Songkran advice (sorry if obvious).

[Patanawet]

Sorry to bore, but ----I'll repeat my annual Songkran warnings.

DO NOT take passport, credit cards, more cash than you'll need for the day. If you can bear it, leave your phone at home.

BEWARE PICKPOCKETS !!!!!!  To keep things dry, you can purchase everywhere plastic pouches to hang around your neck but beware the string holding it can be easily cut (maybe tuck inside your shirt). You will never catch any thief.

Personally, I scowl at big farang with water tanks strapped to their backs but smile and laugh at locals and children who try to soak me.

Renting a motor bike is not a good idea unless you intend to use it only after six or so.

Sorry to any locals for whom this advice is  'stating the bleeding obvious'.

[vinapu]

thank you 

 

it's one of those obvious things which warrants repeating and repeating at ever turn. We will hear  stories of  things stolen and damaged/ destroyed by water.

One of my forum friends says he doesn't eave his room until after dark, another one got and eye infection from dirty water splashed .

 

So it seems to be fun but not for everybody.

[dellboy]

if you are over a certain age , i would avoid thailand for these few days !

[floridarob]

5 hours ago, vinapu said:

another one got and eye infection from dirty water splashed .

Not from Choline, in the eye by accident?

[10tazione]

55 minutes ago, dellboy said:

if you are over a certain age , i would avoid thailand for these few days !

What age exactly would that be? A friend wants to know if he should avoid or go 😀

[floridarob]

8 minutes ago, 10tazione said:

What age exactly would that be? A friend wants to know if he should avoid or go 😀

I'll be here for my 1st time ever, not by plan/choice.... waiting to see how much I hate it, lol

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, floridarob said:

I'll be here for my 1st time ever, not by plan/choice.... waiting to see how much I hate it, lol

Hurrah , we will get first hand account, yes ?

[Patanawet]

7 hours ago, floridarob said:

I'll be here for my 1st time ever, not by plan/choice.... waiting to see how much I hate it, lol

You'll love it the first few times.
Nothing to do with age (unless, like me, you're a grumpy old git). 
Just follow my advice above and just wear quick drying shorts and shirt.

OH, an afterthought --- if it gets too much, go to Silom Soi 4 which will traditionally be a dry (water not beer) zone.

 

[floridarob]

44 minutes ago, Patanawet said:

OH, an afterthought --- if it gets too much, go to Silom Soi 4 which will traditionally be a dry (water not beer) zone.

I'm in Pattaya, it starts here the day I'm leaving, I think 

[bkkmfj2648]

58 minutes ago, floridarob said:

I'm in Pattaya, it starts here the day I'm leaving, I think 

My boyfriend told me that if you go into the heterosexual girl bar area of Pattaya City - at soi 6 and soi 7 - he showed me videos last night where they were already starting with the water splashing and water fights....

@floridarob would you mind if tonight we can stop by the Cocka2 bar for a moment ?  I would like to buy a couple of these penis water pistols.....

They look like a lot of fun....and only cost 200 baht each....

[10tazione]

I experienced Songkran twice in Bangkok.

I think once every 5-10 years it can be fun. Just don't expect people to have mercy with you! Those water guns become bigger every year! And the sudden feeling of ice cubes on your neck is awesome lol. Take revenge!

Buy water protection for phone/documents. Expect to get water into your eyes/ears, so some kind of protection could be good.

Dont expect to be able to do any sightseeing. Checking in/out can be a challenge if you have to walk from/to your hotel with luggage because the road is closed/blocked for cars.

[a-447]

I went to Bangkok last year for Songkran - the first time in years.

I dressed appropriately - shorts, t-shirt and flip flops - and put my phone in a waterproof plastic bag which I wore around my neck, under my shirt.

I headed over to the area around Siam Paragon and had a ball! There were parades featuring hot guys from around Asia, all dressed in tiny national costumes, firing cold water at everyone. It was quite a spectacle.

Of course, I got soaked but I didn't care, as it was so hot.

I've seen a lot of foreigners who stupidly get upset when someone squirts them with water. FFS, they are in Thailand during the water festival so what did they expect???

So don't worry about your age. Just buy the biggest super soaker you can find and join in the fun. 

It finishes around 6pm so you can head off to the bars or wherever without getting wet. (This is not the case in Pattaya!!)

