A question of timing

The mother of all water fights has been going on in Thailand recently. In the Songkran festival, Thais celebrate the lunar new year by sprinkling water in temples. At least that’s the tradition. Now the ceremony has developed into a three-day water-hurling exercise. No-one, including passing motorcyclists, is spared a drenching from exuberant Thais armed with water guns, buckets and hosepipes.

The Songkran excesses are perhaps proof that the people of Thailand have not lost their sense of fun, although they have lost much else.