In partnership with
Why Burned-Out Professionals Are Turning to CBD
Long hours, heavy workloads and frustrating coworkers: job burnout is on the rise. Savvy professionals are turning to CBD and its sister compound, CBG, to manage work stress and burnout without losing focus.
Like CBD, CBG is a non-intoxicating compound found naturally in the hemp plant that is known for helping to manage mild/temporary anxiety. And these benefits are backed by science: participants in a 2022 CBDistillery study who took CBD + CBG reported:
Reduced mild or temporary anxiety and tension
Increased focus and mental clarity
That CBD + CBG was more effective than other treatments they tried in the past
When it comes to quality CBD products, CBDistillery is leading the way. Non-GMO, US-grown hemp, 100% clean ingredients, and a 60-day satisfaction guarantee give you one less thing to stress about.
Special Deal for Our Readers: Use code FOCUS to save an additional 20% on your first bundle order!
Hello, welcome! Take a look inside kaa. Here's what I have for you today:
The ultimate Songkran Guide.
The perfect Itinerary.
I know a guy who flew to Bangkok with his wife in April. They checked into the hotel, freshened up—and the doorman threw a bucket of water at both of them. They were furious. Until someone explained: it’s Songkran. The Thai New Year. The biggest water fight on the planet. They had no idea. That’s the kind of tourist you don’t want to be.
What’s Songkran?
Songkran is the Thai New Year. Officially April 13th to 15th. And the water? It started as a purification ritual. You wash away the bad luck from the previous year. UNESCO gave it cultural heritage status in 2023.
Songkran runs on two tracks. Track one: the morning spiritual layer. Temple ceremonies. This happens before 10am. Track two: the afternoon chaos layer. Water guns. Foam parties.
Bangkok Zone Breakdown
SILOM ROAD
Intensity: 9 out of 10. Main event. The road closes from 1pm to 9pm, April 12th through 14th. The crowd is mostly young Thai professionals and tourists. LGBTQ+-friendly. BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Si Lom.
KHAOSAN ROAD
Intensity: 10 out of 10. Backpacker central. Densest crowds. MRT Sanam Chai. If you’re the kind of person who gets anxious in packed spaces—skip this one.
SIAM SQUARE / CENTRAL WORLD
Intensity: 6 out of 10. Family-friendly option. Malls host organized events. Designated splash zones. Concert stages. BTS Siam and Chit Lom.
SANAM LUANG / GRAND PALACE AREA
Intensity: 5 out of 10. Traditional heart of Songkran. April 11th to 15th.
Pattaya
When Songkran “ends” on April 15th in Bangkok… Pattaya is just getting started.
It’s called Wan Lai. And it turns Pattaya into a two-week celebration that makes Bangkok look like a warm-up act.
April 13 to 15: Pattaya is quieter than Bangkok.
April 16 to 17: Wan Lai Bang Saen. Massive.
April 18: Wan Lai Naklua. North Pattaya goes absolutely feral. Plus Wan Lai Koh Larn if you want to celebrate on an island.
April 19: Wan Lai Pattaya. Main event. Beach Road closes from 3pm to midnight.
April 20: Festival finale at Bang Saray. The last gasp.
PATTAYA ZONE BREAKDOWN:
Beach Road. Intensity: 10 out of 10.
Soi Buakhao. Intensity: 7 out of 10.
SURVIVAL GEAR
1. FEET
The streets get slick. People fall every single day. In Chiang Mai, a tourist needed help removing a shoe that had become stuck. Thais have a phrase for it — your shoes "eating your feet."
Oh, shoe so hungry …
2. PHONE
Your phone’s IP67 rating? Forget it. That’s for clean water sitting still in a lab. Get a waterproof case.
3. EARS
Silicone swim earplugs. Not foam. Silicone. They seal out water. Especially important in Pattaya where some of the refill water comes from questionable sources.
4. EYES
You’ll also want goggles. 50 baht at any 7-Eleven. Here’s why: there’s a white powder called din sor pong—a scented clay—that people smear on faces as a blessing.
5. CLOTHES
Quick-dry polyester or nylon. April in Thailand hits 35 to 40 degrees celsius. You’ll dry off in 20 minutes if you wear the right fabric.
Avoid white shirts. They go transparent when wet. Grab a floral Hawaiian shirt from any Thai market for 150 baht—about $4. It’s the unofficial Songkran uniform.
6. SKIN
Waterproof sunscreen. SPF 50.
7. CASH
Keep small bills: 20s, 50s, 100 baht notes. Put your cash in your waterproof phone case. Leave your passport at the hotel safe. Keep a photo of it on your phone.
