[JAMES PIETERSE]

I live in the United States and have become friends with a Thai woman. She has been living in the U.S. for about 15 years but still follows the customs of her homeland. I have read about Songkran Day (April 13-14-15) and the rituals that are performed. I would like to acknowledge the new year but do not want to offend her. As a non-Thai what can I do? Thank you for your help.

Paul

[JAMES PIETERSE]

No one has any advice or suggestions for me?

[BUMbaronos]

Check out http://www.thailandlife.com/songkran.htm

[patrycjakolekk]

Also, check out this link at our thai-blogs.com web site.

[qilmuz6v]

Kind of hard to do in the USA, But you might get her on a small motorcycle with a couple of small children, have her ride past you and hit her in the face with a 5 gallon bucket of water and a few fairly large chunks of ice in it and try to knock her and the kids off of the motorcycle in front of some cars and pickups, if the bucket slips and you actually hit her with it, it is OK as thats what they do here anymore, I know not a great way to sprinkle water on your elders to show respect, but thats what it has turned into here in Thailand.

[apatteopipt]

Me thinks FaranginPetch has been in Thailand too long!
Any chance you could get the lady to drop in for a coffee on the appropriate day?
Then, as she enters, a gentle sprinkling of water with 'Happy New Year' would be appreciated.
Failing that a barbeque in the garden, with a sneak approach from the rear? and Farang's bucket!
A cup of water over the shoulder is the civil way to do it, but whatever approach you use, ensure she understands your motives!

[JAMES PIETERSE]

Me thinks FaranginPetch has been in Thailand too long!
Any chance you could get the lady to drop in for a coffee on the appropriate day?
Then, as she enters, a gentle sprinkling of water with 'Happy New Year' would be appreciated.
Failing that a barbeque in the garden, with a sneak approach from the rear? and Farang's bucket!
A cup of water over the shoulder is the civil way to do it, but whatever approach you use, ensure she understands your motives!

Thank you for your suggestions...a gentle sprinkling it is.

[qilmuz6v]

well I thought he wanted to know what they do in Thailand today, not what was supposed to be done or was customary..

[fmrcurter]

FaranginPhetch, I got a 3 minute-laugh attack after reading your comment. Thanks!

Spaceman, this is exactly what you can expect especially in Phuket. Thank God my friends warned me in advance so I survived last April without being injured and still had a lot of fun.
Sad but true, Songkran can become a tough experience.

[qilmuz6v]

But how bout the lady a few years back that got the bucket over head and the guy had a rope on the bucket, she was in the back of a pickup and it broke her neck and killed her when the bucket got to the end of the rope.
There was a law passed prohibiting such behavior and throwing water at people going by, I think that the law should be enforced, fact all Thai laws should be enforced and not left to the policemen which ones they enforce and which they don't

[fmrcurter]

FaranginPhetch, I thought you were purposely exaggerating in your first comment. I mean, I witness some quite dangerous actions during Songkran but what you are describing is way beyond my imagination. Is it that bad?

[qilmuz6v]

There was a law enacted but never enforced to stop throwing water on vehicles in transit, A lot of people living here take their vacations and trips out of the country during that time, and most just stock up so they do not have to leave their homes or stay at nice hotels where they can get what they want and feel safe and secure on hotel grounds.

Not only people throwing water out of barels along side the roads, but have a few filled with water in pickups and throw water on people from the back at 80 KPH and if that slug of water at such speeds hits someone in the face or even from behind on a scooter, they are going down.
I think I read somewhere last year that 700 people were killed on scooters during songkran, I myself was knocked down a few years ago in Chiang Mai riding my scooter and got a slug of water and ice in the face.

There is no shortage of policemen in Thailand and could very well stop it, but they can do no good setting on their duffs at the policeboxes and gambling on cards and board games and collecting their pay or walking around BKK and issueing 200 baht tickets to farang for dropping cig butts in the gutters.