Picture yourself in a third-person shooter game. You’re dashing around with a large gun in your hands and an extra pistol strapped behind you just in case you run out of ammunition. This is a free-for-all match where you can try to squad up but loyalties might change at any instant. Gun drawn, you cautiously lead your gang through narrow alleyways with awareness levels turned up to ten. Turn right, then left, now stop. Up ahead there’s a group of about ten that haven’t spotted you yet. You’re focusing on the inevitable confrontation when it hits you that you forgot about one vital position: the rooftops. Something inside you felt it coming but as you look up it’s all but too late. A lone assailant sprays bullets down upon you in a surprise attack, which calls attention to the group ahead, who proceed to finish you off.

**I’m still working on the picture problem occurring in emails so this post is again best viewed in your browser. Thanks for reading!

A War of Water

Luckily, similar to a videogame, Songkran offers you unlimited lives over its three-day festivities. The holiday celebrates the traditional Thai New Year and features 72+ hours of nonstop water anarchy. From side streets to public squares, people of all ages stockpile weapons including squirt guns, water balloons, and buckets. They gather around large trash bins and coolers filled with ice-cold water, in groups on the back of pickup trucks, or even in pairs on motorbikes. It doesn’t take but a couple minutes of walking outside for you to be soaked from head to toe in water. If you happen to be uninterested in being drenched, then you better stockpile necessities beforehand and camp out inside because nobody is safe during Songkran.

Songkran in Chiang Mai

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A few friends and I met up to experience this Thai tradition in the northern city of Chiang Mai. What proceeded was three days of absolute mayhem. Once we were all in town, we met up at an open-aired bar and sipped our favorite alcoholic beverages in between battles outside on the street. We played different water games with foreigners and locals alike from early morning until dusk. When we needed a break we stopped inside a bar or restaurant and when we wanted to adventure, we’d take to the streets—including Tha Phae Gate, which might’ve been the craziest place. In the evenings, the main area of bars and clubs hosted a stage and DJ for hours into the night all while dowsing attendees with a temporarily rigged sprinkler system. Until nearly sunrise, we danced and drank and then did it all again the next day. Overall, it was one of, if not the, best parties I’ve ever experienced!

What’s Next?

Celebrating Songkran with some of the best friends I made in Thailand was the perfect way to wrap up six amazing months in Southeast Asia. Next up I’ll be returning to my hometown of McAllen, Texas where I’ll be coaching CrossFit for an indefinite period. There’s talk of a trip to Cabo soon after with my dad and brothers but that’s to be determined!

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post then drop a comment below or share it with a friend and as always, I encourage you to #gotravel!