If you fancy heading to the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai yourself, here’s a few tips to help you enjoy the day. The main festivities take place around Thapae Gate, on the east of the Old City, so head here from midday onwards. The party gets crazier the later it gets….

It goes without saying, make sure you wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet. This doesn’t give you licence to walk around topless or in your bikini though. Respect the local culture (and law) and cover up with a T-shirt and shorts or such like. It’s customary to wear bright, colourful clothing. Flip-flops can get a bit slippery so you might want to wear something with a strap.

It’s best to stick on some goggles or big sunglasses (and perhaps even some earplugs) to protect yourself from the dirty moat water – every year people end up with conjunctivitis or nasty ear infections from this. Better still, try to avoid the moat water all together! Away from the moat people just use tap water to fill their supersoakers and buckets. Obviously, you don’t want to be swallowing this, but it’s much cleaner.