Thailand - as I see it.

SONGRAN WATER FESTIVAL. Up close and personal with thousands of other partyers.

We filled the pick up truck with a large garbage can of water, really large garbage can.  Then we piled  ten people into the back of the pickup with large and larger water guns and buckets.  There were six of us inside the pickup (dry and cool).  The ones in the back were wet, wet, wet.  Every time we went by people throwing water, the driver, Ahn's brother, slowed down so that his passengers could throw water and so that the people on the street could throw water as well.  Every couple of minutes, huge amounts of water splashed on the windows and the people in back.

We drove through hundreds and hundreds of people walking, driving motorcycles, riding bikes and just getting their splash experience.  People had all sizes and shapes of water pistols, from tiny ones with umbrellas to large ones longer than your arm.  Some had containers on their backs with extra water.

The day was divided into two distinct parts.  The first part was at a large lake with a couple of thousand Thai people and me. We were all sitting, swimming, eating, shooting water guns and enjoying the holiday.  We sat on platforms made of bamboo with mats and small tables.  This was a SONGRAN Holiday celebration for The Thai people.  It was a treat to see everyone having such fun, shooting water at each other with smiles and laughter.  This is a time that young and old can let off steam in a fun and happy safe environment.  There was native food of all types including some fish and other meat I didn't recognize.  There were pots of soup and fruits and vegetables, drinks and desserts.

The second part of the day was a celebration as well but there were many many thousands of "farang" foreigners as well as Thai celebraters.  People were piled into pick ups and driving all over to splash and shoot water as well as be splashed.  There were groups of bare chested men with tattoos, couples, children and old people.  Everyone was orderly and having a ball shooting and throwing water.  Everywhere we went there were water guns and buckets of water.  We had to stop two times to refill our huge garbage can.  We went by people with hoses spraying everyone as well as some people who just put a hole in the top of a water bottle and sprayed.

I was enthralled to see so many crowds of people who were all peacefully and happily having fun shooting water at each other.  This is party everyone should experience once in a lifetime.