Monday, April 13, 2009

New Year and other rites
It is New Year in Thailand and to celebrate, Songkran, or the water festival. In short, it gives people free license to douse others with water and be doused themselves, the symbolic purpose to cleanse and mark fresh beginnings. Traditionally Songkran was limited to splashing water, but in the new commercial age, shops and markets sell huge plastic water cannons and anyone at all is fair game. We are told, however, that drinkers are none too pleased at having their beer diluted and some react not too well.
Phuket itself is an island, the size of which we haven’t yet got a feel for, but it claims a population of 250,000 along with Thailand’s most popular resorts, beautiful beaches, fine hotels, mountains, lush forests, temples, coral reefs and a colourful nightlife. Unlike many such claims, this one appears to be based on fact, not that we’ve seen much beyond our hotel and nearby Patong, and even then only a fraction of the town itself. But if first impressions count, then this place has it all; scenery to die for, cigarette-smoking monkeys with good old-fashioned tea parties, trained chooks and dancing elephants. Then there are the Australians, and at night the place turns into the wild-west.
“Downtown, late at night maybe not for you”, the owner of a local bar warns Kaelene before sending one of her barmaids around to massage her shoulders. The proprietor, a Thai woman, thinks Kaelene needs relaxation treatment after negotiating the local market stalls. She also tells us her heart was broken by a Kiwi man which makes it strange, but nice, that she has named hers the New Zealand bar and adorned it with silver-fern flags and Warrior’s rugby league jerseys. It is a small oasis among literally dozens of barasti-like huts that serve as Aussie-theme bars in the market area and, by the end of our second visit, this time to introduce the family, our names join other autographed on the ceiling and the ever-sharp owner is keen to pin us down to return for a barbeque night.
Sightseeing will be on hold for a while as the clans gather for Seath and Nicole’s wedding on Saturday afternoon. Jade arrived last Friday, Seath and Nicole and Fleur and Thomas Saturday and the rest are expected to roll in between now and Thursday. Thursday night there is a meal for everyone to meet and, presumably, a trip to the wild-west for the pre-marital rituals. Bride and groom are reportedly nervous.

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