HuaHin (and my first encounter with SongKran)

Just got back from my 2 day excursion to HuaHin (which is pretty much a beachy, touristy town). Katrijn and I went to Kathy's house in Bangkok on Thursday, spent the night there, and then took the train to HuaHin in the morning... where we met Marissa and Jackie. The weekend was quite enjoyable.. we spent one day inside the nice air conditioned mall.. shopping around, eating, etc. The usual. The other day we lounged around the pool (which contributed to a nice lobster red sunburn I now have on my shoulders). We stayed up late at night visiting and going for midnight McDonald runs. Certain people had spur of the moment hair dye jobs (for only 400 baht!) And we even went for a late night swim fully clothed in the ocean (which wasn't such a good idea for me since I was wearing a white skirt +555). To be quite honest I didn't really want to leave today. I actually always find it weird going back to my host family after spending a few days with foreigners... back to eating only Thai food.. only speaking Thai... etc. But I guess I am IN Thailand.. so those things should be expected.

We went back to Bangkok by Taxi, the cost of which ended up being about the same as the train we had taken down to HuaHin once we split it four ways. The taxi took us to the train station, and when we got there I phoned my host dad to see if he could pick me up.. but he couldn't. Of course there was always the option of taking a taxi.. but since I'd rather save my money and spent it on souvenirs, rather than taxi rides.. I took the cheap, long way home. Which meant I took the bus. The non air conditioned bus. And, to top things off, I decided to sit near the front of the bus, right behind the door. Now, this seat wouldn't be problematic on any normal days.. but apparently some people got a little too excited about the fact that SongKran festival starts tomorrow, and decided to start playing water today. Which meant there were people standing along the side of the street, with water guns, water hoses, etc..... which they would throw through the open windows and doors of the bus. And since I was so conveniently situated right by the door.. I got a good soaking. So that, my friends, was my first encounter with SongKran festival. It was nice, actually... helped cool me off a bit in this crazy heat. Probably would have enjoyed it more though if I felt a little more relaxed about busing it home by myself from the train station for the first time. The bus reached the end of the route, and we weren't where I thought we were supposed to be. So there were a few nice Thai ladies getting off the bus who told me which bus to take next in order to go out of my village... and in the end I made it home safe and sound.. and only a little damp.

HaPpY sOnGkRaN eVeRyOnE! (and of couse, Happy Easter as well!!!!... although for me.. along with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.. Easter doesn't really exist this year)