New Beginnings for a New Year - Songkran Party!

It is New Year in Thailand and the festivities are in full swing. http://www.bangkok.com/magazine/songkran-guide.htm

The young children are in the streets throwing water on everyone who passes. The young people are doing the same and also putting powder on the faces of passerbys in a show of appreciation and community.

The parents sit and watch the activities and big happy new year to friends family and strangers who do the same with equal amounts of enthusiasm.

The elders are as much a part of the celebrations if only by giving an approving nod and a cheery smile to all of the action they observe.

At night the parties are going non-stop. There are cookouts with lots of Thai favorites. And of course the alcohol flows freely giving that certain uncle the chance to tell his favorite story again this year to a not too objecting audience.

And seemingly each block has a music soundtrack blaring with all legal or near legal ages dancing to pay tribute to what has passed and hope for what will come.

This was the first day of Songrkan or Thai New Year and it will go through the entire weekend. The calendar will give out before the party does and a new year will have begun with a loud noise, which is probably the right way.

At night as mentioned, there are the parties. here is an example of one I went to tonight.