Glorious Water Fight: Songkran Festival

One of the high spots of the Thai calendar is the annual New Year celebration or Songkran Festival and as we know, Songkran Festival is celebrated throughout Thailand but the wettest and wildest celebration is at Chiang Mai in the North.

I think there will be a lot of tourists both Thais and foreigners flood to visit Chiang Mai. Some people may well know this festival but some may not know. Thus, as being a good host, I would like to give information and suggestions toward tourists who are coming to celebrate Lanna Songkran festival at Chiang Mai.

Songkran Festival in Chiang Mai falls on in mid-April and the festival officially happens over four days, between the 12 and 15 April.

On the first day, it is Wan Sangkhan Lohng, houses are cleaned and there is a procession of Buddha images and floats.

The second day, Wan Nao, is when special food is cooked and people collect sand from the rivers to make sand Buddhist towers in the temple.

The third day, Wan Payawan, is the first day of a new year and when the water fight traditionally started. People should get up early to offer the cooked food which was prepared on the previous day and new robes to the monks.

On the last day of the festival, Wan Park Bpee, people are supposed to visit and pay respect to ancestors and the elderly, in part by pouring scented water over their hands. Tourists can enjoy the festival almost for a whole week.

Besides, as almost everyone heads to join the festival at Chiang Mai so hotels and transports can get very book out. I suggest you should plan about how long you will stay or what is the day you will arrive or leave. You also should book well in advance if you want to fly or take the train including hotels as well. Because if you don’t, I think you will have to walk all day with your backpack looking for a bed.

I think Lanna Songkran festival has changed a lot from the past anyway. I think just a few groups of people who still preserve an old tradition of the festival. Nowadays, a new Lanna generation likes to drink and hang out during the festival rather than likes to go to the temple and follow the tradition. Thus, sometimes, Songkran in Chiang Mai gets out of hand, with too much drinking and a number of accidents caused by over-joyous behavior, but as long as you avoid riding in a vehicle with drunk drivers or drink too much during water fight then, I think you should be relatively safe.

Being a good host, Chiang Mai residents should take care of visitors including remains and preserve our old tradition and unique as long as we can. All these things will attract the visitors to love and come to visit our city again. It will maintain the glorious Songkran festival as well.
Let’s go to Songkran Festival!!

Medkaw Wichaino ^_^

Is it beneficial to be a touristy place?

Speaking of famous tourist places in Thailand, Chiang Mai is definitely said to be one of the most attractive places for tourists. Each year, Chiang Mai, dubbed the rose of the North, gains a great number of incomes. As a result, she’s getting more and more materially prosperous. However, I, as a native of Chiang Mai province, can’t help wondering whether tourism industry is truly beneficial to the city since there are many problems caused by this money-gaining strategy.

When I was young, Chiang Mai was peacefully charming with her fascinating cultures and beautiful scenery. The people were friendly; sincere smiles were commonly found every where. The environment was very healthy, refreshing and naturally beautiful.

At present, things have dramatically changed. With the rapid growing of tourism industry, the city is gradually losing its fascinating cultures. Fake cultures are made for business purposes. The hospitality of people has been replaced by their commercial mind; everything is done for money. In addition, charming cultures have been replaced by materialistic cultures. Being prosperous, the city attracts people from all over the country. Consequently, it cannot avoid the social problems which are caused by the dramatic rising number of the population: drug trafficking, prostitutes, crimes, violence and slummy neighborhoods.

In terms of environment, the natural resources are gradually destroyed. With the uncontrollable mushrooming hotels and resorts, the environment of the city is likely to be permanently polluted. The sewage from the hotels and resorts is released to the rivers and canals, permanently destroying the ecology system and the beautiful scenery of the city. Some historic places such as the ancient city wall and temples are devalued by the nearby brothel-like pubs and bars which are open to attract tourists.

Some might argue that tourism brings about the prosperity and money to the country. However, I wonder if it is good for the city to be a touristy place. Is it worth sacrificing our charming cultures, valuable natural resources and peaceful environment for that material prosperity?

Nattakorn (TUM) (:

Group Members

Members

1 Ms. Pornsawan Wachanachai

2. Mr. Nattakorn Sunanta

3. Ms. Rattaporn Khamlue

4. Ms. Medkaw Wichaino

5. Ms. Ma Chi