DhruvaAliman

Songkran is the celebration of the traditional New Year in Thailand, a Buddhist holiday, and one could argue the world’ biggest water gun fight. Most travelers to Thailand that want to experience water festival come for the latter. For three days, up to a week in some areas, people take to the street with buckets of water, super soaker water guns, hoses, and anything else that will help them delight in dousing people with water. It is a huge celebration and national holiday in Thailand and great fun. There is a party like atmosphere throughout the cities and many festivals and events taking place throughout the celebration. The Songkran festival used to change dates based on the solar calendar. In recent years the date has been codified and the public holiday is always April 13 – 15 every year. Songkran day is April 13th. This is the day where Thai and Buddhist traditions are observed. The Thai Water Festival, as Songkran is also known, can last longer than 3 days in areas like Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. Some people even get started soaking people a little early, so be on the look out a day or two before the holiday officially begins. The Songkran festival started out as the traditional Thai New Year’s celebration. It was based on the solar calendar and the date often fluctuated. In 1940, Thailand adopted January 1 as it’s official start to the New Year but the Songkran holiday continues to be celebrated as part of the cultural and Buddhist tradition of the country. While most people are familiar sights of the water fights raging on the city streets and the festivities and revelries associated with today’s festival, the origins are from more stoic Buddhist traditions that date back hundreds of years and still practiced today. It is a time of cleaning, washing away the bad luck, misdeeds, and misfortunes from the previous year and starting anew. The Thai’s pour scented water over the statues of Buddha and the shoulders of each other and on the hands of their elders in a symbolic gesture of this belief. This tradition still continues is the homes and temples around Thailand. It’s only afterward that people take to the streets and start soaking each other with water and celebrating for days on end. While any attire you don’t mind getting wet is appropriate, many people dress up for Songkran. The ‘Songkran Shirt’ is a colorful flower print reminiscent of Hawaiian shirts, and many people will be wearing them. Some take it to another level and get dressed up in costumes and masks. You can expect to be splashed with water as soon as you start walking down the street. Another Songkran tradition is to wipe a white chalk mixture on people’s faces. It’s a symbolic nod to the chalk used by Buddhist monks for blessing. Don’t be surprised if someone comes up and smears some white goop on your face, though it is impolite for someone to do so without asking first. You aren’t safe from getting wet anywhere unless you are locked in your hotel room, these are the best cities to celebrate the Thai Water Festival. In Bangkok - Khao San Road and Silom are the epicenter for Songkran activities in Bangkok. Khao San Road is the backpacker ghetto and it is a drunken party with plenty of tourist on tourist soaking. There are many bars serving alcohol and DJ’s pumping out tunes. Pattaya does Songkran like no other city in Thailand. When the celebration ends elsewhere, Pattaya carries on celebrating till April 19th, that’s a full week! Soi 6, 7, and 8 are popular spots. Bars will have large drums of water setup for people to reload their water guns, and many tourists will park themselves at the bars, drinking and having a good time as they soak passersby with water. With bars lining almost every street, Pattaya is like one giant Songkran party. The festivities end on Wan Lai, which means ‘Flowing Day’. If you’ve had enough of being drenched, head over to Bang Saen beach where they craft amazing sand castles and sculptures. Chiang Mai is probably the most popular spot for tourists to enjoy the Thailand Water Festival. The slow laid back atmosphere in a city surrounded by a moat filled with water make it an ideal location. The moat is drained shortly before the holiday begins and is filled with clean (‘ish) water as it is a major source for reloading buckets and water guns. The old city is where all the activity is and where you want to be. In Phuket, Patong Beach is where the action is. Bangla and Beach roads in particular are the hot spots. Bangla Road is closed off to cars and people walk up and down dumping water on each other while being shot at with water guns from patrons at the bars lining the streets. #travel #adventure #wild

Songkran is the celebration of the traditional New Year in Thailand, a Buddhist holiday, and one could argue the world’ biggest water gun fight. Most travelers to Thailand that want to experience water festival come for the latter. For three days, up to a week in some areas, people take to the street with buckets of water, super soaker water guns, hoses, and anything else that will help them delight in dousing people with water. It is a huge celebration and national holiday in Thailand and great fun. There is a party like atmosphere throughout the cities and many festivals and events taking place throughout the celebration. The Songkran festival used to change dates based on the solar calendar. In recent years the date has been codified and the public holiday is always April 13 – 15 every year. Songkran day is April 13th. This is the day where Thai and Buddhist traditions are observed. The Thai Water Festival, as Songkran is