Happy Songkran!
Currently the Thai New Year celebration, Songkran, is taking place. I believe April 13-15 every year officially marks the new year (this year, in Thai time, by the way, is 2550). I am discovering why this celebration is also called the water festival as well.
Whenever I leave or return to my apartment, I can plan on getting wet, and maybe powdered as well. Groups of people, armed with hoses, water guns, or plastic containers, sit at various spots along the streets. As motorcycles, cars, trucks, or pedestrians pass, water is sprayed, shot, or poured on them. Sometimes, additionally, a person with a bottle of talcum powder will gently smear some on faces, arms, and legs. "Happy Songkran", they will say to us foreigners, as they initiate us into their culture.
Pickup trucks loaded with people and water also drive up and down the streets, spraying or throwing water on anyone or anything they feel like hitting. Today, as Trish, Michelle and I walked up the street from Tom and Candice's house, a pickup truck passed us several times, making sure to get us each time.
It's actually pretty much fun; it is hot season here, so getting wet is almost welcome. It reminds me of the many water battles in which I have participated over the years. Only here it is not so much a battle as allowing them to "bless" us (I think...:). A part of me wants to take a cup of water out with me tomorrow to "return the favor" as I get my daily dowsing. And it really has been a daily dowsing since Friday.
I got dowsed a second time today as I walked down my street toward my apartment building only to be approached by a couple Thai people once again. One or two guys poured tubs of water over me, and a third guy proceeded to sprinkle talc into his hand which he applied to my face, wishing me a happy songkran as he did so. Oh my, this is the worst I have gotten it so far; I was almost totally soaked, dripping wet, and it was my first experience receiving the talc treatment.
One more day to go.....
The view out my window
The view in my apartment after my thorough soaking!
Comments
By all means, I would apply the Zaccheus principle, that is, paying anyone backs four times as much as they get you. That's the principle I've always tried to apply in water battles! (But maybe it's not actually the Zaccheus principle...)
On second thought, maybe you should wait til Songkran is over to return the soaking favor; this will enhance the possibility of surprise, another important aid in water skirmishes. In any case, happy soakings!
Phil
Posted by: Phil Rice | April 15, 2007 10:49 PM