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TonyT's 8th Thailand blog:
A month in and around the country:
March - April 2025.
Page 10
SONGKRAN
A couple of very big days for all of Thailand; the Songkran festival.
Songkran is the Thai New Year's national holiday. It is held between the 12th and 16th April every year, but the holiday period extends from 14 to 15 April.
In 2018 the Thai cabinet extended the festival nationwide to five days, 12–16 April, to enable citizens to travel home for the holiday
Rather than fill this page with details of Songkran they can be found here on the
All about Songkran page.
SUNDAY 13th APRIL
Breakfast with the family at 08:00. My wife has told me on many occasions of how much her family appreciates the way I simply "muck-in". Not only do I live in the family house with no air-con (yet), I sit and eat with them and mix as well as I can with my limited Thai. I know for a fact that many farangs who are married into a Thai family refuse to have much to do with them; even staying in hotels and eating out. OK, I may refuse some of the things they eat which are not to my taste but there's plenty other dishes on offer, most of which are tasty but very nutritional as well.
Today was quiet. No celebration today as such, but more of a family eating and drinking evening. The blessings will take place tomorrow.
MONDAY 14th:
A hot and humid morning. Went into Pratas supermarket to buy food for dinner.
The Songkran blessings started early afternoon with the usual water offerings and prayers.
A couple of Aom's aunts called round later and offer their blessings.
Thunder and lightning and a fair bit of rain for a spell drove us undercover but still outside.
Last day in Surin. Packing cases for the last time this visit. Transport to the next section of our Thailand Visit had been arranged for a pick-up at 07:30 tomorrow.
TOP: The blessing with water.
BOTTOM: My family.
TUESDAY 15th:
Up at 6am and getting the final packing done.
Our mini bus turned up a half hour early but we were all ready. A very fond farewell to Somjit and Chet and off went on the 6-hour drive to Pattaya.
The roads were surprisingly busy seeing as it was Songkran season and after an uneventful trip we arrived at the Hard Rock Hotel just after 2pm.
Check-in done and luggage dumped and out we went into the mayhem of Beach Road which, of course, was awash with water fights. We sneaked into a Beach Road bar and got some beers on the go. Getting back to the Hard Rock was a soaking affair. Already wet but all three of us were in the pool for an bit of fun. Jack enjoyed himself rolling around in the inflatable sphere.
We were driven out of the pool after a thunderstorm arrived... health & safety; water and electricity?
All a bit weary after the early start and long journey so we opted to eat in then hotel and get an early night.
TOP: A very wet Beach Road bar.
BOTTOM: Aom & Jack armed for water combat.
WEDNESDAY 16th:
A very grey overcast morning at 07:00, but hot and humid.
Big breakfast at 08:00; oodles of choice at the Hard Rock.
Aom decided to go and blow 7000THB on hair extensions. Words fail me but money being wasted springs to mind.
Early afternoon saw us walking (a long way) down Beach Road interspaced by a quick tour of Pattaya Central mal. Ended up in Bay Watch bar/restaurant. This was the very first Pattaya eatery I went into back in 2011 and back then I had a delicious Thai Green Curry. So to celebrate all those years I ordered the same and was not disappointed.
Caught a Baht-bus back along Second Road as far as the main entrance to Hard Rock.
As said, very, very humid today with sweat "poring" off us.
In the evening, the idea was to find a bar without getting a soaking. Quite difficult in Pattaya. We did find one bar but, for mr, it all went downhill. We walked down the Soi totally unarmed (no water pistols, etc.) bt the morons outside some of the bars just can't resist. I particularly hate haaving water been thrown on my back after I've walked past. In the end I was thoroughly soaked which put paid to sitting and enjoying some beers; I've no intention sitting there in soaking wet clothes. Of cours4e Songkran can be fun but many just don't know when to stop. It ruined my night out.
Page 10
SONGKRAN
Songkran is the Thai New Year's national holiday. It is held between the 12th and 16th April every year, but the holiday period extends from 14 to 15 April.
In 2018 the Thai cabinet extended the festival nationwide to five days, 12–16 April, to enable citizens to travel home for the holiday
Rather than fill this page with details of Songkran they can be found here on the
All about Songkran page.
SUNDAY 13th APRIL
Breakfast with the family at 08:00. My wife has told me on many occasions of how much her family appreciates the way I simply "muck-in". Not only do I live in the family house with no air-con (yet), I sit and eat with them and mix as well as I can with my limited Thai. I know for a fact that many farangs who are married into a Thai family refuse to have much to do with them; even staying in hotels and eating out. OK, I may refuse some of the things they eat which are not to my taste but there's plenty other dishes on offer, most of which are tasty but very nutritional as well.
Today was quiet. No celebration today as such, but more of a family eating and drinking evening. The blessings will take place tomorrow.
MONDAY 14th:
A hot and humid morning. Went into Pratas supermarket to buy food for dinner.
The Songkran blessings started early afternoon with the usual water offerings and prayers.
A couple of Aom's aunts called round later and offer their blessings.
Thunder and lightning and a fair bit of rain for a spell drove us undercover but still outside.
Last day in Surin. Packing cases for the last time this visit. Transport to the next section of our Thailand Visit had been arranged for a pick-up at 07:30 tomorrow.
TOP: The blessing with water.
BOTTOM: My family.
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TOP: A very wet Beach Road bar.
BOTTOM: Aom & Jack armed for water combat.
WEDNESDAY 16th:
A very grey overcast morning at 07:00, but hot and humid.
Big breakfast at 08:00; oodles of choice at the Hard Rock.
Aom decided to go and blow 7000THB on hair extensions. Words fail me but money being wasted springs to mind.
Early afternoon saw us walking (a long way) down Beach Road interspaced by a quick tour of Pattaya Central mal. Ended up in Bay Watch bar/restaurant. This was the very first Pattaya eatery I went into back in 2011 and back then I had a delicious Thai Green Curry. So to celebrate all those years I ordered the same and was not disappointed.
Caught a Baht-bus back along Second Road as far as the main entrance to Hard Rock.
As said, very, very humid today with sweat "poring" off us.
In the evening, the idea was to find a bar without getting a soaking. Quite difficult in Pattaya. We did find one bar but, for mr, it all went downhill. We walked down the Soi totally unarmed (no water pistols, etc.) bt the morons outside some of the bars just can't resist. I particularly hate haaving water been thrown on my back after I've walked past. In the end I was thoroughly soaked which put paid to sitting and enjoying some beers; I've no intention sitting there in soaking wet clothes. Of cours4e Songkran can be fun but many just don't know when to stop. It ruined my night out.