Songkran Mayhem

[Cowtown Comedy]

It was such a fun Songkran , the sun shing, the music blasting....until a huge gang fight erupted. Why does there alwys have to be trouble makers?? I was enjoying day on Naebkahardt Rd, near Chomsin but at about 2-3 pm a thai gang fight started, including a few shiny pistols (which thanks budda were not used). But what can you expect when our police force is sitting a table pounding back sangsom and soda. Others have told me that this Mayhem doesnt happen in the small cities up north, and the people take this festival more serious, ie budda, family...comments???

[Spitfire]

The traditional style of Songkran is a family oriented event, where people used to show respect for their elders. However, in the last 10-15 years it has been turned into an excuse for kids and drunks to go crazy. I used to enjoy this fesival when I first came here many years ago, but now generally tend to hide from it. The youth of this country sadly holds only contempt for everything and everyone, probably due to bad parenting. The police should be somewhat more pro-active in controling 'scooter boy' and his pointless endevours. By the way, in my experience, this still happens in a lot of other places up north and north east but just to a little lesser degree (Korat is always top of the death and accident list). More comments welcome.

[Super Joe]

boys will be boys

a bit of gang violence never hurt anyone

.

[richard]

I was there when the fighting broke out

Just been to YOBT for lunch and my tuk tuk couldn't get there to pick me up so she sent her sister on a motorbike

Managed to get back up Chomsin but couldn't get out north on Naebkehard because of the fighting, so backtracked and attempted to get across Phetchekasam. Finally got to soi 51 and to my house on Naebkehard

Scuffles had also started in Soi 51, so locked myself in for the rest of the day

Sign of old age creeping on or is it a sign of the times?

Someone posted that up north and northeast it is a more peaceful event. I can vouch for that

[JD]

I walked through the Chomsin/Naebkahardt Rd junction at about 5pm with the wife and nipper. Two groups of youths (15, 16 or 17 years old) kicked off then, never saw any pistols, a couple of thrown bottles and lots off youths swinging wildly, slipping all over the place. Lasted about two or three minutes then a policeman blew a whistle and everyone ran away. Maybe a rerun of what happened earlier.

I didn't feel threatened in any way, just carried on walking through it, making sure the wife and boy were on the wayward side of the trouble and got out of the way.

A lot of drunken youths were leaping from the back of trucks, rushing to see the 'event'.

The only trouble I've seen of this kind in Thailand in five years.

[Predator]

It is a worry that fights/scuffles are happening on what is meant to be a celebration - makes you wonder if it is too like Blighty when the biggest instances of "Domestic" fighting occurs because of the families being in close proximity for a longer than usual time and suitably lubricated.

Hopefully these scuffles/fights were at the minimum.

[Super Joe]

whilst its sad but i think its fairly limited, from what ive not seen

imagine the carnage that would occur back home if groups of lads spent all drinking and firing water and that well stinging powder in other lads eyes, while at the same time kissing their girlfriends wishing them happy new year
carnage

try piccadilly circus on our new year

.

[Francois]

try piccadilly circus on our new year .

NO

Nor certain area in Paris

[sandman67]

strange way to celebrate a new year/cleansing festival eh?

Gang fights
Road deaths
cues of people in A&E blinded by prats rubbing powder in peoples eyes.....

just like home really