the people of thailand have got it sorted. new years eve party? no way - party for the entire week and throw water all over anyone and everyone - yes please. by some stroke of genius, but certainly not ours, we happened to arrive in chaing mai at the same time as the thai new years celebrations, which here means water fights, hardcore, all in, insanely massive waterfights. we woke up late for our first day of celebrations out in the thick of it all, after a rather massive friday night out at which lize partook in her first bucket - coke, a bottle of rum and lime. after we crawled downstairs everyone was donning head bands and war paint.we filled up massive bins of water, loaded the ute and red pick up and off we went, all crammed in the back of the tray , didn't take long and we were dripping wet. it is the most crazy experience we have ever had - especially sober! for the next four hours we drove around the streets, at a crawl as so many in trucks, on motorbikes, walking the streets - all this alongside the moat - filled with the most foulest water either of us has ever seen - and we were being covered in it! some people purchased great chunks of ice and made their water freezing, which always ensured screams of fright when a bucket of it was tipped over your head - but it was the most incredible thing to be involved with - full on war, and then they smile, laugh and wave at you crying out - happy new year. nearly all the backpackers we were with, about 30, couldn't believe it has nothing like this would ever happen in any of our home towns. brilliant. and words nor pictures can really describe it. people were partying on the sides of the streets, bars were going off, and everyone was soaked, smiling and having a blast. we loved loved loved it! especially happy that we had a water proof camera so could record it all.
after we got home and dried off kim and i headed out for some dinner - we hadn't eaten all day so were starving and enjoyed an early night - ready for day two.
we woke up early as we were being taken to Noom's house (guy who works at the hostel) in a local thai village. we prepared for war again - you literally cannot walk, drive the streets etc without getting soaked. stopped at a local market on the wya to purchase some food to cook for our lunch and we then jumped back on board for the 20min drive along the freeway to Noom's house - sitting, without seatbelt, balanced on the side of a pickup. crazy! few water fights along the way and we arrived pretty wet which was topped off quickly by local village kids keen for a water fight. we were given some rice wine, pretty gross when luke warm, but better with ice and even more so once we added sprite. we grabbed our glasses and gun and headed next door to watch a new years eve cake being prepared - which was in a huge huge huge wok which sits on top of an 40 gallon drum. basically made out of unrefined brown sugar, coconut, and sticky rice - not 2 bad, but the process to make it looked great fun and we did get to have a little go.
we then headed a bit further along the street and joined the kids in some water fighting, stopping every motorcycle that drove past and drenching the poor rider. kim's giggle has been non-stop the last coupld of days as he is just like a little kid again!
tonight we head to a foam party - should be massive and wet.
