Aa
two years after my liver transport~ dancing in the street soaking wet
Hi everyone,
It's two years since my liver transplant and I've just finished up dental treatment in Bangkok.
Though this is more of a travel story, I thought I'd share it with all of you.
April 15th, Bangkok
Songkran in Thailand,
How Wet Can Thais and Farangs ( foreigners) Get?
Songkran is Thai New Years. Falling at the end of the hot dry season in April, it is a day traditionally celebrated by, among other things, bathing Buddha images and by splashing water on family and friends.
With the huge influx of tourism, this holiday had evolved into major water wars particularly in Bangkok.
It fell on the 14th this year and in Bangkok, was celebrated for three days from the 13-15.
We really didn’t want to spend Songkran in Bangkok. But due to an error with the dentist, this is where we were and here is what I observed:
First there was the mass exodus of the many people who live in Bangkok come from other areas of the country.
Then many Bangkokians fled the city for the holiday.
Replacing most of the usual sidewalk vendors, and adding to the ones that had remained, were sales of every plastic water shooting device made out of brightly colored plastic, and then some.
There were water blasters with three nozzles, ones shaped like Winnie the Pooh, super Terminator types, ones with pumps, ones with back packs to store extra water, every shape imaginably made of bright plastic was for sale along the street.
Kids, young adults, foreigners and Thais all walked along the streets with water guns. Small children with big water blasters half their size and 8 year old boys laughing in ecstatically joy.
Locals with buckets of water and bowls with which to scoop out and toss onto anyone passing by or driving by. Water bottles with sprayers attached and ones with holes poked into the top for sprinkling water.
Khao San Road, the backpacker’s ghetto and another nearby intersection were roped off to traffic to allow more water play. Buddha images were placed every so often with small offering bowls of water, for people to wash them and pay respect, perhaps as a reminder that there was a reason for this day other than just water wars.
I ventured out onto the street gingerly with umbrella in hand. The first two days, due to my age, I think, I escaped without even getting damp except from perspiration.
It is hot and humid here in Bangkok.
Then on the morning of the third day, I heard the sound of gongs, Chinese dragon dancers and drums. It kept going and kept going.
“ I’m going to check it out, “ I said to my hubby, and wearing clothes which dry quickly, I followed my ears towards the music.
Yes, there was the expected dragon dancer and gongs. Behind it was a truck with a Buddha and a few people with water guns. Then came the dancers including two wearing large headed masks, (with small eye slits in the neck area), and finally the musicians playing Issan Thai music.
Standing by the sidelines, I clapped and laughed. The dancers invited me to join in so I did. Now, I was dancing down the street part of the crowd twirling my hands this way and that. As we moved along, people threw water on us, a woman dancing poured water down our backs. Everyone laughed, danced and kept going.
Someone handed me a drink. Without thinking I took a swallow of what looked like iced lemongrass tea. It was beer. I should have known. Even though it wasn’t even 11 in the morning, this was a Thai party! Beer kept flowing and soon whiskey joined it. I kept refusing it with a smile.
The dancers kept moving, we all kept getting soaked. People from our truck threw water at those we passed while they threw water at us.
Occasionally the group would pause as the dragon dancers did some gymnastic trick.
Finally, the dance finished its circuit. I headed back to my room.
The whole day, just like the two previous ones, people partied splashing water, shooting water guns, all day long. That evening, heading for dinner, the street we crossed was soaked. Returning I watched a woman take a hose of running water and spray it into the open windows of a passing local bus.
The one thing everyone I spoke with mentioned about this crazy water war is how good natured everyone was. Despite the I’m shooting you bit, the amount of drinking, it was all in good fun. No fights broke out, at least none that I heard of from the many young travelers I spoke to.
Happy Songkran.
P.S.
Exactly two years prior to dancing down the street in Bangkok soaking wet, I was in Taiwan in surgery, whoda thought??
It's two years since my liver transplant and I've just finished up dental treatment in Bangkok.
