The annual Thai Songkran Spring Festival 2024 is just around the corner. With the whole nation preparing for another year of fun, festivities, good food and paying respects to their ancestors, there is just so much to do. No doubt that an event of this national scale is a hot draw for tourists from all over the world as well. With many parties happening all across the capital and even in smaller cities like Phuket and Chiang Mai, there’s bound to be an array of activities for days to come.
As a tourist partaking in such an event, you want to make the best out of your time there. So how can you be on top of it all? Here are 8 essential items that you need to survive Songkran in Bangkok:
- Wear dry-fit clothes/fast drying clothes
- Transparent waterproof phone case (hang around the neck)
- Sunglasses
- Watergun
- Fannypack
- Powerbank Charger
- Water
- Portable Fan
Dry-Fit Clothes/Fast Drying Clothes
Walking around in Bangkok and avoiding getting sprayed on by water guns from others is something that will be very hard to do! Especially if you’re walking through malls, the change of air temperature from cold to extreme heat and back to cold can take a toll on your body, and you don’t want to fall sick whilst on vacation. Dry fit clothes would be apt for this situation where you want to wear clothes that dry as fast as possible under the sunshine. Exercise tees and shorts are best for this, which gives you great flexibility and adaptability.
Transparent Waterproof Phone Case
We all know how we can’t go 10 minutes without feeling the urge to check our phone, and when you’re in a foreign land trying to navigate a destination while being sprayed at by bystanders, it doesn’t make the journey that easy. Be prepared and bring a transparent waterproof phone case that you can strap around your neck so that you can continue to scroll your phone in all the water fights and festivities.
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Sunglasses
With the excessive heat and partly cloudy to clear skies forecasted for Bangkok for the rest of this week sunglasses will be as important. Daily highs of 35-37 degrees celsius combined with a UV heat index of 12 for the whole week into the next makes sunglasses a definite essential item to help you avoid squinting at the sun.
Water Guns
One of the traditions of Songkran every year is their tradition of pouring water on one another, and thus, has evolved to an all out water fight with water guns of different sizes. If you want to join in and be part of the fun and festivities, buy one from a local shop when you arrive in Thailand. What better way to immerse yourself in this local festival then to take part in this iconic activity.
Fanny Pack
This is another great item to have and wear out as you explore Bangkok. Smaller items like your phone, wallet, cards and keys will be essential during your time out. However, many might not want them to get in the way of their fun or even worse, end up losing them at the end of the day. That’s why with a fanny pack, you can safely store these items and even keep somethings handy like a power bank or some extra cash separately in case you lose your wallet.
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Power Bank Charger
This essential travel item is a must, no matter the season or country. An extra boost of battery for your phone could save you from your travelling woes that you might encounter. Best to have this with you at all times.
Water
Please remember to stay hydrated throughout the festivities the entire week. Although you may be getting drenched in water most times, it won’t help you much unless you’re periodically quenching your thirst from the exacerbating sunshine as well. You will be ever so thankful that you carried a small bottle of water out when the opportunities to find water coolers around are scarce. I know, I wouldn’t want to be paying for 3-5 bottles of water per day when i’m out if I can help it.
Portable Fan
This would be another neat thing to carry around. Especially with those that offer spraying mist as well. Although it could add some weight, it would be worth your while with temporary respite from the heat being able to cool down with a rechargeable portable fan.
What else are you going to be bringing to Songkran to make your experience that much smoother?
