Oh S#*t that's cold! (Censored by Leora)

Anyone who comes to Thailand, especially at this time of year, will notice that it is not a cold country. With the average temperature of over 35 degrees Celsius and extremely high percentage of humidity, the question of how the Thai cool themselves, comes up. Maybe it is due to the fact that everyone is at one of the thousand outside bazaars or perhaps they just don't like it, but AC is not that common.

This brings us to my favorite technique of escaping the heat- ice! In the local restaurants, you will get a cup with more ice than water. I have even seen ice added to beer. I don't even want to get into what is done to the whiskey.

In local cities, far from big tourist attractions, a method of perfecting the famous technique of "I'm only getting the soda for the cup of ice" is found. It is called "soda in a bag." A small plastic bag is filled with ice, small ice cubes, so you can always have some in your mouth. Then the "not much fizz in the first place" soda is added. Complete with a straw, you are left with a cold fizzless drink and a supply of ice that will last you at least an hour. This of course is only true if you manage to stop yourself from chewing the ice...

My favorite use of ice was is in the Songkran water festival. My friends and I took turns buying a huge ice block in order to cool the water that sits in large barrels at the edge of the bar on the street. Once this ice-cold water is poured on the already soaked passersby, the yell "oh s&*t that's cold!" or a high pitched screech is heard. This is then followed by the arch of the back as the water rushes down. And finally the two thumbs up gesture as they shiver and their eyes say "you got me good, happy Songkran."