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Celebrating Songkran in Thailand means getting soaked. The traditional Theravāda Buddhist festival to mark Thai New Year has turned into one big water fight over the years.

Celebrating Songkran in Thailand – A Big Water Fight and Buddhist Festival

Celebrating Songkran in Thailand means getting absolutely soaked. The traditional Theravāda Buddhist festival to mark Thai New Year has turned into one big water fight over the years. While you can still visit pagodas to observe rituals, you’ll still need to prepared to get drenched.

Celebrating Songkran in Thailand is fun for some, a nightmare for others. If you’re heading to Thailand, prepare to get wet! Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year water festival that is big in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other cities and towns in Thailand where it’s being celebrated from Friday 13th through to Sunday 15th April in 2018, although some cities continue to party over a longer period.

Celebrating Songkran in Thailand – A Buddhist Festival That Is One Big Water Fight

Traditionally a Theravāda Buddhist festival, Thailand’s Songkran holiday is also observed in many other parts of Southeast Asia and the Sub-Continent, although it has different names. In Cambodia it’s called Chaul Chnam Thmey (and the first day is Maha Songkran); in Laos, it’s known as Pi Mai Lao; and in Myanmar, it’s called Thingyan.

We’ve found ourselves travelling in Thailand during Songkran a number of times over the years so we have got to experience a little of the festival in each of Bangkok, Chiang Rai, and the Mekong river, as well as Luang Prabang in Laos. Each town gave us a taste of the different traditions and rituals that take place during the three to four day period, which is stretched out to a six-day party in Chiang Mai, where we currently are.

For some, the event is just one big water fight and if you’re in Thailand you can certainly expect to get wet, no matter how hard you might try to avoid it. Locals will be holding garden hoses and bucket of waters outside their homes and businesses, poised to drench passers-by and passing cars.

If the water-bearers aren’t at street level, they’ll be found with friends jammed in the back of pick-ups or tuk tuks with huge tubs of water, cruising around town firing their sophisticated looking water pistols at unsuspecting people.

Seconds before the photo was taken above that drenched group of young Thais in Chiang Rai had just thrown a bucket of water on our taxi. But it’s not only water that’s tossed about.

Thais love to douse each other in talcum powder, which is why you’ll see white-faced locals, their skin smeared with a dough-like paste. If you see locals wandering the streets with a bottle of baby powder in their jeans pocket, stay well clear.

While wet streets won’t turn too many heads, if you’re planning on catching Bangkok’s BTS/Skytrain, don’t be surprised to find yourself standing in milky puddles by the end of the night. Leave your best shoes at the hotel and wear flip-flops or sandals.

In fact, wear the worst clothes you’re travelling with – that daggy t-shirt you wear to bed and those shorts you’re planning to discard to make room for souvenirs before you fly back home. Definitely don’t wear delicates, anything that might shrink or black – depending on the fabric, talcum powder can be tricky to get out.

In Bangkok, you are fair game anywhere and everywhere outside your hotel, although the main action has always taken place in the ‘entertainment’ area of Silom Road (preferred by Thais) and the backpacker enclave of Khao San Road (more popular with tourists).

In 2013, the government established official water-fight areas and introduced some rules, such as banning iced water and high-powered water guns. See this tongue-in-cheek take on those new regulations from the Bangkok Post on The 10 Commandments of Songkran.

Songkran is not only about water fights, although it’s no coincidence that the festival occurs during Thailand’s driest and hottest month before monsoon begins. Songkran is essentially about new life, clean breaks, fertility, and regeneration, and in rural areas festivities include rituals and rites intended to bring on rain to ensure a good rice harvest.

The idea of throwing water during Songkran is about cleansing and making a fresh start. Buddhists head to wats (temples) where they sprinkle nam ob tha (jasmine-centred water) on the hands of monks and Buddha images and participate in other merit-making rituals.

Merit-making rituals include preparing food for monks and making sand stupas which are decorated with colourful strings of flags imprinted with the animals from the Oriental zodiac and garlands of flowers. Buddhists will also clean their homes and businesses, buy new clothes, and visit their families.

