In Thailand, April is the hottest month of the year (over 100 degrees most days). And what does the heat do? It makes people cranky and uncomfortable. Sometimes being uncomfortable makes people do crazy things.
So what crazy thing has Thailand decided to do during the month of April?
They make guns accessible to every single person, preparing for the war that starts on April 13th and lasts for three days.
It’s called Songkran.
And people come from all over to participate…because it’s not actually a war of hate, but a war of respect and caring for one another. Thailand is a peaceful country and helping each other out is expected in their culture. So what’s the best way you can think of to cool people off during the hottest month of the year?
You guessed it…a massive water fight!
So the guns they sell are water guns and the war is one huge water fight that lasts during the Thai New Year (3 days) to help keep people cool.
Streets are lined with barrels of water, with hoses that are constantly refilling them. Teenagers walk around with super soakers, adults with water pales, business women in heals with little umbrellas that shoot water out of the top. People line the moat that surround the city and have rope tied to buckets to pull water from the moat as they reload their weapons.
People are relentless, but you can’t help but love it. The refreshing coolness of constantly being wet (if you dare to venture outside) is a welcomed relief when the only access you have to AC is 7Eleven, McDonalds, and Starbucks.
Had you asked me what I was the least excited about for Thailand I would have said the weather. Being there in April during the hottest month of the year. But looking back on it, I would have given the same answer for one of the reasons why I enjoyed Thailand the most, because being a part of this festival was just too much fun!
Here are some more pictures to enjoy!
Family fun
Tuk tuk passengers are easy targets.
M Squad ambush
