MY FIRST SONGKRAN EXPERIENCE IN THAILAND || I initially planned for a temple hopping, shopping and sightseeing in Bangkok after coming from Vietnam and Cambodia, Thailand was my last country to complete my Indochina Escapade. But after spending 4 days in Chiang Mai the Songkran festival was already happening over the streets as we head back to Bangkok.
Random strangers and foreigners were pouring water all over our clean and dry clothes, it was pretty intense as it was really unexpected, I haven’t thought about the Songkran — and I didn’t bother to research about it ahead of time. So, together with my bestfriend KIM we just thought about enjoying this festivity either way. So read on,
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SONGKRAN, is the Thai New Year’s National Holiday. It usually falls under the month of April of each year and the entire Thailand get to celebrate in this festivities. Water is an important element of Songkran, especially in more recent times when the throwing of water has become a huge part of the annual celebrations. If you’re visiting Thailand during this period, prepare to get splashed!
Events during the festival include water throwing, the ritual bathing of Buddha images, processions and performances. A tempting array of traditional foods are enjoyed throughout the celebrations.
As a traveller, I am not really a fan of joining festivals, I also seldom travel on peak seasons from various places thinking they’d be more tourists to flock at the same time as well. But that didn’t happen when we visited Thailand last April.
Part of my Indochina Itinerary is to stay in Bangkok after our Chiang Mai escapade. We’d initially wanted to enjoy and see the temples and do a lot of shopping in Bangkok!!! But surprisingly, our Bangkok days turns out to be the celebration of Songkran New Year in Thailand.
Everyone was carrying big and large water guns with them, the tourists have pails of water and in swimwear attire everywhere, hahahaha!! people were throwing water over the cars, the tuktuk and you’d see everyone having so much fun! and as wild and wet hahahaah!!
It was crazy how we manage to get inside our hostel in Bangkok being extra cautious with our surrounding.
After taking a rest in the afternoon — with our swim wears with us and all our waterproof gears for our money and gadgets, we thought of maximizing this Songkran festivities instead.
Water guns are for sale just everywhere across the street, its costly and you actually pay for the refill of the water every single time hahahahaha!! *call that business as well.
There were actually key places in Thailand where the city celebrates this festivity, and the nearest to ours was at Khao San Road. The entire stretch of the streets were covered with tourists and locals, street food everywhere!!! water all over and people having so much fun goofing and feeling like a kiddo once again.
After going around the streets with all the water pail and guns and mud over our faces, the next best thing to do is to eat street foods!! There were everywhere and it would be best to try all the recommended delicacies in Thailand.
All food taste super good!! I was so in love with Pad Thai and I remember eating it any time of the day hahaha!! The mango sticky rice was also super sweet and amazing!!! I am using all my superlatives here coz I really enjoyed our food trippin’ as well.
All stores and were actually closed during this time to give way for the Songkran, so we didn’t really had the chance to shop during our stay hahahaha!! it was sad, but the experience was really one for the books.
After the entire day, we headed back to our hostel and just spent our dinner just near and across our hostel area. People were still all wet and wild just across the street and one should be extra careful since no matter how dry you are — people would still find ways to splash you water.
FINAL NOTES :
- the Songkran usually happens every April of every year, make sure to check for the specific dates if you plan to be part of this festivities
- it was said that the best place to celebrate Songkran was in Chiang Mai; but Bangkok certainly was super jampacked as well during our stay
- don’t forget to bring swim wear with you, bikinis and all those sorts so you won’t end up drying each of your clothes
- Simple Reminder : if you are not up on getting wild and wet, stay indoor!! that’s the best place for you to stay
- bring waterproof gears or bags with you for your money and gadgets
- be extra cautious still, as there were so many fellow tourists joining the festivities
- for hostel or accommodation, better if you book in advance as it all gets fully booked in no time
- as for us, I booked thru hostelworld.com and paid a reservation fee in advance for our 2 nights stay in Bangkok
- Enjoy the food!!!! enjoy the fun!!!! and don’t forget to greet everyone “Sah-wah-dee pee mai “
For more questions and inquiries you may send me a DM on Instagram @nathaliecsalcedo
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TO MORE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS. – XOXO
*all photos were originals from the blogger @nathaliecsalcedo
ILOVENATS 
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