Songkran Sale 2008

All eyes are fixed to the 70% to 80% discount on all major malls in Thailand. Thai New Year normally have a three long days of celebration. They call it Songkran Festival. The traditional greeting is “สวัสดีปีใหม่” (sa-wat-dee pi mai), basically “Happy New Year”. “Sawatdee” = hello (spellings may vary, i.e. “sawatdi” or “sawasdee”). “Pi” = year. “Mai” = new.

Locals and foreigners would roam the streets particularly Khao San road to join the splashing of water. It could also be a gesture of relief from the exhausting heat as April is the hottest month of the year (with temperature reaching over 100°F or 40°C). Others mixes lime with water which leaves white marks on the face and body. In traditional terms water symbolizes cleansing and renewal, a good practice to begin the new year.

Back to the sales, clearly I’m more excited on the price discounts rather than going out the streets and waste water. Everybody are on holiday except the shops. I wonder if Nikon will have sale on their lenses and flash bulbs. It may not be necessary for me though, yet a 20% discount will be good enough to pry upon or perhaps purchase. That would leave me penniless by the middle of the month. A Cash advance could save me from starving for the remaining days.