Events on Hua Hin Today

Related tags: songkran

Posted by Soren 17 April 2008 (1 comments)

The Thai New Year known as Songkran is over. As tradition has it, people join in on an out of this world water fight where no-one is left dry or sacred. In the days of Songkran where most people are off from work, Hua Hin is packed with people from the outer districts and from the capital Bangkok. This is by far the busiest time of year in Hua Hin and one of the days the Thais loves and fears the most. The duration of the water frenzy depends on where in the country you are, but here in Hua Hin we only celebrate it for 1 day, on April 13th.

 

 

Road chaos
Many smaller streets are blocked off by police to allow local festivities and the main road is jammed with thousands of cars going absolutely nowhere. Personally, it took this writer 1½ hour to drive to Papa John in Khao Takiab – A trip that normally takes about 10 minutes. The journey only got better to learn that the restaurant was closed on Songkran.
 

Get wet or get stuck?
As it is every year, it is far safer to travel by car if you want to be dry. On the other hand, as mentioned before, a trip anywhere seems to take forever when using a car. The more bold and daring – or simply just fun loving, would travel by motorbike. But by doing so they are sending out an open invitation to get splashed and smothered in white powder. When passing a group of people, little expectation is to be made for keeping dry. One by one, the motorbikes are stopped and the process is carried out; white powder on the face and water down the neck. Note, the yellow helmet in the middle is the guy getting the "treatment". Don't worry, it's pretty harmless.
 

Events all over the city
People are scattered throughout the city, waiting in the side of the streets for motorbikes to pass by to get “attacked”, but bigger clusters of people and events also takes place in Hua Hin. One of them was the “Foam Party” held at Market Village. Hosted by some pretty girls setting the pace everyone who dared was invited in the arena for some fun. Please see our photo gallery for more pictures from this event.

 

 

The “other side” of Songkran
These days the Thais celebrate Songkran mostly because of fun and festivities. But there are also another side to Songkran, the traditional side where the Thais wish for a good harvest, a good life and where cars are decorated and driven through the streets. However, it seems like this side is reserved for the old generation, has not yet caught the attention or appreciation of the young.

 

Also a time of accidents
When a lot of people come together in something as wild as Songkran accidents are bound to happen. This year Hua Hin had 2 deaths and 1 serious accident, all of them involving motorbikes. Last year Hua Hin had only 1 death, so seen in the big picture where 230 were killed nationwide and more than 3000 injured, Hua Hin is still a pretty safe place to be.