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The Songkran Festival is the festival to celebrate Thai New Year since an ancient time. The festival represents the day of caring, love and binding among family, community and religion.
What do we have to do ?
This year I specially came to Thailand for Songkran Festival 2005, the Thai, Lao, Khmer and Buddhists new Year, as many friends talked me about this.
The 13th of April is "Maha Songkran Day" or the end of old year day, Wan Klang or Wan Nao or preparation day (14th of April) and New Year's Day or Wan Taleung Sok (15th of April). ( Buddhist Era 2548 )
Songkran is the ancient Thai New Year of Lanna people. The 1 st of January was officially announced to be the New Year’s Day since 1941.
Take care, one week before Songkran it has been really hard to go to ChiangMai from Bangkok, planes where full, like trains and we got little chance to find bus. Moreover ChiangMai hotels raise prices by 20% at the occasion, and best hotels are full. We got no problem to find rooms anyway. Moreover for your information, Buddhists have the grester respect for food and old people, so Tourists, don't throw water to restaurants, and when you can see dry people, just ask yourself how they arrived here that way... Exuberant youth, in the tossing of water, will have no mercy and will not even see that expensive camcorder you carry - so protect it well! Also, it is important to remember that you are in Thailand so please respect Thai dress codes of politeness and decency. Although you are going to get wet, it is not appropriate to take to the streets in a state of undress or beach wear.
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And what happend...
Two days before songkran starts, around ChiangMai canal, I received from bucket 5 liters of water. Because Songkran should starts later, I had my passport, mobile phone, etc.. in my pockets, so take care, and don't forget to bring waterproof bags.
Then when Songkran really starts, all around ChiangMai canal, it's impossible to move, many roads are closed, and there are so many people.
Songkran is the best water party of the world...the party every 15 years old boy wanna do ! and with 29 years old it is still so funny.
WARNING : it will be impossible to stay dry....you will get 5 liters of water every minutes...
Sawasdee Peemay !
Pickup truck parties are very popular where you all just pile into the back of a truck with an ample supply of Thai whiskey (yum!) and the biggest drum of water you can find and then just drive round and round the moat, hurling water at everyone.
Loi Khro, and its girl bar...this is a dangerous area...because you received here the coldest water you ever imagine : all bars have many water stock, hundred liters, with many 10 kg ice in... so the water is 5°C, and air is 35-40°C.
Look at tubes : terrific watergun ! can send 4 liters to 15m !
Even waterproof camera may have troubles here...
The Chiangmai canal if the number one sponsor of Songkran, 90% of water come from here, and returns back....
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