Songkran 2008

[Jimmy Red Cab]

Anyone visiting Pattaya during April should be aware that you could be there during Songkran, the Water Festival.
Search Google and you will find the dates are 13th to 15th April, this is NOT correct, last year I arrived on the 16th to avoid it but it actually went on until the 19th.
On the final day it was mayhem, we are not talking about water pistols, buckets of water are thrown over the baht buses and people driving their bikes.
There is not an "opt out" option, if you venture out onto the streets you are fair game. Many farangs enjoy it, as they say in Thailand "up to you".

[yoghisyp]

lol i was there for 2007 ...
had some nice fun in bangkok, while in chiang rai a friend of mine got thrown a bucket of water while turning in his motorbike.

He fell, and his leg got caught under the motorbike ...

Not a great songkran for him

Suggestion, if u're to be there @ songkran, take a taxi but *never* venture on motorbikes.

[Jimmy Red Cab]

Suggestion, if u're to be there @ songkran, take a taxi but *never* venture on motorbikes.

Some people see it as great fun and maybe it is, not for me though, once in a lifetime is enough.

[Unplaced]

I was in Pattaya for the entirety of Songkran 2005.

There is a way to avoid it. I went to the gym early in the morning and did other things all before 12:00 which is when it gets underway each day.

Then I stayed in my room for all hours of the afternoon until I went out at 9:00 or 10:00 at night.

Doing this, I didn't get wet at all.
Except for the one day I decided to join in the fun and throw water.
Had a blast that day (wetting dry people is more fun than it sounds like), but one day was enough for me.

[plaboy]

Anyone visiting Pattaya during April should be aware that you could be there during Songkran, the Water Festival.
Search Google and you will find the dates are 13th to 15th April, this is NOT correct, last year I arrived on the 16th to avoid it but it actually went on until the 19th.
On the final day it was mayhem, we are not talking about water pistols, buckets of water are thrown over the baht buses and people driving their bikes.
There is not an "opt out" option, if you venture out onto the streets you are fair game. Many farangs enjoy it, as they say in Thailand "up to you".

Many Thanks for the heads up, JRC: I have a trip planned to Bkk for April 8th. I HATE Songkran, was in Chaing Mai last year, and had to leave for China before I lost my patience; and I don't easily loose my cool. Will adjust my dates to leave before songkran.....

[Jimmy Red Cab]

Many Thanks for the heads up, JRC: I have a trip planned to Bkk for April 8th. I HATE Songkran, was in Chaing Mai last year, and had to leave for China before I lost my patience; and I don't easily loose my cool. Will adjust my dates to leave before songkran.....

Pleased to be of help, it is easy to get confused with the dates because Songkran lasts a lot longer in Pattaya.
I was supposed to leave on 20th April but when I saw the mayhem on the 19th I packed my bags and headed for Bangkok.
The traffic jams heading into Pattaya were unbeliveable.

[plaboy]

Pleased to be of help, it is easy to get confused with the dates because Songkran lasts a lot longer in Pattaya.
I was supposed to leave on 20th April but when I saw the mayhem on the 19th I packed my bags and headed for Bangkok.
The traffic jams heading into Pattaya were unbeliveable.

Called my Thai GF today, she told me that Songkran starts on April 12th...

[Keen_Punter]

The traffic jams heading into Pattaya were unbeliveable.

That was all the people from Bangkok who had heard that you were on your way there.

[Jimmy Red Cab]

That was all the people from Bangkok who had heard that you were on your way there.

This I can promise you, if you ever visit Pattaya during Songkran you would end up in a fight, if you get upset over people buying ping pong balls what would you do when an ice bucket is poured over your head.

[Mr Shagmeister]

Every ex-pat in Pattaya that I've ever spoken to about Songkran absolutely hates it. Where as all other areas of Thailand only have to suffer this dangerous nonsense for a day or two, in Pattaya water starts getting thrown around as early as the 10th and continues until the 19th. Why Pattaya ever decided that it wanted to 'celebrate' for a full two days after everywhere else in the country has gone back to normal is anyone's guess. It's not as if any of the truck loads of drunken Thais who drive down from Bangkok spend any money when they get here. Normally all they do is crash into each other on the roads or start fighting with bottles and knives.

I either hire a car for a week or leave town.

[Jimmy Red Cab]

Every ex-pat in Pattaya that I've ever spoken to about Songkran absolutely hates it.

Thanks for agreeing with me.
When I did my report in April 2007 a few people said it was great fun and I was just a miserable old bastard, other people said it was my fault for going there during Songkran.
The problem is that when you search Google most of the links show that Songkran runs from 13th to 15th April, this may be correct for Bangkok but not for Pattaya.

[HardSlam]

Officially as I am told Songkran is only 2 days but its the continued 'unofficial' part that goes on for days. I know when I visited Issan during Songkran is started on the right day...but I saw it continue well past the last day. Now -I never got nailed by a bucket of water so I cannot speak to that experience -but I imagine after the 3 or 4th time it would get old.

I did get covered with 'white paste' as a ceremonial thing a few times -that I considered an honor though I looked a bit silly.

[Jimmy Red Cab]

Now -I never got nailed by a bucket of water so I cannot speak to that experience -but I imagine after the 3 or 4th time it would get old.

I may have been more tolerant had it ended at 6 or 7 pm, during the day you can wear an old T-Shirt and shorts, on the night of the 18th I ventured down Walking Street got slightly wet and went back to change, went to a quieter bar near Soi 2, within an hour one of the girls poured an ice bucket down my back.
Good fun ??? Maybe, but not for me thanks.

[tk 421]

I may have been more tolerant had it ended at 6 or 7 pm, during the day you can wear an old T-Shirt and shorts, on the night of the 18th I ventured down Walking Street got slightly wet and went back to change, went to a quieter bar near Soi 2, within an hour one of the girls poured an ice bucket down my back.
Good fun ??? Maybe, but not for me thanks.

jimmybob........i know you not like songkran and every year you reassure us

yes most expats hate it..... but its not all doom & gloom you only got to look at how many farangs go there for the festival its great fun.

i personally enjoy songkran, but do agree it sometimes gets out of hand and becomes a little dangerous

next time you are in LOS, maybe you should go elsewhere during this time and see how songkran is really performed , you will enjoy it. then can head back to patty/bkk to continue your shagging

my view is if you are young and want a wild time go to the songkran festival, but if you old or and veteran to LOS give it a miss

[Jimmy Red Cab]

next time you are in LOS, maybe you should go elsewhere during this time and see how songkran is really performed

There will not be a next time, I will let the brain dead celebrate Songkran without me ---- I will make sure I am in the UK from 13th -20th April.