To experience the more traditional Songkran activities, head to a wat during the Songkran period. In Bangkok, on the first day of Songkran there is usually a procession from Sanam Luang, opposite the Grand Palace, from where the sacred Buddha image is carried through the streets.

Major temples such as Wat Pho and Wat Arun will be bustling with Thais making merit. While you’re welcome to watch, make sure you dress modestly – the clothes you wear to the water fights will not be appreciated at the wats.

Our Tips for Celebrating Songkran in Thailand

  • In 2018, Thailand’s Songkran holiday runs from the 13th to 15th April in Bangkok when it begins with a Songkran parade although in some places in Thailand it runs through to 17th April. Dates vary in different cities and provinces, so check www.tourismthailand.org for details.
  • Do wear clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and wear layers so they don’t cling too much. Definitely do NOT wear bikinis, girls, and guys, it is not appropriate to go bare-chested. This is a religious festival after all.
  • Leave valuables in the hotel safe and take some cash, your hotel key, passport photocopies, and camera in a sealed plastic bag. Street vendors sell handy waterproof pouches and wallets that you can wear around your neck.
  • In Bangkok, take the BTS (Skytrain) or MRT (metro/underground train) as traffic is usually horrific.
  • Learn how to say “Sawasdee Pee Mai!” – Happy New Year in Thai.
  • If you forget to pack your water pistol, don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of vendors selling them on the streets.
  • Don’t throw water on monks, the elderly, babies, or motorcyclists – for obvious reasons.
  • Take bottles of water to wash the talcum powder from your eyes.

For more information, including dates, times and locations of events during Songkran, see Thai-based blogger Richard Barrow’s comprehensive site where he has plenty of detailed posts on different aspects of the festival, including maps.

Will you be celebrating songkran in Thailand this year? Where will you be going?

Support our Cambodia Cookbook & Culinary History Book with a donation or monthly pledge on Patreon.

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About Lara Dunston

A travel and food writer who has experienced over 70 countries and written for The Guardian, Australian Gourmet Traveller, Feast, Delicious, National Geographic Traveller, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, DestinAsian, TIME, CNN, The Independent, The Telegraph, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, AFAR, Wanderlust, International Traveller, Get Lost, Four Seasons Magazine, Fah Thai, Sawasdee, and more, as well as authored more than 40 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, DK, Footprint, Rough Guides, Fodors, Thomas Cook, and AA Guides.

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Comments

  1. Lara Dunston says

    April 15, 2013 at 4:36 pm

    I thought they celebrated for 6 days in Chiang Mai? Although Chiang Mai’s a big city now, they tend to celebrate for longer in rural areas because they still tie it to the traditional rituals/rites associated with calling for rain. Some of the small villages have quite wild celebrations from what we’ve heard. Need to check more out. Thanks for dropping by!

  2. Gerard ~ GQ trippin says

    April 15, 2013 at 4:27 pm

    We celebrated Songkran in Chiang Mai last year where they celebrate up to 5 days! Doesn’t hurt that the city is surrounded by a moat. Definitely one of the funnest experiences we’ve ever had!

  3. Lyndsay says

    April 15, 2013 at 11:43 pm

    I had a great time celebrating Songkran Festival! It was my first time ever and it was amazing, although I didn’t know you can’t splash water to the cyclists because I was splashed all the time driving to a friend’s place so I did the same! LOL I didn’t do it harsh to harm though, just for fun!

  4. Von Khan says

    April 16, 2013 at 2:53 pm

    It was our second time in Phuket, and we were on Bangla Road for hours just having the greatest time! It is truly a wonderful tradition! We went prepared – wearing rain coats, goggles, water balloons and 2 water guns each and came back soaked, wearing only goggles and a gun each! Great times!

  5. Lara Dunston says

    April 16, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    Goggles! Great idea! I should add it to the list above. Sounds fantastic – so pleased you enjoyed Songkran. Thanks for dropping by!

