PATTAYA, Thailand – For many residents, April 19 is the day Pattaya goes fully into “unleashed mode” as Wan Lai celebrations take over the city with one final, citywide water war before life begins returning to normal after midnight.
By Saturday morning, anyone still hoping to stay dry has probably already accepted defeat. Beach Road, Second Road, Soi Buakhao, Naklua and the smaller sois linking them are expected to turn into a moving sea of pickup trucks, water barrels, loud music, foam, soaked shirts and smiling chaos.
For some, that is exactly the point.
Many visitors say April 19 is the one day they look forward to all year – the chance to jump into the madness, dress for battle, bag up the phone and wallet, grab water guns and simply enjoy the final big day of Songkran in Pattaya.
Others are taking the opposite approach.
Many long-term visitors and residents say April 19 is the perfect day to sit by the pool, enjoy lunch with family, stay inside in the air conditioning, watch television and wait for the mayhem to burn itself out.
“Wake up Monday and it’s all over,” has become a common attitude among those skipping the action.
For anyone planning to venture out, preparation is everything. Waterproof bags, cheap sandals, sunglasses, dry clothes, cash in sealed bags and patience are all considered essential survival gear.
Drivers are also being warned to expect delays, road closures and unpredictable traffic throughout the day. Beach Road is expected to be packed from late morning until midnight, while many smaller streets will likely become nearly impassable during the busiest periods.
Despite new restrictions on high-pressure water guns, powder and unsafe behavior, many locals remain skeptical about enforcement, saying rules can vary greatly depending on where you are and who happens to be nearby.
Pharmacies are also expected to stay busy, with eye irritation, ear infections and minor injuries becoming an unfortunate part of the annual celebrations for some people.
Others remain uncomfortable with the scale of the event altogether, pointing to the annual road toll, crowded hospitals and concerns that Pattaya’s version of Songkran has become far more intense than the traditional festival it once was.
Still, whether people love it, avoid it or simply endure it, April 19 remains one of Pattaya’s biggest and most talked-about days of the year.
The good news for those counting down the hours is that by midnight tonight, the water guns will be put away, the streets will start drying out and Pattaya will begin returning to normal.
City Hall is also expected to deploy hundreds of staff overnight and early Monday morning to clean roads, remove rubbish, wash away powder and debris, and restore order before the city wakes up for the start of a new week. By sunrise on Monday, much of Pattaya is expected to look as though the chaos never happened.
At least until next year.
