Can-O-Deana: Sabaidee Pee Mai Thai

Or Happy Thai New Year. Originally, Songkran was celebrated by visiting and showing respect for elders by washing their hands, as well as visiting a Wat (temple) to pray and offer alms to the monks. You can read more about it here.

Many people still do this but today's Songrkan festivities have turned into a no-holds-barred water fight. The streets are lined with barrels and barrels full of water, sometimes ICE water. A multitude of water guns and small buckets fill any open hand readying them for fun. Some carry a mix of chalk and water, used to smear on other's faces in a sign of good luck. It all makes for A LOT of FUN!

We didn't make any plans to go anywhere for Songkran this year. One reason being ignorance on what to do and where to go. A lot of our neighbors traveled to other provinces and used the time off as a vacation. It does make for a quieter, more subdued neighborhood (that is until the water comes out :) ). The other reason being that two days prior to the festivities beginning we finally got our car back from the dealer. This means we have no money to go anywhere, but are so happy to have a car.

Sunday evening we had a cook-out with neighbors. There was a nice turn-out and the kids had a blast playing in the water, flooding yards, for hours on end. We stayed out until the bugs and rain showed up. Normally April is the hottest month and there is no rain but this week has been special. There has been rain almost everyday.

Monday our neighbors took the kids out to the main road outside of the neighborhood on their golf cart. Ben and I rode in the "support" vehicle with our friend A behind them. Ellie was very reluctant to go and stayed on until we stopped halfway to do a water check, then she decided she was done and got in the van with us. I knew she would. At least she tried it though. She will say she didn't like it but I have pictures that prove otherwise. :p

Take a look at the fun we had...