Waterlogged and Happy!

Didn't we just celebrate the new year? Twice? The calendar new year and the Chinese new year? Well now we're in Thailand and this is a whole new celebration. And just one night of festivities? No way! This is a whole weekend of super soaking madness.

The week before markets and 7/11 started selling water guns. Lots of water guns. And dry bags and buckets. Not really sure how big this waterfight would be, we thought it wouldn't be worth it to have a gun of our own. That was until we walked outside on the first day and came back drenched. We had to get revenge!

Geared with our super soaker backpacks we wandered the streets spraying everyone and getting sprayed by everyone. And by everyone that means little kids, babies, moms, dads and grandparents, people walking by, driving on motorbikes, tuk-tuks, in the backs of trucks, everyone! And even if you had to work that weekend, no worries! There's probably a bucket of water right outside to get some passerby. Not one person was dry and it seemed that everyone was armed, walking around with super soakers or buckets of icy water. The best were the kids, but really everyone was a kid for this celebration.

The best were the filling stations. That water in our backpacks only lasted so long so we had to pay the price to fill up. That means getting buckets on our heads in exchange for more ammo. Not like we minded, it has been hot! With around 100 of heat everyday, this is the perfect way to bring in the new year! And thanks to the moat surrounding the old city there is never a lack of water, even if it is green and kinda smells and quite possibly is the cause of those mysterious rashes.

As with most new year celebrations it is about starting fresh. The water represents the cleansing of sins. Originally the water was poured onto Buddha statues and collected to be gently poured on the shoulders of others. This kinda got out of hand and this "gentle pour" has evolved and is now just one huge waterfight. But the Thais practice Buddhism devoutly and have not forgotten the origin of the festival. The Wats (Buddhist temples) are just as packed as the streets with people making offerings, sending their prayers, and paying their respects. And they welcome any foreigners to join the celebration. Everyone is fair game!

Barreling to the Border

I had to renew my visa to get a few more precious days in paradise. I had been here two months already and apparently almost overstayed my welcome in Thailand. No worries though, the ink is still drying on my new stamp which buys me more time to wander the streets hunting for the best fruit shakes and noodle soup carts.

This was accomplished with a visa run.
When I think of a visa run I imagine a group led by a coyote (like the Mexican border) carrying their bags across the border fence. The trek would be dangerous and lives would be risked. Of course this would be during the middle of the night with search lights circling in the distance. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) my visa run didn't go quite like this.

Calling it a visa run makes it sound so risky, but I'm sorry to report there was no running through fields in the middle of the night avoiding security spotlights, though that would have been a lot more fun than reality. 

I just took an air conditioned van to the border of Thailand and Myanmar and was led not by a coyote, but just a normal guy who was in quite a hurry.

We just left the country for a few moments and came right back over to Thailand. Kinda silly, but that's what needs to be done. Earlier I had tried going to the immigration office instead, but the reservations were full before they even opened. Besides, a border run sounded more exciting than sitting in an office all day. And it definitely had me on the edge of my seat!

Every time I take a new mode of transportation it gets wilder and wilder. Overnight bus, a rickety old school train, a motorbike with my luggage, but nothing beat the border run van. That driver put a whole new meaning to the phrase pedal to the metal. When all you see is brake lights ahead he's flooring it and weaving through the cars, trucks, motorbikes like no other, you know it's going to be a fun ride!.

I should've paid more attention to the older fellow from the first few minutes of the trip. He has lived in Chiang Mai for years and has to do border runs every 90 days. The first thing that came out of his mouth when he sat down was I can't wait to be out of this van. I now understand those words.