Gay Boy Thailand

Water fights on an industrial scale

Can I come back to Thailand now? I understand the water fun is still on in Pattaya, but that it is over in Bangkok. The photo is from Pattaya Mail >>

Funny

This is my happiest Songkran ever. I love every minute of it. Read the rest of this entry »

By William Sparrow
2007 Asian Sex Gazette

The Thai New Year celebration every April is the world’s largest water fight that young and old, foreign and Thai alike enjoy and participate in the revelry. However, for Thailand’s transsexual ladyboys - known as katoeys in Thai - it can be an annoying and percarious holiday.

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I told people the worst (or best) of Songkran would be Saturday night. I was wrong. Sunday was worse. Or better, if you like the water wars. This must be because the government declared Monday as an extra holiday. It doesn’t cost the government anything to declare such things. The employer pays.

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I waited indoors till darkness fell. I had heard screaming and shouting from kids in the soi earlier in the day. But at 7pm it was over, mainly. As I was going out Chalerm came home, looking like a drowned cat. We exchanged “happy new year” in Thai.

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The water festival has started and in this photo from The Nation they almost make it look like fun. Could get a bit much after five days though.

I should have been in Brunei now. I should have sampled the famous nightlife in Bandar Seri Begawan. I should have danced the night away in Brunei’s answer to DJ Station disco.

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My escape plan

I have booked an escape from Thailand for Songkran 2007. This would have been my 6th water throwing extremely funny festival and there are limits to how much “sanuk” I can take.

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The three air condition repair boys came, escorted by the maid. They spoke loudly about Chalerm and I, asking nosey questions which the maid did her best to answer. Realising I might understand the conversation she shut the door.

I have been planning for a while to have a look at the pro and con Thaksin demonstrations, but Sunday when I was on my way it was so darn hot I sought refuge in a shopping centre instead. Judging from the crowds I wasn’t the only one with that idea. Why overthrow a government when you can go shopping instead.

Farang D says today is the worst day yet in the low season. I am adding to the web site hoping to drum up business. Chalerm watched me working last night and was worried I might screw up.

I saw Cedric had posted an appeal on Sawaddee Forum for me to “get over it” and return. Thank you Cedric, I am over it, but I am happy as it is. The time I used to spend in Sawaddee Forum is now spent on something else. I still believe new mods and a rethinking of the culture of the board would do it good.

I don’t think the Forum can survive the Thai government blocking in the long run, or if it does it will be reduced compared to what it used to be. Posters who are actually on the ground in Thailand may make up a small percentage of total traffic, but in all modesty we who are here have something crucial to contribute. You can get the hard core of existing users to use proxies but for many that is too much trouble.

Is it too early for me to start dreading Songkran? Yes, I am a bad sport, a humourless farang who can’t see the charm in getting attacked by water gun carrying kids on every corner, drenched with fire hoses, having buckets with ice water poured over my head, or being ambushed by pickup trucks with large barrels of “ammunition” on the back. If it wasn’t for the fact that everyone else wants to leave too and hence drive up the air fares, I would have left the country for a safe place like Malaysia. The trouble with the water war is that (a) you can’t refuse to take part and (b) it goes on for five days.

In 1998 I took part in the water fights as a tourist. I bought a large water gun at Robinson and went to Lumpini Park and joined in. It was fun for a couple of hours. I fought back with water and I enjoyed the many people who put talcum powder on my cheeks as a genuine wishing well rite. The women in particular did this and they were warm and friendly. I resisted the drunk Isaan man who tried to push me into the lake. But now that I live here and have no choice I have come to resent Songkran. It is too much of a good thing.