Chiang Mai has always had one of the longest celebrations of Songkran. but this year will be way over the top. We started today with the booths lining the moat and Huey Kaew and man streets and there are already several thousand people out there spraying water, and the roadside bands have set up and are blasting away. Rumor has it this may go on till the 18th but it is at least 4 days this year.

Anyone who loves water sports---not those water sports---is welcome to come to Chiang mai and have a great time.

Thanks for the description, KT. I am having a hard time visualizing some of this, though. If you have a snapshot, that might help. Not sure what "booths lining the moat" would look like and don't understand what "man streets" are. I am looking forward to experiencing this event in Chiang Mai someday, so long as I am equipped with a raincoat and umbrella. I will probably get wet anyway, but that's part of the experience if you don't mind getting drenched.

 

How different are these water sports in Chiang Mai when compared to Pattaya? I assume the latter is a bit more malicious, i.e. water thrown thru an open car window, etc. Residents in Pattaya seem far less enamored with Songkran than what your post would seem to suggest.

 

Since Bob is also a resident of Chiang Mai, I would be interested in his opinion as well.

 

Thank you, gentlemen.

I'll be in the middle of the warzone tomorrow and will know better then. I walked out in front of the mall at 1PM today and everything was pretty dry. I saw 3-4 people with those large squirt guns with that "look" in their eyes (it's that look that says "oh, there's a falang, I think I'll go get his ass wet). I retreated into the mall (was just there to pay a couple of bills and grab a Bangkok Post). Vendors had set up tables/booths on both sides of the Huey Gaew - mainly near the mall area - selling various items (I saw a gabillion squirt guns/canons, hats, and whatever). I walked home from the back side of the mall and saw no water-tossing but that's fairly normal as the main war begins tomorrow (13th).

 

Was told that Soho was partying a little today with free hotdogs and whatever. Tomorrow is supposed to be free baloney sandwiches (which might mean I've lucked out since I'll mainly be elsewhere!). I do know I'll be soaked tomorrow but I'm prepared for it and will likely retreat home to dry off by about 4PM. We'll see.