What a great time everyone had in Pattaya this Songkran. Although hazardous, with a mixture of traffic and wet people all mingling together in the roads there was a lot of fun to be had. I did travel about that week, with my husband, around Mapbrachan Lake and around Pattaya itself. It was awesome watching all the spraying going on. I did get a little damp myself walking down Pattaya Klang to Mikes Shopping Mall.

It was hilarious being rubbed with Songkran flour one minute and then cleaned off with absolutely freezing cold water the next. This took your breath away, ice down your back, in your pants, down your front! It’s a laugh though a real hoot!  

   Stopping at the Cocktail Car outside Central, we had a rum punch whilst watching the people dancing, it was great, most were just crazy and having fun. Large hoses turned full on being used. Buckets of water, colourful water guns and just about any receptacle, you name it, it was used. The roads awash with water and people looking like drowned rats. I do have to say with the blistering heat of the last few weeks the cold water was a very welcome relief – great. Beach Road was heaving with revellers, an image of “Sardines in a can” came to mind.

    I was a little concerned to think of the low reservoir water levels at the moment, but this is the Thai New Year festival, it is an important festival of renewal for all.    

Knowing that hundreds of passengers all over the world were stranded, due to the Icelandic volcano suddenly unleashing its fury and causing mayhem to the world air transport system, is worrying for us all, but for us the week – and particularly the 19^th day – everyone here came together and was united with sun, water, fun and frolics, just forgetting their worries.

   Walking around town was interesting, Beach Road, although closed to traffic, turned into a very vibrant, loud and wet street party, although motorbikes somehow managed to avoid being included in the traffic ban. Second Road was completely snarled up, with pickups converted into water trucks and mobile sound systems full of people spraying and getting soaked. Sukhumvit was divided into two parts – the main lanes being open to through traffic but the side lines full of traders and stalls and water containers with ice and hundreds of people plastering some, very dubious, compounds over everyone’s faces and arms. Standing on the bridge at the top of Klang and watching the scene below was quite interesting, music, dancing, food and drink reminiscent of a voodoo ceremony on a Caribbean island.

   It was highly amusing to see people, who did not want to actually get wet, wearing plastic garments so they could still join in but stay dry in the procession.     

   Another fiesta which comes to mind is that in the North East of Spain, in Riba Roja De Ebre. The whole town becomes fantastic and scary at the same time. Total madness for one whole week, similar to Thailand without the water, instead there are real fireworks going off, being thrown in the streets from bicycles, cars and houses.  Dancing under an, almost, volcanic cloud of ash and smoke, huge array of fire crackers and a giant bonfire, it is awesome; the noise of the drums is hypnotic. The people all wear sacks soaked in water to protect themselves. It is definitely not for timid people. I experienced a firework flying into my left hip and still carry the scar. It was worth it though. There are people dancing around the tiny narrow streets, holding onto each other forming daisy chains, singing and chanting. The Spanish are great people for parties and hold regular festivals. If any excuse can be found for a fiesta it is happening. Our house faces the square and so it is great to stand on our balcony and get a “bird’s eye” view of the events as they happen.

   Looking up stream, the River Ebro is a truly awesome sight.

   The river has a bridge famed as the bridge to “Nowhere”. The village is a kind of outpost in the mountains, there are no main roads on the far side off the river only small and, often, difficult mountain passes. The bridge was built with a huge grant from the EU, perhaps in the future major roads may be built across the mountains to allow faster access to Zaragosa and Andorra, but for now the structure is a great platform for watching the famous storks, kingfishers, huge catfish and carp that live either in or along the river. Who knows, this is Spain of course and it is always ‘Manyana. Another interesting feature of the bridge is that every August it becomes the centre piece for another strange activity, bungy jumping into the river below. The local water sports club becomes a meeting point for people, both locals and tourists, to socialize, have a laugh, a few glasses of wine and of course jump off the bridge. I did have a go at the bridge jumping, but my husband bottled it, something about being A bridge too far!  

   We would sit on the land rover bonnet with a few glasses of wine and a beer in hand and watch in total awe. In the afternoon a BBQ consisting of meat, from a selected animal prepared in the square in the morning, presented by the villagers. In the evening a procession of drummers and devils, from all the local villages (it is a festival designed to drive out the demons from the village). Followed by crazy pyrotechnics and dancing. Fire engines and first aiders are present the whole week!!          

   The Health and Safety body would love to stop it. So many festivals in the UK have been stopped due to the many rules and regulations, the fun gone they are becoming non events, something that you cannot get that excited about. Too much control has made UK a “Nanny State”. Politicians making decisions about every aspect of life.  

   I think every country should have a festival where everybody can come together have fun, get drunk let their hair down and be able to chill out. Observing the rules of not upsetting anyone having good fun is a positive way to promote unity and harmony. Integration not isolation!            

Dressed for the Occasion by Ranting Rosie

How many of us love to go the beach? Wherever it may be! Blackpool, Malaga or Pattaya. On Beach Road opposite the myriad bars there are many multi coloured umbrellas and deck chairs, sea and sand, a place where you expect to see people in shorts, bikinis, shirtless and some even topless. This is the area where you would, of course, expect to find sun worshippers scantily dressed. Perfectly acceptable of course! You will see all shapes and sizes ranging from gruesome to gorgeous, showing off wonderful sexy or athletic shapes, creative tattoos, body art and piercings. Some just enjoying themselves and not caring about impressing others, but enjoying some self indulgence, others, maybe not so attractive, but still having fun -  remember larger people can be in shape because round is a shape! It is great that the sun brings out all these people and it is alright by the sea in Pattaya and Jomtiem walking, swimming sunbathing, sitting and having a beer.

   However it is a completely different situation when coming off Beach Road into Second and Third Road, people, for some reason, forget manners and respect for others. Somehow, because it is Pattaya, there are no rules of conduct or ways to behave within simple, but polite, boundaries.

   Not everybody wants to see naked, big fat ugly hairy bellies, soaked in sweat, sun tan oil and god knows what else whilst shopping in Big C, Carrefour, TOT Office or whilst relaxing in restaurants and bars. Some have even turned up at the Immigration office dressed unsuitably and then wonder why they are turned away. Get real, it is not acceptable! Those who do feel they can walk about in this manner should stop and spare a thought for the rest of us, and others from different cultures. Have a look at the locals are they doing it, away from the beach? No, well put your bloody shirt on then!!

   Whilst it does, I think, provide local entertainment, you should hear the comments it attracts from the locals. They think that you are idiots!

   Ok some jobs here call for an element of immodest dress but it is not usually flaunted in the street and shops.

   Stop! Think! Show a little respect – its free!