  6. Lara Dunston says

    April 16, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    Those rules – don’t splash cyclists, drivers in cars, etc – are all new this year. It would have been interesting to see if and how they enforced them. So pleased to hear you had a great time also. Thanks for visiting us!

  7. Gina says

    May 1, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    I was in Laos 7 years ago this week, and a cute little local girl walked off her front porch and through a whole glass of water on me, with the biggest small on her face. I was with another female friend and we were hopelessly lost in a residential area, it was the strangest thing! I have often wondered over years about this little girl because she had a look of pure joy as she soaked the foreigner. Now, it makes sense. Thank you!

  8. Lara Dunston says

    May 13, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    Ha! Ha! Great story! I’m glad we’ve helped you resolve that little mystery :)

  9. Hannah @getting stamped says

    April 9, 2014 at 3:18 pm

    We are going to be in Chiang mai for it this year 2014, can’t wait :-)

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Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check o Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check out our seafood recipe collection, especially if you celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with a fish focused meal in the Southern Italian tradition, transformed by Italian-Americans into the Feast of the Seven Fishes, or like Australians, who celebrate Christmas in the sweltering summer, feast on seafood for Christmas Day lunch, we’ve got lots of easy seafood recipes for you.

Our recipes include a classic prawn cocktail, blini with smoked salmon, a ceviche-style appetiser, and devilled eggs with caviar. We’ve also got recipes for fish soup, seafood pies and pastas, salmon tray bake, and crispy salmon with creamy mashed potatoes.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/seafood-recipes-for-christmas-eve-and-christmas-day-menus/
(Link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas if you’re celebrating!! 

#christmas #christmasfood #seafood #fish #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #grantourismo #grantourismotravels #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you’re still looking for food inspo for Chris If you’re still looking for food inspo for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meals, my smoked salmon ‘carpaccio’ recipe is one of dozens of recipes in this compilation of our best Christmas recipes (link below). 

The Christmas recipe compilation includes collections of our best Christmas breakfast recipes, best Christmas brunch recipes, best Christmas starter recipes, best Christmas cocktails, best Christmas dessert recipes, and homemade edible Christmas gifts and more.

My smoked salmon carpaccio recipe makes an easy elegant appetiser that’s made in minutes. If you’re having guests over, you can make the dish ahead by assembling the salmon, capers and pickled onions, and refrigerate it, then pour on the dressing just before serving. 

Provide toasted baguette slices and bowls of additional capers, pickles and dressing, so guests can customise their carpaccio. And open the bubbly!

You’ll find that recipe and many more Christmas recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/best-christmas-recipes/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas!! X

#christmas #christmasfood #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #salmon #smokedsalmon #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels 
#xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I sh If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I shared a collection of recipes for homemade edible Christmas gifts — for condiments, hot sauces, chilli oils, a whole array of pickles, spice blends, chilli salt, furakake seasoning, and spicy snacks, such as our Cambodian and Vietnamese roasted peanuts. 

I love giving homemade edibles as gifts as much as I love receiving them. Who wouldn’t appreciate jars filled with their favourite chilli oils, hot sauces, piquant pickles, and spicy peanuts that loved-ones have taken the time to make? 

Aside from the gesture and affordability of gifting homemade edibles, you’re minimising waste. You can use recycled jars or if buying new mason jars or clip-top Kilner jars, you know they’ll get repurposed.

No need for wrapping, just attach some Christmas baubles or tinsel to the lid. I used squares of Cambodian kramas (cotton scarves), which can be repurposed as napkins or drink coasters, and tied a ribbon or two around the lids, and attached last year’s Christmas tree decorations to some.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/homemade-edible-christmas-gifts/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Yes, that’s Pepper... every time there’s a camera around... 

#christmasgiftideas #ediblegifts ##christmasfoodgifts #foodgifts #giftideas #homemadegifts #christmasfood #ediblegiftideas #hotsauce #chillisauce #sriracha #pickles #homemadepickles #recipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood 
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This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’ This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’s perfect if you’re just back from the fish markets armed with luxurious fresh crab meat. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and very, very moreish.

