04-18-09 Water Holiday over in Mae Sai

I am happy to say the water throwing holiday of Songkran, Thai New Year, is pretty much over in Mae Sai, were we life this time of year.

I understand it is still going on in other parts of Thailand and Asia. Here is a video link from one of our friends in Myanmar (Burma). It is a little suggestive so I would suggest it for adults only: Burmese Girls' Dancing at Thingyan

By the way, we agree with most of the comments of the viewers on YouTube. Check them out. The Songkran celebrations have gotten away from the original religious meanings.

Not judging but just saying, one of the Buddhist beliefs is not to use any intoxicants. Yet almost everyone drinks large amounts of alcohol during Songkran.

According to People's Daily Online yesterday: The death toll in road accidents in Thailand during the April 7-15 Songkran festival holiday has reached 441, while the number of those injured was put at 5,533, caretaker Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana said.

Marshal Kongsak, in his capacity as deputy director of Thailand 's National Road Safety Command Center, said on April 15 alone, the ninth day of the Songkran festival, there were 506 road accidents with 48 deaths and 554 persons injured.

Marshal Kongsak said drunken driving remained the No.1 cause of the accidents, followed by excessive speed.

Motorcycles were involved in most road accidents, followed by pick-up trucks.

Thailand's long Songkran holiday is widely known for its high casualties from road accidents as a large number of Thais, particularly those who work in the capital Bangkok, usually travel to reunite with their families upcountry to celebrate the water festival.

Marshal Kongsak said Sunday was the last day of the 10-day road safety campaign and most travelers would return to Bangkok though some are remaining upcountry in their hometowns to vote in the April 19 Senate election.

The minister said he had instructed highway police and other officials on duty to strictly monitor drivers who are drinking to take them off the road.

Body pick-up - Right
Truck from the Portektueng Foundation that helps pick up dead bodies. Note the interesting cartoon stickers--one of the left has a worker carrying an apparently nude worker and on the left a worker carries a corpse tied up in a white sheet Thai style.

May God bless us ALL!