DON’T Go to Songkran 🇹🇭 Without Watching This! 💦 2025 Survival Guide

Sawasdee krub, everyone, and welcome back to Chiang Mai! Or I should be saying Sawasdee Pee Mai because it is New Year’s in Thailand. That’s right — it is Songkran, and the celebrations are about to begin! Even the Three Kings right here on the monument are dressed up for the occasion. This is actually my ninth Songkran celebration here in Thailand, and if I’m being honest, I cannot get enough of it. It is the most fun and amazing celebration I’ve ever been to in the world. And it’s also the time that you will see the Thai people at their most joyous — and that is saying a lot in a country where they are the Land of Smiles. It’s something you have to experience at least once in your life. Right now, we are down at the Tha Phae Gate, which is one of the epicenters of the celebrations, and as you can see all around me, the preparations have begun. The entire city is just so beautiful right now with the decorations going up, and you can feel that excitement in the air. So I thought, while the city is preparing, I would share with you some of my essential tips and advice so you can get the most out of this amazing celebration. This wet and wild water war happens all over the country for the next seven days. I like that: wet and wild water war, wet and wild water war, wet and wild water war — three times fast. But anyway, all of these tips and the things I’m telling you, you can apply all over the country, and being prepared is such an important thing because it can be overwhelming. You can buy your supplies anywhere — at shopping malls and stores — but I prefer to come down to the local markets like where we are right now because you are supporting local people, and that’s part of what traveling is all about. I really like this one, but I feel like it might not fit — at least not after all the Pad Thai I’ve been eating. So, to start out — your outfit is your statement on Songkran, and trust me, you want it to be a good one. Thai people traditionally wear things with bright colors and flowers all over them, but you can get as crazy as you want to be and just be as unique as your Songkran freak flag can fly. Just needed to make a quick stop and pick up some iced lemon green tea to keep the energy going. But there is so much here, and I think the next thing that’s important is safety. So first of all — it’s April, and it’s almost 100 degrees every single day. So you need to think about sun protection. Especially if you’re bald and beautiful — you want to make sure that you’re protecting that head! I also recommend wearing sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 50 — and make sure that it’s waterproof because, trust me, it’s like walking through a car wash without the car. So you definitely want to be protected. And speaking of being completely soaked, you want to make sure that you have a dry bag for your essentials. And I say essentials because you don’t want to be carrying around stuff with you all day that you don’t need — because it gets crazy. Also, get a little bag for your phone so you can get those photos — because if you didn’t get photos, were you really at Songkran? And you want to make sure that you have a good hat. You also want to pick up some eye protection, because trust me — when you get hit in the eye with some of these high-powered guns, it is painful. And last but not least with safety — you’re going to be getting water in your mouth. And all I can say is: spit it out. Do not swallow. You don’t want to get sick. This is a seven-day celebration, and you want to be part of every single day. Ah, I love being back in Chiang Mai. And as you’re walking around, there are temples everywhere — like the one I’m at right now. And you can see all these Buddha statues behind me here. This is part of the Songkran tradition — it’s called Song Nam Phra, and it’s about taking some fragrant water that’s been blessed and pouring it over Buddha images, as well as statues, in an act of cleansing. And it goes beyond just the statues — you also pour it over your loved ones and elders, as well as monks. It’s a way of starting fresh. It’s a new beginning. And that’s what this entire holiday is all about. And while I love to shop local for most of the items, there are a couple of essentials that I like to go to an actual store for — so let’s hop on the motorbike and head over to Big C to get those last pieces of this Songkran puzzle. So Big C is like the Walmart of Thailand — but way cooler. Big C! This next one is a big one — it’s about your feet. And if your feet are uncomfortable, you are not going to be enjoying yourself. This celebration goes on all day. You’re going to be dancing, running around, having water wars, and you do not want to have to worry about them. I recommend a good pair of non-slip, closed-toed shoes — like maybe some