Surviving SongKran & Bike Week?

The past two weekends have been very busy indeed, first another Water Festival has come and gone, were you able to survive the weekend’s water fight on Soi Bangla?  How is your wrist watch working, any problems after getting soaked as you walked down the street?  No problems while you were driving from place to place in Patong, a bucket of water in the face can be very dangerous if you are driving a motorbike.  Were you able to find and purchase an adequate water gun to deliver a nice stream of water or were you one of the unlucky people who had the guns with the weak streams, ensuring you always got the worse of any duels?  And just when you thought it was safe to go out again in dry clothes, there was a die hard soul that insisted on carrying Songkran that extra mile.  I know there were some that chose to start a day early, I got wet on my way home late Thursday afternoon, even though I tried yell “mai Ow” (meaning not want).  Were you one of those hardy souls that play well into the night on Friday, wondering up and down Soi Bangla, both getting wetter and wetter as you repeatedly reloaded your water gun at 10 bath a refill.

I am wondering how many people like myself forgot that Monday was a national holiday as far as the government offices were concerned.  I ventured over to Phuket Town from Patong early Monday morning in an attempt to get in and out of Immigration quickly, only to be met by closed doors and a sign telling me the obvious that the offices were closed for the Songkran holiday.  OH Well, what is a little gas wasted on a nice Monday morning.

How many of you actually observed the true meaning of Songkran and visited a temple?  Did you get the traditional blessing from the monks?  Perhaps you as a foreigner, went with your beautiful Thai “girlfriend” on Sunday out of respect.

So you made it through Songkran and your wardrobe is finally dried out when the peace and quiet of the day is broken by roar of big motorcycles descending on Phuket from all over southeast Asia, such as Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam as well as expats from Holland, Canada, England and the USA.  Some of you may have noticed that several clubs actually came to Phuket on the original dates of the Phuket Bike Week, driving around Patong with a special police escort. 

For those of you that braved the frequent rain storms that marred the festivities were treated to a rare display by the Royal Thai Navy and marines as they demonstrated their skills by storming Patong Beach using smoke grenades and firing blanks to simulate a real amphibious assault.

The scheduled Beauty Contest and Tattoo Contest were fit in between rain storms, picking the most beautiful Phuket lady along with the most colorful, spectacular tattoo.  Notice the interesting choice of outfits the contestant in the beauty pageant.

All of you that made the effort and dodged the rain drops to look at all of the spectacular big bikes that were on display were rewarded with some great bikes.  Along with some beautiful women adorning the bikes.

Luckily, the gods decided their continued celebration of Songkran was on hold for Sunday afternoon, allowing the tree planting along Beach Road to take place, plus the big ride around Phuket to celebrate togetherness.

18th Annual Phuket Bike Week - 2012

Hold on to you hats and get out the ear plugs because once again Patong is hosting Bike week.  This will be the 18th annual bike week held here in Patong, this year it is also referred to as “Asean Ride Together” to promote the unity among bikers.

For those of you who look forward to Bike Week every year there might be a bit of confusion, the event originally scheduled for the 6th through the 8th of April has been rescheduled to the 20th thru 22nd of April 2012 so adjust your calendars.

Those of you familiar with Bike Week already recognize that it is actually only a three day weekend with loads of activities aimed at both bikers and non-bikers.  For those first timers, the majority of activities occur in and around Patong’s Loma Park. 

If you are a big and fancy motorcycle enthusiast or if you just want to see some incredible bikes there will be a Motorcycle Exhibition everyday starting at 3 pm and running late into the night at the football field just across Beach Road from Loma Park.

If you want to enjoy a variety of music, there will be a several concerts/parties each evening with multiple bands performing, so you can count on lots of musical styles.

Have a fancy set of tattoos, then join the tattoo competition to see how yours stacks up against others from around the world.  If looking at beautiful women is your thing, then you will enjoy the Miss Phuket Bike Week Beauty contest.  Both of these competitions will be held on Friday and Saturday nights, with the finals on Sunday Night.

Miss Phuket Bike Week Contest

The Bike Week activities kick off at Loma Park around 6 pm on the 20th, with the Biker Games including a Tattoo Show, a Fire Dancing Show and a classical Thai dance show; during these shows there will be games with prizes.  Following the games three bands from Rock City will perform, with round 1 of the Miss Phuket Bike Week 2012 right after the bands finish.  More musical groups will perform after the preview, interrupted by a prize drawing around midnight.

On Saturday 21st of April, the Bike Week activities kick off at 4 pm with a couple of bands in a heated contest, followed by more fun and games including body painting and a tattoo show.  The official grand opening ceremony takes place with many local celebrities and government officials to welcome the many bikers and clubs from around Thailand as well as all over the world.  OK, if can’t speak Thai these ceremonies will be boring, but it maybe a good time to wonder about looking at the big bikes over at the football field or stop for something to eat and drink from the many vendors scattered throughout Loma Park.  Then once the opening ceremonies are finished, round 2 of the Miss Phuket Bike Week contest will be held; followed by more music until the wee hours of the morning. 

Bike Week is a fun event with a serious side and that is evident by two big events on Sunday, 22nd of April.  Starting at 3 pm we will have the tree planting to reduce global warming campaign by planting banana trees along the beach of Patong Beach on the way to Kamala Beach.

Immediately following the tree planting will be the driving tour for peace, the route will be from Patong to Karon, Kata, Nai Harn and Laem Phrom Thep and then back to Patong Beach to join the party in Loma Park where another heated contest is going on between two bands.   The finals of the tattoo and Miss Phuket Bike Week take place following the band contest, with a Cowboy, Indian and Reggae show separating the two.  A Memorial Ceremony to officially close out Bike Week, thanking all the participants will take place right after Miss Phuket Bike Week is crowned.  But that doesn’t mean the fun ends, there will be music with a variety of bands playing until 2 am.