Songkran - Love it or Hate it?

[Thor69]

Songkran is the time of the year when Thais have so much fun and don't have to restrain themselves. For those of you that visit or live in Thailand during Songkran, do you love it or hate it?

Songkran is the time of the year when Thais have so much fun and don't have to restrain themselves. For those of you that visit or live in Thailand during Songkran, do you love it or hate it?


I guess I'm in the minority. I hate it and always make sure I'm away at that time of the year.

[quiet1]

I make sure I am not in Thailand the entire week that Songkran is "celebrated" in Pattaya. I had a few negative experiences that simply turned me off:

In Bangkok I was walking home with my notebook computer in my backpack and some asshole poured a potful of water into my backpack.

In Pattaya, riding a baht bus down Jomtien Beach Road after sunset to meet friends for a nice dinner -- dressed in a nice (somewhat expensive) casual shirt and pants -- another asshole threw a bucket full of water at the moving vehicle and the water was mixed with something that permanently stained -- i.e. ruined -- my shirt. (I had naievely thought that the water throwing would stop at sunset.)

Yeah, folks, have fun while I'm gone.

[Dboy]

I generally hate it. If I'm involved though I try to make the best of it. It's a great time to meet people.

[1PR4BKK]

I have experienced Songkran a couple of times so far and loved it. I've only participated in BKK. I might try Songkran in Pattaya next time.

I played two years and had a good time, actually an excellent time.
I then read that over 800 young Thais die in motorbike crashes that DAY and the police blame Sangkran and losing control of the motorbikes, not to mention the loss of drinking water and the fact that we have little as it is.
I chose not to be a part of it anymore and hope that more and more people realize the negative impact it has on us (which they wont) and give it a break. Afterall, the young will certainly need drinking water as they grow older.

When Songkran is in Bangkok those 4 days, I am in Pattaya. When it stops for 2 days, I race to Bangkok and check into the Shangri -la resort and Sangkran comes to Pattaya. I relax in Bagkok and keep myself inside the Shangrila comlex where there are all the amenities, restaurants, etc I need and avoid the water. When it ends, I come back.
Oh and I bring a trick or two! :happy7:

[Diec]

Afterall, the young will certainly need drinking water as they grow older.

Unkie/Justy, have you thought of having a fund raiser in your bar to help preserve drinking water for the children? Wouldn't that be a good idea?

[tomas1]

Hi
I will be in Thailand during Songkran,but will try to avoid the "worst" days in both Bangkok and Pattaya. Can anyone give the exact dates for this? :kap: :kap:

[dab69]

doesn't much matter to me either way.
don't have to love it but kinda fun.
definitely don't hate it, but a pain at times.

Hi
I will be in Thailand during Songkran,but will try to avoid the "worst" days in both Bangkok and Pattaya. Can anyone give the exact dates for this? :kap: :kap:

Songkran officially in Bangkok is Aril 13 - 15th. Sunday is the 17th so I am not sure if some may look for extra gratification or not.

Songkran in Pattaya and many of the outlying cities is April 15 - 17th with the 17th being the worst day as it is Sunday.


Unkie/Justy, have you thought of having a fund raiser in your bar to help preserve drinking water for the children? Wouldn't that be a good idea? Afterall, the young will certainly need drinking water as they grow older.



A very original and awsome idea! I guess the question would be, where the funds get deposited to. I mean is there something already set up?
Please give it some thought as to how it would be handled any suggestions and get back to me either through a PM or by emailing me at info@happyplacebar.com I am usually also at the bar, out front between 8:30pm and 11pm every night. WOW, that is a great idea. Thanks!
:alc:

This will be the first time that I will be in Thailand for Songkran, I am planning to stay in BKK and have been told to avoid Pattaya any other places someone might recommend?

This will be the first time that I will be in Thailand for Songkran, I am planning to stay in BKK and have been told to avoid Pattaya any other places someone might recommend?

Songkran is something that you either dislike or enjoy. Pattaya for some reason celebrates Songkran more or less a week later than the rest of Thailand so if you are visiting Bangkok and Pattaya you can, depending on your journey dates, either avoid or get involved in both places. No one seems to stick to actual dates (start - finish) so if you are trying to avoid it altogether then I would change my holiday dates.

[Jellybean]

I was told that the best place to experience Songkran is Chiang Mai. So last year I booked in at the Lavender Lanna Hotel (not sure if it is still gay) which is a terrific location to watch all the crowds circle the old city walls. I was able to join the hotel staff, in-house go-go boys and lady boys out in the hotel forecourt and had easy access to huge buckets of water and water pistols. Some of the staff also used water hoses on the passing crowd! It was 4 days of madness! I canтАЩt remember laughing so much, I found it absolutely hilarious. It was like being a kid again. The hotel had also engaged some of the best DJs I have heard in Thailand to play music non-stop from around 10.00am to 10.00pm.

