Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 29
  1. #1
    Out there...
    StrontiumDog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    BKK
    Posts
    40,030

    Thailand celebrates Songkran 2012

    http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nati...-30179948.html

    KINGDOM CELEBRATES SONGKRAN


    The Nation April 14, 2012 1:00 am


    Thousands get together for wet, wild madness


    The Songkran atmosphere affected the whole Kingdom yesterday, while popular destinations such as Bangkok's Khao San Road - which expected to see 10,000 revellers a day - Khon Kaen's Khao Niew Road and Chiang Mai city were packed with celebrants splashing water.

    In the South, especially at the Songkran Festival in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, many Malaysian tourists joined in the fun, while some Thais also crossed the border to visit Malaysia.

    Chiang Mai saw residents and tourists, equipped with water guns, soaking one another amid booming music. Many people also loaded water tanks on to pickup trucks circling the city wall, causing several severe traffic jams, including at Tha Pae Gate, Somphetch Market and Chang Pheuk Gate.

    In the afternoon, a beautiful procession led by the "Phra Phutthasihing" and various Buddha images from other temples, and also featuring Songkran beauty pageants, started from San Pa Khoi Intersection, passing through Tha Phae Road to Wat Phra Sing.

    Many people also made merit and poured scented holy water on to Buddha images for good luck during this Thai traditional New Year.

    In Bangkok's Khao San Road and surrounding areas, the atmosphere was robust with friendly water wars between Thais and foreigners amid tight security provided by some 300 policemen and 150 security volunteers.

    About 200 city law-enforcers were dispatched from the Phra Nakhon District Office to work with police to provide order and prevent violence or inappropriate behaviour such as men groping female revellers or women wearing clothes that were too revealing. If the offenders ignored a warning, they could face a lewd-act charge and be fined Bt500 immediately.

    Another popular water-war zone, Silom Road, was also packed with revellers while Songkran-related shops opened along the footpaths.

    In Buri Ram's Muang district, residents and tourists poured into the Buriram United Football Club's I-Mobile Stadium to celebrate Songkran day and enjoy concerts on three stages featuring Thai, Korean and Japanese artists. About 1,000 police and volunteers provided security at the site. It was expected that tens of thousands would attend this event.

    In Hat Yai, which suffered from a car-bombing on March 31, many residents and tourists splashed one another, particularly on Sanehanusorn Road in front of the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel and at Natpat Unthit 3 Road where the "Hat Yai Midnight Songkran" event was hosted. Hat Yai fire engines supplied water to large tanks around the city for revellers.

    In Phuket, despite the recent tsunami scare, about 2,000 residents offered alms to 326 monks and poured water on to Buddha images for good luck at 7am at the public park at the end of Saphan Hin Peninsula before the fun-filled water war commenced at Patong Beach from the late morning onwards.

    In Chon Buri, 11 districts celebrated Songkran under the theme of "Miracle of Songkran: Miracle of Chon Buri", under which the province's cultural uniqueness will be presented until April 21.
    "Slavery is the daughter of darkness; an ignorant people is the blind instrument of its own destruction; ambition and intrigue take advantage of the credulity and inexperience of men who have no political, economic or civil knowledge. They mistake pure illusion for reality, license for freedom, treason for patriotism, vengeance for justice."-Simón Bolívar

  2. #2
    Out there...
    StrontiumDog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    BKK
    Posts
    40,030
    It's time to wash away your worries | Bangkok Post: news

    It's time to wash away your worries

    Songkran is a time for celebration, not to dwell on political, economic woes or issues of violence, the nation's leaders say


    Thai people forgot their troubles and put aside their differences yesterday kicking off the Songkran festival with wet and wild water fights across the country.


    On tourist-friendly Khao San Road, police caught one of the pervs trying to use Songkran to molest foreign women, and dealt him some rough and mocking justice. The sign reads, "I love to touch girls' boobs."


    In Bangkok, governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra marked the start of the Thai New Year festivities by presiding over a merit making ceremony in the morning, giving alms to 185 monks . Revellers _ Thais and foreign tourists _ joined the water splashing free-for-all in several areas, including Silom Road, Khao San Road, and outside CentralWorld shopping centre.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra went to the North to open the Songkran festival in her hometown, Chiang Mai.

    In the morning she joined the public in giving alms to 99 monks.

    The prime minister also wished the Thai people a happy Songkran or Thai New Year's Day.

    She said the happiness of Thai people would encourage her to continue to work.

