Thailand will try anything to make $$$$$
my 1st songkran was in Chiang Mai and was a fantastic time, Since then i avoid it all costs> its just gotten out of hand with dirty klong water, high power water guns, ice being thrown and powder.

BANGKOK: Thailand will transform Songkran into a month-long global water festival next year to boost its “soft power” and attract international tourists.
Let's make the Songkran festival the event that everyone has to fly to Thailand to attend. Let's make Thailand [home of] one of the top 10 global festivals," Ms Paetongtar­n said. "Starting from next year, the Songkran festival will not be the same.

https://www.thephuketnews.com/songkran- ... -90473.php

For me, Songkran is still something I look forward to each and every year. Carefree and excessive partying is just quintessentially Thai, and seeing old sad wankers in Pattaya moan about the festivities year after year just makes them even sweeter to me. Where I live, it's quite a bit shorter than there, but still, reading their inane complaints for a full week is just part of my Songkran routine.

If anything, it seems to be even wilder in Cambodia nowadays, so I hope to be there for Khmer New Year some time, too.

I have celebrated in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Bangkok and Pattaya. All had good and bad points. Last year I was in a small town in Issan and it was excellent. The water throwing didn't start until 3pm so everyone had the chance to work and get home if they wished. It also finished at a decent hour. Old white people in Chiang Mai complaining about Songkran can do one. It's like moving to Notting Hill and complaining about the carnival.