Songkran Dates (2008)

[thaibound]

okay, i'll 'fess up. this whole songkran thing has got me scared shitless. am i to waste an entire week of wholesome mongering, hiding out in my hotel so as to avoid conjunctivitis from gutter water, if not death by slickened motorcycle treads?
yes, i exaggerate , but it *is* frustrating that i can't even find out what days will be safe to travel the f**k out of pattaya! i've already booked a hotel in central pattaya thru the 12th, having been told it would be the *next* week, culminating in a "Huge" (quoting my hotel's doorman there) 'celebration' on the 19th.
so what's the REAL deal?
can i duck out of town on the 12th or will i be sodded en route to the taxi? will it be "safe" to hide on koh chang or koh samet where the ratio of drunken farang to fun-loving thai is considerably reduced? just how many days must i order room service for food and outcalls for ladyboys if i remain in pattaya? can i hopscotch to bangkok and back and at least reduce this manmade monsoon season to a reasonable 2-3 days instead of the 10-11 days about which i've been warned in pattaya?
i have googled and read and googled some more, but damn this thing is confusing. any help appreciated. if i'd thought about this *sooner* i'd suggested this would be the very best week to gather a handful of BM's and a dozen ladyboys and take over a few villas in the middle of nowhere....is it too late? i'm game.

[Snick]

Bangkok will be nuts from 13-15 officially, this year it will likely also be nuts on 12th and 16th

Pattaya will be over the top insane on 19-20, probably 18th. And merely crazy on 12/13 to 17th

I love songkron, dress in something that can get soaked. put some money and your mobile in a ziplock bag and have some fun. In Pattaya, you can sit on the bars on walking street and watch the action...however you will get wet getting to walking street.

If you want room service, get a lot of numbers. Because you will find lots of cancellations. LB's love Songkron, they go out there and all the Thai Guys feel 'em up. Many also go home for the week.

You should at least go out the 'first' day, and see if you like it.

BTW evenings are just as bad the day in Pattaya, but quite down a tad in Bangkok.

[Grinder]

(Naang Faa @ Mar. 01 2008,20:25) April 13-15 in Pattaya..

 I flippin' hate Songkran but i got to go with them to Pattaya again this year..grrr..
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                        x

Hmmmmm I was contemplating Pattaya for part of Songkran... and if the lovely naang is there maybe, just maybe, there is a chance of a light ale and watching a match together!

[PigDogg]

(thaibound @ Apr. 05 2008,23:29) will it be "safe" to hide on koh samet

Yes.

Last year I arrived on Samet on Sunday the 15th and there was no water.   There was no problem getting to the cab since my hotel was away from the action and the cab did not get hit once along the way.

The prior afternoon, the 14th I took a baht bus to soi 6and got soaked a few times then further soaked on soi 6.  But my guess is that in the early afternoon soi 6 is probably one of the biggest war zones and it's much better elsewhere.

My guess is that you should be OK if taxi picks you up at the hotel as on the 12th but I would still take precautions with your laptop.

[Naang Faa]

(Grinder @ Apr. 06 2008,14:35)

(Naang Faa @ Mar. 01 2008,20:25) April 13-15 in Pattaya..

I flippin' hate Songkran but i got to go with them to Pattaya again this year..grrr..

x

Hmmmmm I was contemplating Pattaya for part of Songkran... and if the lovely naang is there maybe, just maybe, there is a chance of a light ale and watching a match together!

That would be nice but i haven't a clue what day Songkran is now! Anyways,whenever it is the whole lot of us are
traveling south to Pattaya same every year,so if ya wanna waterfight with us.....Bring it on!
x

[Grinder]

[Buddy]

I'll be hitting Pattaya on April 26th. Hopefully all the celebration will be finished by then

[thaibound]

my plan is to try mostly hiding out (and ordering in) in pattaya for the 3 days of songkran in bangkok, then scurry over to bangkok on the 16th, before all hell breaks loose in pattaya. after the 21st i might return to pattaya for some 'unfinished business'
but already my plan is failing, as i've been nailed twice, once hitting my 'fresh' laundry, but the second time only soaking the plastic bag in which my phone hides out -- still 6 days *before* songkran in pattaya.

goggles. earplugs. plastic bags. sanitary wipes. oh yeah.
this is fun. as we say back home:
Bah Humbug!

nonetheless, may buddha's blessings be upon you. (e.g., 'joy to the world'.)