Songkran 2015

Here’s my pics from 2015 Songkran, Thai New Year celebrations.  Yes, that’s plural, as in days and days of festivals, water throwing, general revelry including alcohol consumption on a scale that I couldn't describe without losing credibility.  I’ll try to tell the story but there really isn't a plot – better to let the photos do the telling.

You can tell the posed shots by the two or three fingers up gesture. Those without the finger gestures had to be taken quickly with little to no time to adjust from the previous shot, so either you get the picture or you don’t .  Those are the most fun and of course the most challenging.   

This money tree holds about 17,000 Thai baht, or roughly $540.  The money will go to the local clinic which is trying to purchase a CAT scan machine.

In Thailand it ain't a party without music.

One lane of Hwy 1001 was closed to allow villages to march their money toward the clinic.  I'm not sure how many participated, but a guess of 100+  might be in the ball park.

Villages in the procession announce their approach with lots and lots of noise.

Like I said, noise.  Exploding fireworks cause this young woman to flinch and cover her ears.

Dancing in the street.

Arriving on horseback.

Money trees being blessed by monks.

Ban Kaset Mai having their money tree blessed.

People watching the procession, which went well past sunset.

Part of the Songkran tradition is the blessing of water.  How you get blessed doesn't matter.

The man on the left is Khong.  He runs one hour every morning around the village streets.  He's 84 years old.

Bless you, and you, and you.....

Procession starting on the small streets out of the village.

Spectators

Even processions aren't free from being "blessed."

Meet some of the village kids.

Traditional Lanna costume for festivals.

Eating Som Tham, made from green papaya, several other vegetables, tiny dried shrimp, and loads of chili.  Thais eat it like candy. 

My favorite picture of this festival.

Our hosts for one of the festival dinners, and there were several of them. 

My neighbor Mr. Chumpon, singing a traditional Thai folk song.

Burmese buddies.

Burmese dance of the deer to bring prosperity in the new year.

Assigned to kitchen duty.

Kitchen duty escapees found an old truck to sit and enjoy some kan-nom.  I don't have command of that word, but it means something like snacks, and in this case it's a sweet combination of bananas and coconut milk.  Delicious!

There are two Burmese settlements within the village.  They come to Thailand to find work at manual labor jobs.  Here they are banging drums and cymbals, dancing and singing to announce their arrival at the dinner.

Bearing gifts

A motorcycle trip to Nan Province

Probably the best motorcycle ride in Thailand is highway 1148 from Chiang Khan to Nan.  It was so much fun that we decided to ride it north to south and then south to north, with a loop at the south end. From Chiang Mai north to Phrao, then on to Phayao and then Chiang Kham is a bit of work, but the reward is worth it. Travelling companions Randy on a 125cc Honda Click, Harold on a BMW R1200, and myself on a Kawasaki Er6n rode nearly 1000km at varying speeds.  This route is highly recommended no matter what you you ride.

The route.

The stats.

I'm not sure what the sign says, but it's burning season in SE Asia, so it's pretty easy to get the gist.

Let the fun begin...

Randy and Harold

We stopped for the day at Phayao, located along a large shallow lake with beautiful sunsets.

Romance in Phayao.  These teens were wearing sweatshirts while we were perspiring in tee shirts at a restaurant across the street.  Thais are like cats; they like to be warm.

Much of the fun is finding interesting places along the way that serve fresh coffee.  Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's great, and then you ride on to the next coffee shop.

Lady at a coffee shop.  In addition to fresh coffee she offered fresh milk.

Hungry and thirsty, we stopped at a raan ahan (restaurant) and encountered these two gentlemen up to no good and having fun doing it. 

 What Thai kids do on a hot day. 

Best khao phat moo I've ever had was at this restaurant.  I'd like to tell you how to get there but that would spoil your fun.

Ok, so maybe we over-hydrated.

In Nan, this woman was leaving the morning market, no doubt to re-sell her wares at her own little store.

Here's some scenery along Highway 1148.

Would you trust this man?

 

Mae Hong Son

The saying is that there are 1,864 curves between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son.  Although I didn't keep track, my body is telling me that it's true.  It's approximately a 300 mile loop through forested mountains from my house at Mae Jo through Pai, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang, and back home.  Although I passed through the town of Pai, I didn't linger long.  Pai isn't what it used to be, but I found to Mae Hong Son to be a great place to hang out and rest for a day.  It is also said that northern Thailand is motorcycle heaven.  This four day trip was about the ride, not the destinations. Otherwise I would have just flown there.

I took a diversion through the forest to a "Long Neck" village.  I passed through ten wet crossings like this in one day.

Getting close to the village.

The village is mainly about stalls for you buy stuff, much of which comes from China.

While stopping for coffee (it's northern Thailand, after all) I met these guys.

No, not army.  Look closely at the shoulder patch and you'll see that they are a Search and Rescue team.  They came from Kanchanaburi to Mae Hong Son for rescue training.

Met up with them again that evening at Wat Chang Klong.

Coffee with a strip of cinnamon bark  and a view.  Yer not at Starbucks, that's for sure.

Wat Chang Klong, Mae Hong Son

Streets of Mae Hong Son in the early AM hours.

Saturday morning cartoons in your underwear, and a jacket, on a chilly morning.

It's easy to make friends with the locals if you understand the rules.  Be polite, smile, and buy something.  This mother and son team operate a very nice little restaurant in Mae Hong Son.  Mom makes an excellent kai giew (Thai omelette). And coffee, of course.  

Pine forest at one of the higher elevations.

What, no more curves?  I must be leaving the mountains and getting close to Chiang Mai.

And while in Mae Hong Son, don't even think of making illegal executions.