Songkran (Thai New Year)

It was a busy week.  It is Songkran now and everyone is in a festive mood.  I went to see another temple.  It was the scariest one I've been too. The steps go straight up.  It had a great view from the top but it was very scary coming down.  It took me a while to take the first step down. There were a lot of children monks at the temple.

On my birthday I left for Chiang Mai, a city 10 hours north of Bangkok.  I went with one of my Thai friends.  7 of us rode in a car with 5 seats and I sat in the very back.  It was a long trip, but was worth it.  Songrkan is usually 3 days, but here they celebrate it 7 days.  A canal surrounds the city.  People drive cars walk around the canals and throw water at each other.  It was alot of fun, but the water was a little dirty.  There were also parades and other things.  The tradition of Songkran is washing people with water to cleanse them for the new year.  The Thai people love spraying foreigners, so I got very wet. Also in Chiang Mai is the highest point in Thailand.  It is at a temple on top of a mountain and we visited there one day.  We went home for the last day of Songrkan in Bangkok.  We went to the main Thai area and there were not many foreigners.  In Bangkok, they throw water but also put powder on each other's faces.  I had powder and water everywhere, but it was a great experience.


The red shirt saga has gotten alot more serious.  The protests used to be almost like a tailgate for a sports team.  Everyone was hanging out and having a good time for a cause.  It was a very festive mood.  However, it got very serious on my birthday.  The red shirts fought with the police.  25 people were killed and many were injured.  The next day the red shirts paraded the bodies through the street.  The people of Thailand seem to be mad at the red shirts for causing all of this.  They are costing the city and country millions in tourism.  Three of the biggest malls are shut down.  It was calm during Songkran, as everyone was focusing on that. But it is a very serious issue now, that is hurting Thailand, and no end is in sight.


I have been saying goodbye to alot of friends.  I went to the basketball courts last night and said bye to all my friends there and also to the places I go eat at night.  I am going to the school later to see my friends there and to the city tonight to eat with other friends.  It is kinda sad and I am also not looking forward to the plane ride home, but I am looking forward to good food, air conditioning, and a hot shower... Oh yeah and family