Happy Thai New Year, Chiang Rai. SONGKRAN!

[villagefarang]

It is hot, smoky, there are a lot of visitors and many people are drunk so be careful out there on the roads. Be safe out there guys and have fun.???

[KC 71]

Right on villagefarang - have a good one - regards [emoji111]️

[villagefarang]

Nearly 100 views and one reply, kinda makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. ?

[bobbyd1]

Thanks Villagefarlang, best wishes for all.........

[piersbeckett]

Nearly 100 views and one reply, kinda makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. ?

Well, that made me laugh! - all the best - Piers

[sceadugenga]

It must be your enemies looking and your friends replying VF.

[villagefarang]

It must be your enemies looking and your friends replying VF.

Surely they are not that childish and petulant. Besides it was all such a long time ago.

[Bardeh]

Happy Songkran all! Stay safe on the roads, enjoy the water fights if that's your thing, or the quiet few days at home if that's what you prefer.

[villagefarang]

I was trying to walk my dog this morning but we barely made it halfway down the driveway when a parade of noisy villagers in full revelry came down one of the small sois with their money tree. We try to do 5 km each day of walking up and down the soi as we both need the exercise but my Golden Retriever was not having any of it. She pulled me back to the safety of the house like she was heading for the finish line of the Iditarod, when she heard the first drum beat.

My wife on the other hand got up early and did the rounds of nine different temples with a group of her relatives. They were doing the delivery of sand ritual. She was back for a change of cloths before heading to the school yard for more festivities.

There is a day for the parents, another for the elderly, and a day for the village headman. There are so many rituals and so little time. The animals and I are enjoying some quiet time in air-conditioned comfort but hopefully we will be able to find a lull in the noise to get in a few kilometers during the day. The cats have the right idea and are sound asleep but I think Cookie and I will try again during the lunch hour.

[villagefarang]

Photographic evidence of the money tree procession and the sand ritual from earlier today.

[Randell]

Usually avoid most the the activities. My wife is the early riser and does the exalt Watt rounds with family. But will the incredible density of smoke, etc today joining in was a way of taking your mind off the smoke. Just wanted to add Mt 2 cents VF as I didn't catch this one earlier. Still hoping for those rain clouds of your other post

[kevjohn]

All the best to all in Chiang Rai........enjoy the Songkran festivities and keep safe.

[1FinickyOne]

Happy New Year Farang - !!

Usuaul series of festivals here in the village and the highway to Bkk was jammed yesterday... more cooled out today. The wife has been out and around all the time... tonight is something to do with the headman - as the dogs wilt in the heat...

From another farang in a village..

[sceadugenga]

They weren't wilting here this morning, a lady dog in an interesting condition came past at dawn with every male dog in the village in hot pursuit... howling, fighting, barking, shrieking and waking up poor bloody farangs.

[JAG]

They weren't wilting here this morning, a lady dog in an interesting condition came past at dawn with every male dog in the village in hot pursuit... howling, fighting, barking, shrieking and waking up poor bloody farangs.

Tell me about it - one of our Chihuahuas is in the same condition. Snowball is mincing around the garden waggling her bum, and we have a constant stream of unsuitable (and physically incompatible) paramours.I am thinking of investing in a taser!

As for Songkran, very quiet here (no tap water since 4th April), until the inevitable dick head visiting from Bangkok thought it would be funny to upend a bucket of water on the Falang. As my phone was in my shirt pocket, it is now utterly knackered. Of course said dick head cannot understand my suggestion he replaces the phone....

Edited April 17, 2016 by JAG

[sceadugenga]

An acquaintance had the same experience taking photos with his iPhone in Chiang Mai but had it fixed for 1500B in one of the small shops here in Central.

If your phone is one of the more expensive makes it may be worth a try before throwing it away.

[JAG]

It was a 3 year old Samsung Galaxy . I took it to the Samsung agents in town. He laughed. and showed me the pile of several dozen wet phones he'd had in today. He reckoned it would need a new screen and would cost about B2000. ready in 10 days.

I went to Central and bought a cheapo smartphone!

Thanks anyway.