Songkran 2009

[PeteC]

we get a lot of passing dumbasses, (50/50 Thai/Farang), because we are on one of the four bintablok streets.... thats life....

last years repair bill was 30ish odd thousand - mostly electronics and electrical repairs/repainting

Not what I call "happy go lucky" at all

this year Mr Mai Pen Rai will not be in my bar

seriously

just dont fire water in bars,

dont lob water at passing bikes,

and dont rub that f****ing white powder in peoples faces.....

is that TOO much to ask?

It may not be a bad idea just to close for a 24-36 hour period. What was your income during that time last year, as compared to the losses for repairs, not to mention the aggrevation? Pete

[STEVE G]

Good point Pete; if it’s that much hassle, why not just pull down the shutters for a couple of days.

[Chas]

I still say the only way to actually ENJOY Songkran (IMHO) is to go to a small village in Issan, rent a pickup truck, get a water barrel and some plastic bowls, fill the truck with friends and drive around the countryside.

Then you see the little kids trying to splash you and you get a feeling for the fun of the tradition. In the morning, the old women of the village come around and gently pour water on your back and when you get them wet in return, they thank you. Then you get a stereo & some beer and sit outside your house and wet down passersby. That is fun.

The "Kao San Road" type Songkran is my idea of HELL. Unless you are stationed at a bar, you are on the receiving end only! No fun at all. I still remember the unfortunate choice of spending Songkran in Pattaya a few years ago. ( Some might argue that spending ANY time in Pattaya is unfortunate. .I'd agree.) We were soaked to the skin trying to find our hotel. . luggage and all. People seemed to have no sense that some things are ruined by water and that some people are not playing. It was miserable.

I stay home for the duration here in Hua Hin and always have done.

[lomuamart]

Every year, I say I'm not going out for Sonkran. But when the time comes friends drag this old carcass out and we have fun. As the beer flows, so the more outrageous it gets. However, some good points have been made:
Eye infections - there are probably more of these than at any other time of the year. Dirty water and the powder don't help matters. Wear goggles. Do not wear contact lenses.
Water and tiles don't work and surfaces can be slippery.
Riding a motorbike is a big no-no unless you have a death wish.
I used to run a bar in HH and we always moved all electrical equipment upstairs beforehand and covered the knackered pool table up as best we could. There was just no way I was going to stop everyone having fun, so it was a case of damage limitation.
Don't take any valuables out with you - ie passport or credit/debit cards. Wrap your cash, ciggies etc up in at least two plastic bags.
Remember everyone is fair game for one day in HH - except monks, very old ladies and babies.
Having said the above, the spirit of Sonkran has disappeared. If you're at a local shop, get a bit of water and wash the old peoples' hands. They'll appreciate it and after that you can go out and cause chaos.
I'm going to be a boring old git and lock myself in with a few beers, food and music this year - not.
I do see sandman's point though. Batten down the hatches

[SuperTonic]

Sandman, perhaps you could enlighten me as to the name of your bar so that I know never to visit it?

[Big Boy]

I still say the only way to actually ENJOY Songkran (IMHO) is to go to a small village in Issan, rent a pickup truck, get a water barrel and some plastic bowls, fill the truck with friends and drive around the countryside.

2 years ago we hired a tuk tuk in Hua Hin for a couple of hours. Great fun driving around the centre of Hua Hin shooting people and being ambushed (you are a bit of a target in a tuk tuk). Our driver kept stopping to let us reload our substantial armoury of weapons.

[Big Boy]

Sandman,

Going back to your problems, you will also have to look closer to home when protecting the bar. When we were attacked 2 (may have been 3) years ago, the attack was not without provocation. The girls were ribbing the other bars and passers by. The main protagonist at that time is very well known to you, albeit she is now poacher turned gamekeeper.

It is as you said a Thai festival. You have confirmed the bar is owned by Thais, and it employs Thai staff. If things are still the same, it also attracts its share of Thai regulars. Are you sure they will allow you to interfere with their fun?

[Big Boy]

lomuamart wrote:

Remember everyone is fair game for one day in HH - except monks, very old ladies and babies.

