Thai New Year 2011

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Mike

Karaoke at Thai New Year 2011

Duen belts out a number on the Karaoke

My first Thai New Year 2011 found me joining my neighbours for a street party organised by one of the residents of our small community. It was also the organisers birthday so we had a combined New Year and birthday party.

As it transpired it was a typical Thai party, which in true local style was only announced the day before the event was due to take place along with a request to bring a present.

Lots of very loud music, plenty of food and drink and of course karaoke were the order of the evening with additional entertainment provided when an impromptu fight broke out between my neighbours soi dog and an intruding animal, who sensing a free meal, tried to take advantage of the opportunity to encroach on her territory.

Secret santa at New year party Thailand

Doy gets her Calander

Along the way we also managed to fit in a secret Santa for the kids which slightly confused my young charge since I had informed her that Santa had already been for 2010! However it didn’t stop her treasuring the 2011 calendar she drew in the lottery.  I wonder what the little girl who got the football game we donated made of her present?

Actually the evening was good fun, although some of the singing, not aided by a rather antique karaoke machine, failed to hit the right spot for me. Thankfully I wasn’t invited to join in with a song although I did belt out Happy Birthday with some gusto since its the only Thai song in English.  It also brought home to me just how much my life has changed living here. Particularly when it comes to living life to a plan, like we often do in the West.  Now I sort of expect the unexpected and just embrace it. Which is probably why I don’t have any plans for 2011 save for a vague notion I might head back to the UK for a holiday.

Now I said at the beginning of this post that this is my first Thai New Year 2011. The reason for this is that we still have the Chinese New Year to celebrate in February and the official Thai New Year(Songkran) in April. The former is celebrated because many Thais have Chinese ancestry.  I note with interest that the coming Chinese year is the year of the rabbit.

Wonder if that means it will be a very fertile year ;-)

Related posts:

  1. Year of the Rabbit 2011
  2. Happy New Year in Thai
  3. Thai New Year Songkran Festival
  4. Thai Drivers Licence-Five Year
  5. Thailand Trivia Photo Quiz-April 2011
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  • http://www.thaisabai.org Martyn

    Mike your New Year was undoubtedly one which was a popular theme of celebration all over Thailand. Karaokes are fun for a while but there’s always someone who thinks they can sing but clearly can’t. Like you I stay well away from the microphone.

    A girl getting a football game, let’s hope some boy got a Tiny Tears toy baby. Maybe these New Year bashes are where the first seeds of ladyboyism are planted into the youngsters heads.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Martyn I thought I had replied to this comment. Anyway better late than never. As always your whit and repartee precede you. “Ladyboyism” got to be my word for 2011.

  • http://www.phanathailife.typepad.com Lawrence

    Sounds like a good one to me, Mike. Expecting the unexpected and generally enjoying what turns up is one of the best things about Thailand for me, though I usually allow myself a bit of a moan when I first get the news/invite.

    Yep, this is the year of the rabbit in the Thai calendar, too (not all the 12 years are named the same). As was my birth year. So a big celebration should be in order, but not for a good many months yet. But I’m not hoping for any more fertility.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Lawrence I too like a little moan, mainly because of the loud music which really does hurt my ears sometimes. I’m surprised most Thais aren’t deaf by 20 ;-)