However, I do sympathise with quiet1, I can well understand his anger at having water poured over his rucksack which contained his laptop and having his clothes ruined. I suppose the rule of thumb is to stay off the streets during the peak hours and leave all valuables, including mobile phones at home. Although, having said that, I bought a plastic waterproof cover for my mobile which was widely available to buy on market stalls, along with various sized water pistols and rifles.

This sounds good. Heard so much about Songkran. Hope to be able to immerse in it when I'm there in April.

The most distressing thing about the Songkran period is the numbers of deaths and injuries from drunken driving and other drink related accidents which always run into four and five figure numbers. Check the local papers afterwards you will be amazed just how many.

[Beachlover]

I was told that the best place to experience Songkran is Chiang Mai. So last year I booked in at the Lavender Lanna Hotel (not sure if it is still gay) which is a terrific location to watch all the crowds circle the old city walls. I was able to join the hotel staff, in-house go-go boys and lady boys out in the hotel forecourt and had easy access to huge buckets of water and water pistols. Some of the staff also used water hoses on the passing crowd! It was 4 days of madness! I canтАЩt remember laughing so much, I found it absolutely hilarious. It was like being a kid again. The hotel had also engaged some of the best DJs I have heard in Thailand to play music non-stop from around 10.00am to 10.00pm.
Thanks, Jellybean... That sounds like it could be fun! I haven't experienced Songkran yet.


The most distressing thing about the Songkran period is the numbers of deaths and injuries from drunken driving and other drink related accidents which always run into four and five figure numbers. Check the local papers afterwards you will be amazed just how many.
This is a sad reality of celebrations in many Asian/developing cities.

When I landed in Vietnam for the first time, it was on the night of some big regional sporting event cup. Relatives warned me the last time Vietnam won this, they celebrated by burning cars etc. The match was in overtime when my plane touched down and the radio confirmed Vietnam won while I was in transit between the airport and hotel. My taxi driver took his hands off the wheel to express his joy and at the same time, the streets exploded with people running about celebrating! There were young guys riding around the streets all night waving giant red flags and letting off fire works.

The next morning I heard multiple people had died in accidents during the celebrations. Sucks huh?

[CoffeeBreak]

In Pattaya Songkran is an excuse for people to assault and injure others and get away with it. The hospitals and clinics are at their busiest dealing not only with the carnage on the roads but the thousands who become ill from foul and polluted water. In particular it is pathetic to see middle aged and elderly westerners "armed" with their water pistols(the plastic ones) living out deluded rambo fantasies spraying and chucking water on all and sundry. Also sad to see farang and thai dead- beats going out of their way to pour buckets of filthy water over people such as onto baht buses full of passengers.
The way Songkran is celebrated in Pattaya it is most certainly mainly for life's losers.

[colmx]

Songkran in Pattaya and many of the outlying cities is April 15 - 17th with the 17th being the worst day as it is Sunday.


Songkran in Pattaya is the 18th and 19th
The Madness will be in North pattaya on the 18th and will pretty must run through until sundown on the 19th

There will usually be an Issan concert on the night of the 18th that can get pretty boisterous!
And walking treet is usually open all night that night...

On the day of the 19th everybody gathers in their local area (eg. South pattaya) and parades their way to Jomtien over the course of the day

This will be the first time that I will be in Thailand for Songkran, I am planning to stay in BKK and have been told to avoid Pattaya any other places someone might recommend?

Songkran is something that you either dislike or enjoy. Pattaya for some reason celebrates Songkran more or less a week later than the rest of Thailand so if you are visiting Bangkok and Pattaya you can, depending on your journey dates, either avoid or get involved in both places. No one seems to stick to actual dates (start - finish) so if you are trying to avoid it altogether then I would change my holiday dates.


Thanks for your reply but I am here for at least 11 months.... I was hoping for a suggestion other than Bangkok or pattaya.

If you are resident in Thailand I don't think you can avoid it all together, if that is your intention. From my limited experience, it is least intrusive in Bangkok as long as you avoid some areas, like Silom. You should probably experience it once though, it can be fun.

[gra46]

Songkran in Pattaya and many of the outlying cities is April 15 - 17th with the 17th being the worst day as it is Sunday.


Songkran in Pattaya is the 18th and 19th
The Madness will be in North pattaya on the 18th and will pretty must run through until sundown on the 19th

There will usually be an Issan concert on the night of the 18th that can get pretty boisterous!
And walking treet is usually open all night that night...

On the day of the 19th everybody gathers in their local area (eg. South pattaya) and parades their way to Jomtien over the course of the day
All Thai Websites are saying the Songkran for 2011 is 13th,14th and 15th April
Also my bf is saying these dates