Travel Haiku - Songkran (Water Festival Thailand) Poem by john tiong chunghoo

Songkran 2010
chillingly
red

Songkran 2010
the cry for change
in solid blood red

Songkran 2010
bucketfull of blood
to fuel change

Songkran 2010
the parliament building
awashed in blood

Songkran 2010
the poor's blood, bucketful
to fuel change

Songkran 2010
the cry of change
in blood red

entrapped poor
bleeds
for change

Songkran 2010
the year Bangkok
awashed with blood

Songkran 2010
Bangkok all ready
to spill red

Songkran
splashes of red
on anger streets

Songkran 2010
red and yellow
colours of rage

The best time to visit Thailand? Not now! But you know what they say, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Starting tomorrow, April 13, traditional customs of visiting and paying respect to elders infuses with the younger generation's take on the Songkran festival with bar hopping, time off from jobs, and street-side water fights. What started as a way to demonstrate respect for someone by sprinkling water on their head has morphed, mainly because of the April heat, the hottest month of the year. Though it's never a bad time to visit the Land of Smiles, if visiting during Songkran, take extra precautions to stay safe under the sun—temperatures often soar to higher than 100 degrees.