Our crab omelette recipe was one of our 22 most popular egg recipes of 2022 on our website Grantourismo and it’s no surprise. It’s appeared more times than any other egg recipes on our annual round-ups of most popular recipes since Terence launched Weekend Eggs when we launched Grantourismo in 2010.

If you’re an eggs lover, do check out the recipe collection. It includes egg recipes from right around the world, from recipes for classic kopitiam eggs from Singapore and Malaysia and egg curries from India and Myanmar to all kinds of egg recipes from Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, Mexico, USA, Australia, UK, and Ireland.

And do browse our Weekend Eggs archives for further eggspiration (sorry). We have hundreds of egg recipes from the 13 year-old series of recipes for quintessential egg dishes from around the world, which we started on our 2010 year-long global grand tour focused on slow, local and experiential travel. 

We’re hoping 2023 will be the year we can finally publish the Weekend Eggs cookbook we’ve talked about for years based on that series. After we can find a publisher for the Cambodia cookbook of course... :( 

Recipe collection here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio):
https://grantourismotravels.com/22-most-popular-egg-recipes-of-2022-from-weekend-eggs/

If you cook the recipe and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either in the comments at the end of the recipe or share a pic with us here.

#recipe #recipes #eggs #eggslover #breakfasteggs #WeekendEggs #egg #breakfast #brunch #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #lookingforapublisher #writingacookbook  #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angko I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angkor Archaeological Park, home to stupendous Angkor Wat, pictured, celebrated 30 years of its UNESCO World Heritage listing. 

That’s as good an excuse as any to put this magnificent, sprawling archaeological site on your travel list this year.

While riverside Siem Reap, your base for exploring Angkor is bustling once more, there are still nowhere near the visitors of the last busy high season months of December-January 2018-2019 when there were 290,000 visitors. 

Last month there were just 55,000 visitors and December feels a little quieter. A tour guide friend said there were about 150 people at Angkor Wat for sunrise a few days ago.

If you’re looking for tips to visiting Angkor, Siem Reap and Cambodia, just ask us a question in the comments below or check Grantourismo as we’ve got loads of info on our site. Click through to the link in the bio and explore our Cambodia guide or search for ‘Angkor’. 

And please do let us know if you’re coming to Siem Reap. We’d love to see you here x

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Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky, flavourful and succulent chicken thighs that are fantastic with steamed rice, Chinese greens or a salad, such as a Southeast Asian slaw. 

The chicken can be marinated for up to 24 hours before cooking, which ensures it’s packed with flavour, then it can be cooked on a barbecue or in a pan.

Terence’s soy ginger chicken recipe is one of our favourite recipes for a quick and easy meal. I love the sound of the sizzling thighs in the pan, and the warming aromas wafting through the apartment. 

It’s amazing how such flavourful juicy chicken thighs come from such a quick and easy recipe.

Recipe here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio): https://grantourismotravels.com/soy-ginger-chicken-recipe/

If you cook it and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either here or in the comments at the end of the recipe on the site or share a pic with us x 

#recipe #recipes #chicken #soygingerchicken #asianfood #southeastasianfood #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #cookingtime #recipe #recipes #comfortfood #foodblog #food #foodstagram #healthyfood #instafood #healthy #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re mak Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re making with my market haul from Psar Samaki in Siem Reap — all for a whopping 10,000 riel (US$2.50)?! 

Birds-eye chillies thrown in for free! They were on my list but the seller I spent most at (5,000 riel!) scooped up a handful and slipped them into my bag. She was my last stop and knew what I was making.

My Khmer is poor, even after all our years in Cambodia, as I don’t learn languages with the ease I did in my 20s, plus I’m mentally exhausted after researching and writing all day. I have a better vocabulary of Old and Middle Khmer than modern Khmer from studying the ancient inscriptions for the Cambodian culinary history component of our cookbook I’m writing.

So when one seller totalled my purchases I thought she said 5,000 riel but she handed back 4,500 riel! The sum total of two huge bunches of herbs and kaffir lime leaves was 500 riel.

