Job Discussion Forums

[plumpy nut]

Enough is enough of this stuff. I can't go out and do anything without people throwing water on me.

[Scott R]

I remember last year (my first year here) walking in a sea of people down kao san road through the gaunlet and thinking, what am I doing, this is really stupid?

[plumpy nut]

I just now got through trying to get to Starbuck's with my computer (not that smart really) and got splashed. I showed them I have a computer they just kept doing it. They were westerners. I can't say on this forum what I would like to do about it.

The government has tried to stop the water festival part of Songkran to know effect. I can understand Thais doing this because this is a way of releasing themselves after keeping thier emotions all kept up, but the westerners are retarded and worthless.

[Scott R]

It's actually pretty quiet here which is out of the tourist areas. What is bad is when you are on your motorbike and you get a surprise drenching from a garden hose or a bucket of water as you pass by at 60 kph.

[MaiPenRai]

Songkran could be an amazing celebration if things had not been allowed to get our of control over the past 10 or so years. Like many westerners (easter, Xmas, thanksgiving), Thais have forgotten the meaning behind the actual holiday.

I actually love the idea of a huge water fight when its 30++ degrees out, but...

Why cant Thais realize that it is extremely dangerous to throw buckets of water in the face of a motorbike driver?

I also hate the fact that most revelers cant seem to respect the fact that not everybody wants to be involved (Thais included). I mean splashing a guy in a suit at 3 pm is just stupid. The guy is obviously not out to "play water". Some cities have done better than others over the past few years by pushing the majority of the partying to specific areas of the city.

The worst is of course the traffic. Aside from the fact that millions of cars try to drive to Isaan at the same time making a 5 hour trip become a 15 hour trip, Thais feel the need to add in tens of thousand drunk drivers. The police and government should be ashamed of themselves for allowing 100's of deaths and thousands of injuries every year. I mean they have done the first part by putting up checkpoints across the country, now (like every other law), they just have to enforce it. Until someone "important" dies not much is likely to change. Sad people sometimes.

We all know that it wont change soon, so you just have to prepare for it. I try to get into it for a day and then hole up for the rest of it. I wont make the trip upcountry anymore unless I can get there 1 or 2 days in advance and return 1 or 2 days after the national pilgrimage has finished.