock, on 2012-04-19 21:14:48:

It does seem like the goal is to make me wreck my bike. Every bowl and water cannon was aiming for my eyes, and people would do things like hide behind something and jump out and hit me in the face with water...

@willyumiii, on 30 Mar 2013 - 09:45:

...last year I found several jerks were throwing cold water with large chunks of ice in the water. I was hit in the mouth with a chunk of ice the size of a fist last year and went home bleeding and in a considerable amount of pain. The injury could have been worse.

Hooligan-on-hooligan would be fine, let 'em have at it. But no-o-o-o.

Q: But it's just a lil' inconvenience, heh, heh.
A: No. Besides dangerous, for those living here it's also a MAJOR inconvenience because it goes on for such a long time. In this case, complaints are legit, justified, and almost universal among long-term residents including Thais. Most Thais enjoy the last couple of days--not 10 days (except for time off work).

Q: But I get to see young women in wet T-shirts at Songkran!!!
A: OMG. You can see plenty of those with no T-shirts in the go-go bars anytime--except during Songkran, when the go-gos are mostly empty. Mostly the same girls, too; we ain't talkin' cute Top Charoen salesgirls or BPH nurses here.

All that drooling over Songkran wimmen is so silly, considering.


6. SURVIVAL STRATEGIES

6.1. Leave!

O-o-o-h YEAH. Unquestionably the very best thing you can do. Instead of dodging drunken idiot water hooligans, fighting traffic, endangering life and limb--or being confined at home, if you go to ground--you're in Vung Tau relaxing by the pool with a drink and Vietnamese lovelies. Pity from afar the poor sods left behind. Come back refreshed after Songkran: it never even happened!

Q: So where is the best place to avoid Songkran?
A: In our neighborhood? Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia. Cambodia's got a favorable mention as having a much more limited Songkran. No word about Burma yet AFAIK but it's gotta be better than Pattaya.

Get to the airport early (3 hours)! The mass exodus means long lines.

Immigration also starts getting packed the closer the date to Songkran. Lots of people need re-entry permits!

If you can't leave the country, then you can hole up in a town with a shorter, gentler Songkran cycle. Bangkok's is only 3 days (13th - 15th) and not bad at all away from the tourist areas. Hua Hin has been mentioned. Most any village will do. Even the Darkside is a lot better than Pattaya proper, esp. in which to go to ground: forget Sukhumvit, but you can probably make it to the 7/11 without any major problems.

Those of you in the know, please make other suggestions in this thread.

6.2. Go to ground

The 2nd best solution, less expensive of course. Good planning is key, about like planning to be snowed in, if you can remember that.

I'll hit the bases; fill in your own details.

Start early: shortages (notably of bread) develop owing to supply problems and to hording. Stock up the fridge (pray for no lengthy power outage) with fresh and frozen foods. How To Freeze Vegetables Stock the pantry with canned goods. (Learn to love and appreciate canned tuna.) Have on hand a 9 days' supply of good booze and other mood enhancers, cigars (Friendship), vids, music (internet radio helps), vitamin V, and wimmen. Pamper yourself; indulge--safely, comfortably, oblivious to the Shaun Of The Dead in the streets.

Have some goals. Like, watch the entire series of The Wire again. Play The Elder Scrolls Oblivion & Skyrim. Read books. Complete a project of some sort. How about a website? Up for grabs: songkransucks.com.

It's a great time to get something productive done around the house/condo/apt.

No need to risk going to the gym. Keep yourself in good shape with bodyweight exercises at home:

http://www.wildmantraining.com/
http://mattfurey.com/conditioning_book.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/mahler19.htm
http://lifehacker.com/this-table-of-exercises-shows-you-how-to-get-fit-withou-1525971528

A cardio machine of some sort is always nice to have. Where to get home gym equipment around PTY: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/667934-home-multi-gym-where-to-buy/

You may need to break out the earplugs to endure the noise. Buy those at a pharmacy or (cheaper) Lotus. Headphones or earbuds for watching TV or listening to music can also be useful in combating the noise of Songkran.

Resupply? Having done your homework, you should have no need, but you can call a delivery service (if they can get through) or go out only in the wee hours on furtive expeditions to Foodland, open 24 hours. Now, your Thai gf will assure you that she can get out & back unscathed anytime. She can't. Natural optimists, Thais.

Well, all considered, not so bad, eh? You're safe, dry, and very comfortable in your sanctuary for the duration. Isn't it satisfying to have taken your fate into your own hands and deprived the hooligans of sadistic fun at your expense? It is. Let the dogs outside bray as they will!


6.3. Be a target

Go ahead--make their day!

