For the third year running we have experienced muted Songkran celebrations, and I for one won't complain if it remains that way for a while. Of course there have been a few naughty tourists who have broken the water-throwing protocols, but maybe the heat got to them.
When I first set foot in Thailand back in pre-historic times, it happened to be the opening days of the Songkran festival although I was blissfully unaware of it. The first hint that something was going on occurred while walking in the Makkasan area with fellow overland traveller Clarence Shettlesworth. On the street we were greeted by assorted middle-aged ladies dancing the ramwong.
When they spotted us there was plenty of giggling as foreigners were not such a common sight in those days, especially funny-looking ones like us. They proceeded to pour water over us in a respectful manner and covered us in that smelly white powder which I was less keen on. It was all good-natured although we didn't have a clue what it was all about. But considering the April heat, throwing water over one another didn't seem such a bad idea really.
