Today (Friday) is the start of Thailand’s three-day Songkran period, the Thai New Year, the third of our three New Years, after January 1 and Chinese New Year. So Happy New Year! The year number does not change, it changes on January 1 (when it changed to 2550 this year), and there’s no “Thai Year of the …” like in China. It’s April 13, 14 and 15 every year, not dictated by the lunar calendar. But since most of Songkran occurs on the weekend this year, the official has been extended through next Tuesday.
Unfortunately, the traditional quaint water-splashing has deteriorated over the years to full-scale Water Wars. With the heat outside this time of year – about 45 degrees Celsius, 113 Fahrenheit – you’d think that would be great, but ice-cube-throwing and eye-stinging powder have been added. Crowds gather at bus stops with buckets and water hoses, waiting for the doors to open. You’re really not safe from it stepping out onto the street. The wife and I are Songkran Scrooges, and we’ll be staying in, watching DVDs and ordering pizza and Au Bon Pain delivery, commisserating with the poor delivery guys who show up drenched and covered in powder from running the gauntlet, he he he. 