Water, Water Everywhere

It was a warm day in mid-April, the air was humid and flies were buzzing around as we headed up the mountain towards the elephant sanctuary. The sound of motorcycles, Tuk Tuks and the occasional car washed over me as I watched the streets of Thailand fly by.
Travelling from Patong our trip was going to take an hour and I was content to watch the people going about their annual water festival while we drove. Everywhere people were laughing and spraying each other, at one point a police officer was even getting in on the action, his uniform clinging to his skin and a small smile gracing his face.
Our driver, being a kind local felt the need to make sure we truly experienced the event and drove as slowly as possible to allow the locals to soak us as we could not escape from the enclosed Tuk Tuk.
A loud honk reached my ears and I prepared myself for the upcoming battle. Our driver was slowing down as a large Ute came up beside us, loaded with drums full of icy water and men carrying water pistols.
My own gun was loaded ready to attack, and I aimed it out the back of the Tuk Tuk, my father doing the same next to me. Cold water greeted me as the men began their onslaught and we tried our best to fight back, only hitting one or two of them. Very quickly our water ran out and the men kindly took our guns from us, filling them from their own drums. As they drove away they yelled out ‘happy Songkran’ and we farewelled them with the same, grins splitting our faces.