also known, can last longer than 3 days in areas like Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. Some people even get started soaking people a little early, so be on the look out a day or two before the holiday officially begins. The Songkran festival started out as the traditional Thai New Year’s celebration. It was based on the solar calendar and the date often fluctuated. In 1940, Thailand adopted January 1 as it’s official start to the New Year but the Songkran holiday continues to be celebrated as part of the cultural and Buddhist tradition of the country. While most people are familiar sights of the water fights raging on the city streets and the festivities and revelries associated with today’s festival, the origins are from more stoic Buddhist traditions that date back hundreds of years and still practiced today. It is a time of cleaning, washing away the bad luck, misdeeds, and misfortunes from the previous year and starting anew. The Thai’s pour scented water over the statues of Buddha and the shoulders of each other and on the hands of their elders in a symbolic gesture of this belief. This tradition still continues is the homes and temples around Thailand. It’s only afterward that people take to the streets and start soaking each other with water and celebrating for days on end. While any attire you don’t mind getting wet is appropriate, many people dress up for Songkran. The ‘Songkran Shirt’ is a colorful flower print reminiscent of Hawaiian shirts, and many people will be wearing them. Some take it to another level and get dressed up in costumes and masks. You can expect to be splashed with water as soon as you start walking down the street. Another Songkran tradition is to wipe a white chalk mixture on people’s faces. It’s a symbolic nod to the chalk used by Buddhist monks for blessing. Don’t be surprised if someone comes up and smears some white goop on your face, though it is impolite for someone to do so without asking first. You aren’t safe from getting wet anywhere unless you are locked in your hotel room, these are the best cities to celebrate the Thai Water Festival. In Bangkok - Khao San Road and Silom are the epicenter for Songkran activities in Bangkok. Khao San Road is the backpacker ghetto and it is a drunken party with plenty of tourist on tourist soaking. There are many bars serving alcohol and DJ’s pumping out tunes. Pattaya does Songkran like no other city in Thailand. When the celebration ends elsewhere, Pattaya carries on celebrating till April 19th, that’s a full week! Soi 6, 7, and 8 are popular spots. Bars will have large drums of water setup for people to reload their water guns, and many tourists will park themselves at the bars, drinking and having a good time as they soak passersby with water. With bars lining almost every street, Pattaya is like one giant Songkran party. The festivities end on Wan Lai, which means ‘Flowing Day’. If you’ve had enough of being drenched, head over to Bang Saen beach where they craft amazing sand castles and sculptures. Chiang Mai is probably the most popular spot for tourists to enjoy the Thailand Water Festival. The slow laid back atmosphere in a city surrounded by a moat filled with water make it an ideal location. The moat is drained shortly before the holiday begins and is filled with clean (‘ish) water as it is a major source for reloading buckets and water guns. The old city is where all the activity is and where you want to be. In Phuket, Patong Beach is where the action is. Bangla and Beach roads in particular are the hot spots. Bangla Road is closed off to cars and people walk up and down dumping water on each other while being shot at with water guns from patrons at the bars lining the streets. #travel #adventure #wild

Songkran is the celebration of the traditional New Year in Thailand, a Buddhist holiday, and one could argue the world’ biggest water gun fight. Most travelers to Thailand that want to experience water festival come for the latter. For three days, up to a week in some areas, people take to the street with buckets of water, super soaker water guns, hoses, and anything else that will help them delight in dousing people with water. It is a huge celebration and national holiday in Thailand and great fun. There is a party like atmosphere throughout the cities and many festivals and events taking place throughout the celebration. The Songkran festival used to change dates based on the solar calendar. In recent years the date has been codified and the public holiday is always April 13 – 15 every year. Songkran day is April 13th. This is the day where Thai and Buddhist traditions are observed. The Thai Water Festival, as Songkran is also known, can last longer than 3 days in areas like Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. Some people even get started soaking people a little early, so be on the look out a day or two before the holiday officially begins. The Songkran festival started out as the traditional Thai New Year’s celebration. It was based on the solar calendar and the date often fluctuated. In 1940, Thailand adopted January 1 as it’s official start to the New Year but the Songkran holiday continues to be celebrated as part of the cultural and Buddhist tradition of the country. While most people are familiar sights of the water fights raging on the city streets and the festivities and revelries associated with today’s festival, the origins are from more stoic Buddhist traditions that date back hundreds of years and still practiced today. It is a time of cleaning, washing away the bad luck, misdeeds, and misfortunes from the previous year and starting