This is an event that's really hard to explain. Imagine this:1) The hottest time of the year in South East Asia
2) Waterguns
3) Millions of people
That about sums it up. Songkran is a festival for Thai New Year, which has turned into one of the biggest water fights in the world. Guns, buckets, bottles, hoses... if it can shoot water, it's used. 
Traditionally people get in the back of their pickup trucks, driving around soaking people and other cars. There are truck wars, wars with pedestrians, and anything you encounter along the way. It also is a time of social drinking, so everyone has a beer and a smile.
We spent out Songkran in BKK, in the middle of the latest set of riots. No problems on our fronts, but lots of military, a temporary closing of the tourist main street, some smoke in the distance, and remnants of burned charred busses.
We spent the afternoons fighting in the streets, and the evening fighting in other streets. We climbed in strangers' trucks, dancing and throwing water (in heavy traffic, it hardly moved). We we doused with buckets an buckets of water, met tons of people, and spent hours roaming the streets screaming "Sawasdee Bee Mai" or "Happy New Year". 
I have a couple pictures from the big night out, where we played on Silon (a big street). This was jam-packed with people in every space on the street, the skytrain was above us, and big building hid any view of the sky. It was the most "bangkok" scene I could think of. 
Jam-packed with jars and motos, people filled in every crevice on the sidewalks, the streets, the medians, and were up dancing on any surface. Loud music screamed from every building and bar, and every truck driving through.The white powder is Talcum powder, which is used usually as a sun repellent put on cheeks of farmers. It is rubbed on your face by literally every person you walk by, sometimes a gentle touch, and sometimes an accidental smear. It goes in your nose, eyes, and mouth... and does get a little old.
All in all, Songkran is one of the most fun festivals I have ever been a part of.