Though this is more of a travel story, I thought I'd share it with all of you.
April 15th, Bangkok
Songkran in Thailand,
How Wet Can Thais and Farangs ( foreigners) Get?
Songkran is Thai New Years. Falling at the end of the hot dry season in April, it is a day traditionally celebrated by, among other things, bathing Buddha images and by splashing water on family and friends.
With the huge influx of tourism, this holiday had evolved into major water wars particularly in Bangkok.
It fell on the 14th this year and in Bangkok, was celebrated for three days from the 13-15.
We really didn’t want to spend Songkran in Bangkok. But due to an error with the dentist, this is where we were and here is what I observed:
First there was the mass exodus of the many people who live in Bangkok come from other areas of the country.
Then many Bangkokians fled the city for the holiday.
Replacing most of the usual sidewalk vendors, and adding to the ones that had remained, were sales of every plastic water shooting device made out of brightly colored plastic, and then some.
There were water blasters with three nozzles, ones shaped like Winnie the Pooh, super Terminator types, ones with pumps, ones with back packs to store extra water, every shape imaginably made of bright plastic was for sale along the street.
Kids, young adults, foreigners and Thais all walked along the streets with water guns. Small children with big water blasters half their size and 8 year old boys laughing in ecstatically joy.
Locals with buckets of water and bowls with which to scoop out and toss onto anyone passing by or driving by. Water bottles with sprayers attached and ones with holes poked into the top for sprinkling water.
Khao San Road, the backpacker’s ghetto and another nearby intersection were roped off to traffic to allow more water play. Buddha images were placed every so often with small offering bowls of water, for people to wash them and pay respect, perhaps as a reminder that there was a reason for this day other than just water wars.
I ventured out onto the street gingerly with umbrella in hand. The first two days, due to my age, I think, I escaped without even getting damp except from perspiration.
It is hot and humid here in Bangkok.
Then on the morning of the third day, I heard the sound of gongs, Chinese dragon dancers and drums. It kept going and kept going.
“ I’m going to check it out, “ I said to my hubby, and wearing clothes which dry quickly, I followed my ears towards the music.
Yes, there was the expected dragon dancer and gongs. Behind it was a truck with a Buddha and a few people with water guns. Then came the dancers including two wearing large headed masks, (with small eye slits in the neck area), and finally the musicians playing Issan Thai music.
Standing by the sidelines, I clapped and laughed. The dancers invited me to join in so I did. Now, I was dancing down the street part of the crowd twirling my hands this way and that. As we moved along, people threw water on us, a woman dancing poured water down our backs. Everyone laughed, danced and kept going.
Someone handed me a drink. Without thinking I took a swallow of what looked like iced lemongrass tea. It was beer. I should have known. Even though it wasn’t even 11 in the morning, this was a Thai party! Beer kept flowing and soon whiskey joined it. I kept refusing it with a smile.
The dancers kept moving, we all kept getting soaked. People from our truck threw water at those we passed while they threw water at us.
Occasionally the group would pause as the dragon dancers did some gymnastic trick.
Finally, the dance finished its circuit. I headed back to my room.
The whole day, just like the two previous ones, people partied splashing water, shooting water guns, all day long. That evening, heading for dinner, the street we crossed was soaked. Returning I watched a woman take a hose of running water and spray it into the open windows of a passing local bus.
The one thing everyone I spoke with mentioned about this crazy water war is how good natured everyone was. Despite the I’m shooting you bit, the amount of drinking, it was all in good fun. No fights broke out, at least none that I heard of from the many young travelers I spoke to.
Happy Songkran.
P.S.
Exactly two years prior to dancing down the street in Bangkok soaking wet, I was in Taiwan in surgery, whoda thought??
Yes, Goof, you got it right again.
Thanks Deb, don't know about the beauty part the katoys have that cornered in Bangkok.
Thanks Deb, don't know about the beauty part the katoys have that cornered in Bangkok.
