Family Visit: Songkran to Sukhothai – Day 12 – Trip April 2012
Here we are, it's April 13th, Thai New Year's Day, at the time we leave for Sukhothai city, thinking that the festivities would rather take place in the area everything still seemed relatively calm, we won't really see many people before 10am, and we finish by asking where to go to have fun I am informed that they actually go to the park... where we come from... While waiting for people to get busy (and probably recover from the first hangover the day before...) we take the time to visit a temple then after a quick tour to get some water (to drink not to throw away...) we set off into the heart of the "storm".
The temple in question, apparently brand new (or renovated)
Now that's a nap!
A ruined building within the temple grounds, rather rare given the general upkeep of these sacred places.
The young people are already up and ready to fight.
In the middle of a game of pétanque (and yes, our very own pétanque is quite popular here in Thailand, I noticed that it is often within the grounds of a temple that there are grounds set up for it).
The famous sand "castles" of Songkran, well not so famous but it is one of the aspects of this festival, this because I quote: Thais build the sand castle in the temple during Songkran because [they believe
No need for a minivan here, a simple moped will do!
The first “armed” pick-ups are making their appearance.
We can feel that it is a day of good humor.
It's okay, I'm safe in the car.
On the side of the road the groups are forming up, it will soon be difficult to stay dry.
The parade of super-charged pick-ups.
I don't know how many times we will be greeted from this moment on.
Let the watering begin!
A heart-shaped water jet.
The little girl doesn't seem to appreciate it that much... courage, it's only the beginning.
If you want to have a good time I highly recommend this festival, yes it is hot in April but nothing stops you from rushing to the southern islands afterwards! (it is better to celebrate Songkran in the north of the country)
In a queue.
At the entrance to old Sukhothai it is now overloaded.
They don't hesitate to pile up sometimes up to almost 20!
And paf!
Spiderman is here!
That's reserve!
In addition to throwing water on each other, we apply talcum powder to our faces while wishing each other a happy new year, Sawatdee Pimaï!
A wiser pick-up.
Little solo.
In the shower !
The big mess…
After stopping for a while to take pictures we got back in the car to try to get a little closer, until now we were still dry...
This is a well-chosen t-shirt!
Feeling a bit down already?
At the entrance to the village adjoining the historic park.
It's not moving forward because the bulk of the party is happening here... luckily I was able to park quietly right at the entrance, I first take as many photos as possible before going to immerse myself.
Flashy floral shirts are also part of folklore.
No, it's not Halloween, he's got the wrong party...
At times it looks a bit like cattle transport though...
The state of the car, my father was in the back with his camcorder hence the much dirtier window.
Between the previous photo and this one I went to the heart of the action, without a camera, just for fun.
Then I took a pick-up at random and asked to get in... well I should have chosen a bit more because in the end it was only guys and especially (even if almost inevitable that day) very drunk, I was able to avoid the whisky but by mentioning my preference for beer without hesitation they went to get some (there weren't even 2 of us in an hour, plenty of time to do a little shopping...) So I found myself with a beer in my hand, which I stopped drinking after a few sips after water from all sides got into the neck before I could protect it with my hand... Fortunately they didn't focus on forcing me to drink and I got off after an hour after getting back in the car and crossing the village. But it was especially in the background that overloaded as they were there was not even a container with water to water the others… so I was content to breathe their alcoholic breath and collect water… too bad…
The roadsides are soaked as if it had just rained for a while...
I return to the heart of the storm, this time with my small compact camera protected by a cover.
Each to their own level…
And there's the drama... concentrating on taking my photos I don't see just behind me this gaping hole which is used for evacuation. The very moment I feel my foot going into the void, something strange happens in my brain as if to say "this could hurt" it's quite scary... Fortunately I reacted well, like a cat I landed on both feet straight despite this fall of 1m50, the only downside was my camera that I was holding with my right hand which despite the fact that I raised my arm ended up hitting the slab on my right, in addition to having scratched the underside of my arm I especially damaged my lens which ended up jammed and with a slight misalignment of the lenses... This is especially visible on the zoomed photos but to be honest it could have been worse (for the camera as well as for me) As for the foot, the water was only a trickle of water as you can see and especially since it's Songkran I was already soaked anyway... from head to toe!
In the middle of a battle.
Some even go so far as to open their window to “expose” their child so I can take a picture of him!
After this photo I took my parents back to the hotel but decided to come back straight away to enjoy the party.
This time I park on the other side and slip along the sidewalk, avoiding getting sprayed (because of the camera).
All generations have fun (but more the young ones anyway)
The swimming pool just for the occasion.
A young spectator.
With all this water arriving from everywhere, the food must not be very clean anyway...
In the absence of a swimming pool.
Some play on provocation, given the looks in the street it's not to everyone's taste...
A little too much.
Magnifying glass !
We feel that the end of the day is approaching, some people are starting to look tired.
A little wai and then he leaves.
One of the few foreigners around.
Basically I took this photo to know the time (the device indicates the date and time of the shot!) We can see that the street is starting to seriously empty, so it's time to go back to the hotel to take a good shower, a real one!
On the way back, they are everywhere!