Well, there's the obvious, oft-repeated advice about keeping your phone, passport or passport copy, and wallet in ziplock bags. 7/11 will be selling waterproof baggies for about 60 baht you can hang around your neck. Lots of phones get ruined during Songkran.

But goggles and waterproof earplugs are also highly recommended because of the risk of eye/ear infections. Such infections have been confirmed by TV posters; one member did almost lose an eye. Example of ear targeting:

@Exsexyman, on 17 Apr 2013 - 12:26:

Three years ago on the day itself, ( the 19th), one of these warriors put a high pressure gun filled with iced water about 6 inches away from my ear and let fly. Clearly a deliberate attempt to cause injury, ie burst eardrum.

Songkran water can be quite filthy and usually is. And don't forget about the powder. Throw some into your eyes right now and see how it feels.

Q: What about wearing a rainsuit?
A: Hot as hell. You get soaked from the inside and still risk the dangers.

Q: Just ride w/ your car windows rolled up.
A: No, the windshield and rear-view mirrors get powdered and pasted so the driver can't see clearly.

Again:

@bubba, on 29 Mar 2013 - 13:26:

I nearly had a very bad accident driving a car down a straight highway at about 90 kph, when all of a sudden a couple of kids darted out and threw two buckets of water that hit my windscreen. The force of water against my windscreen moving at 90 kph cause a huge noise and caused me to momentarily be unable to see do to the water.

@Ian Curtis, on 29 Mar 2013 - 23:52:

Sad but true. Some years back I was driving back from work taking a back road when a pick-up truck of drunks going in the opposite direction, hurled ice which smashed my windscreen. When I eventually found a garage I had to join the queue for a new windscreen!! Some call this good fun.

Repeat this 10 times: Some of us don't own cars.

But some of our biggest loudmouthed Songkran boosters here on the forum do merely drive around in their cars with their windows rolled up. For all the big talk, they don't really participate--just watch. Real ba-a-adasses!

Q: Motorcyclists are safe because they wear helmets.
A: No, roads are slippery, cyclists get hit w/ blasts of water and ice making control difficult, their shields get pasted over with powder so they can't see. It's really quite dangerous. Have YOU had a motorbike accident yet? No? Well, how about your posting a liability insurance bond first to pay for my hospital bills, just in case. No?

@HaleySabai, on 30 Mar 2013 - 00:31:

Some years back I was riding my bike into town, just prior to Songkran,so I thought it was safe... suddenly out of no where a guy throws a buck of water directly into my face, I dam_n near crashed

@Arkady, on 05 Apr 2013 - 00:38:

One of my friends saw the motorcyclist in front of his bike collide with a cement electricity pylon in what looked like a fatal collision after being pelted in the face with a bucket of water over Songkran a couple of years back. I nearly went under a truck in Hua Hin after getting a bucket of water and ice cubes in my face on my push bike once.

Q: Don't worry, the police have instituted a ban on high pressure water guns and PVC pipes.
A: You must be joking. They do that every year. Once in a while they condescend to grab some. Makes no difference: they're immediately replaced. Anyway, there are always buckets!

6.4. Vent

By all means, vent. One of our main pastimes here on TV. Good for the soul, catharsis, totally understandable and justified in this case (unlike most of the others). Let people know how you feel.

Q: But saying anything against Songkran is a whinge.
A: If one has the right to chortle and gurgle for Songkran and jerk off over a water gun, one also has the right to express one's legitimate, entirely reasonable displeasure at being forcibly inconvenienced, endangered, and perhaps injured--legally, with no recourse.

And then there's having to spend time and money leaving the area. You feel better squirtin' water; we feel better venting.

And of course you wouldn't whinge about the supposed whingeing, now would you?

Q: Bt nobody's pAin attn 2 ur complaints, nyuk nyuk nyuk.
A: Oh, we know that. But a major purpose of the annual HATE SONGKRAN threads is to share survival information for those of us who live here in PTY. And as I said venting just feels good too.

Some members do believe that disgust on the part of Thais, mainly, and farangs will eventually be heard by City Hall. Naturally, other members pooh-pooh the very idea.

Q: f u dnt lk Songkran, u dnt lk pty & tIlnd!
A: No, Thaier-than-thou, most of us residents like Pattaya and Thailand. We don't have to like EVERYTHING, though, and you don't either. Me, I'm a big supporter of Pattaya, love the city except for the traffic and PATTAYA SONGKRAN. Why not have a traditional Songkran with no water throwing or a normal 3-day Songkran?

