Hiding from Songkran ........ Dear Mods,

[MaeJoMTB]

Dear Mods,

It's Songkran and instead of going out for most of the day, like I normally do, I'm hiding at home.

Please excuse the three days of excessive and silly posts from me, too much spare time on my hands while locked in my home.

Anyone else doing the same?

I've already watched all 4 episodes of 'Game of Thrones'.

(and it's only 9:15am)

[WinnieTheKhwai]

LOL!

Either way, I do wish you a very Happy Thai New Year!!

On the same token, I may be less prolific in forum contributions over the coming three days. Possibly that balances things out when it comes to silliness, when you can take up some of the slack.

[sharktooth]

Watching the U.S Masters, swimmin and gymin in the condo. Staying well clear of town

[JingerBen]

Good-natured silliness is no problem - fire away!

Let's just hope that the occasion, combined with cabin-fever, doesn't provoke a lot of venomous nastiness aimed at the Thai New Year.

[mamborobert]

10.30am and still in the foetal position in bed.

I can hear the natives outside. For now its more music than voice but if yesterday is anything to go by native numbers will crank up when the barbecue starts at noon. After that it just gets very ugly till midnight....

Yea...they have just turned up music? louder and launched fire crackers.

What amazes me is that the neighbourhood is like a morgue for 360 odd days (baby day being the next level of hell).

Was a bit worried at people zipping off on motorcycles for more beer and ice with the high number of free range toddlers last night but no tears in the end except mine.

Its more the constant music, voices, motorbikes than water for me. Either way they are enjoying themselves immensely and hiding for three days is a small price to pay for living here.

Bonus points....they have found the karaoke microphones...now if only the could find good voices.

Edited April 13, 2015 by mamborobert

[onthedarkside]

This mod is hiding out as well. So I will have plenty of time to scan the web.

[T_Dog]

After doing my hiding with the smoke, I will head out and drink in as much of the madness as I can!

[Loptr]

Me too, I putting on a bathing suit, grabbing some goggles and heading into town to join the madness... Must remember to keep mouth closed to minimize the intake of moat water!!!

[Seligne2]

Read Game of Thrones instead. It'll eat up more time.

[zeichen]

"I've already watched all 4 episodes of 'Game of Thrones'."

admitting to illegally pirating a tv show, good for you. The world needs more thieves and deviants.

[NancyL]

I'm hiding. Should be working on our income taxes, but it's more fun to mess around on the internet and procrastinate. Heck, it's only the 13th and they're due on the 15th. Later if I file an extension, but seeing as how it takes just a couple hours to do the work if I really actually get started, I shouldn't have to file an extension. I'm not going anywhere over Songkran. Just me and the cats in the condo.

Hubby, however LOVES Songkran and got up bright and early this morning like a kid on Christmas day. He went out at 5 am and did his usual early morning walk around the moat. I thought he might skip that because of plans for later in the day, but he said no, it was an essential part of the Songkran strategy. He returned around 6:30 am to file a Sit-Rep with his Songkran buddies on-line and then a quick nap, waiting for me to wake up at the time normal people get up.

After breakfast, he went into the storage closet to look for last year's water canon and test it. The cats picked up on Hubby's excitement and the rare opportunity to climb around in the storage closet. Plus, the cool, clear morning air added to the festive air. Hubby insisted the cats were all excited about Songkran, too, and wanted to go out and "play Songkran" with him. I don't think so! Fortunately for the cats, Hubby found that last year's water canon was broken and he had to make a quick trip to Kad Suan Kaew to purchase new armament prior to meeting up with his Songkran buddies.

The cats looked on in wonder as Hubby put on his new, very loud Songkran shirt and transferred just a few essentials from his wallet into a plastic ziploc. When he left, they stared at his wallet, wondering why he'd forgotten it.

Now, they've settled in for their afternoon naps. This year there must not be a band playing in front of Kad Suan Kaew because we can't hear the beating bass -- at least not yet. I'm not complaining, mind you. It's just that it's rather quiet so far. Oh wait, I just heard a few screams. They're the same screams that you hear at amusement parks, aren't they? You know, when people are riding roller coasters.

Edited April 13, 2015 by NancyL

[connda]

We skipped out-of-town this year and are at our house in the village in the middle of NoWhereVille, Lamphun. In my immediate neighborhood, I've seen.......nothing. No water fights, no crazy people, just business as usual. Today (Monday) people are even out working. There's a party somewhere out here, as I can hear the music, but other than that, it's a pretty typical, laid-back day in the village. I like it! This will have to become the default game plan in the future. Seven Songkrans in Meung Chiang Mai is enough.

Green acres is the place to be
Farm living is the life for me
Land spreading out,
so far and wide
Keep Manhattan,
just give me that countryside.

I'll have to modify that for Thailand, Lol. Showing my age too!

Edited April 13, 2015 by connda

[dave2]

re

Bonus points....they have found the karaoke microphones...now if only the could find good voices

like at the temple fairs ?

