Anyone actually experienced Bangkok's New Years (Songkran Festival)

[Sandy R]

In 2010, the Thai Songkran Festival in Bangkok, falls on April 13 to April 15. We board the Diamond on April 14th. We'd like to spend a few days in Bangkok prior to boarding the ship. Does the "water" mayhem actually begin on April 13th or does the water throwing begin a few days before? Are there any tourist sites we can see, where people aren't trying to douse us with water?

 

Thanks for any first-hand experience...

 

Sandy

[Aussie Gal]

We were in Bangkok on Oceania's Nautica this year when the "Water Festival" was on. We were lucky as we visited the ancient capital of Ayutthhaya on the first day and the second day we visited a beautiful garden and museum in a private home so did avoid the main city area.

 

The festival lasts for 2-3 days and there is a lot of water throwing. We were in the bus in Ayutthaya and watched it. They did throw water at the bus but we didn't get wet whereas quite a few passengers from the ship who went into the city came back drenched.

 

It does depend on who is throwing the water. Some Thais will not worry about the tourists and will avoid throwing water at them, whereas others think it is part of the fun and of course you then get saturated. They also mix the water with some sort of flour or paste as it did dry white on the windows of the bus.

 

I know that it did tend to ruin some of the private tours as the streets are clogged and no-one can move. Even in Ayutthaya, we spent hours in the bus trying to go down some streets and we arrived back to the ship a couple of hours later than expected.

 

Mind you, it is so hot and humid, that is quite refreshing to get some water on oneself as we found when we left our bus for lunch when a little of the water was thrown on us.

 

The festival was held around the same time this year as your dates are for next year. It is a public holiday over the two days so you can imagine how many people are out on the streets or in their pick up trucks, which are filled with gallon drums of water and with people who are standing in the back ready for the throwing of the water. I remember thinking at the time, what a waste of water, as we are in a 12 year drought here and water is just so precious.

 

Jennie

[Klongmaster]

As a long-term resident of Bangkok maybe I can help you here.

 

Songkran is celebrated over three days in Bangkok and longer in other parts of the country.

13,14 15 April are the normal days but this year it will probably be longer as the 13th is a Monday, meaning Thais will probably make an extra long weekend of it from the 11th-15th.

 

The plus-side of Songkran is that everyone deserts Bangkok for their home provinces, so the city itself is very easy to get around - no traffic jams.

 

The minus-side is getting wet and foreign visitors are the worst offenders in this. Most of us who have been here a while stay inside for the duration. However, if you're just visiting it's possible to do the main tourist things like the Grand Palace etc without being drenched.

 

Khao San Road is the craziest area of the city - it's the backpackers ghetto, so as long as you avoid that area you'll be fine.

 

You'll be much better working together with someone who knows their way around here. Many cruisers have found Bangkok Day Tours take good care of their clients.

[Sandy R]

Thanks for the information Aussie Gal and Klongmaster.

 

Hey, Klongmaster... last time we were in Bangkok (several years ago), we stayed at the Royal Orchid Sheraton. This time, we're thinking of staying on the opposite side of the river at the Hilton. Are there any disadvantages with staying on the opposite side of the river? Any advantages with staying at the Royal Orchid again?

 

Sandy

[Klongmaster]

Sandy

The Hilton Millenium is an excellent property and there are many advantages in staying across the river, but no disadavantages that I know of.

 

They run a free boat across the river which connects with the city's BTS Skytrain system which is very convenient if you're staying a few days.

 

If your taking tours you'll be grateful for staying across the river because it's so much quicker getting in and out through the traffic without having to cross the bridge. Sometimes it's an hour extra to the Shangri-La or Sheraton from the Taksin Bridge even though you could literally throw a stone at the hotel.

[Sandy R]

Klongmaster... thanks so much for all your help. We're really looking forward to our Bangkok stay. It's just going to be difficult to wait until April 2010!

 

Sandy