| If you don't know already, Songkhran is the Thai | | | | and a water pistol for emergencies. Shops and |
| New Year Festival.This festival is celebrated in | | | | some private residences keep plastic trash cans |
| accordance with the full moon in April each year. | | | | or other receptacles full of water so it's easy to |
| It lasts from 1-5 days depending on the area. It is | | | | keep your weapons full. |
| a time of renewal, to wash off the old year and | | | | A few years back I had to pleasure of spending |
| prepare for the new. It's also a time to honor | | | | Songkhran in Phuket. The authorities limited the |
| your elders and hope for a blessing from them. It | | | | water playing activities to one area near Patong |
| is a time of tradition and many ceremonies and | | | | Beach and only for one day. The streets were |
| rituals. Songkhran is very interesting and exciting, | | | | closed to traffic which made the playing more |
| culturally and socially. | | | | enjoyable. Bands were playing, cold beer was |
| >For many Thais, expats and tourists, it is also a | | | | flowing, lots of food available but expect to eat it |
| time for the biggest water "fight" in the world. | | | | soggy. It was a great time roaming the streets |
| People, young and old, male and female, rich and | | | | and engaging other water soaked people washing |
| poor, local and foreign, line to streets of Thailand | | | | away the previous year. When I got a bit tired I |
| and use a variety of methods to propel water | | | | would find a spot, sit and enjoy a cold beer while |
| onto other people.It's like being a kid again. So | | | | watching others having fun. All in all a great time. |
| much fun to get crazy for a few days. One thing | | | | After a day of revelry, sun and water I hit the |
| I learned quickly while participating in this festival is | | | | sack early, my body drained but my heart and |
| you must waterproof anything of value, such as | | | | mind content. |
| your wallet, passport, and mobile phone. | | | | The water playing aside, this is a very important |
| The weapons used for this celebration come in all | | | | holiday and festival for Thai people and Thai |
| shapes and sizes. I have seen large water rifles | | | | culture. A time for families to come together and |
| water tanks attached, water pistols, bowls, hoses, | | | | renew, a time of blessings and honoring, please |
| water guns attached to tanks you can strap to | | | | keep this in mind at you are celebrating. |
| your back with plenty of water, and even | | | | Songkhran is during the full moon in April. If you |
| buckets. There used to be a cylinder that | | | | want to join in this festival you should plan early. |
| resembled an air pump for balls or tires but the | | | | It has peak travel time for locals and tourism |
| pressure was so great it caused injuries so it was | | | | alike. It is truly a unique experience. |
| banned. My weapon of choice is the water rifle | | | | |