Khao San water fun extended

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Khao San water fun extended

Published: 15/04/2009 at 02:30 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

Water celebrations at Khao San road and RCA in Bangkok have been extended to Friday after the government announced it was adding two days to the Songkran holiday for the civil service sector.

Surat Wongcharnsilp, chairman of the Khao San Road Business Association, said the street would be fenced off to vehicles so the public could enjoy water splashing uninterrupted from 7am to 10pm until Friday.

The scene at Khao San was mayhem on Wednesday, with locals and foreigners engaged in water fun.

Khao San had until Tuesday not seen the usual level of liveliness during Songkran due to the riots in the capital city that overshadowed the holiday spirit. On Monday the Khaosan Business Association banned water-wars due to safety concerns.

On Tuesday night thousands swarmed at RCA to celebrate the water festival after they learned rioting protestors had called off their demonstration and the government announced an extension to the Songkran holiday period.

Many Bangkok residents who went to temples for the Thai New Year celebration told reporters they made wishes for lasting peace in the nation.

At least 272 people died from road accidents in the first five days of the Songkran holiday period, with the most fatalities in Chiang Mai province.

There were 3,375 road accidents in the period from last Friday to Tuesday, inclusive, according to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department. The accident count was lower than last year.

Chiang Mai province had the highest number of road fatalities, 12, followed by Roi Et province with 11 deaths.

The department’s road accidents prevention centre blamed speeding and alcohol for the majority of the accidents.

It also warned of the increased road-accident risk because of the extended holiday, after Thursday and Friday were declared off days for the state sector.

Songkran mayhem returned to Khao San road on Wednesday.

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Writer: Bangkokpost.com

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Tony

Discussion 7 : 16/04/2009 at 12:49 PM7
555 Thanks Kun Veen, I guess the current economic situation is the fault of farangs too as we have to give Thai's 51% control of our companies (and therefore money) right? When you stand and take responsibilty for your OWN doings as an individual or as a country (or as an adult) only then can you move ahead.
cor verhoef

Discussion 6 : 16/04/2009 at 10:08 AM6
Veen Kitchata: I live in Bang Phlad en watersplashing has been going on since last Monday and none of the revellers are foreign. The only people who should leave the country and never come back are the red shirt hooligans. Let them join their daddy in Dubai.
Brandon

Discussion 5 : 15/04/2009 at 11:34 PM5
Veen Kitchatha
You post indicates you are a xenophobic bigot. Come over to my part of Bangkok. The streets are filled with people having fun with water, and NONE of them are tourists.
Lasse

Discussion 4 : 15/04/2009 at 11:18 PM4
hhhmmmmm....... to me it looks like it's the thai people (with or without passport) who is making the problems for the moment, and not the tourists........ Have I missunderstod something ?????
sano

Discussion 3 : 15/04/2009 at 11:04 PM3
it is stupid to think this way. tourists are not doing anything bad here. they are scare actually with what is going on right now and what do you expect them to do>??? they cant just sit in their rooms. there are many thai celebrating and why are not attacking them??
You are just stupid
john

Discussion 2 : 15/04/2009 at 08:10 PM2
If common sense was common...
Veen Kitchatha

Discussion 1 : 15/04/2009 at 08:03 PM1
I am saddened by the violence over the last few days and I am equally disappointed by the blatant disregard the Tourists have for the trouble that is tearing this country apart.

I know Thais are generally respectful and forgiving to the foreigners, many of whom think Thailand is a big playground for them.

While soldiers are shooting bullets in the streets of Bangkok, these tourists still think its ok and fun to shoot water guns. And this is not just in bangkok but all over the country.

Thai people are dying and these tourists choose to be blind and insensitive, only concerned with their own fun.

I wish i had a water gun full of spit to shoot at the tourists. Can you not stop yourself for just one time? Just one time can you stop thinking about your own pleasure?

To all tourists who went to play during Songkran, please leave this country and never come back. To the Thai people who rather play with tourists that help your own people, please leave with the tourists. When there is blood on the street, this is not the time for fun and games.

Khao San water fun extended