Real Thai Songran

Q: f u dont lk sngkrn, ur a stick-in-the-mud. Yah, yah, stick-in-the-mud!
A: Lots of, like, really cool people just don't like the inconvenience of Pattaya Songkran for TEN days. We live here and need to live our lives, shop, bank, work, see doctors, take the kids out. TWO days of water-throwing at most would be fine.

As gmac, on 2012-02-23 11:14:11, said:

Try taking your wife/girlfriend to work on a motorbike during this wonderful enjoyable time and see how much you like it then. Not knocking Pattaya or the life in general just the morons who insist on soaking people who actually have to work for a living on their way to work.

Q: i luv my tats & pty sngkrn
A: But you belong to a different demographic than the permanent residents. You most likely fall into one or more of these categories:

• tourists or wannabe tourists
• ignorant noobs
• kids and teenagers
• pathetic keyboard warriors fantasizing and trolling from afar, e.g., from council estates in blighty, basement rooms at parents'
• uneducated Johnny Lunchbuckets who can't afford to live here, mainly focused on beer, birds, ballgames, and bashing
• voyeurs for whom the spectacle is worth wasting time & money driving around w/ the windows rolled up
• the besotted seeking to impress some Thai woman, perhaps at her bar or former bar
• the indolent, having nothing better to do
• the weak and insecure seeking validation in wrecking motorcyclists
• mere sadistic <deleted> reveling in the chance to cause injury without fear of retribution
• masochists who actually enjoy being victimized by the sadistic <deleted>

Q: f u don't go out & fIt, ur a pussy scArd o' my supR soaker. Yah, yah, pussy!
A: Oooh. Big. Bad. Watergun. We just gotta cue "Macho Man" here:

LOL. But most Pattaya residents, early on, did participate in one or two Songkrans, on the peak day, at its worst.

@transam, on 11 Feb 2014 - 13:32:

Years ago I did the water thing, not any more. I do get out to do things l want to do, don't get wet playing snooker.

After doing it once or twice, we realized the truth about Pattaya Songkran: it's just a silly, childish, boring, needlessly inconvenient, time-wasting, sadistic legal license for assault and injury.

For a typical farang <deleted>, that's what's good about it. For anyone with sense and maturity, it's obviously bad.

Now the <deleted> throwing ice, water, and powder don't look like your normal Pattaya permanent residents, do they? You don't spy in front of the sois 7 - 8 bars any card-carrying members of our local Expats Clubs. Rather, they seem members (literally or in spirit) of the "unwashed masses of baked-beans-on-toast bargain seeking tourists" (tnx Suradit69) who squat, belch and blabber about footie in council estates back in blighty. Proud o' it, too.

That the residents of PTY have achieved the financial means to live here permanently (though some obviously must be beneficiaries of trust funds) proves that MOST have a lot more sense and maturity than the <deleted>--except perhaps when it comes to Thai women or buying condos off plan.

And residents, comfortable in homes/condos/apts, have plenty of interesting things to do other than get out into Songkran. In fact Songkran interferes with the other things to do.

So avoiding Songkran is simply a rational decision about priorities and convenience. It has nothing whatsoever to do with cojones except in the childish fantasies of the <deleted>.

In fact, some of our residents who leave or go to ground could easily kick the butts of any of our wannabe Rambos-with-a-water-pistol.

For the keyboard warriors who ride down Beach Rd. with their windows rolled up, the purpose of trying to manipulate others to participate is actually to swell the cast for greater viewing pleasure. But why should any resident be manipulated into being part of the show? Who's that stupid?

Anyway, the question of who participates and who doesn't is merely a red herring thrown across the main complaint: the annoyance and inconvenience of the 10 days of Pattaya's Songkran--in contrast to the norm of 3 days max elsewhere throughout Thailand.

Most local Thai and farang residents feel similarly on this issue.


7. THE FUTURE

Q: Is Pattaya Songkran in decline?
A: Maybe. A number of rational members think so, not just the miserable old harpies of the Doomsayers Club always cackling about DYING PATTAYA. Fewer Brit yobos are coming over, and the exchange rate and less-than-booming economies discourage Americans and Europeans too-but not so much the Ozzies yet. Cheaper airfare, nah? Then there's been all the political instability in Thailand FWIW.

Seems the Russians by and large haven't yet quite embraced Pattaya Songkran; one can only imagine how it will be if they do. For now it's been noted how Russians tend to get aggressive when victimized during Songkran. (Most tourists ride baht buses.) No doubt many of them came as couples or families expecting a halfway peaceful holiday by the bay. Ha!

@Exsexyman, on 26 Mar 2013 - 10:54:

Last year i saw an extremely large Russian guy leap off a baht bus on beach road late at night and dive into a bar to give a good pasting to a drunken fool who had just emptied the contents of one of those high powered water guns into the bus.