anew. The Thai’s pour scented water over the statues of Buddha and the shoulders of each other and on the hands of their elders in a symbolic gesture of this belief. This tradition still continues is the homes and temples around Thailand. It’s only afterward that people take to the streets and start soaking each other with water and celebrating for days on end. While any attire you don’t mind getting wet is appropriate, many people dress up for Songkran. The ‘Songkran Shirt’ is a colorful flower print reminiscent of Hawaiian shirts, and many people will be wearing them. Some take it to another level and get dressed up in costumes and masks. You can expect to be splashed with water as soon as you start walking down the street. Another Songkran tradition is to wipe a white chalk mixture on people’s faces. It’s a symbolic nod to the chalk used by Buddhist monks for blessing. Don’t be surprised if someone comes up and smears some white goop on your face, though it is impolite for someone to do so without asking first. You aren’t safe from getting wet anywhere unless you are locked in your hotel room, these are the best cities to celebrate the Thai Water Festival. In Bangkok - Khao San Road and Silom are the epicenter for Songkran activities in Bangkok. Khao San Road is the backpacker ghetto and it is a drunken party with plenty of tourist on tourist soaking. There are many bars serving alcohol and DJ’s pumping out tunes. Pattaya does Songkran like no other city in Thailand. When the celebration ends elsewhere, Pattaya carries on celebrating till April 19th, that’s a full week! Soi 6, 7, and 8 are popular spots. Bars will have large drums of water setup for people to reload their water guns, and many tourists will park themselves at the bars, drinking and having a good time as they soak passersby with water. With bars lining almost every street, Pattaya is like one giant Songkran party. The festivities end on Wan Lai, which means ‘Flowing Day’. If you’ve had enough of being drenched, head over to Bang Saen beach where they craft amazing sand castles and sculptures. Chiang Mai is probably the most popular spot for tourists to enjoy the Thailand Water Festival. The slow laid back atmosphere in a city surrounded by a moat filled with water make it an ideal location. The moat is drained shortly before the holiday begins and is filled with clean (‘ish) water as it is a major source for reloading buckets and water guns. The old city is where all the activity is and where you want to be. In Phuket, Patong Beach is where the action is. Bangla and Beach roads in particular are the hot spots. Bangla Road is closed off to cars and people walk up and down dumping water on each other while being shot at with water guns from patrons at the bars lining the streets. #travel #adventure #wild

Songkran is the celebration of the traditional New Year in Thailand, a Buddhist holiday, and one could argue the world’ biggest water gun fight. Most travelers to Thailand that want to experience water festival come for the latter. For three days, up to a week in some areas, people take to the street with buckets of water, super soaker water guns, hoses, and anything else that will help them delight in dousing people with water. It is a huge celebration and national holiday in Thailand and great fun. There is a party like atmosphere throughout the cities and many festivals and events taking place throughout the celebration. The Songkran festival used to change dates based on the solar calendar. In recent years the date has been codified and the public holiday is always April 13 – 15 every year. Songkran day is April 13th. This is the day where Thai and Buddhist traditions are observed. The Thai Water Festival, as Songkran is also known, can last longer than 3 days in areas like Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. Some people even get started soaking people a little early, so be on the look out a day or two before the holiday officially begins. The Songkran festival started out as the traditional Thai New Year’s celebration. It was based on the solar calendar and the date often fluctuated. In 1940, Thailand adopted January 1 as it’s official start to the New Year but the Songkran holiday continues to be celebrated as part of the cultural and Buddhist tradition of the country. While most people are familiar sights of the water fights raging on the city streets and the festivities and revelries associated with today’s festival, the origins are from more stoic Buddhist traditions that date back hundreds of years and still practiced today. It is a time of cleaning, washing away the bad luck, misdeeds, and misfortunes from the previous year and starting anew. The Thai’s pour scented water over the statues of Buddha and the shoulders of each other and on the hands of their elders in a symbolic gesture of this belief. This tradition still continues is the homes and temples around Thailand. It’s only afterward that people take to the streets and start soaking each other with water and celebrating for days on end. While any attire you don’t mind getting wet is appropriate, many people dress up for Songkran. The ‘Songkran Shirt’ is a colorful flower print reminiscent of Hawaiian shirts, and many people will be wearing them. Some take it to another level and get dressed up in costumes and masks. You can expect to be splashed with water as soon as you start walking down the street. Another Songkran tradition is to wipe a white chalk mixture on people’s faces. It’s a symbolic nod to the chalk used by Buddhist monks for blessing. Don’t be surprised if someone comes up and smears some white goop on