I've scored 2 of the above 3 during the festivities and been admonished for it

Nobody's told me how many points I scored for a policeman though

[Jim]

OK, I can only agree that Songkran must be the worst time of the year for a bar owner. And the way it is celebrated in Hua Hin may not be all that traditional, and we all know about the extra dangers to life on the roads.

But....it is great fun, it's a real big fun party like nothing else you've ever seen.

[sandman67]

Ah sorry guys...was in a bit of a mood last night

look Im not suggesting nobody has fun.... what I am suggesting is that a little responsibility is shown, and you respect other peoples space.

Im gonna keep the main shutter closed this year, and the side shutter half down....Mrs S and the lasses will have to play outside this year.

If that doesnt work, next year we just close down for a day....

the profit/loss equation will dictate what happens I suppose.

[MartinJ]

Well i glad i am not the only one that feels unsure about the Songkran any more

Surprised that the my favourite (not) parts has not been mentioned yet.

Watch out for the Ice down the back part... Number one not like

Then bars had to have there water tanks filled much more and these where still emptied very quickly. Which in turn makes more problem, toilet not flushing and no running water to wash hands as well.

The 1st Songkran 3 years ago, I was at in Hua Hin almost had an eye poked out when putting some mess all over it , and then almost froze just after mid day, with some one pushing ice cubes down the back. The only way to wash the face off the mess of each other faces was to get a water gun and spray clean with the water guns, as that where all the water was to hand.

I can tell you if it was not for one of the nicest men I meet (he is a member here) who stopped me what I would have done to the one who put the ice down my back, would had ruined more than just my holiday.

sandman67 so wish I knew before that some bar owner feels that there should be a safe place to drink and keep the party out side. So I interested to see how your plan goes this year, and if it works book me a chair next year, Would you PM me your Bar ? and Good luck

This year i keeping well away and coming after the 3 day ( 7 in some place) they just do not know when to stop.

Not sure but i Heard that the chance of getting shot by the police is greater if you spray them with water, so I would try that, their gun DO NOT spray cold water (but HOT Metal)
May I am too old for this type of fun… The children just don’t understand when not to spray others

[Big Boy]

So Martin, did you have a great time during Sonkran Don't hold back - tell us what you really thought.

[baron_wastelanduk]

i had a great song kran up in wichian took a mates pick up out with the kids and picked a huge lump of ice from in town and chilled the huge vat of water we had.
after getting thoroughly wet on the outside we went to the lake where they had a live band and got wet on the inside with two bottles of saeng som coke and a load of ice what a day!

[Procyon]

songkhran is a hoot, miserable bar owners should just keep the shutters down when this is going on, it only happens one day per year.

[Spitfire]

I'm a bit on Songkarn. Yes, can be a laugh but can also be a nightmare.

After seeing about 10-12 of them I would say I used to enjoy them more than now. I am not alone in thinking this and many of the Thais aged 30 and over often feel the same. It is now definately not what it was.

Now there seems to be much more "danger" attached to the whole event. The younger locals really do see it as an excuse to over-indulge in booze and then operate cars/bikes/whatever. Young Thai men also see it as an excuse to 'touch-up' girls on bikes etc and many complaints are made on this matter every year. People on the side of the road put ice in the water etc, as mentioned.

I joined this forum last year while I was in HH around Songkarn and was surprised by the drunken wildness shown by 'Scooter boy' etc. This seems to be the case everywhere, not just HH. Many youngsters see it as a lawless day for all were the police are not going to stop them for anything and are emboldened in their actions. Their reaction towards foreigners can sometimes be disproportionately aggressive with the water/ice etc which I tend now to find a bit too full of hidden malice for me, remember that you would never encounter a lot of these drunk Thais, normally, that you come into close proximity with on this day.

In HH it now only lasts a day, so I can understand the 'pro' comments that have been mentioned on this thread and that many see it as a novelty. It is not like that elsewhere where it drifts on painfully for 3 days to a week almost.

When you've seen about 10-12 of them you will probably view it all differently, enjoyed the first 4-5. Enjoy it while you can, I tend to find a good view point, sit down and have a drink.

It's a massacre in accident/death rate terms.

It is ironic that the Thai word for 'war' is song-kraam. Something revealing in that, I think.

As said, on this one.