WATER FIGHT!!! What began centuries ago as a traditional celebration of the Thai astrological new year has devolved into a friendly national water fight geared to stave off the hottest days of the Thai year.

A hundred years ago, younger Thais would travel to their parent’s place to give gifts to the beloved elders and receive a ‘blessing’ of jasmine-scented water poured gently over their shoulder in exchange.

Now, the event has gone mainstream where folks line the streets with buckets, hoses and supersoaker squirtguns to dowse any and all passers by with a special eye toward falang (foreigners). Two things are very important to remember… (1) it’s all in good fun, (2) keep your mouth closed because the water is probably coming from open storm water canals, or in the case of Chiang Mai… the royal moat.