    She said she hoped that all the bad things and problems besetting the country will soon become things of the past so that a new era could begin with love, forgiveness and unity.

    In the afternoon, Ms Yingluck, accompanied by her son Supasek Amornchat, boarded a truck to travel from a hotel to Tha Pae Gate to perform bathing rites for the Phra Buddha Sihing statue. Along the route, revellers splashed her and her son.

    The start of the Songkran festival also made a big splash in Hat Yai, in Songkhla. Crowds of Thai and foreign revellers enjoyed water-splashing activities despite high security levels in the area. The festivities provided some light relief as revellers tried to put the recent bomb attack in the downtown area, which killed three people and injured hundreds, behind them.

    Hundreds of security officers are patrolling during the festival.

    In the southernmost provinces, water splashing festivities also kicked off amid tightened security.

    In Narathiwat, people travelled on the backs of pickup trucks, loaded with water-filled plastic barrels roaming the streets soaking others while in Sungai Kolok, bordering Malaysia, both Thai and Malaysian tourists participated in water throwing.

    In Yala which was recently rocked by bomb blasts, governor Dejrath Simsiri and Thawee Sodsong, the secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre led more than 1,000 Buddhists in giving alms to 130 monks. Residents in downtown areas were out in force throwing water amid tight security patrols.

    In Prachin Buri, while crowds of revellers were enjoying water fights on Ratbamrung Road, some teenagers became embroiled in brawls. Some threw a few home-made bombs, resulting in three serious injuries.


    Even Google joined in the fun with a virtual water festival on the Thai-language search page.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
    good2bhappy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last Online
    11-11-2018 @ 05:44 PM
    Location
    Klong Samwa
    Posts
    15,308
    saw some lovely young ladies cyote dancing in the back of trucks yesterday
    oh well today off to the temple with the family

  4. #4
    Out there...
    StrontiumDog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    BKK
    Posts
    40,030
    Water festival draws crowds across country - The Nation

    Water festival draws crowds across country

    The Nation on Sunday April 15, 2012 1:00 am

    Tourists enjoy the Songkran fun yesterday on Khao San Road.

    People have flocked to celebrate the water-splashing festival at many popular venues across the country.

    Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday presided over the opening of celebrations in her hometown, Chiang Mai. Speaking in northern dialect on her weekly TV show, she wished all Thais happiness, a fresh start free of trouble and a safe journey during the traditional New Year.

    In Chiang Mai, she urged people to be polite when splashing water and refrain from drinking alcohol to prevent accidents. She broadcast her TV programme from Bo Sang umbrella village in San Kamphaeng district.

    Meanwhile, local residents in the province built a giant sand chedi yesterday using 700 cubic metres of sand, as part of a merit-making ceremony.

    Chiang Mai Night Safari's eight-year-old elephant "Nong Nam Wan" also celebrated Songkran on the Chiang Mai-Hang Dong Road by holding a rubber tube with its trunk to spray water on people.

    Despite the car bomb that rocked Hat Yai late last month, hotel and tourism entrepreneurs in the city have fared better than expected, as all 25,000 rooms in the city were reserved. Malaysian tourists are the biggest group of foreigners travelling there to celebrate the festival, according to Somchart Pimthanapoonporn, chairman of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hoteliers Association.

    Previously, after the explosion in Hat Yai, Somchart said businesses had expected only 50 per cent of the rooms to be reserved since a lot of tourists from Singapore and Malaysia had cancelled reservations.

    He estimated that the district would be able to generate revenue of around Bt50 million from Wednesday till Friday.

    Despite the blazing heat, Khao San Road was crowded with Thai and foreign revellers for the second day of New Year celebrations yesterday. They were entertained by a foam party and music performance.

    Supachai Limwuttiwong, a Thai man who joined the Khao San celebrations, said the hot weather did not affect him that much, though he wanted police to strictly implement safety measures as he was worried about pickpockets and women being molested.

    With a huge flock of revellers on Silom Road, police from Bang Rak, Yannawa and Thung Mahamek stations combined forces to ensure safety. Selling alcohol and carrying weapons were prohibited, but reports emerged of vendors selling alcohol. To prevent improper or lewd dancing, police prohibited vehicles equipped with amplifiers from entering the road.

    People in Kanchanaburi celebrated Songkran in Mon style, by offering alms to 100 monks on Uttamanusorn Bridge, the longest wooden bridge in Thailand.

