Songkran

Songkran is the Thai New Year celebration, held each year in April. It is also referred to as the water festival. Basically, it is a big water fight. People dress in bright colors and line the streets, drenching passersby and cars as they drive past, as well. It's actually a form of blessing. Often the Thais will approach you before dumping a cup (or bucket) of water on you and will smear your face with a mixture of water and (I think) flour. While doing so, they will give a blessing like, "I wish you health and happiness."

Today, I went out on the street with New, one of the guys I tutored in English the first time I was here in 2006. We got soaked several times over. The heat index today was about 106 Fahrenheit, so it didn't exactly feel bad to get wet.

Waiting to catch the next pedestrians.

I get a bucket dumped on me. The first of many.

After getting "blessed."

New got his, too.

Now soaked to the bone and ready to call it a day.

Gang celebrating after dousing New and me.

A crowd at the bottom of the Sky train stairway, waiting for their next victims.

Truck loads of folks with buckets of water to throw, and people along the streets waiting to get them back.

I save all of my change in a bowl at home. When it fills, I bag it up and take it with me when I leave home, looking for a beggar to give it to. Today, New and I came across this little fellow begging on the sidewalk. He's probably three or four.

New pours the bag of change into the little guy's cup. It was about five hundred bahts, which would be a small fortune to this boy and his mother. Just hope they use it for food and necessities.