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Published: April 27th 2005
Dave and I flew into Bangkok smack dab in the middle of the famous "Water Festival". This is Buddhist Asia's New Year celebration and entails bands of youth throwing buckets of water on everyone. The water is said to cleanse the people and the city during the hottest time of year and no one is excluded! As Dave and I learned our first night when we headed out to explore the city. It's unbelievable to witness. You can't go outside without getting soaking wet! Pick-up trucks drive by with thirty people packed in the back holding buckets of water that they hurl at unsuspecting pedestrians. We entered a touristy street and were virtually assaulted by teenagers who laughingly approach and dump buckets of water over your head. It is a very joyous holiday where everyone smiles good naturedly whether they are the dumper or dumpee! Even the police get into the action. One day we were in a cab waiting in traffic and observed a straight faced police officer approach a group of guys in a tuk tuk (open air taxi) and slam them with a huge bucket of water. Everyone started laughing hysterically, the cop included.
Two days after our arrival, we were joined by Dave's sister (Sarah), parents (Donna and Harry) and family friends, the Jordans, whose daughter, Jennifer, has been in Thailand for the past year studying on a Rotary scholarship. The next two weeks were a whirlwind and I will do my best to capture all the high points!
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anonymous
non-member comment
wet and hot
Wow, that water festival sounds like fun-- what I remember there is feeling soaked all the time anyway. Did you see the Oriental hotel- stayed there--- right next to the 'long tail boat' dock. ARe they still running? We want to hear how the folks are doing (did) there!! - Indiana John