Happy Songkran! It's the Thai New Year and it is a very big deal here in the Land of Smiles. They celebrate it with something like a nationwide water gun fight. People will drive around with 55 gallon drums of water in the bed of their trucks with people using bowls to sling water at you. Everyone's blasting music of different artists, adults and kids will soak you with their water gun. People spread this very thin and fragrant mud-like substance on each other's faces saying (translated) "Sawasdee bpee mai (Happy New Year)." This mud is din sor pong, or ดินสอพอง - a type of natural marl powder mixed with water and sometimes fragrance (Thanks, Gemini).
And you're not "safe" anywhere! Families in rural areas will sit in chairs near the road with their own barrels full of water, bowls, water guns. If you drive by, your car is getting a bit of a bath. And if you're on a motorcycle? Better wear a rain coat.
Bangkok is completely crazy downtown on Songkran. It's like a 10-square block water war disguising itself as a party. There's all kinds of food vendors. People cook and grill right there on the street. And oh, the beer... For me though, Songkran in a smaller town is where it's at.
On Songkran last year we were in this lil town called Suphanburi. One of the central streets in the town was lined with people, kiddos to old folks. Traffic stood still, and I walked a half-mile gauntlet just to experience it. I was the only foreigner I saw in the crowd and... I was soaked (quickly), a bunch of people spread the din sor pong on my face (hair and shirt as well), I was wished "Happy New Year" by most everyone, hugged by many strangers, and surrendered to the joy among everyone.
Songkran can be a really good time.
Now we live in a place many Thai's choose to visit during the holiday. To accommodate everyone (and the traffic), the cops close off certain streets and turns, and there are vendors most everywhere. Restaurants and hotels are full. Plenty of Thai's stay on campgrounds, and many Thai's pitch a tent on the beach. We're a short drive from all of that, but things are certainly busier near home. We're not traveling this year and... being in a tourist town on the holiday is a bit of a bummer. I'm sure the good people of Suphanburi aren't the only Thais in small towns that get down with their New Year celebration. It would be awesome to walk another gauntlet in some other small Thai town through people having such a great time.
See? Sometimes Darth Grampus writes about fun stuff, too.
I'm grateful that the thought of not going somewhere for this Songkran made me relive the joy of the last Songkran.
I need to do more of that. I think I'll do better sharing joy if I share it, instead of lamenting our general lack of it.
Maybe I'll shake things up a bit.
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