Songkran is surreal but too short

[lust]

Obviously none of you have a job or you would not be complaining about songkran being too short. I would love more holidays!

Get a real job. Then you'll appreciate a real holiday.

I have no idea what your comment means, but thanks for the words..

[Fullstop]

Songkran is surreal but too short

I used to think the same about Christmas when I was a little kid. It should be 7 days of waking up and getting presents ... but then I grew up and faced reality.

Be patient World. Thailand will grow up someday.

Edited April 18, 2015 by Fullstop

[jackanapes]

I agree songkran is surreal but it is a festival to celebrate a new beginning hence the use of flour and water also a way of bringing people together .

[PatOngo]

Songkran is surreal but too short

I used to think the same about Christmas when I was a little kid. It should be 7 days of waking up and getting presents ... but then I grew up and faced reality.

Be patient World. Thailand will grow up someday.

I, for one, won't be holding my breath waiting for that!

[Alex Sharp]

Considering the stae of the economy can Thailand really afford these long holidays ???

[Anthony5]

How this country ever gonna escape the 3rd world status.

January first western new year----let's close the place for a week

End of February Chines new year----Let's close the place for a week

April Thai new year-----let's close the place for a week ( I've noticed many places that close for 10 days )

And so the year continues.

Yeah make it 300 holidays a year, that would improve tourism.

[emilymat]

Hmmm...I stayed in the house for three days during the 'holiday'. Yesterday I decided to nip down to 7/11 to pay my phone bill. A kid, maybe 8, jumped in front of my m'bike and threw a bucket of water directly into my face (had a helmet with visor). Just missed him by swerving.

He might think it's funny but I'm just glad I wasn't being tailgated by a pick-up.

That's not a festival of tradition and goodwill. It's just about raising a kid with not values or sense of safety.

I know it's happened to us all, but when does this 'holiday' finish?.

[bruceybonus]

Considering the stae of the economy can Thailand really afford these long holidays ???

I often have this discussion with my old man. Nobody seems to care & some years, due to political problems, they extend it by a few days. I remember when it was the Queen's jubilee in 2012, & just one extra day holiday cost the UK a fortune.

Edited April 18, 2015 by bruceybonus

[bruceybonus]

Considering the stae of the economy can Thailand really afford these long holidays ???

I often have this discussion with my old man. Nobody seems to care & some years, due to political problems, they extend it by a few days.

Back in the Uk, I remember when it was the Queen's jubilee in 2012, & just one extra day holiday cost the country a fortune. Business owners were chuntering at the loss of revenue

[Chicog]

I'm not old either (38), but find it inconceivable that anybody can find pleasure in this for such a length of time.

I don't think age is an issue. There were two farang Saga Louts outside my hotel skipping around like kids spraying everyone who went past.

They would have regretted getting me wet as I left for the airport.

[Commerce]

Obviously none of you have a job or you would not be complaining about songkran being too short. I would love more holidays!

Get a real job. Then you'll appreciate a real holiday.

I have no idea what your comment means, but thanks for the words..

Like I said; Get a real job, and maybe then you'll get the idea and enjoy your real holiday. Words are free... no need for thanks na krap.

[Commerce]

Considering the stae of the economy can Thailand really afford these long holidays ???

No.

[Commerce]

I agree songkran is surreal but it is a festival to celebrate a new beginning hence the use of flour and water also a way of bringing people together .

Bet u won't be saying that after you've lived here longer than ten years!

[Jip99]

Considering the stae of the economy can Thailand really afford these long holidays ???

No.

Yes

[DrTuner]

You only get to shoot people for max. 10 days, after that it's the re-education camp for you.

Two more days to go in Pattaya, fire away.

[Time Traveller]

Songkran is utterly moronic. Restricting it to an hour would be too long.

No, I'd say it's moronic to complain about something that is entirely your choice to involve in.

If you don't like it, don't go out in it. It's very simple. It's a holiday, so you don't need to go to work. And it's easy to avoid to water splashing areas.

But maybe it's not so easy for you to reconcile your miserable attitude with the people that are enjoying the festival.

[arthurwait]

Alcohol and sex giving and forgiveness makes the people happy.

[elgordo38]

Songkran is very real, and 6 days too ruddy long!

"Songkran is popular in this region simply because it's closest to the sun in April and nothing can be more soothing, and fun, than getting soaked wet and making other people wet."

And what do I say to that? ................ off!

