Come on in, the water's fine

[x in pattaya]

In case you're languishing away in hot old Krung Thep anticipating another week with Red Shirts filling the streets ... may I recommend a solution to your problems:

http://gayboythailand.com/bangkok-thailand//images/2009/03/speedo-thai-boy.jpg

No not him, but



http://www.pattayaphotos.net/images/pattaya_city_sign.jpg

Just made my almost daily walk from Pattaya Tai to Dusit Resort.

It's sunny with a nice breeze.

The beach is filling up with people, but no red shirts in sight.

http://www.thailights.com/thailand-travel-images_files/pattaya-beach.jpg

The signs welcoming delegates and participants to the summit "to solve global challenges" are still blinking away ... including those wishing them Bon Voyage!

http://www.14thaseansummit.org/images/banner_pattaya.gif


The girls at Poppy bar are already throwing water on people.

http://www.pattayamail.com/769/songkran2008/images/musicandwater.jpg

Lots of Thais on the beach setting up picnics with their families.


http://www.bugbog.com/images/beaches/thailand_beaches_west/thailand-beach-pattaya-8.jpg

[TrongpaiExpat]

OK, I took your advise and took the bus from Eakamai at 1300. The trip was easy, very light traffic. Watch out for two bars on Beach road throwing water.

[x in pattaya]

OK, I took your advise and took the bus from Eakamai at 1300. The trip was easy, very light traffic. Watch out for two bars on Beach road throwing water.

I was surprised to see the girls at a bar near the police station on Beach Rd out early Sunday morning throwing water. Songkran in Pattaya goes on long enough without extending it by another day.

[Smiles]

All seems well in Hua Hin (photo by Mr Bob). The Red Army apparently has no access to transport for the troops, and the hinterland remains relatively calm.

One of our favourite lady bars (Pla's Place) at Songkran:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/Photos%20from%20friends/plas.jpg

I am amazed that, for the first time, I actually thoroughly enjoyed the Songkran celebrations in Thailand - not in Pattaya, though, but in BangSaen where a little common sense changed the anarchy and hooliganism that is Pattaya over Songkran into a pleasant day for all.

We had gone to see the sandcastle competition, which I had not realized was on at the same time as BangSaen's Songkran (17th) and the sight of columns of pick-ups loaded with the usual barrels of water, etc, as we neared BangSaen nearly made me turn round and go home thinking it would be a wash-out. Fortunately we did not and when we turned towards Beach Road we found that not only was Beach Road closed to traffic, with all traffic being re-directed along the parallel road, but that there was ample free parking between the roads and that all "water" type activities, powder, etc, were evidently banned in the parking area and along the beach, Beach Road and promenade areas.

This simple division allowed those who wanted to enjoy a holiday on the beach with their families or friends to do so and for the sandcastle competition, live bands and other local activities to be enjoyed without anyone being being disturbed or distressed. Meanwhile those who wanted to be part of the more boisterous and unruly water sports could enjoy themselves without fear of upsetting those who did not want to partake. It really was a case of something for everyone with nobody upsetting anyone else or infringing on their enjoyment of the holiday. As if to further set it apart from Pattaya the drinks, food, etc, were all being sold at normal prices rather than Pattaya's more opportunistic ones at such events, and the traffic was never allowed to come to a total stop.

There were very few policemen or officials to be seen, in spite of which the division between the areas could not have been more noticeable - those few I saw carrying water pistols in the beach area made no attempt to play with them, even near the sea, and I saw parents making sure that their children had emptied their water pistols before they went from one area to another. It appeared to be popularly self-policing.

It really was a victory of common sense and simple direction over chaos and drunken disorder, leading to a day which everyone appeared to enjoy and about which no-one could complain (and I was previously a confirmed "Songkran exile"!). Could such a thing happen in Pattaya? As far as location and layout are concerned, I can see no reason why not - and the Mayor certainly has the right experience to make it happen; on the other hand, I only saw a couple of other farangs and they were in a pick-up with their Thai boyfriends throwing water тАж..