Today is my last day at work until next Tuesday. This weekend is the Thai New Year, or Songkran Festival. In most provinces in Thailand this celebration will usually last for just a few days. BUT here in Pattaya it will usually last anything up to 10 days.
It's freaking madness!!! It's basically gone from being a more traditional sprinkling water on the hands to cleanse or something like that to an all out water fight. No-one is safe. And I mean no-one.
Even if I were to be walking down the street, camera in hand, or in business suit on my way to work, they'd throw water on me. Even if you say no, they throw water on you. Threaten to kill them, you get wet. If the police get involved, all they say is, It's Songkran, you should have known better than to leave your home if you didn’t want to get wet.
Last year I was lucky to miss it, as I'd gone home for my nephews christening as I am his godparent (waste of time that was according to a certain mindless woman who wants it done all over again - without me). But I wasn't lucky enough to miss the last day. This is the worst. I was stuck on a 6-8km stretch of highway for well over 3 hours while drunk morons and fools ran around wetting everyone. They even had the hide to try to get me to wind down my window so they could drench me while I sat in my car - I DON’T THINK SO!!!
So this year I don't have any money to go anywhere so I am stuck in the area for this bullshit. I've told my GF that I'll go into town with her one day, the first one, to have a look. It will most likely be a lot of fun. But for 10 days? I'll stay home for 9 of them. Good thing I have footy and F1 to keep me occupied.
There are some tourists who come here only during Songkran, and most that live here go elsewhere while it's on. Some like it, other's dont. I hate it.
If you are completely confused as to what I am talking about, or think that I'm making something out of nothing, have a look at the following websites, the pcis etc. This goes on from dusk til dawn, for the entire time it's on. Serious, I shit you not
I'll update you on the weekend as to how my 1 day in hell went.
Cheers
You must check all these out - insane!!!
http://www.martinreeds-page.co.uk/thailand/photos/th67.html
http://www.pbase.com/hughden/Songkran
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_New_Year
http://www.thailandlife.com/songkran/index.php
