Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are posing the question, "Are we actually going to have Songkran, Thai New Year, this year?" The reason for the question is, well from the last 2 years we haven't had it. From March 2020 until now Songkran has kind of been on pause and for those who aren't familiar with Thailand, it is kind of like canceling Christmas in the West. It is a pretty big deal. Thai New Year is arguably the biggest holiday for the Thai people in Thailand and it is a real time. Families get together it is really, I kind of view it as like in an American context it is like Christmas and Thanksgiving all balled up into one. It really is. It is a good time and we all have a good time, the water festival, the splashing, the water guns and everything. 

The reason for the video came from a recent article in Thai PBS World, that is thaipbsworld.com, the article is titled: Thailand drops pre-departure RT-PCR test for overseas arrivals, allows Songkran Celebrations. Quoting directly: "The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration is to allow some celebrations to take place during the Songkran festival in mid-April. A CCSA spokesman said that while some Songkran celebrations such as traditional water splashing, processions, concerts and other activities maybe held, pre-approval must be sought from the authorities for entertainment and recreational activities." 

Well, anybody that has been to a Songkran festival, I don't know how you are going to get pre-approval for every little thing. That being said though, credit where credit is due; we are moving in the right direction; Songkran is getting back on track; it is a major holiday here. I am certainly happy to see that so I am not going to be overly critical of every little detail associated with sort of this happening again. Hopefully going into 2023 we will see none of this stuff, it will just be back to normal but I am hoping that Songkran 2022 is a great success; everyone has a good time; everyone stays safe and hopefully we can put all of this behind us and get on with business, get on with doing the things that make us all happy here in the Kingdom of Thailand.