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What's in store for Songkran
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I am quite happy that the water throwing only lasts 1 day here in Phuket. Yesterday was fun, a nice day for all the family.
We first drove way up to the north of Phuket, to Mai Khao beach, an
area which is still quite "traditional" although there is the JW
Marriott Resort somewhere along the beach. There is a turtle project at
Mai Khao (see www.maikhaoturtles.com), and a yearly turtle release
ceremony held on April 13th. The mayor gave a speech, all the local
gentry attended, and then the lucky few who had known to book their
turtles in advance (doh!) got a turtle to release into the sea.
From Mai Khao we drove to Patong (the main tourist beach), only 10km
from home, but as I had guessed the traffic was heavy and it took 45
minutes to reach Patong.
The world and his brother were heading there for some watery fun. What
struck me most was the sense of happiness all around. The water rituals
used to be limited to sprinking buddha images (like in Mai Khao, see
photo above) or splashing a little water on friends or family as a way
of ritually cleansing the body and making way for a new year free from
any past worries.
It has gone a bit mad, with drinking, water fights and way too many
road accidents due in part to alcohol, and in part to the dangerous way
people throw water at moving vehicles. We did take a walk around Patong
and the kids loved it, carrying their water pistols and being splashed
and being able to shoot back! I really must get a waterproof housing
for the camera...
Photos taken from the safety of our car!
Courtesy of Jamie Monk.
More at
More photos at http://jamie-monk.blogspot.com/2007/04/songkran-in-phuket-april-13th-2007.html
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Phuket’s first Toy Library opens
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