Amazing Thailand: Songkran 2012

I have always wanted to experience different festivals here and abroad.  My parents both grew up in Aklan where the famous Ati-Atihan is held every 3rd week of January but I have only experienced it once in my 25 years of existence.  Pathetic, right?  You see, it's difficult to plan trips that fall on festival dates.  Not to mention, cheap flights are hard to come by since festivals usually happen during peak season.  So when the chance to visit Thailand in time for Songkran arrived, we took it.  No questions asked even if that means having to file 4 VLs for my first trip this year.

Ever since our Vietnam trip, I've grown more interested and appreciative of other cultures.  Sure, I have always loved the Japanese culture but I realized there was more to SEA than Japan.  I easily get fascinated by rich cultures and I just want to immerse myself in it.  What better way to get to know a culture than to celebrate a festival with the locals, right?  It's an amazing feeling to be given a chance to be part of their culture at least for a day or so.

Songkran 2012

The Songkran festival is the traditional New Year's Day celebration in Thailand held every April 13-15 which also happens to be the hottest days of the year.  It's that time of the year when Thais and tourists alike walk around the streets armed with water guns and splash each other while screaming "Sawadee pi mai (ka)!" (Happy New Year), "Happy Songkran Day!" or "Enjoy the holidays!"  Sidewalks and street corners are lined up with people waiting with water drums, water guns, water hoses, water buckets and whatnot ready to splash whoever is brave enough to pass by.  Best part of the festival?  You get to splash anyone* with water and it's perfectly okay!

On our way to Khao San Road!

On the last day of Songkran, we decided to go to Khao San Road where the main action is at.  The entire street is closed for the holiday and it's one big street party I tell ya!  During Songkran, expect to get wet everywhere.  For the past two days, we went around sight-seeing in Bangkok unarmed and got wet wherever we go.  This time, we came prepared!  On the bus ride to Khao San, Gwen and I propped our window open so we can splash random people with water.  Of course, they'd get back at us but more often than not, the conductor or the driver or the person sitting behind us will get wet instead of us! Hahaha  That must have been annoying for the locals but they were laughing along with us because it's Songkran.  After a few splashes, we had to shut the window because Gwen and I already started shivering.  We decided to just wait until we get to Khao San.

Locked and loaded.  Armed and ready!

We got off the bus stop near Khao San Road and after a few steps, this happened:

Or so we thought. :(

We were welcomed by a street vendor who splashed us with freaking ice water!!!  Haha  Welcome to Khao San Road, I guess?  So how crazy does Khao San Road get during Songkran?

THIS CRAZY!!!

The streets are literally filled with Thais and tourists armed with water guns and talcum powder ready to party!  So how was our first Songkran experience?  Words aren't enough to describe it so here are some of our pictures to give you an idea of what to expect during Songkran.

Khao San Road is filled with people so we had to walk in choo-choo-train fashion just so we wouldn't get lost in the crowd.

Running low on ammo?  Fret not!  Refilling stations can be found along the stretch of Khao San Road.

As you walk along Khao San Road, expect to get wet left and right.  The more you try to keep yourself safe and dry, the more you become a target.

After several minutes of walking, we were already drenched!  Participating in the Songkran celebration is definitely the best way to beat the summer heat!

Splash water... splash happiness.  Tourists love to get wet!

NO MERCY!  Even emcees are not safe from water guns.

Not even tourists posing for pictures!

Watch out for those white hands and those buckets filled with talcum powder!  The cleaner you are, the more you become a target.

Who needs make-up during Songkran?  Noi even gets a free re-touch from a local while posing for the camera.

Fun fact: Locals usually carry with them buckets filled with liquid talcum powder and smear them on faces of whoever they meet along the way.  Girls are the usual targets as our faces are easier to reach than the boys'.  Sucks but it was fun.

Recess!!!  Aka time to refill our Lilo & Stitch tumblers with Fanta, milk tea and Milo at the nearest 7-11.

Fun story: We paid one of the 7-11 staff waiting outside for water refills to help us wash the powder off our faces before taking a break.  But after a couple of minutes, he started dousing us with water.  Again!  Bored si kuya!  Nagbayad pa kami, pwede naman pala free!  Of course, we got even with him and splashed him with water all at once. :))

Caught in the act!  Look how fair Karly's complexion is!

Fun fact: No matter what you do, you'd still end up with powder on your face.  So why bother rinsing it off?  Well, it feels weird as the powder dries up and hardens on your skin.  Parang naka-Botox!

While taking this photo, some locals shot us from behind.  Of course, we didn't let them get away with it!

We asked him for a photo and he poured freezing water down my back while I was smiling at the camera!!

Fun fact: Some locals wear scary masks during Songkran.  Maybe to chase evil spirits away?  I'm not really sure why but this guy was one of them so we asked him for a photo op!  I didn't know he was hiding a bottle of ice cold water behind his back! Haha

Recess again!!!  We just had to try their street food.

Fun fact: Thai food usually comes in spicy and non-spicy varieties.  I ordered the non-spicy sausage but it was still a bit spicy - perfect for me!

Chanced upon this building and since Nee-chan is a law student, we had to stop for a photo op.

On our way home!  We're all wet, tired and dirty but we had a lot of fun on our first Songkran!

Saw a gardener watering his plants.  Asked him if he could help us wash the powder off our faces and he agreed!  Thais are such nice people. :)

Waiting for the bus to take us home.

Fun story: We were actually waiting at the wrong bus stop and ended up walking for a few more minutes before we reached the right bus stop.  Since Khao San Road is closed during the holidays, the bus we needed to catch didn't pass by this stop!

Another fun story: On the bus ride home, I still had ammo in my water gun so I decided to splash random people with water.  Again. :))  I spotted two guys on a motorcycle so I started shooting the passenger (not the driver of course).  I was laughing my head off thinking I got away from them unscathed.  But after a few minutes, they managed to catch up to us and he started shooting me!  Si kuya na ang may photographic memory!  In fairness, he was kinda cute so I let him get even with me. Haha

When we got home, our adorable niece and nephew still wanted to play Songkran with us but we had to let them down as our flight leaves on the same night.  Hate to see them heartbroken but we had no choice. :(  Hopefully, we'll be back for Songkran next year!

*Be considerate though and don't splash monks, babies or the elderly with water!


Travel date: 15 April 2012 [Day ]
Photo credits: Kuya Kenneth (Thank goodness we had a local with us who documented everything while we were busy enjoying the Songkran festival!)

For more information regarding Songkran festival, click here and here (Bangkok).