A Songkran washout

We’ve just recently returned home from our Asian travels which included our first visit to your capital city. For the most part, Bangkok was an unfortunate visit. It was your traditional New Year, or Songkran!

Our timing couldn’t have been worse. We arrived on April 12 after several wonderful days in Hong Kong. We weren’t aware of Songkran nor how it could overshadow a visitors first time visit in your city. It’s not fun unless perhaps, you’re between five and 25 years of age. We’re beyond that. Walking down the street from our hotel was an effort. A few drops of water on the back of the hand is symbolic and easy to tolerate. A surprise bucket of water is another matter! Thus a visitor/tourist may find himself making frequent busy road crossings to try to avoid a bath. This “playing in traffic” could be deadly, trying to avoid the water on one side or the other.

We are shoppers too, which means we leave money in your city and we bring souvenirs home with us in exchange. Okay, a visit or two to Jim Thompson’s shops and other nice stores means some nice silks and other purchases. One doesn’t want them to be damaged or soaked needlessly. This was extremely difficult, and ultimately, impossible whether walking on the sidewalks or riding in your tuk-tuks down the street. We got soaked. I was angry and disgusted with the behaviour of the party goers, some of whom I’m sure were inebriated. Funny? Not really, and I wondered how many others might feel, as we did, that our visit there was a poor choice.

Perhaps there could be a way of wearing red or green necklaces, armbands, or similar — which might identify if a pedestrian is game for a water-bath or not. We heard that in earlier times, only a light sprinkling of water on the hand or wrist or a few drops on the forehead was the norm. Now, apparently after decades the practice has gotten out of control and for this, I think I will advise others against an April visit to Bangkok.

RICHARD SMITH