Pictures of Bangkok,
Thailand. The City
of Contrast.
Where ancient meets
modern and East meets
West.
Come with me and explore
the lifestyle, culture,
places, changes, etc.
Map
of
the
Bangkokians'
attractions
See
places
where
Bangkok
people
enjoy
spending
their
time
(and
lose
their
money).
Click
here
.
Songkran
Festival
The
"Quiet Bangkok,
Noisy Thailand"
water festival
Mar. 2006
Many of my friends and I
feel that April is the
worst month of the year.
It’s the hottest
month, say 36 to 41
centigrade. At
times, Bangkok in April
was recorded as the
hottest place on
earth. Both the
heat and the sun are
what Thais have been
trying to stay away from
since birth.
There's more than enough
sunshine here. Click
here to find
out how serious Thais
are about this.
Luckily,
there’s
a
festival
in
April.
And
it’s
the
country’s
most
important
and
the
biggest
time
of
the
year.
It’s
called
Songkran,
Thailand’s
New
Year
celebration.
Songkran
is
the
water
festival,
a
great
way
to
cool
down
the
heat
from
April
13
to
15.
Interestingly,
rain
usually
falls
a
few
weeks
or right after
Songkran.
It’s
quite
like
Songkran
is
an
introduction
to
the
rainy
season.
During
the
festival,
all
Thais
would
head
back
to
their
hometown
to
reunite
and
celebrate
with
their
families.
Some
would
go
to
Chiangmai,
the
heart
of
the
festival.
(Chiangmai
is
the
place
for
it.)
As
people
from
all
directions
travel
nation
wide
at
the
same
time,
traffic
jams and high
road
accidents
are
inevitable.
Traffic
casualties
always
hit
the
record
high
during
the
festival
no
matter
what
counter
measures
are
conducted.
Highest
accidents
are
from
motorcycles,
pick-up
trucks,
and
cars
respectively.
Songkran
is
a
busy
and
stressful
time
for
the
police,
directing
the
traffic
and
testing
alcohol
on
drivers.
They're
among
a
few
people
not
having
fun
like
the
others.
Since
ancient
times,
Thailand’s
New
Year
fluctuated
by
the
yearly
calendar.
There
was
no
fix
date
for
the
New
Year.
Until
1889,
the
New
Year
was
appointed
on
April
first.
(Yes,
April
fool’s
day.) And finally moved to
January
the
first
like
the
rest
of
the
world
in
1941.
During
Songkran,
the
wats
(temples)
are
where
people
go
and
wish
for
luck.
They
pay
to
free
the
caged
birds
and
fish,
give
alms
to
monks,
pour
water
on
the
Buddha
image,
etc.
Songkran will
always be Thailand's biggest time of
the year. If you want to see
the real thing, stay out of Bangkok.
It's the "Quiet
Bangkok, Noisy Thailand" water
festival.
Click
pictures to enlarge
Many areas
in Bangkok
and Thailand
hold a
community
celebration.
Here, the
organizer is
promoting
their
activities
in decorated
pick-us
trucks.
Many places
have Miss
Songkran
contest.
Songkran
is prohibited in
most main streets
of Bangkok due to
safety
restrictions.
Only a few places
are allowed like
Khaosan road,
Patpong, and in
small streets.
For
those who want to
have real fun,
it's best to go
elsewhere.
Stay out of
Bangkok.
May
2006
Many public places
like hotels,
department stores,
and restaurants
would prepare
indoor Songkran
for their
customers.
Indoor Songkran is
performed by the
worshippers
pouring water on
the Buddha image
and blessing for
their happy new
year.
Bits & Pieces
1. Olden days Songkran was
performed
gently
with
people
pouring
water
on
one
another
and
blessed
for
the
new
year
luck. Nowadays,
Songkran
has
gone
wild
with
people
throwing
water
only. Some
men would take the opportunity
to touch women on the face and
body. (It's inappropriate
for men to touch unknown women in
the Thai culture. Even
among "just friends", Thai girls consider this a rude
behavior). Some shoot the water gun into girls'
low
rise pants.
2. The best places to play Songkran
in Bangkok is in Patpong, Sanaam
Luang (very traditional), and
Khaosan Road.
3. While many tourist come to
Thailand for the festival, a large
number of Thais would go overseas
during this time. Songkran is
one of the peak times for outbound
Thai tourists.
