2014 Songkran FAQ (long)

[SurfRider]

.

[seasia]

It doesn't mean that the water throwing doesn't stop on the 19th "celebration day" in PTY, however. If that report is true, it just means that people who were officially supposed to go back to work on the 20th--a small minority--now don't have to, even though many wouldn't be showing up anyway or their companies had already given them that day. (Not all; and some companies may well require work on an official holiday and then give a substitution day.) A lot of people will be traveling back to their homes near their jobs on the 20th.

So if true, it surely has little impact on the overall scheme of things, I do believe.

I looked back on the calender to find another Songkran Day which fell on Saturday - April 19, 2008. I was here on that weekend and the water throwing did stop on Saturday. Whew!!!

That`s useful to know, I might head out this Sunday night ( 20th) for a while, should be all dry then.

As an aside the soi I am on in naklua has been ok but it is the big day for naklua tomorrow so it is going to be wet here, just in case anyone is heading up this way, getting to either Best or Tesco ( pattaya nua ) as well as most places in this area in the day will be tricky if wanting to stay dry .

Not long to go now and it will be over

[tropo]

.

Songkran Road Toll - 2014a.jpg

All these figures are meaningless unless we can see the average for normal weeks and then work out the nett increase over Songkran.

[JSixpack]

^^Looks like they were serious collecting high pressure water guns.

That pic is at least a year old.

[tropo]

Wouldn't it be great if the other 51 weeks of the year went by so slowly?

[tropo]

Who's going out for a special lunch or dinner on Sunday?

[Asia2000]

Walked on beach road from Pattaya Klang to Royal garden, Thursday evening.

Still total chaos on both sides of Beach road between Soi 7 and Soi 9.

The new open designed pavement, was a magnet for the hooligans to cross the road, and drench anyone in sight.

Do they never get enough? 9.30 pm!

From Soi 9 to Soi 12, it was quiet. From Soi 12 - Soi 13 another die hard group, who still hadn't had enough 'fun'.

If this was a indication was we have waiting for us the next 2 days....

From previous Songkran, the 'Die hard' group continued to well after midnight, on the last night.

April 20th can't come soon enough.

[Yann55]

This post of yours is quite an achievement, Mr JSixPack, because it is BOTH hilarious and accurate, and THAT is a rare combination!

I've been living in Pattaya for 10 years and usually I leave the country during Songkran, unless I HAVE to be here for some reason or other. It seems that most expats do the same. The majority of non-Thais who participate in and enjoy the whole mess are temporary visitors and I can't blame them for getting excited at the prospect of participating in a crazy week of anarchy. There are many tourists from Malaysia and Singapore, which says a lot about how much they have to harness their longing for excentricity in their home cultures. Anyway, the world at large doesn't offer that many opportunities to unwind, go nuts and exercise a reasonable amount of violence without immediate retribution.

The problem of course is that 'reasonable' is not the word that first comes to mind when witnessing Songkran in action. Injuries are innumerable and too many people actually end up losing their life so that others can enjoy (?) theirs... the price is high, and the word that comes to mind is 'unacceptable', but apparently not for everyone because no efficient measures ever seem to be taken, year after year. Words are spoken, sure, regrets are expressed, prayers are offered... but action does not follow to try and lessen the disastrous side-effects of this 'tradition'.

By the way, what part of it is an actual tradition ? Here's my little piece of personal experience : my first glimpse of Songkran was 25 years ago in Esarn. I was in Khon Kaen for the whole duration and had no idea what was going on, but the atmosphere was festive, friendly and incredibly positive. People would go around carrying a small bowl of water with flowers in it and after asking for your permission, they would dip their fingers in the water and gently sprinkle some over you. A blessing... I was told at the time that Songkran was about compassion, making amends to elders, seeking forgiveness, mending damaged relationships... THAT was the tradition of Songkran.

Between then and now, someone obviously found the magic stone that turns gold into lead...

[raro]

what's the situation today? Is it possible to get from the Dark Side (any Soi I can move around here...) to Pratamnak?

[JSixpack]

Who's going out for a special lunch or dinner on Sunday?

I certainly am!

[Pattaya Pat]

Does anyone know how many people have been murdered this year in the name of 'fun'?

