One of the 'water offering' places set up all over Thailand - this one at a Bangkok office building.

The beginning of Songkran (the Thai New Year) started today. Thais pour water over anyone and anything that isn't nailed down so, if you don't want to get wet every time you step outside your house, stay indoors.

In fact, a lot of westerners buy a week's worth of food, rent a ton of DVDs and stay at home with the doors locked. I like to live life a bit more dangerously though, so I do venture out a bit to join in the fun.

If you don't want to get wet though, the best thing to do is rent a taxi and go to the shopping malls. Just about the only two places that are 'safe'.