This past weekend marked the traditional Thai lunar new year celebration with the annual Songkran Festival. Over the past week leading up to the festival, the preparations for the celebration have completely taken over Chiang Mai.
Everywhere you looked there was scaffolding being put together for concerts, water guns of every shape and size for sale, and gorgeous flower arrangements available to decorate the endless spirit houses, Buddha statues, and shop windows - the city was absolutely alive with anticipation.
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| Celebrating with our neighbors at the local motorbike shop |
In addition to marking the Thai New Year, the Songkran Festival is also a water festival to mark the beginning of the "rainy season" - the other two seasons in Thailand being "hot" and "extra hot and dry". Thais believe that splashing water (however dirty or cold) on others brings good luck and fortune to those being unmercifully doused. If the amount of times I had to wring out my dress during Songkran indicates anything, then I am one lucky farang.
Now, close your eyes and imagine the most epic water fight you have ever participated in. Now multiple that by at least one thousand, expand it to encompass an entire city, replace your friends with Thais of all ages, replace the water balloons with buckets, and you might be getting close to the craziness that is Songkran.
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| The streets filled with trucks loaded down with water buckets and people passing on the "Good Luck" |
Earlier this week, I was walking with Lolly to a cafe down a small side street near our apartment when out of nowhere a little boy started spraying us with a spray bottle. When he realized we were foreigners, he quickly ran and hid behind his mother inside the shop who thought the entire episode was hilarious and adorable. Having my MacBook and iPhone in my bag, I have to admit that I didn't think it was quite as entertaining as his mother, but it was cute nonetheless. I quickly learned that during the week of Songkran there are no limits or rules to surprise water attacks. As a safety precaution, I left my computer at home for the rest of the week.
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| Lolly & I opted for big water guns instead of buckets |
To begin the Songkran festivities on Sunday, our first stop was to our 7 Eleven to pick up water guns to join in the fun. The local motorbike shop, which is located across from the 7 Eleven, was already alive with dancing, flowers, drinking and Thai music. The locals who run the shop are always saying "hello" and "good morning" when we pass by, so we decided to join their party for awhile before meeting up with friends in the Old City.
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| Super Thai picture: Songkran Festival, a 7 Eleven & Songthaew |
Upon our reception into their celebration, we were doused with buckets of ice cold water, sprinkled with talcum powder, given beautiful orchid necklaces, and fed shots of local whiskey, Sang Som, which we washed down with cups of water from their coolers. We shared our Chang beers, danced for hours, and assisted in spraying the trucks, bikes, and cars that passed by our party.
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| Dancing with the locals |
Later, as we sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the songthaew on the way into the Old City, Lolly and I shot our water guns out the windows and rear of the truck. We were the targets of every passing truck loaded down with locals, their guns, huge buckets of water for backup amo, and pumping local music. It was an exciting atmosphere!
Shortly after our trip into the city began, we were joined by a small, elderly woman heading our way. This sight caught me off guard, as she was shivering and sopping wet from head to toe, but wearing one of the biggest Thai smiles I'd ever seen. Upon greeting her, my immediate reaction was "who on earth would pour buckets of ice cold water on a grandmother?!", but my thought seemed to have been overheard by the adolescents next to us, who immediately jumped out of their truck bed and threw bucket after bucket of water into our truck, further soaking the smiling grandma. Alright, Songkram, I get it. No one is exempt from the shenanigans.
Lolly and I were dropped off a few blocks away from Tae Pae Gate, and enjoyed the scenic walk past endless trucks, concerts, restaurants, and bars filled with locals and visitors soaking up the festival. For a city that hasn't seen rain in months, there was not a dry spot in sight.
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| Walking into the Old City |
As we snaked our way through the overcrowded streets, we were greeted with endless showers, laughter and music. We headed for the Rooftop Bar, dancing and spraying our way through the crowds, and finally made it to our destination to meet up with friends.
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| Enjoying the Festival in the Old City |
We had a great experience, and were sad to say goodbye to everyone when we headed back to our apartment at the end of the day.
Happy Songkran!
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