Are you fortunate enough to be visiting Thailand during Songkran? Be sure to make the most of it as this is one of the most colourful and festive times of the year. To mark the occasion, there are an array of events to enjoy, from traditional merit making ceremonies and beauty pageants, to parades brimming with life and entertainment.
The highlight of this festival though has to be the fun-filled water fights - where thousands of residents and tourists take to the streets to drench each other in water, whether for cleansing and good luck, or just to enjoy a good time! And whilst this may seem a little off from your run-of-the-mill holiday, the Thai Lunar New Year celebrations is an experience you will not soon forget.
To ensure you are well prepared, we bring you our top 8 Songkran survival tips:
- Arm yourself - Head to your nearest shopping centre, supermarket, or convenience store and buy yourself a water gun. They come in all shapes and sizes, but we recommend getting something that can shoot long distances, and has a sizeable water reservoir.
- Invest in a disposable waterproof camera - Capture all your favourite moments - snapshots full with colour, so you can take them back home to show friends and family.
- Leave valuables at home - Leave your jewellery, cameras, and anything easily lost or damaged behind before participating in the festivities (more on that below).
- Carry zip lock bags - For those items which you need take with you, don't leave your room without a ziplock bag. Use to store necessities such as enough local currency to get you through the day, and of course essential travel documents.
- Dress accordingly - Dress down, wear an old T-shirt and pair of shorts. If you don’t have these types of clothing, swing by a street vendor where you can pick some up for relatively cheap. Avoid white clothing as they tend to become see through when wet.
- Wear sunblock, lots of it! - And make sure its waterproof! We recommend at least SPF 50 to be safe.
- Use waterproof makeup - Should you decide wear makeup, use the waterproof kind to ensure you are looking your best throughout the celebrations.
- Avoid roads - Be careful and try to stay clear of the roads when possible. People often tend to enjoy themselves a little too much then take to the roads intoxicated, especially motorcyclists!
So there you have it, everything you could possibly need for the Songkran festivities. Get prepared and most importantly, have fun and enjoy yourself!
Sawasdee Pee Mai!