Thailand should be totally ashamed of this yearly slaughter. It makes me want to get on a plane and never come back.

Welcome to the dark ages.

[rott]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I've observed over the years that many people who enjoy Songkran and complain about Songkran complainers in these type of threads don't have very good reading or comprehension skills.

You're a very good example of this as you've failed to grasp the context of the posts you're replying to...

.. which leads me to believe my theory is quite accurate - only children or people with mental disorders can enjoy water throwing for 10 days straight. I'll give a pass for perpetual drunks who come to Pattaya expressly for that purpose: ":forgive them for they know not what they do"...

+1. And so it's only logical that such posters tend to get themselves banned from the forum. Personality disorders displayed in one topic tend to show up in others as well. The great Songkran badass 'samsiam', long gone (who, by the way, eventually turned out to be a mere driver w/ his windows rolled up), comes to mind. I foresee the same fate looming in this case.

LOL. I think I had a bit of a set to with "samsiam" a year or two ago on this subject. I am in the fortunate position of being able to hibernate for three days and then take an early van for Bangkok to have a nice break while the plonkers enjoy themselves and annoy the "fxxk" out of everyone else.

[tropo]

Does anyone know how many people have been murdered this year in the name of 'fun'?

Thailand should be totally ashamed of this yearly slaughter. It makes me want to get on a plane and never come back.

Welcome to the dark ages.

We have been presented with a road accident report for Songkran, but it's meaningless unless we know the average road deaths and accidents for non-Songkran days.

[SurfRider]

.
Road death toll in Thailand among highest in the world

According to Wikipedia, Thailand averages 38.1 deaths per 100,000 people annually (another source places the figure a 19.9 per 100,000). With an estimated 2014 population of 67,790,616, simple calculations put the normal average weekly death toll at around 497 deaths per week.

If the published stats of 321 deaths in last years Songkran are correct, Songkran week has considerably less than the normal average weekly death rate of 497 people. I find these calculations extremely difficult to believe - given all the hype that goes into media reporting of the savage death toll on the highways of Thailand during Songkran.

According to the 2011 World Road Statistics, Thailand was one of the top five countries with the highest number of motorcycle-related deaths. One source reports: Of those killed, up to 70 or 80 per cent are motorcyclists or their passengers. Key causes for the deaths were speeding, drunk driving or the failure to wear safety belts or crash helmets. Last year, a survey showed that only about 28% of teenage motorcyclists and about 49% of adults wore helmets. Bangkok had the highest number, or 80% of helmet wearers, while only 20% of motorcyclists in Beung Kan, Lamphun, Chaiyaphum, Narathiwat and Nakhon Phanom were found wearing helmets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate
.

[tropo]

.

If the published stats of 321 deaths in last years Songkran are correct, Songkran week has considerably less than the normal average weekly death rate of 497 people. I find these calculations extremely difficult to believe - given all the hype that goes into media reporting of the savage death toll on the highways of Thailand during Songkran.

Maybe there's other things to consider and you've uncovered the truth i.e. fewer road deaths over Songkran.

Songkran is only 1 or 2 days in most areas where most of the Thai population live, Pattaya being an extreme exception. During these 1 or 2 days people in the cities tend to be driving very slowly due to extreme traffic congestion. Also people are on vacation, so not in a hurry to get anywhere, unlike during a normal working day.

It would take an exceptional effort to be killed on Songkran Day as all the main streets are parking lots.

[Wordworx]

Wow. 14,578 posts, above flapping ... something. Seriously, wow.

Never seen Songkran last less than five days anywhere in Thailand. Here granting I was never out in the more remote villages, during the season. At least not for extended period. But got hit with bucket loads while passing through some rural areas in the north on motorcycle late in the holiday period, for sure.

Back to the subject at hand: The traffic casualty count is bogus. The cops are not instantly and accurately relaying back to THAI TRAFFIC CASUALTY CENTRAL. Let's get real, here.

Any stat reports issued, no doubt coming from local police, not the hospitals, will, of course, be fraudulent. Later those reports will be further *sanitized* and otherwise censored by higher-ups. Add to that the fact they do not record traffic fatalities which did not occur on the scene. Meaning: After the injured are gone from scene of accident, maybe die in ambulance or later at hospital, not recorded as traffic fatality.

