Wednesday 14 April 2010

Songkran 2010 on Koh Samui

Songkran 2010 on Koh Samui

Songkran was fun as it is each year but I'm also very happy that it only lasts one day on Koh Samui in contrast to other places in Thailand like Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Kao San road in Bangkok.


We started the day in a very traditional way with a visit to my wife's Grandma, the only one still alive. My wife prepared this bowl of water and she put some flowers from our garden in it and we added some baby powder and this is the original mix that is used over centuries to celebrate the Thai New year or Songkran. Oh, and you don't drown somebody in or with it but you scoop a little bit of the mix in your hand and gently put some water on somebody's shirt or such.



What's wrong with a love, peace and understanding

A great text anchor considering what just happened in Bangkok a few days ago. Nonetheless, last news is that even in Kao San road which was near the centre of the clashes earlier this week, there was a party going on. A slightly dramatic picture in these rather dramatic political days in Thailand.


Nonetheless, yesterday was party time and these young Thai fellows had a blast in Bang Rak!


Proof of how hot it was yesterday and a great sample of how the dress code can be like.


The guy with the melon is every year in Chaweng, I wonder if he recycles the melon.


My favourite water gun with a small umbrella in front to avoid being hit your self! Excellent idea.


An overview of Chaweng although it looks pretty busy, I never seen it so quiet during Songkran!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and up to next year April!

Camille

6 comments:

Mike said...

Camille some great shots. Its a bit quieter round here.

I quite like the true Thai tradition for Songkran, involving small amounts of water and parents etc.

Guess I'm a bit long in the tooth for all the water pistols and white powder that messes up the car paintwork!

Camille said...

Hi Mike,

Thanks, that's one of the advantages of being a scuba diver, I've got an underwater housing for my camera which comes in handy during Songkran!

Martyn said...

Camille, Mike was right with the great shots quote, from tradition to modern day.

Thailand still manages to forge the youth's party style Songkran celebrations with the old tradition of paying homage to your elders. Let's hope the latter doesn't get 'washed' away in future years.

Camille said...

Hi Martyn,

Thanks for the thumbs up, the way they celebrate Songkran on Samui is just about right and it lasts only one day (except ion Chaweng and Lamai where it starts a day early!).

Agnieszka said...

Hi Camille

We came back from Samui this Tuesday, such a shame we couldn't stay longer for the Songkran.
This tradition is very similar to Easter Monday in Poland and other placec in eastern Europe, where people pour cold water at each other. Unfortunately with temperatures areound 10 degrees C it's not fun.
Happy Songkran to you and your wife!
Hopefully we'll be back at the end of December!

Agnieszka

Camille said...

Hi Agnieszka,


10C does indeed not sound like fun! Hope you can make it back soon!