I love watching the little lovelies dancing with the singer

they put so much zing into it , its a pleasure to see but as you say can be painfull on the ears as well

ive just had a two very expensive nights in yangon but had to come home quickly

I left my bike at the airport on Friday coz I was supposed to be there for a week so I wasn't coming home on that today

and the kind taxi people at the airport have put in town trips up to 250 baht for songkran ... it was 150 baht in town trips when I last got a taxi from the airport !

dave2

[kaptainrob]

We've avoided the mayhem by staying home cleaning the garden following recent storms. Last nights blackout had me reading all sorts of stuff online via tablet/mobile data and I caught up with stickmans latest blog... all about us.

I note ant colonies on the move to higher ground, those I haven't annihilated, so I guess more widespread rain is on it's way.

Happy Songkran to all.

[ThaiPauly]

I went to Airport Plaza yesterday and brought 5 books, they should keep me occupied till it's all over,well that plus the internet

[MESmith]

Planning a cycle ride for tomorrow morning that doesn't go near humans....

[sharktooth]

Was getting too bored at home after The Masters finished so took a taxi to the golf course and shot 94 gross, including holing out from 90yrds with a PW for a birdie on a par 5!!! I wish it could be Songkran everyday!

[Loptr]

Just back from my recon mission and it's official, the lunatics have taken over the asylum... Everyone is fair game anywhere around the moat and in the old city... No shortage of alcoholic beverages on offer, along with barrels of moat water to reload your weapon of choice... Some brave souls were even swimming in the moat!!! I now have to gargle with kerosine to kill whatever I ingested from the moat due to a sniper hitting me right in the mouth as I was having a drink...

Be forewarned, the BiB have the tents setup, the cones are out and the check point manned and ready for customers on the moat road, westbound near Chiang Mai Gate...

[NancyL]

Just ventured out -- to the condo swimming pool. Very quiet. In previous years, it's sometimes taken over by families playing Songkran with their kids, throwing buckets of pool water over the edge of building down on the people walking on the sidewalk (five stories below). Not this year. Just a couple of pre-teen boys who stayed out of my way as I had a nice long lap swim.

No sign of Hubby or his friends. He promised to be home before dark, but it isn't looking too promising.

[FolkGuitar]

What a delightful few hours! So many people laughing and carrying on, all having a ball throwing water at each other. So much fun for so little money! I took a tuk-tuk to my usual guest house for lunch, but sat curb-side so I could watch the festivities. Thousands of people at Thapae Gate, and the noise would have been deafening had I not already been deaf. Traffic, of course, was at a standstill, making it much easier for people to throw buckets of water at each other. I walked north along the moat, getting wetter and wetter, and all I saw were smiling people. Seemed to me that there were lots more people swimming in the moat this year. Certainly more vendors lining the streets. Lots of folks sitting on tarps beside the moat eating, drinking, and enjoying the festivities. At the corner of the moat I turned west, still walking through crowds of happy people. It's amazing that so many people can have such a good time, with just a squirt gun or a bucket. Of course there were several sitting and staring into their cell phones, but most of those seemed to be foreigners.

Between walking, eating, stopping to watch the dancers at the several bandstands along the moat and in front of Kad Suan Keaw, I spent four hours, four very wet hours, listening to laughing people, interacting with total strangers, and having a pretty nice time for myself. I like Songkran. I wish there wasn't so much ice added to the water. That part wasn't such fun. And I wish there was less drinking going on. But 4pm the drunks were beginning to get rather aggressive. I can only imagine what it must be like by 7pm... But that's all I'll do... imagine it. I won't go out again during the afternoon until Thursday. One day of Songkran merry-making is enough for me. Once a year, one afternoon. With a schedule like that, I can enjoy Songkran!

Edited April 13, 2015 by FolkGuitar

[T_Dog]

Planning a cycle ride for tomorrow morning that doesn't go near humans....

Took a quick sprint up the mountain in the late afternoon and it was quite refreshing!

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I'm back...

Wow.

It was fun. I'll see if I can post a video sometime.

[elgordo38]

We've avoided the mayhem by staying home cleaning the garden following recent storms. Last nights blackout had me reading all sorts of stuff online via tablet/mobile data and I caught up with stickmans latest blog... all about us.

I note ant colonies on the move to higher ground, those I haven't annihilated, so I guess more widespread rain is on it's way.

Happy Songkran to all.

Is it normal for ants to be on the move this time of year? We are inundated with them in our 8th floor condo unit just like last year. I am also getting bitten all over. We have bought poison and laid out sweet water ant containers hope this stops them

[sharktooth]

"I've already watched all 4 episodes of 'Game of Thrones'.

(and it's only 9:15am"

Better Call Saul will keep you occupied for the duration, if you haven't already got it.