Edited April 18, 2014 by Wordworx

[tropo]

^^ You should have just stuck to the subject at hand rather than making comments about post counts in a feeble attempt to flame.

Are you really an expert on how they collect accident stats here?... or are you just flapping for the sake of flapping?

Edited April 18, 2014 by tropo

[Asia2000]

Just back home from a walk around Pattaya, from 11 pm to 1 Am, on the 19th.

Pattaya Tai - full chaos lower part even at 1 AM.

Second road - chaos extreme both sides of the road 1 AM.

Beach road - total anarchy 1 AM.

Sales tent all beach road (yes again) and hardly place for walk between the tents (nothing new there).

Across View Talay was a big 'house music party' that attracted a big crowd.

Outside Royal Garden was a huge 'Pool' where there might be some 'graphic fun' tomorrow.

Pattaya have a new 'breed' of Songkran party goers.

[raro]

.

If the published stats of 321 deaths in last years Songkran are correct, Songkran week has considerably less than the normal average weekly death rate of 497 people. I find these calculations extremely difficult to believe - given all the hype that goes into media reporting of the savage death toll on the highways of Thailand during Songkran.

Maybe there's other things to consider and you've uncovered the truth i.e. fewer road deaths over Songkran.

Songkran is only 1 or 2 days in most areas where most of the Thai population live, Pattaya being an extreme exception. During these 1 or 2 days people in the cities tend to be driving very slowly due to extreme traffic congestion. Also people are on vacation, so not in a hurry to get anywhere, unlike during a normal working day.

It would take an exceptional effort to be killed on Songkran Day as all the main streets are parking lots.

yesterday afternoon, just opposite the neighbour village where the wife of a good friend of mine was playing songkran, a guy killed himself with his car. It's a straight Road, he came speeding, lost it for some reason and hit a concrete wall right opposite the songkran revellers. If he came off the right side of the road, we would have had some more dead.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk

[raro]

And the girlfriend of another guy I know was mowed over on third Road a couple of years ago by a drunk motorcycle driver. He was not even fast as it wasn't possible to drive fast, but hit her in a bad angle, she fell unlucky and was for a very long time in coma. Not sure whether she is still alive.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk

[Banzai99]

Does anyone know how many people have been murdered this year in the name of 'fun'?

Thailand should be totally ashamed of this yearly slaughter. It makes me want to get on a plane and never come back.

Welcome to the dark ages.

What's stopping you ?

[Spoonman]

Does anyone know how many people have been murdered this year in the name of 'fun'?

Thailand should be totally ashamed of this yearly slaughter. It makes me want to get on a plane and never come back.

Welcome to the dark ages.

What's stopping you ?

He can't go cause Pattaya is grid lock !!

[Banzai99]

Just back home from a walk around Pattaya, from 11 pm to 1 Am, on the 19th.

Pattaya Tai - full chaos lower part even at 1 AM.

Second road - chaos extreme both sides of the road 1 AM.

Beach road - total anarchy 1 AM.

Sales tent all beach road (yes again) and hardly place for walk between the tents (nothing new there).

Across View Talay was a big 'house music party' that attracted a big crowd.

Outside Royal Garden was a huge 'Pool' where there might be some 'graphic fun' tomorrow.

Pattaya have a new 'breed' of Songkran party goers.

I am just heading out and will end up Soi 7/8, great fun.

Will I have to bust through a blockade of ThaiVisa members against Songkhran protest, nah, they'll all be sitting at home in front of a PC living the dream..lol.

I will report later if I done the right thing, oh and I'm walking from Wong Amat Soi 16 so it's good exercise too.

[Rimmer]

High Pressure PVC Water Guns Still Being Used in Na Klua

Story HERE

[Spoonman]

High Pressure PVC Water Guns Still Being Used in Na Klua

Story HERE

If only the police would grow a set of balls and start handing out them 50k fines.

[JSixpack]

I am just heading out and will end up Soi 7/8, great fun.

Will I have to bust through a blockade of ThaiVisa members against Songkhran protest, nah, they'll all be sitting at home in front of a PC living the dream..lol.

