Travel Story «Songkran in Chiang Mai»

Thailand | 0 Comments 14 April 2006 - Last Update 09 May 2006

Well we arrived in Chiang Mai some of us still a little wet from soakings in Loas! But got to our guesthouse (with a pool!) to find they had never heard of us imgaine! a no they had no record of our booking so after bit of negoitating we got a room for a cheaper rate, that meet all our needs and we could all sleep together (I actually don't sleep as well in a single bed anymore we have become very close!!!!!) Anyway after the usual nap we headed for the pool and chilled out. Emily got talking to a fellow traveller Jenny would recommended we go eat in the riverside resturant, well what can i say only we ate ourselves silly the food was really good even had deep fried mars bars and snickers for dessert yes we went for the whole three courses! there was live music also very good. we then on another one of jenny's recommendations headed for the monkey bar not sure what to expect. we were a little like fish out of water as the we were the only non thai people there seemed like a really nice place and actually lovely people but we had over indulged with dinner so headed headed back to guesthouse.
the following morning we chilled out by pool myself and grainne headed to have a bit of a look around not realising that we were in the middle of the ne year celebrations and i stupidly wearing a white top. also after we had discovered that most shops were closed except the beloved boots which was like and oasis in the desert. we headed back tot he guesthouse to rally the troops and on the way armed ourselves with a water gun. we then after getting soaked walking to the nearest bar made a base from which to attack and also have a few beers. paid for with soggy money unfortunatly we were unable to bring a camera with all the water going around, but i will try to paint a picture of the scene. in chiang mai there is an old moat which was erected years ago to protect against burmese invaders so most of the action happened along its banks on one side and a line of bars on the other, in between on the road SUV's with open back on them what the aussies call "yuts" loaded with families and large containers of water soaked people. while the people lined up on either side of the road soaked each other recklessly across bars as well as little water fights between the opposite side of the road. basically anything went you could soak anyone as well as anyone soaking you. the cruelest part was that some people loaded their water guns with ice cold water. but everyone was in such good form their was no real malice apart from one thai lady you seemed to take a dislike to aisling and emily and repeatedly soaked them. at one point she actaully had aisling in a head lock while pouring water over her head. so we would recommend it to everyone we are even thinking of starting up a politcal party when we get home and try to move paddy's day to 17th of august and water fights will be part of the celebrations! i think we are all agreed that the water festival was well worth bribing loas air officals for and has be a highlight of the trip so far.
lorna