happy songkran!!!!!

so i dropped down into bangkok right smack dab in the middle of songkran, april 13-15, the thai new year.  traditionally, you celebrate by making merit: visiting a nearby elderly neighbor and seeking his/her blessing; visiting buddhist temples, praying, seeking the blessing of the buddhist monks.  this stuff, i did.  but you can also celebrate by making merry: you head on down to khao san road, handily blocked off to vehicles, pick up a watergun if that's your style, or a plastic bowl with some nuggets of rice paste (more my style), and cruise up and down the streets -- dancing, reveling, and generally getting wet, dirty, and happy.  what struck me more than anything was how totally loving the whole affair is ... when someone splashes you with a watergun, you smile and say thank-you-and-happy-new-year ... when you smear rice-paste on someone's face, they turn and give you this bright happy look, before dipping their fingers into your bowl and returning the favor.  and it is a favor. 

here's me, sneaking up on you with a bucket full of rice-love.  hold still, please, while i give you a little cheek-caress. there, that looks great on you. 

of course, i got as good as i gave.  maybe better?  plus my rice-paste bowl doubles as a highly fashionable hat.

and o yeah:  LEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!