Living in Thailand |
“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson |
Living in Thailand |
“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson |
The Songkran Festival, celebrated each year from April 13 to 15, marks the traditional Thai New Year. It's basically a huge water festival. I was fortunate to spend Songkran in Hua Hin, thanks to my friend Nicky and her amazing daughter!
Hua Hin is a peaceful beach town that transforms into a waterpark during Songkran. Water splashing symbolizes washing away the misfortunes of the past year and welcoming the new year with a fresh start. Locals and visitors arm themselves with water guns, buckets, and hoses, and have friendly water fights in the streets. Beyond the water fights, Songkran in Hua Hin is deeply rooted in tradition. Locals visit temples to offer food to the monks, meditate and participate in the ritual of pouring water on Buddha statues. In Hua Hin we visited Seven King's monument, ate amazing food (as always) and listened to local performers. The 7 Kings Monument (Rajabhakti Park) is a tribute to the legacy and leadership of seven notable kings from various dynasties throughout the history of Thailand. The statues are impressive, each several meters tall, cast in bronze, and positioned in a line against the backdrop of the scenic hills near the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. On the way home we stopped in Kanchanaburi, Thailand at the Bridge over the River Kwai (Death Railway). A powerful reminder of the importance of peace and détente.
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