Learning Thai

We're now on our third day of Songkran - the traditional Thai New Year's holiday that will last through Monday. It's a time that has important religious significance and is the main holiday for families to get together. However the parts of the holiday that we're noticing the most are: people wearing very colorful flowered shirts, shockingly uncongested streets in Bangkok (since many people return to their hometowns), and lots and lots of waterfighting. The Thai people refer to this as "len naam" or "water play." Basically, for four days, everyone has the freedom to douse everyone else with water and smear powder on their faces.

On Saturday Claire and I decided to go out and get involved. So, we took her new water gun and rode the motorcycle around until we found a group that was "playing." After they drenched us with icy water and put the powder on our faces they welcomed us to join them. They were set up at the side of the street with a big barrel of ice water. We would wait for motorcycles, buses with open windows, and pickups full of people with their own barrels of water to come by. Then we'd all throw water on them and, in the case of the roving pickup waterfighters, they would throw water on us. Claire had a great time squirting the other kids and is hoping that we can go do it again tomorrow.

Even in waterfighting the Thai people are suprisingly polite. When a motorcycle would come along the waterfighters would step out into the street and wave, inviting the motorcyle driver to pull closer to the curb. When they did they would pour water on them and let them go on their way. And at least one person took time to wai me before smearing my face with powder.

Tonight I got soaked again when I went out to get our traditional weekend meal of grilled pork, somtam (green papaya salad), and sticky rice. I was hoping to avoid it, but it did cool me down. It's definitely better to just grin and go along with it - otherwise it would just be annoying!

Claire practicing for Songkran.

Claire helping to douse a pickup.

A wet and powdered Claire.

Part of the group that let us join them.

-Tom