This guy is obviously off of his medication again. Being to close to the sun can fry ones brain and I think it has happened in this guys case. Songkran could be a good holiday with some major changes and rules enforced. Now it is a bacchanalian type festival lacking the religious meanings that were at its original foundation.

[Jingthing]

Songkran is too short.

Sure thing.

And I'm too rich and too thin.

Yeah, that's the ticket!

[Johnny S]

Songkran is an awful time of year ...

Does The Nation have any real educated journalists ... ?

[DM07]

Apart from the article being rubbish: what a load of miserable people you are!

I personally am okay with one day of wild party and the rest of the (the longer the better) holiday, I don't go outside!

My appartment building has a nice pool and Bangkok is nice and empty.

I like the mayham, the fun...I totally could do without the drunk driving, the accidents and the sexual assaults...

People who want to celebrate Songkhran the "traditional way"- please go ahead!

And let others celebrate it their way!

I am no Buddhist, my parents are dead, my girlfriends parents life far away, so even she doesn't bother, standing in traffic jams for hours to get there...so what the eff would I want to wash Buddha- statues or the hands and feet of old people for?

I go out, have a big gun (and a waterpistol as well! ), get hammered and have fun and I enjoy the "gotcha"- attitude, even if the water is ice-cold!

It's once a year, for gods sake!

[masuk]

Well, I might be old and feeble, but I enjoyed seeing so many young folk out on the streets of Chiang Mai, getting wet, laughing, having fun.

I can put up with a few nights of the bands, and they all finished at 10pm on the dot.

More of it please!

[Torrens54]

O.M.G What a load of Bull Excrement!

I was seriously thinking of subscribing to the "NATION" Newspaper but if that, is the sort of Dung, served-up by the Editorial people, NO WAY!!

Can someone get me a BARF Bag???

Edited April 18, 2015 by Torrens54

[Nick167]

What a stupid article! Really Songkran a peaceful festival.....where was the writer....holidaying in Japan. Stop dreaming and being an idealists......study the real thai social perpectives, values, ethics, morality , then come write an article.

[lust]

Obviously none of you have a job or you would not be complaining about songkran being too short. I would love more holidays!

Get a real job. Then you'll appreciate a real holiday.

I have no idea what your comment means, but thanks for the words..

Like I said; Get a real job, and maybe then you'll get the idea and enjoy your real holiday. Words are free... no need for thanks na krap.

Repeating the same words to validate your point? Effective rebuttal!

[Howitzer]

i visited pattaya during songkran (it reaches its climax today on sunday the 19th but i am back in bkk) and i noticed they stop playing when night time comes about. Yup even in pattaya that's how it goes.

[Dannyboy666]

i visited pattaya during songkran (it reaches its climax today on sunday the 19th but i am back in bkk) and i noticed they stop playing when night time comes about. Yup even in pattaya that's how it goes.

Wrong... Up for the day and we get this Statement...

[dbrenn]

Songkran is utterly moronic. Restricting it to an hour would be too long.

No, I'd say it's moronic to complain about something that is entirely your choice to involve in.

If you don't like it, don't go out in it. It's very simple. It's a holiday, so you don't need to go to work. And it's easy to avoid to water splashing areas.

But maybe it's not so easy for you to reconcile your miserable attitude with the people that are enjoying the festival.

Avoid it? I'd love to, but haven't you noticed that every time one sets foot outdoors, there are groups of drunken idiots on every street corner throwing buckets of water at passers by, whether they choose to participate or not, for the best part of a whole week. Have you ever been to Thailand during Songkran?

If people want to throw bucket load of dirty water at each other, that's fine, but they should respect the right of those who opt out. Zone it, or better still make it illegal to throw water at strangers in the street, I say.

A nice festival, once, that has become utterly ruined by turning it into a drunken water fight.

Avoid it. Yeah right

Edited April 19, 2015 by dbrenn

[Chupup]

Go to Pataya for Songhran, i think you will change your mind, sentimental slush reporting

[jamie2009]

Last day here in Pattaya for Songkhran, music started at eight, normally I hear nothing round hear, but screaming and shouting from Soi 19 which had little or no water stuff all week and I could walk to the Market etc on Soi Bulkhao I would like a walk to the Beach but I know I would get drenched, hey I am not a Victor Meldrew but even if you insist no water they take no notice. For my own safety it's another day on the balcony as a few times last week I 'lost it' , I am not a violent person but had the inclination to pick up the nearest object and throw it at the water throwers this week. I will never ever spend Songkhran in Thailand, it drives the normal tourist away and business's suffer as most people stay indoors judging by the comments on here.It should be a one two day thing.