Thailand - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Songkran: The World's Biggest Water Fight (with a Side of Spiritual Cleansing and Chaos) Guest Contributor: The Soi Dog Whisperer  Alright, folks, grab your super soakers and get ready to dive into the wild, wet, and utterly wonderful world of Songkran! This isn't just any festival; it's the world's largest water fight, mixed with a healthy dose of drunken madness spiritual renewal, family bonding, and a whole lot of "Did I really just get drenched by a stranger?" moments. Picture this: streets filled with people, water flying in every direction, and a sense of joy and camaraderie that's absolutely infectious. First things first, what exactly is Songkran? It's the Thai New Year, celebrated from April 13th to 15th, and it's a time for renewal, reflection, and a whole lot of fun. The name "Songkran" comes from the Sanskrit word "saṃkrānti," which means "astrological passage." It marks the end of the dry season and the b...

Songkran in Thailand: A Watery Apocalypse & the People Who Secretly Hate It Ah, Songkran, Thailand’s famous New Year festival where the entire country transforms into a free-for-all water war, and social norms are temporarily suspended in favor of mass hydration assault. But not everyone is out there gleefully chucking buckets at strangers. Let’s talk about the groups who suffer in silence (or not so silently): expats, water-averse tourists and locals who despise Songkran.   Expats & Tourists During Songkran: A Spectrum of Reactions 1. The Overenthusiastic Newbie  This is their first Songkran, and they’ve gone full Call of Duty: Water Warfare . They’ve spent 5,000฿ on the biggest Super Soaker they could find, dressed in obnoxious floral shirts, and are now aggressively hunting down victims like it’s their job. By day two, they’re either a) completely sunburned, b) nursing a Chang-over, or c) realizing they’ve lost their wallet in a mosh pit of wet strangers. ...