Sonkran Festival In Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Lots of Songkran action in Kanchanaburi. Songkran is the Thai holiday that is usually referred to in the West as the "Water Festival." Actually, it's the Thai lunar New Year. Thais love holidays so much that the celebrate three new year's days, Jan. 1st; Chinese New Year; and Songkran. So, back when they were wondering how to celebrate new years I can totally imagine being at the meeting. "What can we do to make it special, to make it fun?" "Well, it's the hottest month of the year by far, so baking cakes is out." "I got it! Let's throw water at each other! Big giant water fights! We can put ice in the water, and throw big buckets of it!" The original idea was to just sprinkle a little bit of water on the shoulder of your family and friends, to bless them and wish everybody luck. I don't quite know if the sprinkler or the sprinklee gets the luck, but good luck is the idea. By now it has become an all-out water World War III, with hoses and complete drenching. So, the advice is: if you find yourself in Thailand for Songkran, be sure to keep a few zip-lock bags on hand for your wallet, your phone, and your camera.