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Heartbreak Sadness Songkran Road Toll

April 16, 2018 by David Herd

The sadness of Songkran

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran Road Toll, the Thai new year celebration is forever tarnished by hundreds of road deaths throughout the country which has the 2nd worst road toll in the world. Only war torn Libya is worse than Thailand.

The accumulated death toll from the first five of the so-called seven dangerous days of Songkran has risen to 323, with 3,140 people hospitalized in over 3,000 road accidents across the country, the Road Safety Centre announced on Monday. On Sunday alone, sixty-nine people were killed and 589 hospitalized in 552 road accidents nationwide.

Credit to Bangkok Post.

Songkran is supposed to be fun.

Heartbreak Sadness SongkranChildren having fun & adults acting like children while the road carnage is totally out of control.

Road toll after 5 days

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

Worse than last year despite government calls to take care on the roads.

The carnage continues

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

Commonly known in Thailand as the seven deadly days.

Here is my post from 2016.

Two people burned to death.

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

What a terrible way to die.

Not much left of the vehicle

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

This really shows the Heartbreak Sadness Songkran brings to thousands of families.

No chance on a bike.

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

I believe about 75% of deaths are young motorbike riders.

Tree versus truck

Songkran Madness Thailand

Tree wins every time.

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran day 6.

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

According to the Bangkok Post police have impounded a total of 13,964 vehicles (10,139 motorcycles and 3,825 cars) from April 11 to 16 for violating the alcohol ban. Police have taken legal action against 147,971 motorcyclists and 86,674 drivers of private vehicles and public transport.

The sad figures.

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

A total of 176,415 traffic offenders were arrested at 2,013 road checkpoints. Of that number, 49,866 people were not wearing crash helmets and 46,067 people were not carrying a driving licence.  Credit BKK Post.

Were they playing chicken?

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

My guess is someone either went to sleep or was checking his phone.

Two killed 3 injured.

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

Most of these photos show motor vehicles however 78% of deaths come from motorbikes.

The final count

Heartbreak Sadness Songkran

As horrific as it is sadly it will be repeated same time next year.

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposite the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

More great photo blogs here;

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1g Duck

 

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Seven deadly Songkran days

April 16, 2016 by David Herd

Songkran 2016

Seven deadly Songkran days

Seven deadly Songkran days

 Seven deadly Songkran days photo blog focuses on two things, first the tragic loss of life and the thousands of people who are seriously injured. Sadly Thailand has the 2nd worst road toll in the world after war torn Libya, mainly due to poor driving skills and alcohol fueled accidents. Songkran however is the black spot of this terrible statistic.  My sadness and sympathy does not lie with the several hundred who lose their life, they are gone and know nothing any more, my sympathy is for the parents who have lost children and the thousands of Thai people seriously injured during these Seven deadly Songkran days.

Secondly, lots of photos showing the joy and happiness thousands of people get from this famous celebration.

I would like to give credit to the Bangkok Post for borrowing many of their photos for this blog, many thanks to this great newspaper.

The first four days

Seven deadly Songkran days

The fourth day of the Songkran festival’s “seven dangerous days’’ saw 259 people lose their lives in road accidents across the country, up almost 36% from 2015.

Most accidents involved motorcycles, with 78.8%, followed by pick-up trucks, 10.8%. (BKK Post)

The madness that is Songkran

Seven deadly Songkran days

 The Songkran celebration has many symbolic traditions. The mornings begin with merit-making, visiting local temples and offering food to the Buddhist monks. On this specific occasion, pouring water on Buddha statues is considered an iconic ritual for this holiday. It represents purification and the washing away one’s sins and bad luck. Originally water was splashed gently on friends family & neighbours, today it has evolved into an all out water fight which certainly does not reassemble the original tradition.

Lets focus on happiness

Seven deadly Songkran days

The tragedy & sadness of the road carnage needs to be balanced by the joy and happiness most people in Thailand, consequently here is the sort of thing that makes me happy this time of the year. 🙂

A beautiful lady in traditional dress.

Seven deadly Songkran days

This is one of my favourite Songkran images, not sure who to credit.

Traditional Songkran

Seven deadly Songkran days

Gently pouring water on Buddha statues is considered to be an iconic ritual for this holiday. It represents purification and the washing away one’s sins and bad luck.

The other side of the coin

Seven deadly Songkran days

The two photos above demonstrate the both ends of the spectrum.

Have you ever seen a happier child?

Seven deadly Songkran days

Riding on his father’s shoulders he is having the time of his life.


More happy faces

Seven deadly Songkran days

Thanks once again to the Bangkok Post for another great photo.

Gunfight at the Bangkok Corral

Seven deadly Songkran days

Thousands of tourists flock to Thailand to participate in the greatest water fight in the world. Pamplona in Spain has the running of the bulls, Thailand has the running of the water cannons. 🙂

What did I do?

Seven deadly Songkran days

This guy seems to be denying any wrongdoing, could it be because he is not wearing a helmet? No, they rarely enforce that in Thailand, unless of course they see a Farang without one. 🙂

Here is one of my favourite Bangkok hotels in Sukhumvit Soi 11, use this link for a great rate.

Fabulous foam at Centralworld

Seven deadly Songkran days

A sea of white foam and everybody is having fun.

The very best of Songkran

Seven deadly Songkran days

I intended to focus on the danger on the roads during Songkran however images like the one above totally distract me.

Total determination

Seven deadly Songkran days

Concentrating totally on eliminating the enemy. 🙂 (Photo Bkk Post)

Beach Road Pattaya April 19.

Songkran Beach Rd Pattaya 2016

Long range weapon

Seven deadly Songkran days

Many of these water cannons have a very long range.

