As most are aware, the Songkran (Thai New Year) holidays are almost here, April 13th-15th officially but festivities will begin April 11th in Udon. Important holidays for the Thais and they travel from all points of the globe to be here with their families. They used to (and still do) pay respect and honor their elders by gently pouring water on their hands. Now, in many places, it has evolved into an all-out water warfare with a lot of alcohol beverages being consumed. How will you be celebrating this year's holidays?

Sawadee pee mai !

Going to the Midget's village (just outside Udon) for the kids on Sunday, then locking myself at home for the rest of the week working on a few websites. Pretty normal really.

appears we'll be at Kata Beach, Phuket this year, and barring any early celebrations from the villages in between Khao Lak and Phuket tomorrow on the ride in, i expect a one day affair, during the official e day period, very limited, as it was last time in karon/kata beach during songkran of the past. patong beach is a different story, i make take a few hours to get in and out of town on beach road, as it is bumper to bumper on both, beach and back road out of town. no thanks.

did see some kids, with guns spraying cars a bit early wednesday, while doing my gulf beach recon. a bit early, but very young, and guessing driving parents nuts, so go play in traffic please.

enjoy and be safe all.

Plan on staying in Nong Khai.Will do shopping early tomorrow to stock up!Would have liked to have visited with friends in Bangkok,but I am not willing to travel during Songkran!.We will probably get into the parade of cars throughout NK to enjoy watching the festivities as I have only seen friendly fun stuff in NK all 5 years.I like seeing people enjoy themselves here.
We don't have anybody to play with,so we will stay home most of the time!

Stay safe and enjoy yourselves!

It will be business as usual for me, except I won't be going to my fitness center since it is a government facility, and is closed for the 3 day holiday.
One of the nice things about Udon during Song Khran, is that if one wants to avoid the festivities, it is fairly simple. Stay away from Nong Prajak, Posri Rd. (between the Fountain Circle and Wat Po), the Charoensri Mall/Night Market area, and don't ride your motorbike/cycle. This is my fourth Song Khran in Udon and I have yet to be inconvenienced by it. But, I'm not an idiot, I stay well away from the areas I mentioned.
At least we are not in the Pattaya/Jomtien area where there is noooooooowhere one can escape it.

Well I will be in the office in camden, dreaming about coming home at the end of the month and having a relaxing time. At the moment it's raining here and I envy those of you there with good weather,food,drink ect ect. Enjoy your songkran all of you.

I actually enjoy one or two days of it. Usually with friends in town, but this year Pop's won't be in town. Another day is reserved for my wife's grandmothers ville and celebrate there. This year we're staying closer to home and enjoying some of the planned festivities at T. Muang park.

i'm on me holidays at the moment, and they call songkran easter around here - anyway Sunday I will be on the p1ss on a beach to lake victoria, quite near the equator so it will probably be raining - then the following day I will be going to the east african carnival in kiwatule to see if i can pick up some booty - bit of luck the wife won't catch me - happy days

Well iam still young............l be out get very wet , thats why we go over this time of the year.......
last year my arms hurt.....
l took my parents last year in there sixtys they had a ball......
They took photos and made friend with many thai people.........
When l build my house there , they will be back over, my mother said yesturday.
Well last year we had a aussie load of people in the back throwing water.
This year my friend from finland will be in the back with us.
Man we have so much fun..........
Well it must be a aussie thing i guess........all my friends want come over throw water,after l showed them the pictures.
Well l love Songkran like it or not come close to me your sure to get wet !!!!!!!!!!

Fridge is stocked up and this will be my last day out until the 17th. Don't mind the smear of powder and a little water in the spirit of the festival but it's the drunken yobbos (both Thai and Farang) and the madness on the roads.

Bandung_Dero wrote:Fridge is stocked up and this will be my last day out until the 17th. Don't mind the smear of powder and a little water in the spirit of the festival but it's the drunken yobbos (both Thai and Farang) and the madness on the roads.

My sentiments exactly, but I presume you'll be in Eddies for the pm sometime? See ya there!!

This will be the first year since 2002 that I won't be in the parade from the university to nong prajak. Will miss it, its been great fun over the years. Last year the heat got to me. It wasn't the walking but the constant stopping and standing around in the sun. So a not so quite time at home in the village for me.
So whatever you are doing . Enjoy it and remember keep that camera dry.

Today I will go shopping,stock up booze and grub for a week.Send the missus back to the village she can enjoy herself better there.I stay at my home.Loads of things to do in the house.
Great!.... Nice and peaceful(ear plugs fitted) Sabai sabai. Songran is to me,is just mad,crazy people going over the top.Throwing buckets of water at you?,setting a hose on you? Nah,not my cup of tea!
What happen to the gentle splash of water over your head! that would be nice.

I'm glad I'm not there, if it was just one day no problem but last year it went on for about 4 days. They were throwing water over the pickup, they cant help themselves. Drive careful to all there and dont get too wet.