Where to get drenched during this Wednesday through Friday? Smartlife recommends three of the wettest places in Bangkok, with four veteran water warriors rating them for fun, safety, security, crowds and pretty faces.

Khao San Road

The water battle at Khao San Road draws thousands of travellers and young locals each year. “The number and variety of nationalities simply turns up the fun,” says Patisit Mongkul, 25, a fourth-year student at Rajabhat University Suan Dusit.

Revellers can do battle any place they want. Shops on both sides of the pedestrian street host activities for the partiers. “Some shops play awesome marathon music and people dance in front. Others have games and give away small gifts,” says Prakrong Rugsawongs, 24, a fourth-year student at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Lat Krabang.

Thais who visit the Khao San Road Songkran Festival tend to be college aged or just out of school, observes Patchavarin Pataranavig, 20, third-year student at Silpakorn University.

Every year, Khao San Road is heaving with humanity. “You don’t walk. It’s more like flowing with the crowd. It’s so packed that I find it hard to breathe,” says Monruedee Saetang, 21, a third-year student in finance and banking at Srinakarinwirot University.

It’s so packed that the police set up checkpoints at both ends of the road and regulations are strictly monitored. Revellers are searched for weapons, talcum powder (banned) and buckets (also banned) before being allowed into the road.

“If someone looks suspicious, the cops will do an extra search. There’s even a cage on a six-wheel truck that’s used to confine any brawlers. The sign on the truck says ‘Rest area for the brawlers’,” says Prakrong with a laugh.

Nevertheless, there is fighting and sexual harassment.

“The number of police officers isn’t adequate compared with the crowds,” says Patisit.

Patchavarin says someone stroked her cheeks, and her friend’s breasts were fondled. “I saw many girls being touched,” she says. “The offenders were not farangs.”

Silom Road

The biggest difference between Silom and Khao San roads is that Silom is slightly less crowded. It also attracts a mixture of foreigners and locals.

“The water fight at Silom isn’t overly packed. There aren’t many drunk men or brawls. And the women are pretty,” Patisit says. “These elements make Silom fun.”

Prakong agrees. “Silom is the safest place for Songkran. There’s no nasty water throwing, no sexual harassment and no fighting. Perhaps it’s because there aren’t many youngsters. Most people are in their early 20s and working people,” he says.

However, Monruedee says she was kissed on a cheek by a stranger when she attended the water festival on Silom Road a few years ago.

“When I was about to leave, this man ran up to me from nowhere and kissed me. Then he ran away,” says Monruedee, who refuses to return to Silom for Songkran.

The men in brown are on duty on Silom, Patisit notes. However, they don’t search revellers; just stand their ground.

Chok Chai 4

Chok Chai 4’s water festival attracts a younger crowd than Khao San or Silom roads. And there are a lot more Thais than foreigners.

“The youngsters coming here are about 15 years old and older. Most of them are from the neighbourhood,” says Patisit, who lives in Chok Chai 4 area. “When they gather, these kids seem to get bolder and engage in bullying.”

This may explain why the water fights are wilder at Chok Chai 4. “There are quite a lot of fights. The kids come from different gangs. They talk loud and yell at one another. They bring motorbikes with loud mufflers and the noise causes a disturbance. It seems that some of them just come to fight,” says Prakrong.

However, Prakrong says he still enjoys Chok Chai 4. “You can go there and have fun, but you just need to step out when things seem wrong. If someone yells at you, don’t yell back. It’s best to walk away from bullying,” he suggests.

Sexual harassment is another concern at the Chok Chai 4 scene. “I was bombarded by talcum powder when we pulled our pickup truck into a gas station and I jumped out,” Monruedee says.

“Some men tried to touch my body.” Patchavarin says the police should be more vigilant at Chok Chai 4.

“I don’t see many cops. There isn’t a checkpoint,” she says.

Traffic is a serious problem at Chok Chai 4. Prakrong was once stuck there for four hours. “We got into Chok Chai 4 at 3pm and managed to get out at 7pm,” he says.

ROJANA MANOWALAILAO