Happy new year! for real this time!

---

When I last wrote, it was pre-Songkran festivities. we are now completely in the midst of the madness. seriously. this festival is insane. 2 days ago, we ventured out to 'practice' soaking people. we bought some water guns (mine is an elephant backpack) and headed out. it was crazy and this was before the holiday even begun. people were just all along the moat with water guns and buckets soaking people all day. it was super fun, except got kind of crazy when people put ice blocks in their water and froze you. we had fun adn then headed back for some showers (moat water cannot be too healthy for you) and then headed out. we had a fun night out at a club that was massive and then headed back to prepare for another day of fighting. the next day was even crazier. nobody has work and all businesses are closed so now everyone joined in the soaking festivities. you couldnt walk 1 inch down the street without being soaked with water. it is definitley not the safest thing-everyone in cars, trucks, rickshaws, motorbikes, bikes and walking splashing tons of water all over the place. we had one pickup truck and one tuk tuk that we ventured around in. nobody was safe. i have no pictures becuase a camera is not safe, but i have some from today from people who brought water proof cameras.

i have never seen such insanity. the fact that this is legal is crazy. last night we were too beat to go out and we had to get up early today. this morning we headed to the family village of the owner of the hostel i am staying at (and by staying i mean, living on the couch since it is fully booked for the festival). we got to help make the new years cake which was made of brown sugar, sesame seeds, sticky rice and coconut. it was super sweet but really good. we also helped make lunch which meant i chopped lots of veggies. yum.

we then headed back downtown for some more songkran madness. the parade was today which was lots of Buddhas parading down the street so people could pour water on them and clean them for the new year. it is also meant to be good luck. yay for good luck for the new year! they also had lots of music downtown and a foam party. i thought i was too old to attend another foam party, but there was no choice really! atleast it was a way to clean off all the nasty moat water!! it has been so fun and it will be nice to have another 3 nights here before i head to malaysia! ok that is all for now....trying to stay dry...

---

Photos

Songkran
ready for battle!

Songkran
everyone wets everyone!

foam party
ahhhh!!!

Comments

[Jackie]

foam party
All I need to know is if anyone stole your shoes at the foam party? :) Happy new year!! :)

[katie]

who are all these people?
Are these all the hostel people? It looks like you like them (maybe more than us!) xoxo katie

[oodles of noodles]

foam dome
hey baby mama.. i would totaly wear a mask and snorkel and flippers if i was in that water fight and thats all cause going naked would give me an extra squirt gun... see what i did there thats just gross but true!! anywayz.. you look marvelously fabolous in foam deary.. this is my rifle this is my gun this is for fighting this is for fun... enjoy super soaker 2008 you rock i roll.... pee you later!