Songkran Pictures 2009 in Samut Prakan

[Richard Barrow]

With the declaration of a state of emergency in Bangkok and in certain districts of surrounding provinces, it would seem that most Songkran celebrations will be cancelled this year. However, there doesn't seem to be any clear announcement on this yet. The state of emergency means that groups of five people or more are not allowed to gather. This would include Songkran parades and merit making ceremonies as well as special areas for water fights. I will report back on this thread tomorrow the situation in Samut Prakan which is also covered by the state of emergency.

[KhaoNiaw]

In Samutprakan, we have been told that measures do not apply to entertainment venues, informal gatherings of friends, and almost certainly not on water-squirting operations tomorrow. This came unofficially from a local politician who is with a red party but mighty pissed off with them at the moment. I haven't been out very far to investigate but shops are serving alcohol as normal and across the road we have a party with loud music pumping out and about 30 people in attendance.

[Richard Barrow]

This is a scene from Samut Prakan about 30 minutes ago. The governor led local people in making merit by giving alms to hundreds of monks. This was followed with pouring scented water on the hands of elders and Buddha images. All of this was done despite a state of emergency in the city.

I drove around Paknam and saw quite a few people visiting their local temples. I then went to the city hall to see if there were any signs for the preparation for the Songkran parade. However, all the gates were locked and the two road entrances had barricades and were being guarded by unarmed soldiers. There were no signs of tanks.

[KhaoNiaw]

Also just had a drive around Paknam and the local area. Local communities seem to be carrying on with their organized ceremonies like the one in Richard's pictures. We saw them going on in Thipawan and Soi Boonsiri.

Things are quite quiet but the children are starting to come and drench passersby and a few groups were in the process of setting up their boomboxes. Just a few pickups with revelers around. Our kids are getting itchy trigger fingers. Our neighbour is planning to take his pickup out but is waiting to assess the situation first.

[Richard Barrow]

Yes I would agree. Not many people out yet. I have just been out again. The Songkran Parade through town was cancelled and city hall is out of bounds. There are some people playing Songkran and a few pickups but not as many as this time last year. However, I think people will start coming out soon, though slowly. We only have a few unarmed soldiers at the city hall here and no tanks on the streets. No red shirts too. So, I think there will be water fights as normal by this afternoon. I think it will be the same story in Khao San road. But still, numbers will be down for sure as people in Bangkok are just nervous about going out.

[Richard Barrow]

This is a picture of people celebrating Songkran along Taiban Road in Samut Prakan. It was very slow earlier but more people came out to play from about 2 p.m. Things are picking up now though the police also suddenly appeared at 3 p.m. and started giving people tickets for not wearing helmets. I haven't seen any pictures yet but I am sure Khao San is much the same in Bangkok.

[KhaoNiaw]

It got lively in our area in the afternoon. I was out at the roadside with my nephew for a few hours and it was good fun. One quite big drunken fight broke out down the road which actually drew a few police officers. But broken bottles were quickly swept off the road and the fun resumed. I just saw one other foreigner all afternoon.

[Richard Barrow]

Which area did you celebrate Songkran today? I saw 6 foreigners which is five more than usual.

[KhaoNiaw]

We were on Soi Bangmuang (now officially renamed Pradit Samosorn Road) off Theparak, close to where the Boonsiri-Paknam songtaew starts/ends, and near to Bangmuang School (now Debsirin Samutprakan - but I haven't got used to that change either).

[Richard Barrow]

I was at the circuit that goes down Taiban Road, past the Crocodile Farm and back down Sailuad Road. There were literally thousands of pickup trucks by about 2-3 p.m. It was a very slow start this year. The police came out at exactly 3 p.m. and started to give tickets to people riding without helmets. They had then disappeared by 6 p.m. Outside those times I never saw any police at all. Certainly no checkpoints to check for drunk driving. I think tomorrow will be busier.

I think in the morning I will check out Ancient Siam. Both The Erawan Museum and Bang Nampheung Floating Market also have Songkran activities this week. I will post pictures soon on www.paknam.com.