Fifth day the terrible toll continues.

Seven deadly Songkran days

The number of people arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol over the past seven is 81,541, including 50,271 motorcycle drivers and 31,270 drivers of cars and public vehicles.

How sweet she is.

Songkran Madness Thailand

After any bad news like the shocking road toll we need some good news, and here she is. 🙂

My name is Rambo

Seven deadly Songkran days

I have a licence to spill.

Songkran is “so in your face”

Seven deadly Songkran days

There is absolutely no escape from this “in your face” experience. 🙂

Day six and the news is still bad

Seven deadly Songkran days

The first six days of the “seven dangerous days” of Songkran saw 397 people lose their lives in road crashes across Thailand, a 29.74% jump from last year, with drink-driving remaining the major cause. (BKK Post)

Songkran madness in 2nd road Pattaya

Songkran celebration Pattaya 2016

What could possibly go wrong?

Seven deadly Songkran days

You are on a bike, you get hit by a stream of water, what could possibly go wrong?

The battle rages

Seven deadly Songkran days

I feel overall we have to properly balance the whole situation, fun versus death & suffering, in my book fun loses. I’m not advocating doing away with Songkran, however somehow the authorities have to do more to stop the road carnage.

Seven deadly Songkran days

Seven deadly Songkran days

Drink-driving remained the biggest single cause of road crashes, blamed for 34.09%, followed by speeding at 32.93%. Most crashes involved motorcycles (80.67%), followed by pick-up trucks (8.85%). (From Bangkok Post.)

Compare the last six years.

Seven deadly Songkran days

Four out of every five accidents involved motorcycles. So far a total of 442 people have been killed. It should also be noted that statistics taken inside Thailand only includes victims who died at the scene. Can you imagine how much worse the statistics would be if they also included people who died within 30 days?

80 lives lost every day

This link may answer some of the questions.

Thanks for visiting my Seven deadly Songkran days photo blog.

A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.

                 
                           Please check out these fabulous posts   
Holiday Inn

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Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

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The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Sutus Court is a great budget hotel right i the heart of one of Pattaya’s main bar areas, just use THIS LINK for a terrific room rate. 420/100 Moo 9 Soi Buakhao.

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

Click bottom right hand corner for full screen.

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Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand.

September 19, 2013 by David Herd

Songkran April madness.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand, the festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year’s Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia. Songkran has traditionally been celebrated as the New Year for many centuries, and is believed to have been adapted from an Indian festival. It is now observed nationwide, even in the far south. However, the most famous Songkran celebrations are still in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where it continues for six days and even longer. It has also become a party for foreigners and an additional reason for many to visit Thailand for immersion in another culture.

Songkran bazooka.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

Songkran is scheduled to last 2 days which would be entertaining, however in Pattaya and some other areas the madness goes on for 8 or 9 days. For us locals that is 5 days too long, so we either stay indoors most of the time or take a holiday away from Thailand. Otherwise every time you step out your door you get soaked.

Are you feeling lucky punk?

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

I really love the the “don’t mess with me” look this guy has on his face.  👿

Dressed for the fight.

d7157d6a-d390-4299-ac0f-9c028a0287b9 (1)

Songkran is so much fun for everybody young and old. Often however there is ice in the water which can kind of sting when it hits you.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

bd2326b7-32b4-49fd-b948-7ed9e1474588 (1)

This is at 2nd road at the top of Soi 6, that bar in the background has since closed.

Resting before the battle.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

Troops must always try to rest before the battle begins, any footpath will do. Sadly there will be casualties.  😆

On the hunt in Beach Road.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

No one is safe, lucky April the the hottest month of the year in Thailand, the best thing you can do is wear some old clothes and prepared to be soaked.


My friends join in the fun.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

Here are my friends Justine, Nui & Macca joining in the fun.

The kids reload.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

As you can imagine the kids think it is the greatest time of the year. Here they are reloading their guns.

You can run but you can’t hide.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

Nowhere are you safe from being soaked, as you can see the main form of transport in Pattaya are the Baht buses, and they have open sides and become prime targets for the predators.

Thai people love Songkran.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

For Thai people it is such a happy joyful time of the year, I feel rather guilty for not being a great supporter, well that’s not entirely true, I would love Songkran if it only lasted for 2 or 3 days.


Bacardi Breezer promotion.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

Here we have the ultimate wet tee-shirt celebration. The Bacardi Breezer promotion always has lots of gorgeous girls getting soaked.

Beautiful Thai girls having fun.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

Move baby move, get in the grove now.

Sexy Thai girls celebrate Songkran in Beach Rd Pattaya Thailand, April 19.

Shake it baby shake it!

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

Well I know I am repeating myself but Thai people really love Songkran, plus thousands of travellers from all parts of the world come here to join the fun, why don’t you?

The fun police are here.

Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand

Here are the cops making sure nobody goes overboard, I have never seen these uniforms before, I think they are military police from the navel base. If you want to communicate with them I suggest you learn some Thai.

Thanks for visiting my Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand photo blog, I’m looking forward to Songkran 2017.

 
Songkran Pattaya Thailand, crowds gather on beach road

Thanks for visiting my Songkran madness Pattaya Thailand photo blog, check out the road carnage that sadly goes hand in hand with this celebration, just follow THIS LINK.

            Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.         

Holiday Inn

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Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

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The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Sutus Court is a great budget hotel right i the heart of one of Pattaya’s main bar areas, just use THIS LINK for a terrific room rate. 420/100 Moo 9 Soi Buakhao.

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposite the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

Click bottom right hand corner for full screen.

More great posts here;

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

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Great golf courses near Pattaya

 

Walking St Pattaya is wild

 

Pattaya LadyBoy show

 

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