[Patanawet]

4 hours ago, floridarob said:

I'm in Pattaya, it starts here the day I'm leaving, I think 

A merciful relief🤣😁
Careful to lock the taxi doors on journey to airport.

[PeterRS]

On 4/10/2025 at 2:42 PM, Patanawet said:

DO NOT take passport, credit cards, more cash than you'll need for the day. If you can bear it, leave your phone at home.

I believe I am correct in adding under Thai law passports have to be carried by non-Thais at all times. I know some members here take photo copies rather than actual passports which ought to be of the details page and the page with the visa. Even if you decide not take take actual passports during Songkran, take the photocopies in your plastic bag with the phone. Yes, I am sure some plan to take photos with the phone rather than carrying a camera. 

That said I assume the police are lenient during the Songkran Festival, unless you inadvertently get into some melee.

[Patanawet]

5 hours ago, PeterRS said:

I believe I am correct in adding under Thai law passports have to be carried by non-Thais at all times. 

That said I assume the police are lenient during the Songkran Festival, unless you inadvertently get into some melee.

Yes, I'm sure that is indeed the law.
However, having lived and worked in the middle of Bangkok for 25+ years I've never heard of anyone in trouble for only producing a photocopy of a license. In fact I've been stopped and searched whilst going home in a taxi several times (usually towards the end of the month when officer's rents are due) and no problem.

I even vaguely recall a few years ago, a police chief (probably Thonglor) published a poster  warning against pickpockets and advising carrying a photocopy of passport. It could even have been at Songkran time.

What a pity the police don't do something similar now when many maybe seeking the help of police. 

I should also add, Peter, that I NEVER carry important original documents with me except when needed, like to Chiang Wattana etc.

[Keithambrose]

5 hours ago, Patanawet said:

Yes, I'm sure that is indeed the law.
However, having lived and worked in the middle of Bangkok for 25+ years I've never heard of anyone in trouble for only producing a photocopy of a license. In fact I've been stopped and searched whilst going home in a taxi several times (usually towards the end of the month when officer's rents are due) and no problem.

I even vaguely recall a few years ago, a police chief (probably Thonglor) published a poster  warning against pickpockets and advising carrying a photocopy of passport. It could even have been at Songkran time.

What a pity the police don't do something similar now when many maybe seeking the help of police. 

I should also add, Peter, that I NEVER carry important original documents with me except when needed, like to Chiang Wattana etc.

I never carry any identity documents.  I know I should, but, as has been said, you are also advised not to take your passport with you. I could compromise  by taking my driving licence,  but life is too short!

[vinapu]

12 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

 I could compromise  by taking my driving licence,  but life is too short!

this is what I carry with me, in case something happens at least they have something to identify to whom that bloody carcass possibly belongs to .

Passport belong to safety box in my opinion

[bkkmfj2648]

I only carry with me laminated copies of my Thai driving license and home country passport.  Originals are always locked away in the safety lockbox.

[PeterRS]

7 minutes ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

I only carry with me laminated copies of my Thai driving license and home country passport.  Originals are always locked away in the safety lockbox.

A simple question. I am frequently asked for my passport when visiting banks and some other businesses (phone company, TrueVisions etc.). Copies are then made of the details page and the visa page. Are laminated copies acceptable - and have you also laminated copies of your visa?

[bkkmfj2648]

53 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

Are laminated copies acceptable

NO - but they can buy you time in case you have an unfortunate event (police control, emergency health assistance, identify who you are and you are when unconscious), etcetera. 

53 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

and have you also laminated copies of your visa?

Yes - one side is the ID page of my passport and the flip side is the current visa page - so each year my retirement visa is extended -- I go back to the lamination shop here in Pattaya and they issue me new facsimiles of my ID cards.

Back in December when I performed this annual exercise I also asked them to laminate my global health insurance card.

What I like about all of this, is that when I am swimming over on Koh Larn - these laminated cards are inserted inside a ziplock bag (with some money) and reside inside my swimming trunk pocket.  Every once and a while, there are tragic events and someone is either killed and/or seriously maimed, and they cannot identify who they are and the hospital does not know how to bill them - hence impacting the level of life saving service that might be implemented.

So, the purpose of these laminated cards is to mitigate some of the potential negative impacts that could happen to us in our lives...