Songkran A Great Travel Idea for April 13 -15, 2009

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As chefs we are used to many things. Bearing the weight of the world on our shoulders like Atlas, solving the community’s ills like the white-toqued champion from South Park, and issuing Presidential-like decrees from some location of power and glory behind the pass.
Oh – and working like the slaves who built those three impressive looking pyramids at Giza.

But even culinary Deities need a break, so I thought that I would give you a months heads-up on a fun festival that is enthusiastically celebrated in every household, business and city in Thailand.

Songkran is the water festival, and celebrates the Thai New Year, as well as the seasonal change which brings the wet season to Southeast Asia. Not to mention that it’s also quite bloody hot – another good reason for the unique style of celebration.

Unlike Christmas, which we chefs celebrate by surgery on murdered Turkeys, 19 hour shifts, gingerbread houses, and a wallet-raping exchange of gifts, Songkran is celebrated by pelting or blasting unsuspecting passers-by (and eager participants) with large volumes of water – and it’s probably not going to intrude on your busy period unless you are a Pastry chef involved in Easter Egg production and the molding of chocolate rabbits.

It’s a pretty fun event. Anybody is fair game, (except, predictably, the Police!) and tourists get their fair share of liquid abuse – outside the bars and restaurants for a change.

The rules are like fight club – there are no rules. Firstly, find someone that knows it is Songkran.

With a population of about 70 million people spread from small villages to Bangkok – one of the world’s largest capital cities – this is not a hard job.

Secondly – organise your camera – a waterproof one is good – and your water supply.
Plastic bags travel well, and explode on impact, drenching the recipient. Remember this tactic – it also can and will get used against you.

Hotels & guest houses with a low level window facing the street are a good investment, especially if you are not in the mood for walking.

Another good investment is a plastic water blaster gun, or any form of kiddies water cannon. This can be pumped full of H2O at will, and you can emerge matrix-style from doorways and small Sois to exact your revenge on children and locals targeting Farangs (Foreigners.)

This is all in fun, and when Songkran begins, the waterbag pelting, hosing and pump-action drenching is accompanied by peels of laughter and a real feeling of celebration that has not been lost to commercial interests or jaded marketing campaigns.

Naturally, care should be taken with mobile phones and cameras if they are not water-resistant, so consider bagging your phone in plastic, and getting a waterproof disposable camera, or a casing if you are really into snapping up large, but DO expect LOTS of good photos ops, and some lifelong memories of one of the world’s most fun-loving and friendly nations in full party mode.

If you intend to pass through Krabi in the South, or Thailand in general, do give me a shout at shane@prochef360.com

I’m more than happy to help out with any local tips or info you may need, and it’s always a pleasure to meet or correspond with fellow members within the prochef360 network

Best regards,

Chef Shane

The Culinary Globe Trotter

chefshane@prochef360.com

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