your face, though it is impolite for someone to do so without asking first. You aren’t safe from getting wet anywhere unless you are locked in your hotel room, these are the best cities to celebrate the Thai Water Festival. In Bangkok - Khao San Road and Silom are the epicenter for Songkran activities in Bangkok. Khao San Road is the backpacker ghetto and it is a drunken party with plenty of tourist on tourist soaking. There are many bars serving alcohol and DJ’s pumping out tunes. Pattaya does Songkran like no other city in Thailand. When the celebration ends elsewhere, Pattaya carries on celebrating till April 19th, that’s a full week! Soi 6, 7, and 8 are popular spots. Bars will have large drums of water setup for people to reload their water guns, and many tourists will park themselves at the bars, drinking and having a good time as they soak passersby with water. With bars lining almost every street, Pattaya is like one giant Songkran party. The festivities end on Wan Lai, which means ‘Flowing Day’. If you’ve had enough of being drenched, head over to Bang Saen beach where they craft amazing sand castles and sculptures. Chiang Mai is probably the most popular spot for tourists to enjoy the Thailand Water Festival. The slow laid back atmosphere in a city surrounded by a moat filled with water make it an ideal location. The moat is drained shortly before the holiday begins and is filled with clean (‘ish) water as it is a major source for reloading buckets and water guns. The old city is where all the activity is and where you want to be. In Phuket, Patong Beach is where the action is. Bangla and Beach roads in particular are the hot spots. Bangla Road is closed off to cars and people walk up and down dumping water on each other while being shot at with water guns from patrons at the bars lining the streets. #travel #adventure #wild

Songkran is the celebration of the traditional New Year in Thailand, a Buddhist holiday, and one could argue the world’ biggest water gun fight. Most travelers to Thailand that want to experience water festival come for the latter. For three days, up to a week in some areas, people take to the street with buckets of water, super soaker water guns, hoses, and anything else that will help them delight in dousing people with water. It is a huge celebration and national holiday in Thailand and great fun. There is a party like atmosphere throughout the cities and many festivals and events taking place throughout the celebration. The Songkran festival used to change dates based on the solar calendar. In recent years the date has been codified and the public holiday is always April 13 – 15 every year. Songkran day is April 13th. This is the day where Thai and Buddhist traditions are observed. The Thai Water Festival, as Songkran is also known, can last longer than 3 days in areas like Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. Some people even get started soaking people a little early, so be on the look out a day or two before the holiday officially begins. The Songkran festival started out as the traditional Thai New Year’s celebration. It was based on the solar calendar and the date often fluctuated. In 1940, Thailand adopted January 1 as it’s official start to the New Year but the Songkran holiday continues to be celebrated as part of the cultural and Buddhist tradition of the country. While most people are familiar sights of the water fights raging on the city streets and the festivities and revelries associated with today’s festival, the origins are from more stoic Buddhist traditions that date back hundreds of years and still practiced today. It is a time of cleaning, washing away the bad luck, misdeeds, and misfortunes from the previous year and starting anew. The Thai’s pour scented water over the statues of Buddha and the shoulders of each other and on the hands of their elders in a symbolic gesture of this belief. This tradition still continues is the homes and temples around Thailand. It’s only afterward that people take to the streets and start soaking each other with water and celebrating for days on end. While any attire you don’t mind getting wet is appropriate, many people dress up for Songkran. The ‘Songkran Shirt’ is a colorful flower print reminiscent of Hawaiian shirts, and many people will be wearing them. Some take it to another level and get dressed up in costumes and masks. You can expect to be splashed with water as soon as you start walking down the street. Another Songkran tradition is to wipe a white chalk mixture on people’s faces. It’s a symbolic nod to the chalk used by Buddhist monks for blessing. Don’t be surprised if someone comes up and smears some white goop on your face, though it is impolite for someone to do so without asking first. You aren’t safe from getting wet anywhere unless you are locked in your hotel room, these are the best cities to celebrate the Thai Water Festival. In Bangkok - Khao San Road and Silom are the epicenter for Songkran activities in Bangkok. Khao San Road is the backpacker ghetto and it is a drunken party with plenty of tourist on tourist soaking. There are many bars serving alcohol and DJ’s pumping out tunes. Pattaya does Songkran like no other city in Thailand. When the celebration ends elsewhere, Pattaya carries on celebrating till April 19th, that’s a full week! Soi 6, 7, and 8 are popular spots. Bars will have large drums of water setup for people to reload their water guns, and many tourists will park themselves at the bars, drinking and having a good time as they soak passersby with water. With bars lining almost every street, Pattaya is like one giant Songkran