Sonkran (Traditional New Year's and Water Festival)

We were in Canada celebrating Kelli and Jeff's wedding last year during Sonkran and although we had heard it can get pretty crazy we didn't quite realize HOW crazy. It's the traditional New Year and the idea is that you pour water on people to wash away their sins. It's basically a nation-wide water fight when no-one is safe. We headed up north to Chaing Rai and then east to Laos for the week thinking that it would be calmer than Bangkok (Khao San Road) and Chaing Mai.

Here are a few pics of the water fight.

Laos: Outside our guesthouse. These guys started off as a quiet team of three.

Eventually, the grew in numbers and gained confidence, stopping scooter drivers and soaking the. They were great in that they respected businesses so we were safe sip our beers across the street.

Further down the street was more entertainment.

Back in Chiang Saeng, we ended up leaving town instead of checking out some of their historic temples and wall. There is no way we would have lasted 5 min.

Pickup trucks full of kids and garbage cans full of water got you when not expected. Glad we rented a car.