[happy Joe]

What a delightful few hours! So many people laughing and carrying on, all having a ball throwing water at each other. So much fun for so little money! I took a tuk-tuk to my usual guest house for lunch, but sat curb-side so I could watch the festivities. Thousands of people at Thapae Gate, and the noise would have been deafening had I not already been deaf. Traffic, of course, was at a standstill, making it much easier for people to throw buckets of water at each other. I walked north along the moat, getting wetter and wetter, and all I saw were smiling people. Seemed to me that there were lots more people swimming in the moat this year. Certainly more vendors lining the streets. Lots of folks sitting on tarps beside the moat eating, drinking, and enjoying the festivities. At the corner of the moat I turned west, still walking through crowds of happy people. It's amazing that so many people can have such a good time, with just a squirt gun or a bucket. Of course there were several sitting and staring into their cell phones, but most of those seemed to be foreigners.

Between walking, eating, stopping to watch the dancers at the several bandstands along the moat and in front of Kad Suan Keaw, I spent four hours, four very wet hours, listening to laughing people, interacting with total strangers, and having a pretty nice time for myself. I like Songkran. I wish there wasn't so much ice added to the water. That part wasn't such fun. And I wish there was less drinking going on. But 4pm the drunks were beginning to get rather aggressive. I can only imagine what it must be like by 7pm... But that's all I'll do... imagine it. I won't go out again during the afternoon until Thursday. One day of Songkran merry-making is enough for me. Once a year, one afternoon. With a schedule like that, I can enjoy Songkran!

I do like you one day every year. But evening I go party with the Thais more or less alcohol without problem.

The guys hit me on the shoulder and ask me my age. We toast and launch invitations as new friends.

Girls want to know if I am married.

Everywhere beautiful laughing faces remind of me the simple joys that make life so pleasant.

Hey guys, after whined, the lack of water, heat, smoke, ants and Songkran you're going to take a break for a while. The first to open a thread on the risk of flooding will have won.

Edited April 13, 2015 by happy Joe

[junglechef]

MaeJoMTB I'm with T-Dog and MESmith and did an early morning cycle before the crazies awoke, had a few small squirts from some cute little kids on way home a bit before 9 a.m.

Actually am on Samui and before I could take my kids out to play it started raining hard and didnt stop until after dark so luckily got out of risking the danger this year so we just had a water fight in the pool with the other kids at the resort (would love to make that a tradition!)

Wishing everyone a Happy New Years!

[WinnieTheKhwai]

^ Yes, pool party is a great way for kids to get something of Songkran without having to take them downtown. Older kids tend to love going downtown but for the very young ones it's often a bit too much, not to mention that it's not exactly relaxing for parents as you always have to watch them to make sure they don't jump into traffic, into the moat or get bumped into in crowds.

Anyway there are lots of ways to celebrate Songkran that don't involve doing what I was doing yesterday (I shot some video. ) and to each his own.

For the people who enjoy the party though, there is this.

Note that there is also the religious aspect, and I'll get some of that this morning.

Edited April 14, 2015 by WinnieTheKhwai

[tonray]

Come on up to Ratchada near Suttishan MRT station. Like a ghost town....a few little kids with water guns but everyone else gets on the train about 5 or 6 to head down to Sukhumwit and go crazy. Here most businesses and homes are shuttered...these are real 7 day a week working people and they actually can't wait for it to be over because they are losing valuable cash.

I went to Chatuchak park yesterday...also a nice place to hang out without all the craziness. The only blasting I got was coming back from Tesco in Lat Phrao walking past a mechanic shop on Ratchadapisak road near the Phaon Yothin exit #2. A 30 something car mechanic blasted me in chest and back but no big deal.

if the next 2 days go as easily I will be thrilled. I still have not forgiven my gf for abandoning me and heading to some Temple ceremony up north with family...not sure what to do about that....and no I was not invited....likely she has a handsome Thai guy up there somewhere...lol

Edited April 14, 2015 by tonray

[tonray]

^ Yes, pool party is a great way for kids to get something of Songkran without having to take them downtown. Older kids tend to love going downtown but for the very young ones it's often a bit too much, not to mention that it's not exactly relaxing for parents as you always have to watch them to make sure they don't jump into traffic, into the moat or get bumped into in crowds.

Anyway there are lots of ways to celebrate Songkran that don't involve doing what I was doing yesterday (I shot some video. ) and to each his own.

For the people who enjoy the party though, there is this.

Note that there is also the religious aspect, and I'll get some of that this morning.

Love the video....HATE the incredibly annoying music......ouch

[NancyL]

Good one, Winnie!

Hubby made it home about 7:30 pm yesterday evening, soaking wet, in good spirits and reasonably somber(ish). Sounds like he and his friends got their exercise. They met up at Maya Mall, moved down Huey Kaew, stopped off at Soho Bar for a little break, then made the major trek across the north side of the moat to Rider's Corner. After resting up, they moved onto B & B Sugar bar for a short stop, but by then their energy was flagging, so the next leg of their journey just took them to No. 1 Bar in Soi 1 Loi Kroh. But the day was growing short and the journey's end was near. Onto River Market, their final goal. Not bad for a group of old guys!

Some of the guys had wives or girlfriends who were willing to venture out to pick them up at River Market, but not Hubby. He said he was very difficult to find transport. Eventually he found a songthaew, but he was surprised the driver wanted 100 baht to go across town and he had a full load. Duh! It's Songkran.