Mina woke up early on Songkran Day, excited for the water festival. She was thirteen years old and lived in Chiang Mai with her parents. Her father reminded her to be careful on the busy streets because many people would be splashing water. He also told her not to waste water unnecessarily, since some parts of Thailand faced drought.

Before leaving home, Mina put on a brightly colored shirt and placed her phone in a waterproof bag. She grabbed her small water gun and said goodbye to her mother, who was busy preparing a special meal for the family. Mina planned to meet her friend, Ploy, near Tha Phae Gate where many tourists and locals gathered to celebrate.

When Mina arrived, she saw everyone laughing and throwing water at each other. She and Ploy joined in with their water guns. The air was hot, but the splashing water made everyone feel refreshed. Mina noticed a few tourists wearing big smiles, enjoying their first Songkran experience.

Later that afternoon, Mina headed home feeling happy but tired. Although Songkran could be loud and crowded, she realized it was also a wonderful chance to share Thailand’s culture with friends and visitors from around the world.