Chiang Mai Thailand Songkhran Experience

If you are ever in Thailand in April you definitely must travel to Chiang Mai to celebrate Songkhran, The Thai Lunar New Year. The Songkhran is celebrate all over Thailand the Festival in Chiang Mai is the mother of Songkhran festivals.

I had the privilege of celebrating Songkhran in Chiang Mai a few years back. It was a most memorable experience. The good feeling chaos is something you have to experience for yourself to understand. I am happy to report that will all the people interacting with each other in a big water fight I never once observed anybody losing their temper. That included Thais as well as the tourists and expats.

It is the extreme high tourist season during this festival. Hotel rooms are at a premium and if you don't reserve early you might just be out of luck. Try to get in the city near the canal. The canal is the focal point for the activities. Most of the water comes out of the canal. For 3 days people are crowded around the canal celebrating, partying and just having a good time.

Get up around 8 and have a good breakfast and some hot coffee. No need for a shower because most of the day will be a big community shower of sorts. Activities would begin around 10am and continue til evening. So after a few hours and a couple of laps around the canal it is time to break for lunch. It might get a bit soggy but it tastes good and the energy is needed. After the recharge it's time to hit the streets again until dinner. I found the whole experience invigorating.

I would recommend arriving early, a couple of days before the merriment begins. It's worth it as Chiang Mai has a lot to offer besides Songkhran. It is a tourist and travel destination year round. You can experience Eco-tourism, shopping, travel to the highest point in Thailand at Doi Intanon or just hang out in town and watch people at the Night Bizarre. I was happy to find an authentic Mexican restaurant there. Nightlife offers, discos, pubs, restaurants, karaoke and shopping.

From my personal experience I would highly recommend you schedule Songkran Festival in Chiang Mai on your travel calendar. Until I actually went there to see for myself it was just one of those things that are hard to envision. Happy Travels.

Songkhran Warrior In Phuket, Thailand

If you don't know already, Songkhran is the Thai New Year Festival.This festival is celebrated in accordance with the full moon in April each year. It lasts from 1-5 days depending on the area. It is a time of renewal, to wash off the old year and prepare for the new. It's also a time to honor your elders and hope for a blessing from them. It is a time of tradition and many ceremonies and rituals. Songkhran is very interesting and exciting, culturally and socially.

For many Thais, expats and tourists, it is also a time for the biggest water "fight" in the world. People, young and old, male and female, rich and poor, local and foreign, line to streets of Thailand and use a variety of methods to propel water onto other people.It's like being a kid again. So much fun to get crazy for a few days. One thing I learned quickly while participating in this festival is you must waterproof anything of value, such as your wallet, passport, and mobile phone.

The weapons used for this celebration come in all shapes and sizes. I have seen large water rifles water tanks attached, water pistols, bowls, hoses, water guns attached to tanks you can strap to your back with plenty of water, and even buckets. There used to be a cylinder that resembled an air pump for balls or tires but the pressure was so great it caused injuries so it was banned. My weapon of choice is the water rifle and a water pistol for emergencies. Shops and some private residences keep plastic trash cans or other receptacles full of water so it's easy to keep your weapons full.

A few years back I had to pleasure of spending Songkhran in Phuket. The authorities limited the water playing activities to one area near Patong Beach and only for one day. The streets were closed to traffic which made the playing more enjoyable. Bands were playing, cold beer was flowing, lots of food available but expect to eat it soggy. It was a great time roaming the streets and engaging other water soaked people washing away the previous year. When I got a bit tired I would find a spot, sit and enjoy a cold beer while watching others having fun. All in all a great time. After a day of revelry, sun and water I hit the sack early, my body drained but my heart and mind content.

The water playing aside, this is a very important holiday and festival for Thai people and Thai culture. A time for families to come together and renew, a time of blessings and honoring, please keep this in mind at you are celebrating. Songkhran is during the full moon in April. If you want to join in this festival you should plan early. It has peak travel time for locals and tourism alike. It is truly a unique experience.