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Songkran all the way Songkran, the Thai New Year, officially takes off today. It is fun time as Thai people enjoy the longest holiday of the year. In the sweltering summer, people splash water at each other, which is a welcome respite from the heat, and the young ones pay their respects to seniors and the elderly. If you are looking for pointers to celebrate the occasion, here are a few. - BANGKOK Sanam Luang is key venue for Songkran celebration. Fun activities here run until April 15. - An aquatic park has been set up and highlights three key themes: the 60th anniversary celebrations of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne, Songkran folk tales from the four regions of Thailand, and water and the festival of happiness. - olk tales from the four regions feature from 10am-11pm, while art and cultural performances take place 6-11pm. - Khao San Road will feature a beauty pageant in which foreign contestants are also expected to enter, apart from the usual cast of revellers roaming the turf with water guns and pistols. - NAKHON NAYOK Head for Wat Fang Khlong on Suwannason Road in tambon Ko Wai of Pak Phli District, where the traditional rites will take place. For directions, call 07-058-3363 and 06-168-2382. After that move on to another celebration at the Prachantakham district office in Prachin Buri. The street is closed to vehicles so take your time ambling around the ground which is the venue of a fair. Call 037-291-402 for directions. You can get back to Bangkok via Paed Rieu of Chachoengsao with a stopover at Somdej Phra Si Nagarindra Park in front of Chachoengsao's city hall, which is also holding a fair. Call 038-814-338 ext 151 and 152 for more details. - SAMUT PRAKAN Muang Boran (Ancient City) in Samut Prakan is holding special Songkran celebrations until April 16. For more information, call 023-239-253. - AYUTTHAYA April 13-15 are ideal for temple visit which are abundant in this province, the capital of ancient Siam, such as Wat Choeng Tha, Wat Na Phra Men and others. For a full list of activities, call the Tourist Office at 035-246-076 and 035-246-077. You can combine the temple visit with a trip to Bang Sai Royal Folk Art & Crafts Centre, tel: 035-366-092. - RATCHABURI Several communities in Ratchaburi are home to descendants of ethnic Lao Wiang people who continue to perform Songkran rituals in accordance with ancient traditions and customs. During April 15-17 drive to Wat Ban Singh in Photharam District and watch Lao-style Songkran that highlights folk games and sports, For more details, call the TAT office at 032-471-005 and 032-471-502. - CHON BURI - rom April 16-17 Bang Saen Beach will celebrate the Thai New Year with a lot of activities. Unique is a stupa-building contest and traditional Thai sports such as cock-fighting. The district of Si Racha will hold a parade and a beauty contest. Call the TAT office at 038-427-667 and 038-428-750 in Pattaya for more details. - PATTAYA The resort city will celebrate the festival April 18-19, almost a week after celebrations elsewhere around the country have ended. The main event will take place at Wat Chaimongkon in South Pattaya, along the beaches and key tourist spots in this coastal resort. In nearby Si Racha, the occasion will be celebrated later still, April 19-21, at the Ko Loi Park. - CHIANG MAI This year, the Songkran festivities run April 11-15 with activities scheduled at temples, the city moat and Thapae Gate. - NONG KHAI Celebrations in this northeastern province run until April 18 with activities centered around Wat Pho Chai, including Thai and Laotian dance and cultural performances. For more information, call the TAT office in Udon Thani at 042-325-406 and 042-325-407. - PHRA PRADAENG The district of Phra Pradaeng on Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River is always the last to mark the occasion. This time it is celebrating Songkran from April 21-23. The revelry will carry the distinct Mon (Raman) flavour. Highlights are Thai-Raman flag ceremony, traditional games such as saba - a pitching game played with beans - Miss Songkran beauty parade and contest, floral floats, light and sound show at Phaeng Faifa Fortress, Raman dances, boat races and others. Call the Phra Pradaeng municipality office at 02-463-4841 and 02-462-5028 for details. |