It may not be a gay specifically, but Songkran is one of the greatest of the world’s spectacles, worthy of a visit no matter which side of the fence you are on. And hey, it’s in Bangkok, and never was there a more gay-friendly place.
Roughly translating to “throw water to be happy,” Songkran has deep roots in Thai culture as the traditional new year celebration (2559, for all you keeping count). The water comes in as 1) an ablution to be blessed, and 2) a way to keep cool on what is usually the hottest time of the year.
And that last part is where the fun kicks in. What started out as a solemn religious holiday has turned into a Bangkok-sized water fight. Oh, sure, you will still see people getting blessed by priests and the village elders, but what you will most likely see is the wrong end of a Super Soaker. This is not the day to wear your Sunday best; throw on your swimsuit, some flip-flops, and maybe a quick-dry tank-top and waterproof sunscreen. Even better, buy a cheap water pistol and give as good as you get.
Songkran, starting on April 13 and lasting three days, happens all over Thailand, but it is in the capital that things get really go over the top. Gay boys should head over to the Silom section of town, the notorious gayborhood of Bangkok, for guy on gay, splishy-splashy fun. In Bangkok, all the interesting stuff happens in “soi,” or alleys that branch off the main streets. In Silom, it is Soi 2 and 4 that get, shall we say, interesting.
It is around the same time that the largest of circuit events in Thailand take place, and the schedule of events is pretty much what you would expect: terrace pool parties, foam parties, and huge dance parties. Songkran heralds the peak of the Thai tourist season, and everybody, including the native gay population, is keen to get in on the action (in more ways than one…)
As a final word to the wise, check out a hotel like the Putnam that is already in the gay section of town. Bangkok is a chaotic, gridlocked city even on the best of days; rush hour can last 5 hours. Come Songkran, or any holiday, the city all but seizes up with people choking the streets and soi. On such days, it is better to be able to walk to wherever you need to go, you’ll get there faster.
Go to gcircuit.com for more info or contact Steele Luxury Travel for all of your Thailand travel needs: www.SteeleTravel.com