    On Angthong's Khao Suk Road, police yesterday implemented strict measures to prevent crime, molestation and indecency after some youngsters were seen engaging in obscene acts on Friday.

    Local residents in Phitsanulok made merit for their ancestors.

    On "Khao Niew Road" in Khon Kaen, 51,814 people performed a "human wave" at 7pm on Friday, breaking the Guinness World Record of 50,208 people, set last year.

  5. #5
    Out there...
    StrontiumDog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    BKK
    Posts
    40,030
    Tourism bonanza over Songkran | Bangkok Post: news

    Tourism bonanza over Songkran


    The three-day Songkran festival is expected to generate at least 4.5 billion baht of tourism revenue in 13 provinces.



    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said the New Year celebrations have been very lively in every province.

    TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni said the festival draws many revellers, especially in 13 provinces where large-scale celebrations partially sponsored by the government are held.

    The provinces are Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, Nong Khai, Songkhla, Phuket and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

    Of the expected 4.5 billion baht income, about 2.4 billion baht is expected to come from domestic tourists and the rest from foreign visitors.

    But Songkran tourism in the Northeast is down from last year, Samer Jindapong, deputy chairman of the Regional Tourism Federation of Thailand said.

    People have less to spend following last year's flood crisis, while higher fuel costs are also taking a toll.

    In Nakhon Ratchasima, key attractions in Pak Chong and Wang Nam Khieo districts reported a 50% reduction in accommodation bookings.

    He said the Northeast region as a whole could see Songkran revenue dip to seven billion baht from 10 billion baht last year.

    In Buri Ram, XXX marked the spot.


    Political icon Newin Chidchob imported blue-movie stars from Japan for his extravagant Songkran party at the football field in Buri Ram.


    Japanese AV performer Sora Aoi is presented to fans and others at the celebrations in Buri Ram. (Photo by Pattarachai Prechapanich)

    Japanese adult video star Sora Aoi joined a stage show at the I-Mobile Stadium of Buriram United FC in a Songkran show credited to Mr Newin. Several other Japanese and Korean "female stars" attended the controversial party.

    Conservative critics decried the showcasing of pornographic actors during the festival. In Bangkok, businesses on Khao San Road have employed at least 50 more security staff, bringing their number to 200 yesterday.

    The road has turned into a sea of revellers, about 60% of them foreign tourists, since the Songkran period began on Friday, Piyabut Jiwaramonaikul, president of the Khao San Road business enterprise association, said.

    Friday's celebration alone was estimated to have produced at least 13 million baht in tourism revenue for Khao San Road, he said.

    But some partygoers have been getting out of hand elsewhere, with complaints of lewd conduct filed with police in Ayutthaya yesterday.

    Residents alerted police to a topless transvestite dancer atop a vehicle near Jao Prom market in central Ayutthaya on Friday.

    The dancer put on a provocative performance in front of the crowd of revellers and took his top off, revealing his breast implants.

    Police arrived later but found the dancer had left the area. He returned after the police had gone.


    These are the "approved" version of photos of a transvestite who danced topless in Ayutthaya - and now faces charges of lewd conduct.

    Ayutthaya city centre was packed with people throwing water at each other on the main streets.

    The inner city zone was off-limits to vehicles carrying large containers of water.

  6. #6
    Out there...
    StrontiumDog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    BKK
    Posts
    40,030
    Richard Barrow

    UPDATE: Shooting last night at 10pm as a group of teenagers were leaving "Silom Songkran". 1 shot dead on Sathon Tai Rd.

  7. #7
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Last Online
    30-01-2013 @ 09:22 AM
    Posts
    10,902
    There's not one bit of this thread that I don't find amusing/entertaining.

    What a country.


  8. #8
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Last Online
    30-01-2013 @ 09:22 AM
    Posts
    10,902
    Quote Originally Posted by StrontiumDog View Post

    Japanese AV performer Sora Aoi is presented to fans and others at the celebrations in Buri Ram. (Photo by Pattarachai Prechapanich)
    Fine set o' buckets on her.

    Sora Aoi Pics

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
    Mid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    1,411

  10. #10
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Last Online
    30-01-2013 @ 09:22 AM
    Posts
    10,902
    Look up, Newsbot.

  11. #11
    Out there...
    StrontiumDog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    BKK
    Posts
    40,030
    Thai Health Promotion pushing to make Songkran, an alcohol-free festival : National News Bureau of Thailand

    Thai Health Promotion pushing to make Songkran, an alcohol-free festival


    KHON KAEN, 15 April 2012 (NNT) – The Thai Health Promotion is pushing ahead with its plan to make the nationwide celebrations of Songkran holidays, an alcohol-free festival.

