Depending upon your age and inclination, the Thai New Year Songkran water festival is either your worst nightmare, or a lot of wet fun! Personally, I do enjoy it in moderation, but eventually get fed up of being continually doused in water and need to retreat to my hotel.

Officially, Songkran only lasts three days in most of Thailand, but in Pattaya it goes on for a full nine days, which spanned the 10-19th April this year (2016). The extended days are called “Wan Lai” and this is when the all out water fights really get going.

Fortunately, the action is largely localised so it is still possible to get about without getting too soaked. Unless you catch a songtau (pick-up style open backed taxi) that is; these are subjected to continual dousings by people throwing buckets of water. So I find it is easier to walk!

What started out as a traditional festival celebrating the Thai New Year, and marked by the throwing and sprinkling of water, has rather degenerated into an all out orgy of water fights. The availability of large, powerful and cheap plastic water pistols has facilitated the process.

The really big party is held on the last day, 19th April this year, in Pattaya. People come from all over Thailand to participate. It is a family day, with lots of food stalls along the beach road.

Children of all ages enjoy the day, which was particularly hot this year in Thailand.

Songkran is a family occasion and traditionally a way to show respect to your parents for example, by water pouring over their palms. Paying reverence to ancestors is also an important part of the Songkran tradition, and Buddhas appear in many shops, malls and hotels, which people anoint by pouring flower scented water over the statue. Buddhist monks also anoint devotees with water as a sort of good luck blessing.

In the following picture, the monk appears to be covering his eyes as he passes by a GoGo bar!  But it is just a coincidence.

I rather like these images, because for me they capture some of the apparent contradictions of Thai society. Thais are tolerant and fun loving; they tend not to be as judgemental as Westerners (I think).

As always in Thailand, lots of delicious food was available to fortify the participants. I do admire these ladies, surely the backbone of Thai culture, who prepare these meals from small portable kitchens all over the country.

The salads were amazing!

Songkran is a noisy, very wet, fun time. For those with sufficient stamina it is fun to be continually drenched with water on a very hot day. Being blasted with very loud pop music is also part of the experience! It helps to be young! This throng of mainly young people were enjoying the music of a band playing in the Central Mall, Pattaya, whilst being drenched with water from fire hoses.

These youngsters were enjoying themselves!

Oh I forgot to mention the face paint (wet powder)! The protective glasses are a good idea as some of the water pistols are very powerful.

This man seemed to be getting into the spirit of the occasion. His dancing reminded me of a bird!

Would I go again to Pattaya at this time of year? Maybe not, as I am a bit of an old git(!), but it was fun to see it once.