Sunday 7th April 2019 - Get ready for Songkran!

It's Sunday, which is normally a very laid back fun day for Thais, and even more so as it is the weekend before Songkran, the Thai New Year, which last for many days.

The number of days depends on ...... well, I'm not really sure but it seems to be that the more the town you're in can party the longer the festival lasts.
To give you an idea, I've been told that Cha Am celebrates for 3 days and Pattaya parties for 8 days.
I'm glad we're in Cha Am.

We were invited to a pre-Songkran party at a resort owned by one of Gregs acquaintances - the
Thai Bamboo Guesthouse Resort  It's up for grabs and I was told it has a reputation as a naturist resort. It's is a fair way out of town and is a little run down so it's not likely to sell quickly nor for the wanted ~AUD450,000

The deal for today was that you pay THB450/head and you get 2 drinks (beer or a softie but no spirits, which cost you THB100 each) and a meal. The big bonus is that you get to mix with a bunch of nice people that can really party.

The ticket has the festival name misspelt.

The inconspicuous lane that leads down to resort.

No signage

Tiz with Greg's wife, Ice

One of several medium sized, and very juicy, piglets being cut up for serving

Various condiments and salad stuff

More side dishes including a very nice tomato and onion salad

My lunch which I returned for equal quantity of seconds

Folks enjoying the pool

The water "fight" begins. The splashing of water over each other is part of the festivals ritual.

The weather is so hot that it's a relief, and everyone loves it.

They started with 8 players in the Musical Chairs competition and these were the last two

Tiz enjoying a G&T by the pool

 This pineapple was growing in the garden. 

It was the first time I had ever seen a pineapple growing!

After a real fun day we left at 3:30pm and Greg drove us home. The drive was a real experience, and a lesson in "NEVER trust Thai drivers to stop when they should nor assume they will be courteous." 

They don't bother looking when they pull out nor give way to their right and do so many other things that could kill other drivers. But, we've been warned so there are no excuses. 

And, the overarching thing to keep in mind is that when an accident happens it will be, without exception, the foreigners fault.

So, do EVERYTHING you can to avoid having an accident. Simples!

Over and out on this Sunday night. 

Mañana

Saturday 6th April 2019 - Yay, it's the weekend!

You might well scoff but it's important to maintain a sense of normality, and it's normal to get excited about enjoying the weekend, as a break from the drudgery of the "working" week.
This morning we decided to head north to the fishing village. It's a little over 4km to there.

We walked along the road to get there and then along the beach, for a while, on the way back.

The path out to sea is along the southern sea wall. 

It along with its northern companion seems to form a safe port for the trawlers.

We now understand what they mean when they say 

"Cha Am beach gets really busy on weekends. Just don't go there."

Trawlers unloading at Cha Am fishing village 

One of the stalls at the village where you can buy fish just off the boat

One of only a few trawlers in port today 

There's money in fishing

A few of the many trawlers with what looked like hundreds of craypots

Looking back at the fishing village from the seawall

View looking south, from the seawall, toward the centre of Cha Am and Hua Hin further in the distance

A nice looking old Honda Goldwing. 

Rare in any part of the world and this was a very nice version of one. 

A great example of an Isuzu ute. 

It seems that wheel/tyre combinations poking past the bodyline isn't a problem here.

Great colour choice

"Jhony Woker" emblem embellishes this bus. 

You just have to laugh at their attempts to appropriate western symbols of what they believe to be 

 ..... classy or exclusive or fashionable or iconic. 

As it was hot, humid and the roads and beach were crowded we did what the locals do stay at home, and in our case, in the pool or watching movies. 

After dinner we went for a walk down to the beach, but not before a false start. On our first attempt to head off I went outside it had started to rain, albeit lightly. It only lasted 5 minutes and wasn't enough to even get one of the pool towels really wet.

When we got to the beach it was as we expected, full of stalls and people. The main square was all set for the Rhythm of the Earth concert, with lots of R&B, world music etc. artists performing, on Sunday. It also had 30-40 stalls on the periphery selling foods and providing information. It looks very well set up and we will definitely come down for  a look.

As you can see it is full of food stalls and people enjoying their wares

This stall selling a griddle cooked pancake type dessert.

We had one with chocolate sauce, of course. 

It was not too sweet which made it even better.

We were so excited we forgot to take pic.

This means we will have to return to get another one, soon 😄

We came home and watched "The Highway Men". A movie about the two ex-Texas Rangers, played by Woody Harrelson and Kevin Costner, that hunted down and killed Bonnie and Clyde. I like it but it didn't get great reviews, mainly because it's a Netflix production.

Netflix seems to be becoming THE source of entertainment these days. 

I'm a bit with Dame Helen Mirren on that, but it has to be a great movie or full of 3D to drag me out of my home to watch it.

As I write this last part it's Sunday morning and we are looking forward to attending a pre-Songkran party today.
Yes, the pre-festival party is a thing.
Imagine having a pre-Xmas party and a pre-NYE party!
Heaven to some, hell to others.
I think age and propensity to imbibe would tend to tip people into one category of the other.

Have a great day and tune in for more tomorrow.