Soi Bukahao.Water throwing violence

[Radar501]

Throwing water on a biker who has not clearly consented IS violence.

I doubt that IS had anything to do with this violence.

[tropo]

Violence is no answer, but it's hard not to sympathize when you're on a moving bike and a mass of water, no matter how small, heads your way. Instantly, your attention is distracted and you might swerve just a few inches to avoid it - which in that area could put you into the path of an oncoming vehicle, trap your front wheel on a slippery culvert, or land you in the lap of a bar katoey. All of which could have nasty outcomes.

Violence is the answer on this occasion.

Was the perp a farang or Thai.......might want to rethink your answer since you happily claim to distribute violence, or threaten to to all farangs, but strangely, become meek and mild to the Thai folk.

Trust me old son you will pick on the wrong farang one day.....and six will kick the $hit out of you.

You enjoy all that Songkran has to offer, but the guy in this story asked not to be soaked. In the spirit of Songkran, he had a right to be spared. In the spirit of common human decency he had the right to be spared.

There was no other solution for him. He couldn't call the police or appeal to anyone's sense of fair play, so he taught the guy a lesson and floored him. The guy he hit is probably a better human being for the experience, and he'll likely be more decent going forward.

He should be handed a medal.

[quandow]

I've only ventured out ONCE on my motorbike, taking a route I thought would be safe. I got nailed by some <deleted> in the back of a truck. They're lucky I forgot to bring my mace.

[tropo]

I've only ventured out ONCE on my motorbike, taking a route I thought would be safe. I got nailed by some <deleted> in the back of a truck. They're lucky I forgot to bring my mace.

The truth is you're lucky you didn't use mace. I don't go out these days to protect the water throwers from me LOL.

Before I used to go out I'd have a good talk to myself about staying calm, but one big bucket of ice water and I'd be steaming and all my motivation to stay calm vanishes.

[Alex2015]

Did none of the Farangs have toys when they were kids, grown men using Water Pistols.

My local Bar on Soi Bulkhao, they don't do the water stuff which is frequented by Ex Pats has been empty all week. Saturday night is always busy as the football is on so any one who says it boosts the takings, certainly not.

[bazza40]

Avoidance is the best strategy. The f***wits are concentrated in the larger cities. The villages seem to be more sensible. Places such as Pattaya are mass insanity.

[khomlong1]

Looking for trouble if you venture out on 2 wheels during Songkran.

[Rimmer]

Troll post removed

[johninbkk71]

This thread needs a video

Exemplary is good enough?

"SONGKRAN 2016, SOI BOAKAOW, SOI LK METRO, SOI HONEY, PATTAYA 15-04-2016"

SOI BOAKAOW being one of maybe two dozen spellings of Soi Buakhao.

(even Google can not manage that )

See how "engaged" the foreigners are as if they have something to proof, "hey I am the biggest fool of all".

The one on black walking back and forth on the road, a victim

This video is a sad testament to human behaviour, or the collective IQ of Pattaya "tourists" and residents. It can only be understood in the context of being drunk or under the age of 10. How an adults enjoy throwing water on other adults who are already wet, for hours and hours.

This is not even Songkran yet - they'll be at this for days and days.

When I watch that video I fantasize about a bike or car losing control on the wet bend and plowing into the crowd of water tossers. Is this a sad testament to my own personality, or the result of having had too much water tossed at me over the last 10 Songkrans?

In their home countries charges would be brought. Reckless endangerment, drunk and disorderly .... Morons the lot of them

[joepattaya1961]

I came up to Chiang Mai get away from the craziness of Pattaya where fortunately Songkran finished last Friday night.

but I read story that when a foreigner just arrived in Chiang Mai in the middle of Songkran he was carrying a laptop computer

and he told a group of water throwers about this and obviously asked them not to throw water over him whereupon one person said

" bye bye laptop " before going ahead and throwing the water !

That would have deserved a brain-smasher with the laptop.

" Say hi to my laptop!"