party. The festivities end on Wan Lai, which means ‘Flowing Day’. If you’ve had enough of being drenched, head over to Bang Saen beach where they craft amazing sand castles and sculptures. Chiang Mai is probably the most popular spot for tourists to enjoy the Thailand Water Festival. The slow laid back atmosphere in a city surrounded by a moat filled with water make it an ideal location. The moat is drained shortly before the holiday begins and is filled with clean (‘ish) water as it is a major source for reloading buckets and water guns. The old city is where all the activity is and where you want to be. In Phuket, Patong Beach is where the action is. Bangla and Beach roads in particular are the hot spots. Bangla Road is closed off to cars and people walk up and down dumping water on each other while being shot at with water guns from patrons at the bars lining the streets. #travel #adventure #wild

Songkran is the celebration of the traditional New Year in Thailand, a Buddhist holiday, and one could argue the world’ biggest water gun fight. Most travelers to Thailand that want to experience water festival come for the latter. For three days, up to a week in some areas, people take to the street with buckets of water, super soaker water guns, hoses, and anything else that will help them delight in dousing people with water. It is a huge celebration and national holiday in Thailand and great fun. There is a party like atmosphere throughout the cities and many festivals and events taking place throughout the celebration. The Songkran festival used to change dates based on the solar calendar. In recent years the date has been codified and the public holiday is always April 13 – 15 every year. Songkran day is April 13th. This is the day where Thai and Buddhist traditions are observed. The Thai Water Festival, as Songkran is also known, can last longer than 3 days in areas like Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. Some people even get started soaking people a little early, so be on the look out a day or two before the holiday officially begins. The Songkran festival started out as the traditional Thai New Year’s celebration. It was based on the solar calendar and the date often fluctuated. In 1940, Thailand adopted January 1 as it’s official start to the New Year but the Songkran holiday continues to be celebrated as part of the cultural and Buddhist tradition of the country. While most people are familiar sights of the water fights raging on the city streets and the festivities and revelries associated with today’s festival, the origins are from more stoic Buddhist traditions that date back hundreds of years and still practiced today. It is a time of cleaning, washing away the bad luck, misdeeds, and misfortunes from the previous year and starting anew. The Thai’s pour scented water over the statues of Buddha and the shoulders of each other and on the hands of their elders in a symbolic gesture of this belief. This tradition still continues is the homes and temples around Thailand. It’s only afterward that people take to the streets and start soaking each other with water and celebrating for days on end. While any attire you don’t mind getting wet is appropriate, many people dress up for Songkran. The ‘Songkran Shirt’ is a colorful flower print reminiscent of Hawaiian shirts, and many people will be wearing them. Some take it to another level and get dressed up in costumes and masks. You can expect to be splashed with water as soon as you start walking down the street. Another Songkran tradition is to wipe a white chalk mixture on people’s faces. It’s a symbolic nod to the chalk used by Buddhist monks for blessing. Don’t be surprised if someone comes up and smears some white goop on your face, though it is impolite for someone to do so without asking first. You aren’t safe from getting wet anywhere unless you are locked in your hotel room, these are the best cities to celebrate the Thai Water Festival. In Bangkok - Khao San Road and Silom are the epicenter for Songkran activities in Bangkok. Khao San Road is the backpacker ghetto and it is a drunken party with plenty of tourist on tourist soaking. There are many bars serving alcohol and DJ’s pumping out tunes. Pattaya does Songkran like no other city in Thailand. When the celebration ends elsewhere, Pattaya carries on celebrating till April 19th, that’s a full week! Soi 6, 7, and 8 are popular spots. Bars will have large drums of water setup for people to reload their water guns, and many tourists will park themselves at the bars, drinking and having a good time as they soak passersby with water. With bars lining almost every street, Pattaya is like one giant Songkran party. The festivities end on Wan Lai, which means ‘Flowing Day’. If you’ve had enough of being drenched, head over to Bang Saen beach where they craft amazing sand castles and sculptures. Chiang Mai is probably the most popular spot for tourists to enjoy the Thailand Water Festival. The slow laid back atmosphere in a city surrounded by a moat filled with water make it an ideal location. The moat is drained shortly before the holiday begins and is filled with clean (‘ish) water as it is a major source for reloading buckets and water guns. The old city is where all the activity is and where you want to be. In Phuket, Patong Beach is where the action is. Bangla and Beach roads in particular are the hot spots. Bangla Road is closed off to cars and people walk up and down dumping water on each other while being shot at with water guns from patrons at the bars lining the streets. #travel #adventure #wild