faux Crocs or even a good sturdy pair of flip-flops. Just realize that whatever you’re wearing might get ruined. So something like Crocs works great. Here they sell fake Crocs for about 300 baht — they call them “Chucks,” which I love. They get the job done, and they have so many different colors, so you can match whatever your gorgeous outfit is. Oh yeah, baby. This is it. This is the big decision time: water blasters. They have every different size that you can imagine. They have cute little kitty ones that are pink. They have giant blasters that will knock you down. They have little handheld ones — they’re all different prices. Look at this! This is the Power 99,000 — not 9,900 — 99,000. And it even says, “The power is with you. One shot wet guaranteed.” Well, I will take that guarantee and try it out. Let me get a feel… oh yeah. Oh, that sits good. It’s like a Star Wars gun. Let’s go to the register and get this baby out of here before someone tries to take it. Okay — now that we have what we need, now it’s time for the most important thing: those tips. The first one is book your accommodations early. I recommend staying in the Old City because that’s where most of the activities are happening, and it means you won’t have to drive. If you do choose to drive, expect to take a very long time to get everywhere. Last year, me and my friends rented a baht bus or songthaew that took us around for the day, so they were doing the driving and we could enjoy in the back. And it was a nice compromise — so we could go to multiple places. But it’s also okay to just stick with one per day — because this goes on for seven days. Number two: waterproof your attitude. This is one of those times where you can’t just say “pause” or “time out.” It is non-stop once it starts — even before you have that first cup of coffee in the morning. So just be patient. Smile. And whatever you do — do not get angry. Because if you get angry, you become a huge target. Thai people are just having a good time, and this is a cleansing ceremony. So if you’re upset, they’re cleansing you. They’re trying to make you feel better. But you might not feel that way — so just take that to heart. Also, Songkran only happens outside. So you shouldn’t be inside buildings or temples doing this. And I say temples because this is a sacred ceremony — and the temples will still be open, so you can go in and participate in certain things like the Song Nam Phra, where you pour the water over the Buddha statues, like you can see behind me here, as well as some other very cool ceremonies. So just remember that. Also — monks are off limits. Do not spray them. Don’t think it’s okay. If they smile at you — wonderful — but just leave them in peace. It’s not their thing. Remember that. I’m warning you — no monkey business! Okay, what else, what else… Oh — they also use powder that they put on you as part of the purification. They put it on the back of your neck or your face — but it also can get in your eyes, which can sting a little bit. So it’s not a bad idea to have some extra fresh water in your bag to rinse out your eyes if you need it. Speaking of water — stay hydrated. This is a huge party, and you might choose to drink, which is great — but remember to keep your head. Everyone is having a good time, and it’s easy to forget that you are a guest in Thailand, and you need to respect their people and traditions. And make sure you have cash with you — because during the celebration, it is king. And you are going to need it when you need to re-fill your water gun mid-battle. So have some fives, tens, twenties, fifties, and hundreds with you. It’s okay if they get wet — they will take your wet money, and you will thank me later for having it. And the final tip — the most important one: have as much fun as you can. This is one of those celebrations that actually changed my perspective of the world — seeing so much joy and happiness from something as simple as throwing water on each other. It just opened my mind in ways I never thought possible. Like, how can it be so simple, but make so many people so happy? And while you’re here, make sure you soak up every single ounce of it — because you are so fortunate to be part of this amazing celebration with these amazing Thai people. And if you have the chance, mix it up — go a little bit local, and then go with the big crowds. It’s so important because each one will be so different, and they will give you a different perspective that you can bring home with you and move forward in your life with. And I just love that. And I can’t wait to share this amazing celebration with you in just a couple of days when the video comes out — so make sure you are there to celebrate with me. If you enjoyed this video, please give me a big thumbs up, comment, subscribe, and don’t forget to— DLING, DLING, DLING, DLING the Songkran! I’ll see you soon.