PHOTOS TAKEN WITH CANON POWERSHOT SX 710 WITH 30x ZOOM!
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BEST HOTEL IS HOLIDAY INN CHIANGMAI
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BEST AIRLINES IS MALINDO
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HAPPY 2560! YES THIS IS THE THAI NEW YEAR AS 2017 IS THE MAT SALLEH (WESTERN) NEW YEAR! THE YEAR 2560 IS BASED ON THE BUDDHIST CALENDAR AS BUDDHA WAS BORN SOME 543 YEARS BEFORE JESUS CHRIST!
THEN AGAIN, THE JADE EMPEROR AND XI WANGMU THE QUEEN MOTHER OF THE WESTERN HEAVEN WERE BORN SOME 6,000 YEARS BEFORE SIDDARTHA GAUTAMA BUDDHA, MAKING TAOISM THE WORLD'S OLDEST AND MOST POWERFUL RELIGION!
SONGKRAN IS WORLD FAMOUS AS THE WATER FESTIVAL CUM THAI NEW YEAR AND IS ONE OF THAILAND'S MOST IMPORTANT AND FUN FESTIVALS. UNLIKE LOI KRATHONG WHICH IS MORE INTROSPECTIVE, MEDITATIVE AND ROMANTIC, SONGKRAN IS WILD,WILD,WILD AND WET, WET,WET!
During this period from 13 to 15 April each year, anyone can splash water on you and you can do likewise. Too bad if you happen to hold your phone or camera which are not waterproof! You cannot be angry with the water thrower or bash him/her to a pulp as by law, everyone is allowed to throw water at anyone!
The ONLY exceptions are monks, babies and old folks on their last legs!
Plus, you can ONLY throw water at anyone ie complete strangers by the roads and not, Buddha forbid, inside temples, shopping malls, offices, homes or enclosed private areas. Parks are deemed public, common areas so throwing water is allowed.
On other days Thais sprinkle water on favored, important guests using fingers to bestow blessings and good wishes and to 'wash away' ill luck clinging on to you like a second skin. But during Songkran, none in their right mind use their fingers---they throw buckets of water on your head, face and body! Even from plastic water pistols/guns that cost around RM 60 and can last quite a long time though the water can be heavy which explains why the water must be emptied soonest possible then you run away to refill!
The more water you are thrown upon and the wetter you get mean the more bad luck will be washed away, leaving you cleansed and clean! So think of this, count your blessings and thank your lucky stars when you are soaked to the skin!
Originally scented, herbal water was sprinkled on Buddha statues placed in huge bowls and the water collected as good luck charm to be taken home or sprinkled onto children and those suffering ill luck from previous year. Now along the Ping river where the festival is at its maddest, water is hauled from the canal and thrown at you---but the essence is the same!
The word 'songkran' came from Sanskrit and Songkran is also Thai New Year which means Thais flock to temples to pray for a happy 2017 and for their new King Maha Vajiralongkorn and their nation.
DO'S AND DON'TS
1: Do not be angry if you are soaked with water. Don't worry, the water is always clean or at least uncontaminated since the canals are thoroughly cleaned and purified days before 13 to 15 April.
2; Pay RM 5 to RM 10 for waterproof, plastic, clear holders to hold your phone and camera and sling them round your neck or inside pocket. I put them inside my plastic, waterproof backpack. Buy them at 7-11 or any convenient stores with fixed prices. Tourists get fleeced as I paid 80 baht when the same one cost 39 baht at 7-11!
3; Buy big, colorful water guns for RM 50 to RM 70 as you need armaments to fight back since you are a walking target. Shoot water at pretty girls or handsome boys then say sorry and invite her/him for tomyam! Worked for me.
4; The participating roads are lined with water shooters so walk around or hire a tuk-tuk where you can fire at a good distance!
5; The Thais are notoriously friendly and if you are too cheapskate to pay for a tuk-tuk, you can ask permission to hop onto an openair pickup truck and join them! Then say thank you and jump off anytime you want!
6; Getting hit by propulsions of water in the eye can be painful which explains why some wear face masks.
7; Leave your Louis Vuitton bags, Gucci loafers and Prada pants in your room at Holiday Inn Chiangmai hotel (RM 250 per night) and wear your most rugged and well worn baju
8; With temperatures at 38^ celcius, this is actually a great way to keep calm and stay cool! Usually the water thrown on you is at normal temperature which is OK but sometimes the water is warm which is very de nice and don't worry, the Thais never throw dirty water or boiling water as this is their New Year and considered an auspicious, religious holiday where merit is made.
9; You get to behave like a recalcitrant child 24/7
10; Everyone is your friend during Songkran and water refill is free. Stock up from the hoses lying around or ask anyone. Or haul water from the famous Ping river or canals! But ice must pay!
SEE YOU IN CHIANGMAI NEXT YEAR!
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