[Thunderbirds20]

I was in a songtao a few years ago during Songkhran. A Thai woman was beside me, obviously on her way to work in a hotel as she was wearing a silk jacket with a name tag, hair and makeup done perfectly. I was dressed nicely on my way to the doctor. We got stopped by traffic. Two Farang decided it would be funny to throw a garbage bin full of ice water over us. We had nowhere to go and no means of defense. they soaked us then walked away laughing. The Thai woman was crying, her hair and makeup ruined.

I thought of my next few hours at the hospital soaking wet and decided this was anything but funny. I jumped off the songtao, tapped one idiot on the should and cold cocked him when he turned around. I bet he did not think that was funny either!

Another time I saw a guy knocked off his motorbike by one of those ridiculous water cannons. He got run over by a truck and died.

I never go out during this week of madness any more. I stock up my fridge and stay inside the entire time. What happens to the police during this week? They just seem to disappear. This year they are enforcing Appropriate Attire! What a Joke! Does not much matter what you wear when you are soaking wet. Your secrets are revealed.

There should be a ban on water cannons and throwing water in to songtaos. Not everyone is playing. Some people have other things to do like work!!

... and 7 days is too long for this event. Look how many people are killed or injured because some drunken idiot is having fun!

[tropo]

The expected horror. To crash a motorbike is the hope. What fun.

I'm still seeing PVC pipes. Apparently not confiscated this year?

I remember during one of my first Songkrans here I was riding along 2nd Road and a Thai guy stuck one of those in my face and pumped water in my eyes. I grabbed the pipe and took off with it. Despite all the water and ice I can never keep my cool. I can also never get used to people massaging my face and body with powder. It just doesn't feel lucky.

Edited April 18, 2016 by tropo

[little mary sunshine]

Have avoided Soi Boakaow like the plague all this week!

[Timebandit]

Throwing water on a biker who has not clearly consented IS violence.

[IAMHERE]

It is time for the military to put a halt to this songkran except for 1 day only; that day only from 10AM to 5PM

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

I'm sitting in Bangkok waiting for it to be over in Pattaya. Normally I'd have left Thailand by now but had to delay my flight. It makes me think how so many people leave Pattaya or simply stay home. I did much as recommended, stocked up on food, stayed in my Darkside area for the first few days. No water throwing. Then headed to BKK for this heavy Songkran period. Must be hundreds of residents who flee Pattaya, or certainly seems that way from conversations with acquaintances and friends.

So it begs the question: while expats annoyed with or frightened by Songkran antics take their money elsewhere, does the influx of the juvenile offenders make any difference in local revenue? Somehow, I doubt it. Then there's the other negative effects of the accidents, injuries, cost of damages to bars and vehicles, violence and what have you. Hard to justify 10 days of this mayhem.

[Timebandit]

In support of Jingthing I couldn't agree with him more. The obvious bad mix here is a drunken water fight within the traffic grid. The

targets of the water cannons and ice are obviously vehicles because pedestrians are moving too slow to be a fun target.

Why not close traffic on city designated streets with a lot of bars and make them pedestrian ONLY? Mark the barricades as Pedestrian only-International water fight by drunken people. Enter at your own risk. Have fun! In that way the economy could continue to draw farangs to spend money but some safety might prevail.

The outrageous drunken driving death count is an entirely different problem.

[NoshowJones]

Violence is no answer, but it's hard not to sympathize when you're on a moving bike and a mass of water, no matter how small, heads your way. Instantly, your attention is distracted and you might swerve just a few inches to avoid it - which in that area could put you into the path of an oncoming vehicle, trap your front wheel on a slippery culvert, or land you in the lap of a bar katoey. All of which could have nasty outcomes.

Violence is the answer on this occasion.

Was the perp a farang or Thai.......might want to rethink your answer since you happily claim to distribute violence, or threaten to to all farangs, but strangely, become meek and mild to the Thai folk.

Trust me old son you will pick on the wrong farang one day.....and six will kick the $hit out of you.

