Rob:Due to my Birthday ( 30 something ) and working allot, I decided to take a short holiday to Koh Samui and Koh Phagnan in the Gulf of Thailand,but didn’t participate in any diving. These islands are very accessible from Koh Lanta with a minivan ride and a boat trip you arrive safely at your destination.

Whilst on Koh Phagnan it was Songkran. Thailands new years festival which is a Buddhist holiday mainly starting on April the 13th and in some places lasting up to 5 days. The best thing about Songkran is they celebrate with the use of water and believe me its not just a little bit.

Many call Songkran the worlds biggest water fight and young and old people participate in the water play, understandably with the temperatures reaching 34 degrees and over it is a welcoming refreshing break.

The significance of water has many origins ( today it is mainly for fun ) One thought is they can wash away the bad luck of the previous year and cleanse there lives for the next and a lot of Buddha statues are also cleaned. One of the oldest Songkran traditions is where many Thai’s apply a white powder or paste to the face neck or torso of other participants. This white paste is for protection and helps to ward of evil.

In the video you will see the water fight and the appliance of the powder.

If you do have the good luck to participate in Songkran be prepared for allot of fun! Be prepared to get very very wet and if driving a motorbike drive very slowly as you never know when a bucket of water may be tossed at you. Also as its a Buddhist holiday please remember allot of Muslim people do not participate.