Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Songkraned

Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran is a Thai word which means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will wash away bad luck. Therefore, the entire three days are spent with your families, splashing water on one another. We spent these three days up in Chiang Mai with David, Brian & Terra where a lot of water throwing was happening! Since the temps were high, it was nice getting splashed every once in a while, but after a few soakings it got old. After day 3, it was irritating! Locals lined the street with water guns, buckets and hoses. Most of the water used was luke warm but some people liked to ice their water and others liked to get theirs from local canals and rivers...DIRTY! The worst of it was going 80KPH (50 MPH) on our rented mopeds and the water slapping you while the locals just laughed and laughed! I guess you have to be Thai to fully appreciate being "Songkraned"!

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