On our trip we were lucky enough to catch three new separate New Years. We started with the traditional Western celebration when we were in India, then we hit up Chinese New Year in Beijing, and as a final bonus we found ourselves in Bangkok for Songkran, the annual astrological reset button for a good chunk of southeast Asia.
Since Songkran falls right at the end of the dry season, in the hottest part of the year, Thais celebrate by going totally batshit insane and drenching any and everything with literal tons of water.
And also chalk.
Lots of chalk.
There are apparently some religious and family aspects to the festival, but as outsiders all we saw was wet, muddy, mayhem.
It was awesome.
Nothing says badass like a hot pink turtle reservoir.
Even the young'uns weren't safe. Despite help from the world's smallest and least effective umbrella.
Taking the water show on the road. They'd strap down 50 gallon barrels full of H20 and prowl the streets.
I will say that we witnessed quite a few people on scooters get ambushed with a bucket of water to the face as they sped by at 60kph, and that didn't look like quite so much fun.
Actually it looked like attempted manslaughter, but the line is so fine these days.
Not that the police could have done much. They certainly weren't exempt.
Heeeeeeyyyyy!
All in all it was good fun.
Go get 'em tiger.
The camera got me an exemption for about 2 minutes and then I turned into fair game who just happened to be taking a possibly ill advised and expensive electronics-related risk.
I definitely wasn't the craziest one out there though, I can guarantee that.
Was just introduced to your blog and so happy to now be following! I'm a travelholic myself but it's fun to live vicariously when travel is not an option. Bangkok is nutty in itself, cannot imagine what it was like during the festival!
Roni
Posted by: Roni | Tuesday, 19 June 2012 at 10:15
...and just realized that I know you guys from back in my service days, small world :)
Posted by: Roni | Tuesday, 19 June 2012 at 10:19
Yes - I totally remember you, Roni! It's good to hear from you! Bangkok was insane during Songkran. I was so happy that we found ourselves there!
Posted by: Boots in the Oven | Wednesday, 27 June 2012 at 11:58