I will report later if I done the right thing, oh and I'm walking from Wong Amat Soi 16 so it's good exercise too.

Got it all wrong, as one might expect. If walking from Wong Amart, you'll be completely unimpeded by the Songkran intelligentsia sitting comfortably on their balconies w/ a barely-clad Thai lovely, enjoying the sea view, having a cool drink & a fine cigar, and occasionally glancing down to smile at your poor plodding along in the heat to pursue the imagined delights of being hit in the face w/ ice, in the eyes w/ powder, and in the eardrums w/ water via a high-powered water gun. Cheers!

Edited April 19, 2014 by JSixpack

[Tolley]

Just back home from a walk around Pattaya, from 11 pm to 1 Am, on the 19th.

Pattaya Tai - full chaos lower part even at 1 AM.

Second road - chaos extreme both sides of the road 1 AM.

Beach road - total anarchy 1 AM.

Sales tent all beach road (yes again) and hardly place for walk between the tents (nothing new there).

Across View Talay was a big 'house music party' that attracted a big crowd.

Outside Royal Garden was a huge 'Pool' where there might be some 'graphic fun' tomorrow.

Pattaya have a new 'breed' of Songkran party goers.

I am just heading out and will end up Soi 7/8, great fun.

Will I have to bust through a blockade of ThaiVisa members against Songkhran protest, nah, they'll all be sitting at home in front of a PC living the dream..lol.

I will report later if I done the right thing, oh and I'm walking from Wong Amat Soi 16 so it's good exercise too.

Water pistols were fun when I was about 10 years old .......................

[tropo]

.

If the published stats of 321 deaths in last years Songkran are correct, Songkran week has considerably less than the normal average weekly death rate of 497 people. I find these calculations extremely difficult to believe - given all the hype that goes into media reporting of the savage death toll on the highways of Thailand during Songkran.

Maybe there's other things to consider and you've uncovered the truth i.e. fewer road deaths over Songkran.

Songkran is only 1 or 2 days in most areas where most of the Thai population live, Pattaya being an extreme exception. During these 1 or 2 days people in the cities tend to be driving very slowly due to extreme traffic congestion. Also people are on vacation, so not in a hurry to get anywhere, unlike during a normal working day.

It would take an exceptional effort to be killed on Songkran Day as all the main streets are parking lots.

yesterday afternoon, just opposite the neighbour village where the wife of a good friend of mine was playing songkran, a guy killed himself with his car. It's a straight Road, he came speeding, lost it for some reason and hit a concrete wall right opposite the songkran revellers. If he came off the right side of the road, we would have had some more dead.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk

It would seem like an exceptional effort though.... was it a Songkran related accident, or just a normal "idiot speeding and losing control" and probably drunk, which is not uncommon here all year round.

[Phil Conners]

Both. According to his wilfe who came looking for him, they'd had a songkran party all day when he took off in his car. His wife tried to stop him, telling him he was too drunk to drive but he took off anyway ... probably had his amulets with him and though he was going to be immortal. Or something. Very sad for the wife.

[tropo]

Just back home from a walk around Pattaya, from 11 pm to 1 Am, on the 19th.

Pattaya Tai - full chaos lower part even at 1 AM.

Second road - chaos extreme both sides of the road 1 AM.

Beach road - total anarchy 1 AM.

Sales tent all beach road (yes again) and hardly place for walk between the tents (nothing new there).

Across View Talay was a big 'house music party' that attracted a big crowd.

Outside Royal Garden was a huge 'Pool' where there might be some 'graphic fun' tomorrow.

Pattaya have a new 'breed' of Songkran party goers.

I am just heading out and will end up Soi 7/8, great fun.

Will I have to bust through a blockade of ThaiVisa members against Songkhran protest, nah, they'll all be sitting at home in front of a PC living the dream..lol.

I will report later if I done the right thing, oh and I'm walking from Wong Amat Soi 16 so it's good exercise too.

Water pistols were fun when I was about 10 years old .......................

One could ask why would he be heading to Soi 7/8 to have Songkran fun, when there's fun on every soi? I can think of many good reasons - lots and lots of drunk bargirls.