Songkran Festival in Bangkok

Songkran is known in Thailand as their New Year holiday. Observed this year on the April 13th to 15th, most Thai locals head to their hometown to spend this time for family reunions, vacation and temple visits. Living in the city of Bangkok, this means another celebration to have fun and beat the scorching heat of the sun. As you may know, Thailand is a tropical country and April is well, considered as one of the months where heat strikes at its worst.

Not only Thai locals get to celebrate this, as most businesses and shops close down in observance of the holidays, tourist also flock the city of Bangkok on these days. You get to watch the people go bananas on friendly water fights.

As it may seem that water fights is a way to beat the heat and have fun, it also symbolizes washing away all of the misfortunes and bad luck from the previous year to welcome the new year with a clear slate.

I got the chance to celebrate it this year after moving to Bangkok. The streets in Silom particularly is where the "Water War Zone" is. We took the BTS Skytrain and headed to Sala Daeng (Silom Line) station where right below it is the fun fun fun!

 The flock of people right below the BTS Skytrain platform is well, very very much prepared! They got their gears.. And I got mine too! It is also the time of the year where wearing floral polo is the "in" thing.

It is a must that you bring with you this waterproof case as the water fights can get really nasty and might end up soaking your phone with tap water.

We met up with our friends M and C below the Train Station since they don't allow people with water guns inside the mall. We were hungry and need to have lunch already so we had to cross the street, get wet, buy our water guns and have lunch.

 So A and I purchased our water guns and I needed to buy this clear eyeglass thing because I am wearing contact lenses and some people could be rude to spray water directly in your face. Small water gun prices were from 120 Baht and the huge ones were around 300 to 600 Baht. I got my glasses for a good deal of just 50 Baht. Some sell these glasses for as high as 100 Baht.

We had lunch at a nearby KFC since it is pretty much the only choice we have that allows drenched customers and their water guns inside. After lunch, we headed back to the crowd.

 We pretty much got soaked with cold tap water.. Actually, I am not sure where the water came from. But most of the water loaded in people's water gun were ice cold!

This is what I called the Purple "Water War Zone"

 In the Purple Water War Zone, there were sprinklers installed in the posts holding in and sprays water all over you as you pass by.

In the middle of the water fight

Good thing I got a waterproof camera that I can use to take photos but those nasty glob of water somewhat ruined the resolution. But it is still fun though. :)

We walked for some time and there was this refill station of water for your gear which was free. If you were in the middle (near the BTS station), refilling your water could cost you as much as 10 Baht for small guns and 20 Baht for the bigger ones.

 Clearly, foreigners are being very competitive at this type of water fight game.

 And I myself was enjoying it as well! We were nearing the area where some sort of concert was going on and a cannon like hose spraying water with ladies operating them were the main attraction.

The pressure from the people's water guns were pretty much intense.

This area boasts of good music plus some adventure too getting splashed by the huge water hose.

 It is like a concert under the rain!

After too much walking, A and I got tired and decided to head home. It was nearly 4PM when we left Silom and it seems that the water fights aren't going to mellow down any sooner!

Overall, the Silom Songkran Festival Adventure was indeed a very very fun thing to experience. 

Here's the aftermath of the Water Fight!