Songkran Cycling

Every April, Thailand celebrates Songkran, the Lunar New Year. Much like their Western allies, the Thais ring out the old year and ring in the new by getting soaked. Well, not exactly like their Western friends. Although there is plenty of alcohol in play, the Thais also celebrate two solid days of throwing water onto each other and anyone else passing by. They often mix the water with chalk and mentholated talcum. And they paint each other's faces and arms with water/chalk paste. While these activities have a real historical and cultural basis, they also constitute the world's largest and most festive water weapon war.

Pictured below, four spandex clad visiting American Navy cyclists pause in Pattaya for a group photo while still dry...just before running the gauntlet of happy Thai water-throwing New Year partiers.

On initial approach, only small bands of potential adversaries occupy the path. These early encounters involve only squirts and sprinkles of cool water, a pleasant effect for the riders on a hot day.

However, as we approach the more populated center of Pattaya, the volume of revelers and water, and the sophistication of the delivery methods, increases dramatically.

Soon we come across traveling bands of water-throwers. So it's a mobile as well as stationary force.

And the mobile forces easily attract new recruits.

As the day wears on and more water warriors enter the fray, traffic jams limit the maneuverability of the cyclists, making them more vulnerable to simultaneous attack from different quarters.

We eventually take our full hits.

Not pictured here, because one does have to maintain constant control of one's two-wheeler in this traffic-rich environment, the Americans engage in a brief retaliatory strike from our own water bottles. We are significantly outmatched in force numbers and firepower. In the end, we simply surrender to enjoying the scene, put our heads down, and pedal through the gauntlet...chalk/water and all. We are not the only ones getting soaked.

On return to Mother we conduct major bike cleaning.

I haven't had that much random water fun since I was a kid in hot Arizona summers.