What a lot of rubbish you do talk, your post is not even worthy of an answer, so do us a favour and run along.

[NightRider70]

There was no other solution for him.

He could not just keep on going like everybody else does? Sounds like a violent boring nutcase without any sense of humor.

Edited April 18, 2016 by NightRider70

[hawker9000]

Throwing water into the viewing area of ANY moving vehicle should be outlawed! Even in a car, when a large volume of water hits the driver's window, attention IS diverted. Often, instinct forces a person to close his eyes, and/ turn his head; as well as perhaps swerve a bit. As noted earlier, any off track movement in the traffic here is a serious danger!

This entire water madness during what was originally intended as a serious and serene religious "blessing" is outrageous. It has become the same thing as riot mentality. While there is no looting, and limited physical assault, the dangers it creates are nonetheless serious.

It's OK to have fun and games with water among pedestrians; but I strongly believe that it should be outlawed to throw anything, including water, at a moving vehicle. Then that law should be strictly enforced! "FUN" stops where danger begins!

The dimwit foreigners who think they're participating in a "cultural event" by doing this should probably get at least a few hours in the slammer, or at least a visit to the ER for a nice, enjoyable 12-hr shift. (If staff wants to use them to mop up blood in the O-Rs or change bedpans, that would be OK, too.)

Songkran simply isn't songkran anymore. It's an embarrassment that foreigners involve themselves in the mayhem, and do so on the simple-minded pretext of religious/holiday observance. They can be found parroting their vacuous insistence on this right here on TVF. One will be along any minute.

[tropo]

There was no other solution for him.

He could not just keep on going like everybody else does? Sounds like a violent boring nutcase without any sense of humor.

Definitely not as vacuous as the nutcase throwing the water... what's more is he probably got away with the assault and felt rather satisfied with the outcome.

We don't know his name, but he's somewhat of a hero on this forum already. I'd like to shake his hand for a job well done.

Edited April 18, 2016 by tropo

[balo]

So is it over yet or should I just continue drinking coffee all day?

[tropo]

So is it over yet or should I just continue drinking coffee all day?

LOL> Why not sleep all day and come out tonight?

[NoshowJones]

Violence is no answer, but it's hard not to sympathize when you're on a moving bike and a mass of water, no matter how small, heads your way. Instantly, your attention is distracted and you might swerve just a few inches to avoid it - which in that area could put you into the path of an oncoming vehicle, trap your front wheel on a slippery culvert, or land you in the lap of a bar katoey. All of which could have nasty outcomes.

Violence is the answer on this occasion.

Was the perp a farang or Thai.......might want to rethink your answer since you happily claim to distribute violence, or threaten to to all farangs, but strangely, become meek and mild to the Thai folk.

Trust me old son you will pick on the wrong farang one day.....and six will kick the $hit out of you.

What a lot of rubbish you do talk, your post is not even worthy of an answer, so do us a favour and run along.

Thanks for your support lads.

[happy pattaya man]

The R-Con attracts a very nasty crew....Violence happens all the time there.Has been for years...

You're absolutely correct, the drinkers in the bars on each side of that dog leg in the road are a crowd of f...wits and deserve a smack now and again. They have a complete disregard for rider safety..good on the puncher.

hpm

[fforest1]

I despise Songkran in Pattaya..Yes folks I am card carrying hater...But thankfully today is the last miserable day...

Edited April 19, 2016 by fforest1

[loppylugs1]

There was no other solution for him.

He could not just keep on going like everybody else does? Sounds like a violent boring nutcase without any sense of humor.

Difference is he asked water throwing farang not to farang threw the water obviously not knowing of consequence. Now if this poster is a non-boring humorist water throwing styled nutcase ,a bucket of water is what you will need when decked

Hard to spot older Thais throwing water,especially as more than enough brain deadening farang delivers it,sad lives they must lead to get maximum enjoyment that Thai kids revel in

Edited April 19, 2016 by loppylugs1

[Global Guy]

One thing I learned early on that helps me to this day in Thailand is that the cognitive ability here is that of a puppy or Teletubby. Almost no critical thinking is done. A kid sees a ball roll into the street, like a puppy the kid dashes out without regard of the consequences. The kid sees a bright color....it is drawn to it.