Songkran is the celebration of the traditional New Year in Thailand, a Buddhist holiday, and one could argue the world’ biggest water gun fight. Most travelers to Thailand that want to experience water festival come for the latter. For three days, up to a week in some areas, people take to the street with buckets of water, super soaker water guns, hoses, and anything else that will help them delight in dousing people with water. It is a huge celebration and national holiday in Thailand and great fun. There is a party like atmosphere throughout the cities and many festivals and events taking place throughout the celebration. The Songkran festival used to change dates based on the solar calendar. In recent years the date has been codified and the public holiday is always April 13 – 15 every year. Songkran day is April 13th. This is the day where Thai and Buddhist traditions are observed. The Thai Water Festival, as Songkran is also known, can last longer than 3 days in areas like Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. Some people even get started soaking people a little early, so be on the look out a day or two before the holiday officially begins. The Songkran festival started out as the traditional Thai New Year’s celebration. It was based on the solar calendar and the date often fluctuated. In 1940, Thailand adopted January 1 as it’s official start to the New Year but the Songkran holiday continues to be celebrated as part of the cultural and Buddhist tradition of the country. While most people are familiar sights of the water fights raging on the city streets and the festivities and revelries associated with today’s festival, the origins are from more stoic Buddhist traditions that date back hundreds of years and still practiced today. It is a time of cleaning, washing away the bad luck, misdeeds, and misfortunes from the previous year and starting anew. The Thai’s pour scented water over the statues of Buddha and the shoulders of each other and on the hands of their elders in a symbolic gesture of this belief. This tradition still continues is the homes and temples around Thailand. It’s only afterward that people take to the streets and start soaking each other with water and celebrating for days on end. While any attire you don’t mind getting wet is appropriate, many people dress up for Songkran. The ‘Songkran Shirt’ is a colorful flower print reminiscent of Hawaiian shirts, and many people will be wearing them. Some take it to another level and get dressed up in costumes and masks. You can expect to be splashed with water as soon as you start walking down the street. Another Songkran tradition is to wipe a white chalk mixture on people’s faces. It’s a symbolic nod to the chalk used by Buddhist monks for blessing. Don’t be surprised if someone comes up and smears some white goop on your face, though it is impolite for someone to do so without asking first. You aren’t safe from getting wet anywhere unless you are locked in your hotel room, these are the best cities to celebrate the Thai Water Festival. In Bangkok - Khao San Road and Silom are the epicenter for Songkran activities in Bangkok. Khao San Road is the backpacker ghetto and it is a drunken party with plenty of tourist on tourist soaking. There are many bars serving alcohol and DJ’s pumping out tunes. Pattaya does Songkran like no other city in Thailand. When the celebration ends elsewhere, Pattaya carries on celebrating till April 19th, that’s a full week! Soi 6, 7, and 8 are popular spots. Bars will have large drums of water setup for people to reload their water guns, and many tourists will park themselves at the bars, drinking and having a good time as they soak passersby with water. With bars lining almost every street, Pattaya is like one giant Songkran party. The festivities end on Wan Lai, which means ‘Flowing Day’. If you’ve had enough of being drenched, head over to Bang Saen beach where they craft amazing sand castles and sculptures. Chiang Mai is probably the most popular spot for tourists to enjoy the Thailand Water Festival. The slow laid back atmosphere in a city surrounded by a moat filled with water make it an ideal location. The moat is drained shortly before the holiday begins and is filled with clean (‘ish) water as it is a major source for reloading buckets and water guns. The old city is where all the activity is and where you want to be. In Phuket, Patong Beach is where the action is. Bangla and Beach roads in particular are the hot spots. Bangla Road is closed off to cars and people walk up and down dumping water on each other while being shot at with water guns from patrons at the bars lining the streets. #travel #adventure #wild

Songkran is the celebration of the traditional New Year in Thailand, a Buddhist holiday, and one could argue the world’ biggest water gun fight. Most travelers to Thailand that want to experience water festival come for the latter. For three days, up to a week in some areas, people take to the street with buckets of water, super soaker water guns, hoses, and anything else that will help them delight in dousing people with water. It is a huge celebration and national holiday in Thailand and great fun. There is a party like atmosphere throughout the cities and many festivals and events taking place throughout the celebration. The Songkran festival used to change dates based on the solar calendar. In recent years the date has been codified and the public holiday is always April 13 – 15 every year. Songkran day is April 13th. This is the day where Thai and Buddhist traditions are observed. The Thai Water Festival, as Songkran is also known, can last longer than 3 days in areas like Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. Some people even get started soaking people a little early, so be on the look out a day or two before the holiday officially begins. The Songkran festival started out as the traditional Thai New Year’s celebration. It was based on the solar calendar and the date often fluctuated. In 1940, Thailand adopted January 1 as it’s official start to the New Year but the Songkran holiday continues to be celebrated as part of the cultural and Buddhist tradition of the country. While most people are familiar sights of the water fights raging on the city streets and the festivities and revelries associated with today’s festival, the origins are from more stoic Buddhist traditions that date back hundreds of years and still practiced today. It is a time of cleaning, washing away the bad luck, misdeeds, and misfortunes from the previous year and starting anew. The Thai’s pour scented water over the statues of Buddha and the shoulders of each other and on the hands of their elders in a symbolic gesture of this belief. This tradition still continues is the homes and temples around Thailand. It’s only afterward that people take to the streets and start soaking each other with water and celebrating for days on end. While any attire you don’t mind getting wet is appropriate, many people dress up for Songkran. The ‘Songkran Shirt’ is a colorful flower print reminiscent of Hawaiian shirts, and many people will be wearing them. Some take it to another level and get dressed up in costumes and masks. You can expect to be splashed with water as soon as you start walking down the street. Another Songkran tradition is to wipe a white chalk mixture on people’s faces. It’s a symbolic nod to the chalk used by Buddhist monks for blessing. Don’t be surprised if someone comes up and smears some white goop on your face, though it is impolite for someone to do so without asking first. You aren’t safe from getting wet anywhere unless you are locked in your hotel room, these are the best cities to celebrate the Thai Water Festival. In Bangkok - Khao San Road and Silom are the epicenter for Songkran activities in Bangkok. Khao San Road is the backpacker ghetto and it is a drunken party with plenty of tourist on tourist soaking. There are many bars serving alcohol and DJ’s pumping out tunes. Pattaya does Songkran like no other city in Thailand. When the celebration ends elsewhere, Pattaya carries on celebrating till April 19th, that’s a full week! Soi 6, 7, and 8 are popular spots. Bars will have large drums of water setup for people to reload their water guns, and many tourists will park themselves at the bars, drinking and having a good time as they soak passersby with water. With bars lining almost every street, Pattaya is like one giant Songkran party. The festivities end on Wan Lai, which means ‘Flowing Day’. If you’ve had enough of being drenched, head over to Bang Saen beach where they craft amazing sand castles and sculptures. Chiang Mai is probably the most popular spot for tourists to enjoy the Thailand Water Festival. The slow laid back atmosphere in a city surrounded by a moat filled with water make it an ideal location. The moat is drained shortly before the holiday begins and is filled with clean (‘ish) water as it is a major source for reloading buckets and water guns. The old city is where all the activity is and where you want to be. In Phuket, Patong Beach is where the action is. Bangla and Beach roads in particular are the hot spots. Bangla Road is closed off to cars and people walk up and down dumping water on each other while being shot at with water guns from patrons at the bars lining the streets. #travel #adventure #wild

While America burns, Xi Jinping’s plot to dominate the world is quietly succeeding - Everywhere you look, China is advancing while the West is distracted by trivialities. Wake Up, America: China Is Overtaking the United States in Innovation Capacity. Based on key indicators of innovation and advanced-industry performance, China has surpassed the United States in total innovation output and is getting close on a proportional basis. To regain its leadership, the United States must respond more strategically and forcefully. KEY TAKEAWAYS China is positioned to evolve from an imitator to an innovator, following a path blazed by its Asian Tiger neighbors. It has already shown itself capable of leading the world in a number of advanced technologies such as supercomputers and high-speed rail. China’s potential for innovation threatens the market share of the United States and allied nations in high-value-added, advanced industries, which are important to U.S. prosperity and security. In 2010, China’s innovation and advanced-industry capabilities were approximately 58 percent of U.S. capabilities on a proportional basis (accounting for size of its economy, population, etc.) and 78 percent of U.S. output in absolute terms. By 2020, China’s innovation and advanced-industry capabilities increased to roughly 75 percent of U.S. capabilities on a proportional basis and 139 percent in absolute terms. China made notable progress in most of the innovation indicators the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) examined and in each indicator group, with its greatest progress coming in innovation outputs. China still faces economic challenges. But its progress in a wide range of innovation indicators suggests that it is on the path to overtake the United States in innovation and advanced-industry output—in both proportional and absolute terms. #china #usmilitary #wokism