    Thai Health Promotion Foundation manager, Dr. Krissada Raungarreerat, on Saturday, chaired the official launch of the “alcohol-free glowing human wave” activity, held on Khao Niew Road in Khon Kaen Province.

    The activity is a part of the annual Songkran celebrations in this busy northeastern province.

    Dr. Krissada said that the “alcohol-free glowing human wave” project is in its 10th year in 2012, under collaboration with the Khon Kaen Municipality, interested network groups and local entrepreneurs.

    He stated that the activity has also turned the annual festival on Khao Niew Road into Thailand's role model of an alcohol-free celebration, during which the peaceful Songkran tradition has been upheld and the number of people arrested for drunk-driving has come down consistently.

    This year, the Songkran celebrations on Khao Niew Road have been joined by more than 100,000 people, both locals and foreigners.

    The Thai Health Promotion Foundation manager added that a similar campaign has been implemented in 50 provinces across the nation, where an iron rule of “no drinking, no getting drunk, no brawl” has been enforced.

    He hopes that this same campaign will soon be adopted by more cities in order to restore the serene and peaceful way of Thai traditional celebrations.

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat
    Mid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    1,411
    Quote Originally Posted by Chairman Mao
    Look up, Newsbot.
    check both links , tool

  13. #13
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Last Online
    30-01-2013 @ 09:22 AM
    Posts
    10,902
    Quote Originally Posted by Mid View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Chairman Mao
    Look up, Newsbot.
    check both links
    ...yes...

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat
    Mid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    1,411
    and you can't see the difference , ok ..................

    mine is supposed to be with safe search off but doesn't work so you'll have to do that yourself .

  15. #15
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Last Online
    30-01-2013 @ 09:22 AM
    Posts
    10,902
    You idiot.

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat Boon Mee's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Last Online
    13-09-2019 @ 04:18 PM
    Location
    Samui
    Posts
    44,704
    It's so fuckin' hot today, my dog (Bangkaew) hasn't gotten out of his pool for the last 1/2 hr. All I can see is just his nose and ears...

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat
    nevets's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Last Online
    16-02-2015 @ 12:11 PM
    Location
    PHETCHABURI
    Posts
    1,630
    Our dogs do that love getting in the water.

  18. #18
    Out there...
    StrontiumDog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    BKK
    Posts
    40,030
    Transvestite fined for topless dance | Bangkok Post: news

    Transvestite fined for topless dance

    A 19-year-old transvestite has been arrested and fined for putting on a lewd show during the Songkran celebrations in Ayutthaya.

    Sarawut Suparb reported to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya police to answer a charge of indecent exposure yesterday.

    He was accused of dancing provocatively in front of a crowd of Songkran revellers and taking his top off, revealing his breasts, in downtown Ayutthaya on Friday.

    Chainarong Somproh, chief of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya police, said police could not arrest Mr Sarawut on Friday because he had been in hiding.

    The police took up the matter after receiving complaints from residents.

    Mr Sarawut said he and 10 other transvestite friends had gone out to celebrate Songkran in the city centre.

    He had climbed atop a large loudspeaker on a vehicle and began to dance.

    He later took off his top at his friends' encouragement. He apologised for his behaviour.

    Footage of his bare-breasted dance sparked a public outcry after it spread through various social networks.

    Mr Sarawut was fined 500 baht by police and released.

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat CaptainNemo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    18-07-2020 @ 11:25 PM
    Location
    in t' naughty lass
    Posts
    5,525

    144 dead in road accidents three days into Songkran holidays

    144 dead in road accidents three days into Songkran holidays Above: A Thai child splashes water on soldiers on a motorcycle during celebrations of Songkran, the water festival marking the country's new year in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat on April 13, 2012.
    Some 144 people were killed on the first three days of the Songkran holiday with another 1,668 people injured in 1,554 road accidents from Wednesday to Friday.
    The number of fatalities was well over the toll for the first three days last year, which was 116.

