Songkran in Pattaya meme

[floridarob]

Seen on an expats group on social media:

[Londoner]

There's only one week in the year when I'd rather be here at home than in Thailand. 

[BjornAgain]

3 hours ago, Londoner said:

There's only one week in the year when I'd rather be here at home than in Thailand. 

Couldn't agree more, that's why I'm LHR bound on the 14th.

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, BjornAgain said:

Couldn't agree more, that's why I'm LHR bound on the 14th.

enjoy your flight

[mauRICE]

8 hours ago, floridarob said:

Seen on an expats group on social media:

As I understand it, Songkran in Pattaya doesn't really get going until the 17th or 18th and it's over in other cities by the 15th so Pattaya residents and residents of the other cities can easily do a swap and escape Songkran altogether.

[ToTheCore]

There ARE some upsides (in BKK anyway). 

[jimmie50]

2023???   Just a little behind time, aren't we?!?  lol.  

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

2023???   Just a little behind time, aren't we?!?  lol.  

sharp eye !

[PeterRS]

At least it gives some idea of what goes on in Bangkok during Songkran. 

This is the advance official link for 2026 and not a young man in any of it! But lots of pics from previous years can be found on the web.

https://www.gcircuit.com/

[Ruthrieston]

I hate Songkran in Pattaya, and it starts 11th to 12th and does not end until 19th!! I usually hide in my condo until 16th and then I flee to Bangkok, but this year I am going to my favourite place in Krabi, Railay Beach. The death rate over Songkran is appalling, as stupid drunk farang throw buckets of water onto people riding motorbikes and they fall under moving cars. When I made my first visit in 1998 I arrived for the last two nights of Songkran and it was more civilised, and all water throwing stopped when the sun went down and you could go out for dinner quite safe. I have lived in Pattaya now for over fourteen years and I absolutely hate Songkran here.  

[floridarob]

Normally I'd go to Thailand after Bali, but luckily someone reminded me Songkran was during this time and I changed to go to India first then Thailand, then back to India for my flight to USA....

in my 27 years visiting Thailand, last year was my 1st Songkran in Pattaya and I HATED it..... won't make that mistake of being there for another.

[BjornAgain]

For those up for it, then the 19th is this year's Jomtien Complex day / night.

If you ever needed a reminder of last year's shebang, then:-

[Londoner]

It's not just that I loathe the rowdy, selfish behaviour of some of the participants- though I do-but that I have a rather old-fashioned view concerning ancient cultures and their struggle to survive the current disintegration of social values that we see all around us. Everywhere.

Yes, you've guessed it; I'm getting old.

When I first met my beloved, he regaled me with stories of his life back in Kamphaeng Phaet and the  traditional values with which he was brought-up. Songkran in his village  was celebrated in the traditional way and one of those traditions was that the  young visited elderly relatives and sprinkled water on them. Sprinkled, not drenched with high-powered water-guns. 

My experience of Songkran- and it was a week before the actual event, something which I have never suffered- was a bucket of ice and water thrown at me while riding a baht-bus from Jomtien. Later that day, I was in Pattaya Second Road when I was by approached  a Thai family; parents plus  a boy of about eight years old. He pointed a water-pistol at my face. "No," I said, "don't you dare." Very sternly, you will understand.

He did dare. But what really  annoyed me was that his parents laughed.

So there you have it; the old values and the new. Yes, I'm getting old.

[mauRICE]

2 hours ago, Londoner said:

...Yes, you've guessed it; I'm getting old....

...Yes, I'm getting old.

"Getting"? What do you mean? 🤔

[mauRICE]

1 hour ago, Londoner said:

....When I first met my beloved, he regaled me with stories of his life back in Kamphaeng Phaet and the  traditional values with which he was brought-up. Songkran in his village  was celebrated in the traditional way and one of those traditions was that the  young visited elderly relatives and sprinkled water on them. Sprinkled, not drenched with high-powered water-guns. 

They still visit their relatives and conduct the powdering and water sprinkling rituals. The water splashing is an expansion of the old rituals and has been around for the last forty years at least and the water guns and massive partying and boozing perhaps the last twenty-five or so. I was just reading about it recently. Let me see if I can find the article.

Here's a bit of Songkran trivia: the month of April traditionally sees the highest number of unwanted pregnancies in Thailand as a result of the rampant boozing, partying and unprotected casual sex.

[BjornAgain]

3 hours ago, mauRICE said:

...Here's a bit of Songkran trivia: the month of April traditionally sees the highest number of unwanted pregnancies in Thailand as a result of the rampant boozing, partying and unprotected casual sex.

Expanding on your Songkran trivia fact, statisticaly in the UK, the 26th September is recorded as the date having the most births across the year.

Interestingly, Nicholas and Noel aren't the 2 most popular boys names choosen.

[mauRICE]

22 minutes ago, BjornAgain said:

Interestingly, Nicholas and Noel aren't the 2 most popular boys names choosen.

I believe one of them is Muhammad.

[mauRICE]

29 minutes ago, BjornAgain said:

Expanding on your Songkran trivia fact, statisticaly in the UK, the 26th September is recorded as the date having the most births across the year.

I see Santa is bearing a different kind of gift down the chimney. 

[Londoner]

At least Loy Kratong remains a family occasion. The last two  we spent on Jomtien beach with mainly Thai families. The children trying (not very successfully) to launch their kratongs into a choppy sea, a few fireworks, lanterns sailing serenely out to sea in the breeze. No loud  music. Beautiful.