Nothing like a bucket of water in the face
Trip Start
Sep 17, 2007
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158
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Trip End
Oct 08, 2008
Chiang Mai,
Thailand
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Today, Songkran has evolved into something much more...enthusiastic.
The actual festival runs from the 13-15th of April, but things get started much earlier. The first signs that you notice are the groups of children (and sometimes adults) that begin to gather by the side of the road. They usually have a giant plastic drum, which they fill with a constantly running hose. From this drum they fill buckets, and then they sit and wait for the appropriate target to pass.
The appropriate targets are usually tourists in open trucks
mid-air water shot
. They will get quite excited when they see these things coming. There are several methods of attack. The most artful could be called the "leaded throw." It involves a graceful arc of water thrown in front of the moving vehicle, and perfectly timed to enter through a window. The most brutal is the "bullet toss." Usually an older teenager or parent will fire the water from the bucket at high velocity, usually aiming for the face. This is the most unpleasant. A sneaky throw is the "backdoor." They'll wait for the driver to slow down, then come around to get a maximum-impact throw through the open back of the truck. What I find amusing is the strange mix of respect and abandon shown during these festivities. Most boys will just hurl with wild abandon. But the girls sometimes look for a sign of acceptance and even ask permission occasionally. It is obvious that some younger children have no idea what to do with the bucket at all. They have fun anyways. The most amusing situation is when children soak you with water and then smile, wave, and call "happy new year!"
During the actual days of the festival, the water-throwing is much more earnest. Not only do people throw water from the street, they throw water from trucks, too. Groups of kids with gather around a giant drum of water and drive around with buckets and squirt guns
a little revenge
. In Chiang Mai there is an additional element because the city has a moat. Vendors sell buckets with strings attached, which you can use to scoop water from the moat to dump on people. There is a solid traffic jam for water-throwing trucks to go along the roads by the moat. It's the world's biggest water fight. There are less sporting techniques, of course. The worst is adding a huge block of ice to the water drum. It's hot outside, but it isn't that hot. I began to target these evil-doers with buckets in the face. The funny ones add stink-bomb liquid to the water. That's not cool either.
It is great fun to go down to the moat, get a bucket, and join in the fun. Creates some rather amusing situations as well. One guy hit me in the face with a bucket of water. Seeking to return the favor, I threw one in his direction. He bent down to get more water, and I hit the kid next to him square in the face. Needless to say the chian continued. Another time, a Thai woman was following a tourist across the street, squirting her with a crazed and aggressive look on her face. I thought this was unnecessary, and apparently Erin did as well because she nailed her right in the face with moat water. This deflated her immediately. It was hilarious.
target the thais
Of course, this is one of those festivals where you are forced to participate whether you want to or not. And it lasts for about a week. It can become old very fast. You can't walk anywhere without getting completely soaked. For a tourist, with things to do, that can become a real pain.
In Bangkok it was even worse. They don't have a lot of water. They use mud. White mud they smear all over your face. In Phuket town, however, the only sign was that everything was closed. It was much more peaceful.
It was definitely a great experience. But one day is more than enough.
~Travis