    Phichit had the most deaths at eight persons, while Nakhon Si Thammarat had the most injuries at 85 persons, as well as the most accidents (80), the Road Safety Centre announced yesterday. Pol Lt-General Borihan Siang-arom, the assistant National Police chief, told a press conference yesterday that only four provinces - Chaiyaphum, Yasothon, Nong Khai and Nong Bua Lamphu - had no road accidents.
    On Friday, 56 people were killed and 778 others injured in 730 road accidents, he said. Most accidents resulted from drunk driving followed by speeding.
    On Friday, police also arrested 196 drunk drivers aged under 20. Police would investigate these and trace the sellers of alcohol to punish them too, he added.
    Drunk driving continued to be the number one cause of accidents at 41 per cent on Friday (or 38 per cent for the period from April 11-13) followed by speeding at 20 per cent. Most accidents involved motorcycles at 83 per cent and took place on a straight stretch of road (63 per cent). About 31 per cent of accident victims were youths under 20 while working-aged people (20-49 years old) accounted for 56 per cent.
    Some 761,102 vehicles were stopped at 2,400 checkpoints and 108,459 traffic law violators arrested. Most were bikers who failed to wear helmets or people who failed to present a driver's licence.
    Meanwhile, an Abac Poll of 2,144 people over 18 in 17 provinces including Bangkok from April 1-13, found most of those interviewed - 78 per cent - had witnessed road accidents during the previous Songkran. They cited the cause of accidents as: speeding and reckless driving or riding at 98 per cent; a lack of police to enforce traffic laws (96 per cent); drunk driving (94 per cent); water splashing while a vehicle was moving (86 per cent) and motorists' violating traffic laws (74 per cent).
    Close to 88 per cent of those interviewed urged stronger laws to punish wrongdoers, followed by stricter law-enforcement at 86 per cent, while 72 per cent said police should use speed-detecting technology and arrest offenders without discrimination.
    The poll also interviewed 215 police, most of whom (88.5 per cent), cited drunk driving as the problem they mostly found. This was followed by motorists who broke the law and boasted of higher authority and influence so police had to release them (61 per cent), and a lack of support from their supervisors (59 per cent).
    Respondents also suggested a campaign to get all vehicles to turn on their headlights when visibility is dim and for police to use technology and severe fines for all law-violating motorists without discrimination.
    In related news, a total of 4,184 homeowners joined the police's "Leaving Houses under police's care" project from April 8-17, said deputy police chief General Pongsapat Pongcharoen. Bangkok had some 1,930 homeowners participating with Chockchai precinct having the most participants (87 houses).
    144 dead in road accidents three days into Songkran holidays

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat CaptainNemo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    18-07-2020 @ 11:25 PM
    Location
    in t' naughty lass
    Posts
    5,525
    Quote Originally Posted by Chairman Mao View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by StrontiumDog View Post

    Japanese AV performer Sora Aoi is presented to fans and others at the celebrations in Buri Ram. (Photo by Pattarachai Prechapanich)
    Fine set o' buckets on her.

    Sora Aoi Pics
    Sora Aoi in Buriram... how surreal! Is she there as some kind of career mentor for the students of the local Rajabhat?!

  21. #21
    Member

    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last Online
    28-01-2021 @ 12:24 PM
    Posts
    546

    The water

    All of this water does not come from pure sources. It may be the most effective E. Coli distribution method ever devised. A lot of ear infections result too. But good fun regardless.

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    07-12-2022 @ 03:12 PM
    Posts
    26,746
    I reckon is fantastic that Thailand actually bought in a Jap porn star for Songkran.

    I mean how friggin good is that.

    Hope she gave blow jobs to all the rice farmers, it would only be the right thing to do considering she's in there backyard.

  23. #23
    Member
    Bettyboo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last Online
    Yesterday @ 05:39 PM
    Location
    Bangkok
    Posts
    34,272
    Quote Originally Posted by StrontiumDog
    Political icon Newin Chidchob imported blue-movie stars from Japan
    Quote Originally Posted by StrontiumDog
    These are the "approved" version of photos of a transvestite who danced topless in Ayutthaya - and now faces charges of lewd conduct.
    One law for one, another law for others...

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat
    Mid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    1,411


    Published on 7 Apr 2012 by saintsk

    Thailand Policewomen Dance for Campaign Reduce Accident in Water Festival (Songkran Festival)

    Song: สงกรานต์ขับไม่ดื่ม Songkran-Kub-Mai-Duem (Drink don't drive in Songkran Festival)

    Artist: แอ๊ด คาราบาว (Aed Carabao; Yuenyong Opakul)

    youtube.com

  25. #25
    Whopping Member
    benbaaa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    06-06-2017 @ 03:52 PM
    Location
    In the comfy chair
    Posts
    5,549
    A bloke in my soi took his top off. Do I need to call plod?

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •