Songkran: time to get wet to celebrate the new year

When I was a child my parents gave me a gun. It was awesome, I could run around and kill people. Well, only virtually because the ammo was actually only water. It was real fun but I didn't hold on to it for long. The reason was no one else really enjoyed me running around and making everyone wet for more than first 2 minutes. It is not very rare, right? But Songkran, Thai New Year celebration, helped me to fulfill my childhood dream.

Buddhists celebrate the new year for three days after the first full moon of April (that's strangely similar to our Easter btw). It might be a true disaster if you came on these days to Thailand without knowing that. Arriving from the Bangkok airport you probably wouldn't noticed directly. First thing, one could assume suspicious , would be the "lowcost" clothing of locals. But if it was your first time in Bangkok, and in particular if youjust arrived from Cambodia, Laos, or Burma, you wouldn't know that during this time of day Bangkok is full of businessmen in suits and women in nice dress. One might also consider rather strange everyone is using these neck wallets.

First thing after a short walk what would definitely bring your attention is how much they waste water here. You wouldn't be able to think about it for long time; a bucket of cold water just splashed on you from behind would make everything clear at once :). (And also destroyed all your precious electronics and clothes :) )

During these three days, streets of Bangkok and all other cities, particularly Chiang Mai, turn into a water battlefield. I wasn't dry for a single second even though the temperatures could approach 40°C. According to Buddhist tradition, pouring water brings luck and everyone needs that, right?

I loved that so much. And not only because of that "fun" side which made me kid again. It is amazing how it opens people's heats, put smile on their face, how they fight you back when, how then end it with laughing happy new year. It makes adults be kids again and play, they forget their daily pains.

I didn't experience any of these tourist traps for which Bangkok is so famous, no one even tried to force me buying overpriced souvenirs...

Moreover, it doesn't suffer with the "Korean tourist" effect, i.e. there is not few people making a theatre for bunch of tourists standing around and recording with their iPhones or hide behind viewfinder of their DSLR. Water is simply not compatible with that. You are in Thailand = you are participating. No exception.

I myself took carefully one video from very remote location, otherwise my camera and phone were deep in my pockets in a plastic bag. You must get GoPro or similar camera to make a video.

It was probably one of the most amazing events I have experienced. I recommend everyone to note in calendars for next April: Songkran 2015.