Songkran in Hat Yai

04/18/2011

I grab a couple of maps, a Thai sim card and head out into the touting of drivers. To every driver I tell that I need to get to Narathiwat, I get looks of shock and stern warnings not to go there. For the little English the drivers could speak, they managed to tell me of bombs, war and danger. It was then that I realized how truly scared the people of Thailand are of the hostility in the deep south. Phuket airport’s a long way off from the deep south, but a great way to experience Songkran along the way.

Songkran is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water – this originated as a way to pay respect to people, by capturing the water after it had been poured over the Buddhas for cleansing and then using this "blessed" water to give good fortune to elders and family by gently pouring it on the shoulder. Among young people the holiday evolved to include dousing strangers with water to relieve the heat, since April is the hottest month in Thailand (temperatures can rise to over 100°F or 40°C on some days). This has further evolved into water fights and splashing water over people riding in vehicles.

7 hours in a minivan and I’m in Hat Yai. The crazy wet festivities are the same, but not a single foreigner in sight. Songkran in Phuket and Krabi feels more like drunk foreigners with water guns looking for a party. Hat Yai engulfs you into the genuine vibe of the celebration.

A soldier from Narathiwat shoots dead 1 person and injures 4 others in a pub in Phuket during the celebrations, but i'm still making my way to hostile Narathiwat...

- to be continued -

Comments

colbyPro

04/19/2011 00:50

hey did u went there alone? It must been kind of an adventure for you :) Speaking of which, what camera are you using? If possible why not include a few self shot pictures of yourself with the landscape in the background?

Tenashar link

04/19/2011 13:17

Hey colbyPro ;)

I did the trip with a photographer friend. I'm using a Nikon D60, and sure, i'll include a couple of pictures of me soon :) Thanks for the idea :D

Booney

04/19/2011 22:03

Just viewed the full collection of pictures u took in Cambodia! The lighting effect had a soothing effect and bought out the sunset in its full glory. However, u deserve much of the credit for your devotion. I could only imagine how cold it was for u to pose in such a manner, judging from the signs displayed by your body.

Tenashar link

04/20/2011 00:07

Hey Booney ;)

It was super super hot off the gulf of Cambodia, even the ocean at night was warm, lol! I miss the brilliant sunset, crystal clear waters and isolation of Koh Rong :)

Booney

04/20/2011 00:26

I wasn't so sure that warm waters could.. oh well fancy skinny dipping in those waters? Esp at night with all the bioluminescent plankton floating around you :P I reckon you wont wanna spend a night again in that dilapidated hut again.. unless u are with your beau:x

Tenashar link

04/20/2011 01:38

Hey Booney ;)

Skinny dipping again in those waters would just be perfect! i actually don't mind staying in terrible conditions, as long as i have my camera :D

Booney

04/20/2011 01:47

Not surprising :P Just wondering how on earth did the trio of u managed to squeeze into the small hut? On top of it, its got only 1 bed!

Tenashar link

04/20/2011 02:00

Hey Booney ;)

There were actually 2 mattresses, Ben and his girlfriend slept on one, while i slept on the other.

Booney

04/20/2011 02:15

And the rest is history :P The pictures in the next series really brings out a primeval feel. ( No made up, no hairdo, nude) The early morning sun really exemplifies your natural beauty along with a vibrant glow:)

Tenashar link

04/20/2011 03:06

Thanks Booney :D I do love the soft golden rays of the morning sun!

-ZhiYan- link

04/20/2011 04:40

Wow, so many colours! I can feel the festive mood all the way from SG =P

I'd have rented a car in JB and driven my way up. Can be done in 10-12hrs =]

Tenashar link

04/20/2011 14:36

Hey Zhi Yan ;)

haha yea! it was crazy! such an amazing vibrant festival. you should go for it year :)

Booney

04/21/2011 00:27

Judging from the excerpt of the map u provided; it seems that Songkran isn't too far from the Malaysian border.. Whats the route u took?

Tenashar link

04/24/2011 01:07

Hey Booney ;)

I got off at Phuket airport and got a minivan from Phuket to Hat Yai and then on to Narathiwat. I experienced the commercial Songkran with tons of foreigners, an authentic one in Hat Yai, and no Songkran celebrations whatsoever in the deep south of Thailand.

Tenashar

Booney

04/24/2011 03:00

I see! An overland road trip :)No Songkran celebrations? in the deep south?

Tenashar link

04/24/2011 04:04

Hey Booney ;)

Nope. The area is under martial law, with killings going on between Muslims and Buddhists :(

Tenashar

04/24/2011 23:28

looking forward to updates:)

Tenashar link

04/25/2011 03:51

Hey YQ ;)

I hope you'll like my next post on the hostile deep south of Thailand :D

Tenashar

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About Tenashar

When one speaks of a model, we can only imagine stick thin expressionless blondes with a mental capacity lesser than that of a gnat. However, such is not the case with Tenashar. With the fiery European tenacity she has developed whilst living in Europe, and perhaps egged on a little bit by her Eurasian descent, Tenashar’s talents extends beyond the realm of modelling, but also to photography, disk-jockeying and entrepreneurship. Having cultivated her liberal views during her stay in Europe, Tenashar’s photography brings out the rawest of emotions in her work. With her latest project in the deep hostile south of Thailand, within the conflicted areas of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani, Tenashar hopes that her works will bring awareness to the broken lives of people and children there. That being said, one must agree that under that exterior of burning beauty, beats a heart of compassion.

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Proficient in English, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin, it is no surprise the name Tenashar is fast becoming internationally known. Her modelling career, while shorter than most acclaimed models has already seen a series of successful shoots with notable brand names such has Cosmopolitan, FHM, Asian Geographic, and Fashion TV, a feat borne only through her tenacity and inextinguishable energy. As a model embedded with a European mindset, she hopes to work with more photographers and artists in her pursuit of creating more photos that would transcend the boundaries of conventional modeling. Where others might see modeling as a means, Tenashar sees beyond that, where what she does is an art form

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