Happy 2553

Sawadee pi mai. Happy new year. This is it, we have entered 2010 or to state it locally, 2553. The year of the tiger is upon us. Curious what it will bring. Joy and happiness? Or more crises and political insecurity? Thailand has no idea what it is in for. What will happen with Mr. T? Will he be the bigger man and come back to face his jail sentence? Or will he keep stirring up the masses from outside Thailand?
To be honest, I can't be bothered. This is a Thai fight and as with any Thai fight, the best advice is to stay out of it. Stay at the same course as the mainstream Thai, go to work, earn some money and don't care about the war of the coloured shirts.

Celebrating new year in Thailand felt a little bit strange. I think mainly beacause this is not their celebration. The Thai new year, called Songkran, is celebrated in April, around our Easter. This new year is mainly one of commerce. Big setups, superstars, speeches and lots of stalls to emphasise the big countdown. After this bliss moment of fireworks everything returns to normal. For Thai people this was a day like any other day. Of course this being Bangkok there were parties everywhere. But then again, this being Bangkok, you can party here every day of the year. As someone told me, what is so special about it, every day is a new day, you don't go out and celebrate every first day of a new month. I think they are right. Actually it is just another day. Yes, you throw out your old calendar and put up a new one, but what else changes. Nothing. Thai people also celebrate Chinese new year, I don't know how, but judging by the western new year, it will be a day like any other day. Songkran on the other hand is where the real party starts. Five days of fun in the sun. Cavorting until the wee hours. If you want to know more about Songkran, I bet you know how to use google.

So what are my resolutions for this year?
Try to see a bit more of this wonderful country and try to stay alive. I think I will stick to those ones. Don't make fake promises you know you won't keep.

Don't.