Most Bangkok tourists surveyed plan to celebrate the traditional water-soaked Thai New Year (Songkran) this weekend sloshing about on Khao San Road, while transport officials are coaxing the city’s elderly to head underground for the upcoming holidays.
More than 60 percent of foreign tourists said they aim to partake in the aquatic mayhem in the backpacker-cum-tourism district of Khao San, a Bangkok Poll Centre survey revealed today. The Centre surveyed 640 foreigners aged 15 and older at Bangkok tourist attractions from March 30 to April 1. Chiang Mai and Pattaya came in second and third respectively in the poll, MCOT reported.
Fifteen percent of participants said that they will not engage in the ceremonious water warfare, while 23 percent said they had no information on Songkran activities.
Meanwhile, officials from Bangkok’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway have announced that people aged 60 and up can travel for free from April 13-15, according to The Bangkok Post. Oldies in the City of Angels need only show their ID at any ticketing window at all 18 MRT stations to get a free subterranean respite from the water wars above, Bangkok Metro Plc public relations director Chartchai Praditpong said.
The company expects 70,000 to 80,000 people to use the subway each day during Songkran, he said.
People will also be able to participate in the more subtle and traditional ritual of bathing Buddha images at Hua Lamphong, Silom, Sukhumvit, Phra Ram 9, Thailand Cultural Centre, Lat Phrao, Pahon Yothin, Chatuchak and Bang Sue MRT stations.
