Day 84: Bangkok

Today is the last day of Thai New Years. Since I have been traveling, all I have heard is that it is so much fun; however, Chang Mai is the best place to be, not Bangkok. Some of our friends that we have made along the way who were going to meet us in Bangkok, bailed on us and headed to Chang Mai instead. Thai New Years is like one massive water fight; literally, the streets are said to be filled with people with water guns, expect to get soaked! We had two options, go to Songkran, the area where the locals celebrate, or Khao San road, where all the tourist celebrate. We chose Songkran. We shared a cab ride halfway there with an Irish girl, who was meeting a friend for lunch, we had met in our hostel. As soon as we got out of the cab, we knew we had to find the nearest water gun and fast. We ducked into a 7 eleven (I have seen more of them in Bangkok than I have in the US) and bought the biggest water guns they had; unfortunately, they were pee-shooters compared with what we were up against. We didn't even make it a black before we got drenched by a group of people on the corner who were armed with a hose and multiple buckets. Once we got wet, they were very friendly and covered our face in this white soap-paste stuff that was on everyone's face.

Afterwards, we got in a tuk tuk and headed for Songkran. With people on almost every corner spraying down pedestrians and traffic, Boyd and Robbie guarded the sides while I manned the rear turret. We arrived after twenty minutes of child like excitement in the tuk tuk. Songkran was an area with a large two lane road slammed with people. We found a water gun stand and bought the biggest ones they had and gave our smaller ones to some kids that didn't have guns. As we made our way down the street, people kept coming up to us and saying "Happy New Years," and covering our face in that white soap. If they didn't have the soap then they had guns. Ducking and dodging through the crowd of people, Boyd, Robbie, and I were at war with the crowd. We were able to find places that refilled our guns wi ice cold water; the crowd didn't know what they were getting themselves into when the messed with us. One shot at one of us and all three of us turned around and unloaded. There would be times when there was a 5ft no mans land between us and the crowd and everyone was attacking us. However, it's all fun and games. We would soak a couple people and they would turn around and laugh, it was a day to let your inner child out. I knew all the times I played army and had water fights as a kid in my neighborhood would one day pay off.

At every corner there would be firefighters with their trucks just dowsing the crowd. Making it rain on most and converting the hose to full pressure and blasting the rest. We would make it our objective to attack the guy or girl behind the hose. We would slowly sneak up on them, crouched down (because I stand out like a soar thumb) in the crowd and then unload. The first guy put his hose on full pressure and Gave me a gut shot that nearly knocked me over! Oddly enough, we ran into the American guys we had done the Cu Chi Tunnels with. In a sea of probably 30,000 people or more... What are the odds?

After a couple hours in the thick of the fights, we found the cheapest water stand that served ice cold water and stuck close by it. The two girls who ran the stand really like us and eventually we were getting refills for free, so long as we helped them sell the water. Endless water and two friends to stick shoulder to shoulder with, can't ask for a better time. Whenever I saw a westerner, which was was extremely rare, I would shout, "white person, and blast em." Then we may team up for a bit. It was only locals, or what looked to me like Thai people.

Eventually, we had to move on. As we made our way down, Boyd, Robbie and I would tend to get separated. Where did they go? They would just look for the guy that is a head taller than the crowd with an American flag bandanna on his head.. There he is. We then came across two large stages, one for Air Asia and other for Clear. Both had music playing and men and beautiful women on stand shouting to the crowd and they were all armed with water guns and pressure washers. Of course I had no clue what they were saying, probably giving away free stuff and possibly a flight when the day was over. Blasting good music, it was hard to pull ourselves away, even to refill our guns. As we made our back and forth between the two stages, there was a large truck with a foam machine. I have always wanted to go to a foam party. What a better place than the streets of Bangkok to check that off your bucket list.

Unfortunately, the day did have to come to an end. After spending over seven hours on this one street, dousing probably half of Thailand, we made our way back to the hostel. Completely drained, we battled ourselves to stay awake at dinner. After Robbie passed out, Boyd and I came to the conclusion that we couldn't make it out.

However, today was arguably the best day of my life