Heh, heh.

However, the worst Songkran areas have actually grown to encompass Soi Buakhaow as well. So if it seems slightly less intense than before, perhaps that's merely because it's now spread more thinly. And is the perceived "decline" (by some members) only temporary?

Anyway, even if the Pattaya Songkran IS in decline--one may hope--it's not yet enough to make it bearable for us permanent residents. So there!

Tnx Mike Baird for all the artwork herein!

Edited March 1, 2014 by JSixpack

[MJCM]

No comment necessary

Ps: Only one comment !! This needs to be Pinned !

Edited March 1, 2014 by MJCM

[seasia]

Excellent and accurate.

[Rimmer]

WOW!! This really is a mammoth work you have put together, well done JSixpack.

I'll close up any of the other ones around and refer back to this one.

I'll pin this at the top for all to see.

[besth]

JSixpack you are improving yourself every year.

I just hope you are wrong and the future will bring some sort of normality to us, but excellent work.

Myself I will enjoy that time in Bangkok again, same as last year, if the mobs allow it.

[soihok]

Post of the decade.

Nice one 6 pack, how long did that take to put together?

Wish I had that many hours in a day to dedicate to a post, well done, really.

Will arrive in Pattaya on the 12th for a week.

Cheers

[soihok]

Hope to see you for a beer Mike

They will be on me.

[seasia]

I`m considering going to Cambodia during Thai Songkran time.

Is there water throwing there as well ?

I`m reading conflicting reports, would appreciate knowing from someone who has been there at that time, I`d likely choose PP or Sihanoukville.

"Chaul Chnam Thmey – Monday to Wednesday, 14 to 16 April 2014 "

http://thaholiday.co...-schedule-2014/

I do usually just stock up and mostly stay in but considering a change.

Thanks

[MJCM]

^ Just did a search on google.

Look here http://withoutborderschefs.com/cambodia-water-festival-2/ and it looks the same as in Thailand.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[tropo]

You coined a new word LOL. I like it!

"Songkraned" as in "You can get songkraned anywhere in the city".

[tropo]

I have noticed that shopping at night during the 10 days has become easier over the last couple of years. Perhaps it's because I've become more experienced at keeping out of harms way.

You may have a point about the Russians.... but the problem is that April is not such a busy time of the year for Russian tourists.

My goal is to go the entire period without being "songkraned". I just about made it last year - I caught a bit of spray late on the 19th evening going to the gym by some Thais still "playing" along 3rd Road.

[KittenKong]

So .... this is the official Songkran 2014 thread then? OK.

Can I be first?

Songkran is a PITA.

[tropo]

It's not too difficult to stay at home during the day and early evening - then do some shopping trips late at night to Foodland or Friendship (or even Foodmart) to stock up on fresh items. Just avoid the night trips on 18 and 19.

Stay away from bar areas at all times, because you'll get wet there even at night.

[JSixpack]

You coined a new word LOL. I like it!

"Songkraned" as in "You can get songkraned anywhere in the city".

Thank you. Honestly, since I thought of the verb several years ago, I've been finding it useful shorthand. It instantly describes the condition we know SO well. "It must have started already in downtown Pattaya: that baht bus looks songkraned." "She came back from the 7/11 songkraned." "I got songkraned on the way to Friendship this afternoon."

I think it's the word we've been looking for. I bequeath it to all readers of the Songkran FAQ.

Edited March 1, 2014 by JSixpack

[tropo]

You coined a new word LOL. I like it!

"Songkraned" as in "You can get songkraned anywhere in the city".

Thank you. Honestly, since I thought of the verb several years ago, I've been finding it useful shorthand. It instantly describes the condition we know SO well. "It must have started already in downtown Pattaya: that baht bus looks songkraned." "She came back from the 7/11 songkraned." "I got songkraned on the way to Friendship this afternoon."

I think it's the word we've been looking for. I bequeath it to all readers of the Songkran FAQ.

Yep, it's a word that describes a condition that only locals who have been here for awhile would fully comprehend.

It's a condition of being wet, frustrated, pissed off and out of sorts when you were hit by surprise with a bucket of water... while on your way to do something better done dry.

[WitawatWatawit]

A free umbrella to the first person to Songkran me in 7-8 years. A bottle of Dettol for the second and a smack around the ears for the third.

[JSixpack]

A free umbrella to the first person to Songkran me in 7-8 years. A bottle of Dettol for the second and a smack around the ears for the third.

Well, how have you been able to avoid being songkraned in so many years? 'Course, if you leave, you can't be songkraned anyway.