8. GUN
The cheap ones at 7-Eleven or Big C work perfectly. 150 to 300 baht. Refill stations are everywhere in the main zones. Usually 10 baht per fill. Some are free.
IMPORTANT RULES
LEGAL RULES:
High-pressure water guns are banned. If you injure someone, that’s assault. Up to 2 years in jail or 40,000 baht fine—about $1,200.
All designated splash zones are alcohol-free. The fine is 20,000 baht.
Splashing moving vehicles is illegal. If your water causes an accident: 3 years for injury. 10 years if someone dies. They call Songkran the “seven deadly days” for a reason—it’s the most dangerous period on Thai roads.
UNWRITTEN RULES:
Never splash monks, elderly people, babies, pregnant women, or anyone clearly working. Never splash anyone who signals “no.”
Don’t use ice water or dirty water.
Don’t aim for the head, eyes, or ears.
LOGISTICS
During peak water fight hours—noon to 6pm—transport in Bangkok becomes nearly impossible. Book your hotel within walking distance of your target zone. BTS and MRT still run—but you’ll be soaking wet stepping into arctic air conditioning.
What stays open: malls, 7-Eleven, Big C and Lotus supermarkets.
Banks close April 13 to 15. Mom-and-pop shops close because owners go home to see family. Street food vendors often close to protect their carts from water.
ATMs still work. Withdraw cash on April 12th to avoid the crowds.
THE PERFECT ITINERARY
DAY 0 — APRIL 12: BANGKOK WARM-UP
Airport Rail Link to Asok area—BTS and MRT access to reach every Songkran zone. Check into your hotel.
Afternoon: Easy lunch at EM Sphere or Terminal 21’s food court—Pier 21 has meals from 50 baht. Stroll through Benjakitti Park.
Buy supplies: electrolytes, sunscreen, goggles, a floral shirt, water gun.
Evening: light dinner. Don’t destroy yourself on Day Zero.
DAY 1 — APRIL 13: BANGKOK
Morning: electrolytes, fruit, sunscreen, light meal. MRT to Sanam Chai for traditional Songkran at Sanam Luang.
Early lunch near MRT Sam Yot. Head back to the hotel to gear up.
Afternoon MRT to Si Lom. Arrive around 2pm when.
Evening: walk through Lumphini Park up to Siam to cool off.
DAY 2 — APRIL 14: BANGKOK
Late wake-up. Cold shower. Coconut water. Salty soup if you’re wrecked.
Noon: pool time at the hotel.
Afternoon: Silom again, or switch to Siam for a different energy. The family-friendly vibe at Central World is a nice contrast after yesterday’s chaos.
Evening: sit-down dinner, then nightlife if you’re up for it.
DAY 3 — APRIL 15: BANGKOK
Sleep in. Drop laundry. Most laundries have same-day service.
Big lunch. Pack your bag.
Afternoon: one last round at Silom. Don’t overdo it.
Evening: chill night. Drinks near the hotel. Early sleep.
DAY 4 — APRIL 16: TRANSITION TO PATTAYA
Checkout noon. Bus from Ekkamai to Pattaya. Cheap and easy—$4. Two hours.
Arrive. Check in. Shower. Nap.
Afternoon: beach walk. Scout Beach Road and Soi Buakhao.
Evening: start easy. A couple bars, early food.
DAY 5 — APRIL 17: PATTAYA WARM-UP
Pool time. Get some sun.
Cash logistics: keep two separate stashes. One “spending money.” One “oh no” fund. Optional: fresh haircut or beard trim.
Afternoon: leftover water fights in the Sois. Wander. Don’t overplan.
Evening: Soi Buakhao and Beach Road.
DAY 6 — APRIL 18: WAN LAI EVE
Hydrate. Stock up: extra shirt, sunglasses strap, waterproof pouch check.
Heavy lunch. Protein and carbs.
Afternoon: head north to Naklua for the Wan Lai action.
Evening: quick reset at hotel, then out again.
DAY 7 — APRIL 19: THE GRAND FINALE
Electrolytes. Breakfast. Dress like you’re going into battle: lightest clothes, everything waterproofed, valuables locked down.
Get to Beach Road before the peak crush—noon is ideal.
Plan one mid-afternoon retreat: dry off, eat, recharge. Then go back in.
Evening: shower, food, final night out. Or collapse proudly.
Songkran in Bangkok:
April 9-14: Rangnam Songkran Festival, King Power Rangnam.
April 9-30: Asiatique Summer Wonder Fest.
April 10-11: Splash Nation, Rama IV Road (Sunthon Kosa Road Area)
April 10-15:
ICONSIAM Thaiconic Songkran Celebration.
