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.

Loy Krathong (Thai Valentines Day) at Wrong Way Cafe

Maybe you know or don't know but Loy Krathong Day is like Thai Valentines Day. And the same is Valentines Day it is not a day off holiday. Loy Krathong is celebrated on the full moon here in Thailand.

Loy means to float. Two lovers set their Krathongs afloat together. If they remain in contact as they float off it means the lovers will remain together. If they separate then the lovers are destined to separate as well.

This time around my friend Richard who is a fellow American expat was offering free smoked ribs at his restaurant and pub here in Ubon, Wrong Way Cafe. It is a nice comfortable cozy place downtown in Ubon. He and his wife Ting offer hot steaks and pizza and cold beer.

So I just went there to Wrong Way Cafe and enjoyed the food and the company. It was a nice night and I didn't have to fight the crowds around the bodies of water to set the coconut leaves and candles afloat. It is the thought that counts and love was given. So happy Loy Krathong Day.