Moving Into the Songkran Festival

Three more days left until we're on the road again. We're currently in a state of overwhelmed, panicky delirium trying to get everything done. I'm not sure how this happens, but moving seems to catch us by surprise every time.

We've shifted our money around, paid our taxes, and cleaned out our drawers. Tomorrow we go to the Thai embassy to pick up our visas. Really, the only thing left to do is pack our bags, but it still feels like there's tons left to do.

Wednesday night we'll head to Bangkok, or as it's known by it's full name:

Good luck fitting that on a Hard Rock Cafe shirt.

Anyway, we'll be getting there right in the middle of the Songkran festival. This famous celebration is also known as the Water Festival. Basically, it entails an enormous three day water fight where the entire city gives in to the disgusting heat and goes around drenching anyone and everyone with water pistols, balloons, hoses, and buckets. I've heard stories of businessmen in suits stepping off the SkyTrain and having security guards dump pails of water on their heads.

The only rule, from what I've been told, is that nobody's allowed to get pissed off. You have to take it Thai-style, which is with a laugh and a smile.

Of course, there's more to it than just a big water fight. Like everything, there's meaning behind the madness:

For me, this is a telling sign. Fiona and I are entering into a new phase of our lives, what with the CELTA certifications, and the whole Uncertain Future thing. I can't think of a more appropriate way to see this new chapter in than with a Bangkok Baptism.

Posted by flow Frazao on April 10, 2005 at 09:52 AM in Moving | Permalink