Tip: if visiting Siem Reap, use Khmer riel for local shopping. We’ve mainly used riel since the pandemic started— rarely use US$ now as market sellers quote prices in riels, as do local shops and bakeries, and I tip tuk tuk drivers in riels. I find prices quoted in riels are lower.

Psar Samaki is cheaper than Psar Leu, which is cheaper than Psar Chas, as it’s a wholesale market, which means the produce is fresher. I see veggies arriving, piled high in the back of vehicles, with dirt still on them — as I did on this trip. 

The scent of a mountain of incredibly aromatic pineapples offloaded from the back of a dusty ute was so heady they smelt like they’d just been cut. More exotic European style veggies arrive by big trucks in boxes labelled in Vietnamese (from Dalat) and Mandarin (from China), such as beautiful snow-white cauliflower I spotted.

Note: the freshest produce is sold on the dirt road at the back of the market.

#cambodia #siemreap #foodwriter #foodblogger #foodphotography #igfood #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #instadaily #picoftheday #market #siemreapmarket #psarsamaki #marketfresh #vegetables #healthyfood #marketshopping #traveltips #foodtravel #culinarytravel #localtravel #cooking #cookingtime #curry #homemade #currypaste #grantourismotravels
My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recip My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recipe makes tender meatballs doused in a delightfully tangy-sweet sauce, sprinkled with crispy fried shallots, with carrot-daikon, crunchy cucumber and fragrant herbs. 

The dish is inspired by bún chả, a Hanoi specialty, but it’s not bún chả. No matter what Google or food bloggers tell you. Names are important, especially when cooking and writing about cuisines not our own.

This is an authentic bún chả recipe:  https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-bun-cha-recipe/ You’ll need to get the outdoor BBQ/grill going to do proper smoky bún chả meat patties (not meatballs).

My meatball noodle bowl is perhaps more closely related to dishes such as a Central Vietnam cousin bún thịt nướng (pork skewers on rice noodles in a bowl) and a Southern relation bún bò Nam Bộ (beef atop rice noodles, sprinkled with fried shallots (Nam Bộ=Southern Vietnam) though neither include meatballs. 

Xíu mại= meatballs although they’re different in flavour to mine, which taste more like bún chả patties. Xíu mại remind me of Southern Italian meatballs in tomato sauce.

In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, home to millions of Khmer, there’s bánh tằm xíu mại. Bánh tằm=silk worm noodles. They’re topped with meatballs, cucumber, daikon, carrot, fresh herbs, crispy fried onions. Difference: cold noodles doused in a sauce of coconut cream and fish sauce. 

Remove the meatballs, add chopped fried spring rolls and it’s Cambodia’s banh sung, which is a rice noodle salad similar to Vietnam’s bún chả giò :) 

Recipe here: (link in bio) https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-meatballs-and-rice-noodles-recipe/

For more on these culinary connections you’ll have to wait for our Cambodian cookbook and culinary history. In a hurry to know? Come support the project on Patreon. (link in bio)

#recipe #recipes #vietnamesefood #cambodianfood #asianfood #southeastasianfood #ricenoodles #rice #noodlebowl #meatballs #igfood #igfoodie #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #writingacookbook #writingacambodiancookbook #patreon #patreoncreator #grantourismo
It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour matches the furnishings of our rented apartment. So, no, I did not colour-coordinate the interiors to match our cat’s eyes. 

I keep getting DMs from pet clothing brands wanting to “partner” with Pepper and send her free cat clothes and cat accessories. Although she did wear a kerchief for a few years in her more adventurous fashion-forward teenage years, I cannot see this cat in clothes now, can you? 

#pepper #blackcat #blackcats #blackcatsofinstagram #blackcatsrule #blackcatsmatter #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #catlover #catlovers #catlove #catoftheday #catphoto #catpic #catpics #cambodiancat #cambodiancatsofinstagram #catlife #catloversclub #catoftheday #catgram #catstagram #cats_of_instagram #catphotography #catsofig #catsoftheworld #catsofinsta #cats🐱 #siemreap #cambodia

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