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Bangkok 'Songkran!'

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Bangkok, April 13, 2007 

Thailand celebrated the Lunar New Year and they call it 'Songkran'. It's a huge water festival and while it's happening, the whole city shuts down to party. This is Bangkok's Kao San Road areas. There must be fifty thousand people here.

This is Aw after the first ten minutes. We all slather each other with white powder mixed with mud to form a mud for smearing on each other's face as we wish everyone 'Happy New Year'.

This is what my camera sees as I hold it over the crowd on Kao San Road.

That's Ivan on the left. We met him a few days ago at Angkor Wat Cambodia. He's a televsion producer from the Philipines. He's supposed to be back at work right now but he just couldn't resist the show here.

Ivan started out by saying that he just wanted to stay dry and safe inside somewhere. Then the next thing we knew, he had bought a Commando sized squirt gun and has now become Rambo.

The people of Thailand are so 'Jai dee' (sweet heart). Look at the expression on her face as she douses me.

Songkran is insane; so much fun...

I snapped this shot exactly as the water is hitting her; and that water is Co-old.

The police are great. His car is smeared all over with powder but he just quietly carries on with his job. The one chilling event was when a series of Bomb squad vehicles came through the crowd. Some parts of Thailand have experienced bomb scares and even a couple of actual bombs since the Ex-Prime Minister was thrown out. But so far it's all just fun and no problem here.

Songkran is wild...

...and sexy. The girl on the right can really dance. They are selling Philippine beer here; three for 100 baht (3/$3). Thailand's Songkran is the World's largest Wet T-shirt Party.

Aw is so much fun to party with. She is so bold and has a killer smile as she smears strangers with powder and pours water over them. Ivan and I just hang on for the ride.

Aw snapped this just as the Restaurant owner snagged this Farang with the hose. Look at that evil look of glee on his face.

Songkran reminds me of Halloween. It's the one time in the year when a culture who never touches in public, suddenly is touching everyone. And it's the one time when transsexuals (called 'Lady-Boys' in Thailand) are able to flaunt their stuff on the streets. Aw swears this is a lady-boy. All I know is, everyone is welcome here and we're all having a blast.  HAPPY SONGKRAN 2050!