Throwing water into the face of an ongoing motorbike rider? Sure, it makes the water bearer feel good. No thought put into the fact that it could temporarily cause them to lose control the bike on the slippery road and veer into oncoming traffic, hit something or someone nearby, or just dump the bike. There is zero thought about that.

And thus, you have hundreds of deaths and 1000s of accidents. The stat I saw was 80% of them were motorbikes.

Stupid? Many think so, including myself.

I also think attacking cars and motorbikes should be outlawed, but I don't have a vote on that. I think the holiday has been perverted and farangs are contributing to that but locals have as well.

I've had all sorts of attacks like mentioned here. I had a young guy swing a metal bucket at my head when I was riding by on a motorbike. If I swerved away, I would have been struck by an oncoming truck. So, I ducked, and as the metal bucket was about to strike my head, I did a front kick to his chest and down he went. I wasn't going to get smashed in the head just because I'm a foreigner and it's "their" holiday.

Today, the 19th, I'll be staying in too. If my gf wants to go out, that's fine. But not me. I don't want to be in a situation where I feel I have to physically defend myself. It's not about the water, it's about the stupidity of people who don't care about the safety of others.

So, I kill time reading more TV than I normally do. LOL

[HLover]

Is it that difficult to toss water below the neckline? Seems like it is still a bit of fun, yet the same 'types' of Thais and foreigners aim for the head.

Fortunately these types mass around certain areas, of certain areas, like maggots on rotten meat.

[steve73]

On the beach where I live Songkran "fun" is 13/14/15th...Usually from about 11am to 6pm, but a few die-hards stay out much later.

Probably 99% Thai and just a few farang (both local residents & visitors), ages from babes in arms to great grandparents. Most were slowly driving up and down in their Pick-ups (as participants with full passenger loads and drums of iced water in the back), or in cars (as spectators), with many on motorbikes & Samlors, simply to get wet!!! The road was lined with mostly Thai families with their kids in paddling pools or with large dustbins of water. The local farang congregated around the few bars which had large drums of water. Ice vendors patrolled regularly selling blocks of (murky looking) ice to those who wanted (nearly everyone, including the pick-up trucks....)

No one was there unless they wanted to participate... The cars & bikes were mostly driven at sensible speeds (apart from the local Thai "Boy-racers"), many slowing down or stopping at every roadside groups, or at against cars coming in the opposite direction. Everyone had fun, smiling (or grimacing from the iced water), with almost no violence - although some of the buckets were thrown with (IMO) totally unnecessary force - the local Thais were usually more aggressive than the farangs... Everyone respected the samlor food vendors, but no-one else was sacrosanct (if you didn't want to get wet you didn't go there..!!!).

The only hint of violence I saw was when a farang threw water on a lottery seller, who proceeded to get very angry... My view is that the lottery sellers are a PITA anyway, so som nam nar - he shouldn't have been there since no one was wasting time buying lottery tickets. I saw no accidents, collisions, or injuries, apart from the occasional Thai who missed jumping back on to his pick-up...

This was similar to other predominantly Thai towns I've been in... Lots of fun, lots of water, and lots of noise, with everyone laughing and participating with little trouble. My recollection is that Pattaya does get a little out of control in places - but really no worse than my local area - just many more farangs, only a few of which give the majority a bad name, either by excessive stupidity (drunkenness?)/aggressiveness, or a total abhorrence of any fun.

I appreciate that some people do need to get to work (that not EVERYONE in the entire country is on holiday - it just seems that way), but it's usually possible to pick times & routes to avoid the madness. Otherwise, if you don't like it stay at home (or indoors) for this period..

...roll on next year... I hope I'm still here.