Siam Paragon Ultrasonic Summer Festival.
Splash Songkran, Royal City Avenue.
April 10-30: Benchasiri Park and Lan Khon Mueang (Bangkok City Hall Plaza).
April 11-13:
S2O Songkran Music Festival, S2O Land Ratchada.
Thai Lism Music Festival, Central World.
SUPERFLUID, Fountain Square, King Power Rangnam.
April 11-14: SIAM Songkran Music Festival, Bravo BKK.
April 11-15: Maha Songkran World Event, Benjakitti Park.
April 12: Drag Let’s Play, Elephant Parking Area, Song Wat Road.
April 12-14: Silom Road.
April 12-15: Siam Square.
April 13-15:
Monster Water Fest, Fashion island.
Bangkok Water Festival, Ten destinations along Chao Phraya River.
April 14:
K2O Songkran Music Festival, S2O Land Ratchada.
Amazing Bangkok Songkran Parade, Silom Road.
Central Region:
Nakhon Pathom (April 5): SS Park Salaya.
Samut Songkhram (April 10-15): Forecourt of Urbana House Hotel.
Kanchanaburi (April 13-14): Rattanakanchan Island.
Ayutthaya:
April 9-13: Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Historical Park.
April 13-15: Sri Sanphet Road, in front of the Tourism Authority.
North:
Tak (April 12-15): Mueang Tak District and Mae Sot District.
Sukhothai (April 6-19): Si Satchanalai District and Mueang Sukhothai District.
Nan (April 12-15): Khao Tan Road, Wat Suan Tan, ...
Phayao (April 13-15): Pho Khun Ngam Mueang Monument.
Chiang Mai (April 11-13): Wat Chedi Luang.
Lamphun (April 11-13): Rod Kaew Road.
Uttaradit (April 11-13): Longlin Road.
Phichit (April 11-13): Pho Prathap Chang District.
East:
Chon Buri (April 5-20): Across Chon Buri.
Pattaya (April 17-19): Central Pattaya Beach.
Si Racha (April 19-21): Si Racha Bay Seaside Health Park.
Rayong (April 13-14): Durian Road.
Ko Chang (April 19-21): Small Airport.
Sa Kaeo (April 14): Khao Lam Road.
Samut Prakan:
April 13: Flag Procession, Songtham Worawihan Temple, Phra Pradaeng District.
April 24-26: In front of the Phra Pradaeng District Office.
Northeast:
Udon Thani:
April 12-14: Ban Chiang District
April 13-16: UD Town Shopping Center.
Amnat Charoen (April 25-26): Phana Subdistrict Municipality.
Khon Kaen:
April 11-15: Bueng Kaen Nakhon and Si Chan Road.
April 13-15: Wat Chai Si.
Nakhon Phanom (April 13-15): Phanom Naka park.
Ubon Ratchathani (April 1-30): Kaeng Saphue, Phibun Mangsahan District.
Nakhon Ratchasima:
April 13-15: Monster Water Fest.
April 14-15: Ban Klang Community Road, Sikhio District.
Surin (April 10-12): Chaloem Phra Kiat Public Park (New Park).
Sakon Nakhon (April 11-15): Khao Na Prang Road, Ban Nong Waeng Irrigation Canal, Phanna Nikhom District.
South:
Chumphon:
April 10-14: Khao Tham Thong, Pathiu District.
April 12-15: Nong Yai Area Development Project Under Royal Initiative.
April 13-19: Saphli Beach, Pathiu District.
April 17: Bang Boet Beach, Pathiu District.
Ranong:
April 9-18: Hua Thanon Stadium, Kra Buri District.
April 13-14: Ruang Rat Road.
Nakhon Si Thammarat (April 11-14): Provincial Administrative Organization Stadium.
Surat Thani:
April 3-4 April: Wang Tai Hotel.
April 12-14: Tha Pla Wan Area.
April 12-15: Central Surat Thani.
April 13-15: Sahathai Square, Surat Thani.
Koh Samui (April 12-15): Bo Phut, Maret, Ang Thong Subdistrict.
Phuket:
April 11-13: Baan Mai Khao and Patong Beach.
April 13: Dibuk Road and Dragon Plaza.
Chokdee!
- Tim
*P.S. Disclaimer: affiliate links. If you purchase something via these links, I will earn a small commission. No additional cost.
P.P.S. I’ve put everything I know about this beautiful country into Thailand Trip OS: 1000+ Tips, 50+ Guides, 40+ Maps, 20 Itineraries, 14 AI tools. Get it for $5/month or keep it forever for $47.