Been at least 10 years for me. I almost always leave. Last time I went to ground, maybe 6 years ago, I let the gf go out for resupply. She thought she knew a safe back route. Nope.

[JSixpack]

Just thought to add that if you decide to be a target, and you go out on a bike, you should definitely wear protective clothing as the risk of accident is so much higher.

Since you know the mess, you're of course tempted to wear nothing much more than a swimsuit and flip-flops. But that would NOT be wise at this time. Jeans, boots, jacket, full face helmet are what I'd wear. I'd probably wear a poncho or light rain jacket over my jacket. Yes, that would be hot as hell, and a big cleanup when I returned home, but a lot safer if some <deleted> hit me in the face w/ an ice bucket and I went down.

Edited March 1, 2014 by JSixpack

[tropo]

Just thought to add that if you decide to be a target, and you go out on a bike, you should definitely wear protective clothing as the risk of accident is so much higher.

Since you know the mess, you're of course tempted to wear nothing much more than a swimsuit and flip-flops. But that would NOT be wise at this time. Jeans, boots, jacket, full face helmet are what I'd wear. I'd probably wear a poncho or light rain jacket over my jacket. Yes, that would be hot as hell, and a big cleanup when I returned home, but a lot safer if some <deleted> hit me in the face w/ an ice bucket and I went down.

If I must go somewhere in the war zone I wear a typhoon-proof poncho and slippers or sandals. I'm not concerned about losing balance as I'm fairly confident with my riding skills and know what to expect. I don't know why they guys waste water trying to get me wet.

I used to stay dry going to California Wow up until the last day. My training shoes were wrapped in plastic in my back pack. The last year it was still open (2012) I even went there on Songkran Day - but it was closed! It was actually a very good week of training because the number of people training there was down.

[WitawatWatawit]

A free umbrella to the first person to Songkran me in 7-8 years. A bottle of Dettol for the second and a smack around the ears for the third.

Well, how have you been able to avoid being songkraned in so many years? 'Course, if you leave, you can't be songkraned anyway.

Been at least 10 years for me. I almost always leave. Last time I went to ground, maybe 6 years ago, I let the gf go out for resupply. She thought she knew a safe back route. Nope.

I use the car more frequently during Songkran. But on the bike, I guess I've just been very lucky (and super fast and clever - lol). Back in the days when I only had the motorbike, I would do a recce before going to work or the shops.

Jsixpack, you should repackage your OP and consider submitting it to the other newspaper. Or do a deal with a publisher to have it included in a guide book and earn yourself some royalties.

Edited March 2, 2014 by WitawatWatawit

[Nemesis7]

Very well described.

[ginglee]

Fair play, you put a lot of effort into that....For me Sonkran doesnt get me exited as it used to years ago...I'll be leaving Thailand for that period !

[DoctorG]

Enjoyed the post 6pak.

I did the Patt/Songkran walkabout one year, just for the experience, but after that always left the country for a month.

For the person who asked about Cambodia, I found it much milder in PP and could be avoided if you did not want to participate.

[NoshowJones]

I will say the same now what I say at every Songcran. If any Farang who I do not know throws water at me, it will be treated the same way as assault, and I will act accordingly. Any Farang I do know will not do it as they know my views on it.

I have no objection to people having fun and taking part in the water throwing if that is what they want, any TV member who has read my posts will know that I am strictly against anyone, no matter what the situation is, being forced to do anything against their will.

So if people are walking down the street, riding their motorbike, or driving their car, then leave them alone. Keep the water throwing only to people who want to take part.

[thaikahuna]

Positively SPOT ON! I had a friend die last year from jerks throwing ice water. She died taking evasive action and was hit by a pick up. I'm getting out of town again this year.

[LALes]

Great work, 6pack. I wonder if there's any other place in the world that needs a survival guide to a holiday!!!!

[Emster23]

Brilliant job. I booked ticket out of country other day. Going to Taliban controlled area of Pakistan, but still will be safer. (Kidding) Going to USA. 7 years ago had to come back from BKK to Jomtien, took 7 hours. We had weekend bags, Thais were cool about realising we were not part of the show, but the farangs were total jerks, as usual. It reminds me of old Star Trek episode where residents of some town went totally nuts one day a year. This of course is much beyond that... Beam me out, Scotty.

[Daniel Boon]

its not Ozzies ... its Aussies ... (who come OZ) ... OK ?

[Mudcrab]

I can understand some of the frustrations - particularly from the expat Poms getting involuntary baths!!!

[WitawatWatawit]

I can understand some of the frustrations - particularly from the expat Poms getting involuntary baths!!!

It's not the water, it's the soap, silly.