The Thai New Year’s Day is 13 April every year, but the holiday period includes 14–15 April as well. The word “Songkran” comes from the Sanskrit word saṃkrānti (Devanāgarī: संक्रांति), literally “astrological passage”, meaning transformation or change.
Decided to take a holiday – find the closest hotel with a pool, nice air conditioned rooms and a decent price – and here I am, only a few kms from Savannakhet as the crow flies (the other side of the river) and today I find out that this is the day Laos comes to Thailand – for the Songkran festival. No escape! And what a hoot!
Took a walk this morning and was grabbed by this crazy guy dressed in orange and green, and dragged inside the temple grounds to dance to the band. Turns out he is a nurse from Muktahan hospital – there was a whole mass of staff there, and then he just kept on popping up everywhere I went!
I followed the festivities to a ceremony with some gorgeous dancers and costumes, and then ducked the water bombers on the way back to the hotel. All in fun, it was a joy to be a part of it.
Even from my 10th floor apartment I can see and hear the fun and the laughter as cars with their own water bombers get back at the roadside bombers. And it’s not only water either!
I will post this, just as soon as I can find the photo evidence! Such good times…
Edit and upload: from 2017 – so many more photos, for another time…
abelspace 