Songkran in Hua Hin 2016

[Dannie Boy]

Does anybody know whether Immigration are closed all of next week?

[PeteC]

They're supposed to adhere to the official National Holiday Schedule which is the 13th, 14th and 15th only. However, who knows if each office will? Pete

[Dannie Boy]

Ok thanks Pete

[Big Boy]

The official poster for the 5 Street Foam Party

[London Boy]

Does anyone know what time the parade starts tomorrow and where does it start and finish. Am I right in thinking it goes from the station to the beach.
Appreciate any info

[Big Boy]

I made 12 short video on the day of the festival in Hua Hin. I'm currently in the process of editing them for Forum use, and will post them one by one as they are ready.

SONGKRAN 2016 - Part 1

Last year, I made one huge video, which sent people to sleep after a while. This year, I will be posting several (a dozen) shorter videos, which should make easier viewing.

I've been reading reports in UK press stating that because of the severe drought, this years water festival was significantly curtailed. It was actually the craziest I've seen in Hua Hin. Basically, "SEVERE DROUGHT? YOU'RE HAVING A LARF." If things are as bad as people say, it was totally irresponsible - time will tell.

Here's our first encounter:

[Big Boy]

SONGKRAN 2016 - Part 2

It was a very hot day, and the brain was getting scrambled. I somehow switched the GoPro to photo mode, and subsequently missed a few epic battles along Petchkasem Road and up through Soi 80. By the time we'd reached railway Road, we were parched and had to make a pit stop. One of my troop's favourites, the bar of choice was Bia Bar, where we successfully managed to help repel borders for quite some time.

[Big Boy]

SONGKRAN 2016 - Part 3

Fully refreshed, but quite burnt from the severe sun, we moved on towards our final goal of the Binthablock area. Resistance was still light as we fought our way to the railway station.

[Big Boy]

SONGKRAN 2016 - Part 4

From the Railway Station, we turned down the hill towards Pone Kingpetch Park, which is usually the centrepiece of Hua Hin's celebrations.

Now, remembering that we are in the middle of a severe drought, this had been set up up by the municipality. I would hate to think how many gallons per second were being sent straight down the drain, but it was a hell of a lot. A fantastic water feature, but we were early, and there was quite a flow of water going down the hill even then.

[Big Boy]

SONGKRAN 2016 - Part 5

After enjoying the water feature, we had to push on to what should have been our toughest assignment of the day - the Battle for Binthabat.

As things turned out, we were too early, and had caught the natives sleeping - resistance was very low.

[Big Boy]

SONGKRAN 2016 - Part 6

One of our squad was missing in action from the previous night. It was rumoured he had significant head pain, but still alive.

When we found him, he was in the grip of a 6 legged monster, which, even with his Ninja skills, our martial arts expert could not defeat with his bare hands. Fortunately, one of the troop had encountered one of these beasties before and knew how to defeat it. She hit it on the head with the butt of a gun, which saw it spiral to the ground.

Our team was complete again.

For anybody wondering what on Earth I'm talking about, Our missing trooper had the largest ant that I've ever seen (a couple of inches long), and it was trying to drill it's venom into his chest. It had such a tight grip on his shirt that bare hands couldn't budge it. Apparently one of the troop was hospitalised by one of these beasties 17 years ago.

[Big Boy]

SONGKRAN 2016 - Part 7

We decided to make the U Turn Bar our base camp, and re-named it Fortress U Turn for the duration.

When we arrived, resistance was very light, but as time moved on, opposition forces strengthened significantly, and we had to take on mercenary forces to keep the rabble out (or were we keeping the rabble in?).

[caller]

I've been reading reports in UK press stating that because of the severe drought, this years water festival was significantly curtailed.

It's been much quieter in Korat compared to last year. One route we took by the army camp, was jam-packed last year, cars were hardly moving. This year, there's next to nothing there and no traffic. It's not empty by any stretch of the imagination, especially around the yamo area, but definitely much quieter. The Mayor had actually issued a notice, saying no water tanks, no water 'guns' and so on. I guess a lot took notice?

[Big Boy]

I would say it has been the complete opposite here. I didn't go out on the 12th, but my son tells me that he's never seen anything like it in Binthablock, and that has just been backed up by hidinginhin on another thread.

I'll be honest, we walked an awful long way before our first skirmish, and even as far as Binthabat, resistance was very light. I was beginning to think I'd missed the main event. However, things gradually got busier.

While I enjoyed the Pone Kingpetch Park water feature, I don't think anybody can deny what a criminal waste of water it was.

As for our Mayor, he's a nice guy, and has often stopped to chat - I know very little about his politics, but I like what he's doing about local roads/drainage. I was walking home, and there he was, soaked to the skin, walking towards me outside Hua Hin Temple. He was having as good a time as everybody else. He just said hello, and shook hands - I think I was looking battle worn .

[Big Boy]

SONGKRAN 2016 - Part 8

Songkran wouldn't be a successful campaign unless we'd flown the flag at all points of resistance. We set off towards the 5 Street Foam Party as things started to get busier. This is always a fun journey, which is traditionally met with heavy resistance. This year was no different.

We paused at 5 Street for a while.