Police Prepare for the Pattaya Songkran Festival

Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:50 pm

Police Lieutenant General Panya, the Region 2 Police Commissioner is working closely with Pattaya and Banglamung Police who are charged with ensuring safety for residents and tourists in the Pattaya area over the Songkran Festival period. Meetings at both Police Stations took place on Thursday to discuss the drafting-in of extra officers, especially Traffic Police Officers who will try and keep the traffic moving during the 18^th and 19^th April when Naklua and Pattaya celebrate Songkran. The General urged residents of Pattaya to assist where they can should any tourists need assistance from the Police. They should call 191 in an emergency or contact the Pattaya City Call Center on 1337. The General is confident that enough resources are available to ensure that safety levels in and around Pattaya are maintained and any incidents can be dealt with quickly.

Mark

Safety levels are maintained, that’s a laugh the BIB can’t maintain safety on a run of the mill day!
frankie thunder

the only way to get throw the day is to—> get throw the day….
Wally

#1 they have guns please use then freely and often . #2 the 18th and 19th? it started with the always delightful/hateful drunken Falong throwing buckets of water as hard as he can at passing vehicles…today is the 12th and it won’t stop until about the 23rd. See #1.
Rob

I’m well prepared for Songkran, I’m enjoying the delights of Saigon and won’t be back in Pattaya until it’s all over.
Jake

@Wally….be careful what you wish for. A few years back. A drunk thai guy grabbed a girl during the festivities…turned out to be the daughter of an off-duty cop who was present…shot him dead on the spot.
geoff

they can tell you how to stay dry if you are lucky.one place i would not be wanting to be now
frankie thnder

ROB–> many many many years ago when i was still a rookee i was going back home to USA- i was going to airport in about 2 hours- i was saying my good-byes to bars at soi-7 and 8.. i hade on my good shirt and pants and shoes… i was ambushed with tons of water all over me,did not matter that i was telling the thai’s i going to airport.. as a result i’ll never go back to thailand during this time of the year again…..
jonny

poor frankie,you got covered in water,but you did tell them not to,did nt you,terrible just terrible,wonder what theywas thinking,how dare them
Rob

@frankie … you could be dressed up in a 3 piece suit and carrying a laptop heading for a business meeting and these idiots would still soak you. The bottom line is, if you don’t want to get wet, get the hell out of the place or stay indoors for 10-11 days.
@jonny … you’re obviously one of those idiots who soak anybody regardless of what they are doing or where they are going. Morons like you need to realize that lots of people are just trying to get to work and not everybody wants to play your silly water games!
jonny

Rob,good point i may be a idiot by actually replying to people like you,it is your host country tradition to enjoy this event,so stop moaning on,whatever next crying on cos it snows at xmas?i ve never ever threw water over anyone,but as a guest see no reason to complain about it
Ryan

I feel dumber having read some of these comments.
Halffilipino/Thai

@ Rob. You’re a miserable old man .. Johnny has a good point .. Whether you are here or not songkran is here, for us Thai it’s the most important holiday and it’s a water festival , you’re gonna get wet … If u go outside for whatever reasons , prepare for the occasion.. And stop your complaining .. Don’t forget while you are here in the first place
Rob

@50/50 … I’m not miserable or old and jonny doesn’t have a point because he mentions tradition. I’m all for a “traditional” Songkran festival but the alcohol fueled madness in Pattaya that goes on for 10-11 days doesn’t even come close to it. There is absolutely nothing about Pattaya Songkran that is traditional so for me there is no allure to it. If you talk to any expat residents, most of them share my view that one or two day is acceptable but any more is just an annoyance.
Just read some of the forums on Pattaya Songkran and you’ll see I’m not the only one who thinks this. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293919-i9439-k4611575-Songkran_2012_dates_in_pattaya-Pattaya_Chonburi_Province.html
jonny

wonder if someone soaked rob with premium 5 year matured buffelo urine during a previous SONGKRAN,i hear theres a tasty little firm about who target miserable,moaning forigners
jonny

tradition?tradional?oh your so clever rob,fair play to you putting your money where your mouth is by going to Saigon,but maybe invest in a wet suit,probs save money and effort in the long run,
Rob

Quite the contrary jonny boy, it doesn’t cost me a thing to get here or be here, in fact I get paid very well for it to boot! Enjoy your ear, eye and any other infections you suffer during your dirty water fights!
Jake

Songkran was traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends, neighbors, and monks. Now it is a frenzy of the drunk and mindless. It is what it is. Do like Rob and take advantage of an opportunity to travel or stay and get soaked. Alternatively if you are mindless and/or drunk take your chances and jump right in the frenzy….hard to believe but there are actually farangs who travel here just to be involved in the water fights.
frankie thunder

ROB,,funny you should say suit…because that is what i was wearing except for tie..i rushed back to my room at nova lodge (now a differant name) at beach road and pattaya central road..i was running out of time but did get it dryed off mostly when taxi came….
jonny

Rob winner getting paid to be there,saigon,was there 18 years ago,great place,wonder what its like now?anyway enjoy your trip
Rob

jonny …. cheers, Saigon’s a great place with lots of good bars, clubs and restaurants, very westernized and similar to Pattaya with lots of bar girl but not so much in your face or quite as available as Pattaya. I was in Rio, Shekou and Trinidad before here and I prefer Vietnam to the others. If you’re in tahiland you should pop down for a look, I’m sure it’s a lot different from when you were last here!