Maybe some others can add to the list of good things about Songkran.

1.... You do not see anywhere near as usual, the number of people driving Motos while talking or texting

2...

No disrespect sir, but you must be joking.

john

Sentenced to three days inside or for the duration.

No disrespect sir, but you must be joking.

john

Sentenced to three days inside or for the duration.

WHAT ! ! !

Now Jw, doun yu be dissin on me....... you be talkin to a pro-fessional traffic wacher.... Why I can even tell you the difference in moto-ist who be ridin wit helmets on before 4:30 pms vs after 5:30 pms... why I gots records goin bak fo years on my professional observ-ations on impotent tings like dat. So I be da man dat nose. Less tex ting with mo water in de aire

2.....the leeches in the moat are well-fed and very content.

3....the locals are too drunk or otherwise preoccupied to set fires in the forest for the next few days.

No disrespect sir, but you must be joking.

john

Sentenced to three days inside or for the duration.

Last night I dreamt a Genie appeared and gave me 3 wishes. Wish number 1. Poof Songkran never existed 2. Ditto 3. Ditto Then I heard this terrible boom boom boom music outside and realized that it was all only a dream and Songkran did not disappear. They just finally quit for the day. Day number one down two more miserable days to go if we are lucky. My tinnitus is revving up again thanks to all the racket. To bad they do not have a Thai ear doctor on TV to comment on all the damage this noise will do in years to come as well as articles or opinions in the newspapers but I guess the TAT would be against that. Thanks in advance for all the suggestions I will receive about travelling elsewhere during Songkran but that is not in my budget oh well I guess if I cannot afford to live here I should go home. I would then have to leave my lovely g/f behind and that would be unbearable. She would then have to find another old curmudgeon like me on TV to look after her.

Move at least 10 km out of town to a northern Thai village - quiet, respectful, idyllic.

I saw thousands and thousands of very happy people today, all having a wonderful time. That has to be something good about Songkran!

Most of them didn't need to spend more than the cost of a squirt gun or a bucket to do that. That has to be something good about Songkran too!

Three days ago I saw a young girl in a Lahu village riding a bicycle that only had rubber on the front wheel. The rear wheel was just the metal rim. She was having a good time riding that bike.

It's just a matter of attitude.

I saw thousands and thousands of very happy people today, all having a wonderful time. That has to be something good about Songkran!

Most of them didn't need to spend more than the cost of a squirt gun or a bucket to do that. That has to be something good about Songkran too!

It's just a matter of attitude.

Exactly. And for those old poops (many of whom may be younger than me) who hate it, I'm saving a good-sized bucket of ice water for them.

Good things about Songkran....I rode my bike to across town this afternoon to do some shopping at Airport Plaza. Within 10m of leaving the front door i was stopped by some locals who poured water all over me. All over my body not over my head. All done nice and friendly. Happy new year etc. Set off again and how cool and refreshing it was to cycle completely wet! Very nice. I have been cycling all of March hot as...sweating like a... If only i had soaked myself before setting out these rides would have been much cooler.

I cycled right through the old city , Tippanet, to Airport Plaza. It was 95% pleasant, crazy in a good way. I saw locals splashing water over Buddha statues that were being marched down Ratchadamnern towards Wat Prasingh. No matter how touristy Chiang Mai may be that was special, old folk coming forward out of the crowd to splash water on the Buddha.

The other 5%, There seems to be a brain dead minority who's idea of Songkran is to smash water in your face has hard as they can, as you roll by at jogging speed. They even seem to screw their face up like they are about to throw the shot put. All locals and normally teenagers. Family standing near by as brain dead as their child.

Oh great, another duplicate topic.

(But at least with a descriptive title for a change.)

Best thing about Songkran: All the miserable old farangs lock themselves in their homes, leaving only fun-loving people left to enjoy the long holiday! For this very reason, I wish Songkran could be an all-year celebration!

-Mestizo