So to summarize: OrphanHawk got herself all wet while dancing, and Patrick Swayze was nowhere to be seen.
OH old friend you are a BEAUTIFUL woman and I know when I say how incredibly blessed we are to have you in our lives. You are truly inspirational in every sense of the word.
You Be Well :)
Deb
You Be Well :)
Deb
Thanks gang.
I don't have photos from Songkran and now I'm back in Bangkok, home away from home.
Cambodia is difficult emotionally despite the wonderful ruins.
Be Well as our good friend Mikesimon likes to say.
OH
I don't have photos from Songkran and now I'm back in Bangkok, home away from home.
Cambodia is difficult emotionally despite the wonderful ruins.
Be Well as our good friend Mikesimon likes to say.
OH
Beautiful story!
It's inspiring to hear you are doing so well two years out. Your transplant story was a wonderful one also. It's been a pleasure to follow your journey.
Great health and enlightening travels to you always. Please continue to update us from time to time.
All the best,
Isobella
It's inspiring to hear you are doing so well two years out. Your transplant story was a wonderful one also. It's been a pleasure to follow your journey.
Great health and enlightening travels to you always. Please continue to update us from time to time.
All the best,
Isobella
GOOD for you! Oh I'd love to see pictures of this! My sons and I did hose fights on a regular basis, much fun.
This is great to see, and I am sure you appreciate dancing in the rain faaaar more than maybe a few yrs back! Wonderful to see your doing so well, and your dancing in the rain.
Your just touring Cambodia? What a great life you are having! What a great inspiration for so many!
Have a great time, but I see you don't need to be told that! Great story! Lauri
This is great to see, and I am sure you appreciate dancing in the rain faaaar more than maybe a few yrs back! Wonderful to see your doing so well, and your dancing in the rain.
Your just touring Cambodia? What a great life you are having! What a great inspiration for so many!
Have a great time, but I see you don't need to be told that! Great story! Lauri
Hi Goof,
Thanks. Me too.
Foofighter:
People are always saying I should write a book.
I've been collected stories upon stories and if I ever get connect with the right co-writer I'll do it. Writing a story, chapter, paragraph is easy, a book? too much for me to do alone.
Anyone interested??
Right now I'm in Cambodia, living the My Damn tuktuk, ( madame tuk-tuk?) chapter.
Hugs to all,
OH
Thanks. Me too.
Foofighter:
People are always saying I should write a book.
I've been collected stories upon stories and if I ever get connect with the right co-writer I'll do it. Writing a story, chapter, paragraph is easy, a book? too much for me to do alone.
Anyone interested??
Right now I'm in Cambodia, living the My Damn tuktuk, ( madame tuk-tuk?) chapter.
Hugs to all,
OH
Seems like yesterday. There and back!
What a great story. I googled images of Songkran and it is exactly what popped up in my mind from your words. Write a book, you have stories to tell, OH.
What a great story. I googled images of Songkran and it is exactly what popped up in my mind from your words. Write a book, you have stories to tell, OH.
Sounds like a beautiful event, living in the high desert, I would love some of that water,
Good health, happy liver, good fortune continues
Good health, happy liver, good fortune continues
Thanks for the replies.
The intention of sharing this was both to uplift as well as inform.
You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and pretty soon, you're dancing.
The intention of sharing this was both to uplift as well as inform.
You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and pretty soon, you're dancing.
you made my day as i read this first thing in the morn. a wonderful reminder to never give up. i hope u got photo of u dancing with a dragon. wishing u continued good health, babs
It certainly sounds like you are enjoying your renewed life. It is always great to hear from you again and especially nice to hear how happy you sound.
"Showers" of blessings, :>)
Ev
"Showers" of blessings, :>)
Ev
It sounds like you're having fun:) Thank you for sharing.
Always good to see you here.
Congratulations on your two year post TP !
Keep dancing :)
Elaine
Always good to see you here.
Congratulations on your two year post TP !
Keep dancing :)
Elaine
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