Former President Donald Trump took the stage in New Hampshire last night in a Presidential Town Hall with #FakeNews @CNN. It wasn't the easiest show to listen to but we thought President Trump did a fantastic job. There was some tough questions as expected from #FakeNews @CNN employee Kaitlan Collins. Many of the questions were complex where "Yes" or "No" answers were not applicable but the "Witch Hunt" did not stop Trump from answering truthfully. Obviously, the senior leadership of #FakeNews @CNN played the part of a ventriloquist very similar to the group that runs the teleprompter currently at the White House. Enjoy this commercial free coverage of the Presidential Town Hall and please respond in the comment section of your thoughts on this debate. #DonaldTrump #FakeNews #PresidentTrump #PresidentialTownHall #PresidentialElection2024 #CNNTownHall #FullVideo #RonRobey #Politics #WHYNews #SecondAmendment #2Amendment #2A #KaitlanCollins #Republicans #Democrats #NewHampshire #SouthernBorder #Title42 #Immigration #GunControl #Abortion #RussiaandUkraine

Surrounded by his Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., confirmed that the Oversight Committee is now investigating President Biden "and his family's shady business deals that capitalize on Joe Biden's public office and risked our country's national security." Comer further detailed "new information investigators have uncovered regarding the transfer of money from foreign entities to the Biden family." Many of the alleged wire payments occurred while Biden was then vice president. "The committee has reviewed thousands of bank records from individuals and companies affiliated with the Bidens and their associates," Comer said in Wednesday’s press conference. "Chinese nationals affiliated with the Bidens created limited liability companies in the United States, and then in a short period of time, transferred their interest to a Chinese company that sent money to the Bidens. This is not normal. Hunter Biden and his associates did business in countries that correlated directly with Joe Biden's work as vice president. This is also not normal. It is not ethical." Ron Johnson on Biden family schemes - GOP senator signals 'huge body of evidence' against Biden family shows how 'clear the corruption' is - House GOP says Biden family received millions from foreigners, tried to hide source "The volume of evidence is clear, it makes clear the corruption within these agencies, but it also makes clear the corruption of the mainstream media who will largely ignore and minimize it," Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said Wednesday on "Mornings with Maria" just before the briefing. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., says the House Oversight Committee has the evidence implicating Joe and Hunter Biden in a "vast web of foreign financial entanglements" on "Mornings with Maria" on Wednesday. Evidence lays out a "vast web of foreign financial entanglements," according to Johnson, who also acknowledged this investigation isn’t "easy." "People that commit criminal acts try not to leave a paper trail. So it's very difficult to piece this all together, particularly when you have the leftists, the progressives and the mainstream media doing everything they can to undermine your investigation," the senator said. The entire Biden family had reportedly received $10 million from foreign nationals and their various companies, Comer additionally noted in Wednesday’s briefing. New York Post columnist Miranda Devine discusses revelations in the Hunter Biden investigation and a new report revealing Joe Biden bribery allegations were brought to the DOJ five years ago on 'The Evening Edit.' video Whistleblower alleges bribery scheme involving Joe Biden was brought to DOJ in 2018 New York Post columnist Miranda Devine discusses revelations in the Hunter Biden investigation and a new report revealing Joe Biden bribery allegations were brought to the DOJ five years ago on 'The Evening Edit.' "On the bank records, you're not going to see [a] bribe to change this policy. You have to infer what's happening here. You have to take a look at the bulk of the evidence. You have to follow the money and realize: so what did this Biden family member do to earn that amount of money?" Johnson explained. While neither the Senate nor House has the power to indict or federally charge individuals, Johnson noted the Oversight Committee’s job is to piece together the information for the FBI and Department of Justice. Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton discusses the GOP's investigation into Hunter Biden ahead of a possible indictment on 'Varney & Co.' video Hunter Biden's alleged money laundering scheme is an 'extraordinary scandal': Tom Fitton Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton discusses the GOP's investigation into Hunter Biden ahead of a possible indictment on 'Varney & Co.' "My guess is the media will do the exact same thing that they did to Chuck Grassley and I when we sent overwhelming evidence of the vast financial entanglements of the Bidens and would compromise a president, they'll just say, ‘Oh, there's no proof of a crime here,’" Johnson told host Maria Bartiromo. "You can say it's circumstantial. You don't have these people writing on a piece of paper, ‘10% to Vice President Biden.’ They do it cryptically, '10% to the big guy,'" he continued. "That's how criminals operate. They do it cryptically." #mediabias #hunterbiden #laptopfromhell

Khao Kheow Open Zoo Thai: สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว) is a large zoo in Thailand. It covers an area of about 2,000 acres and contains more than 8,000 animals from more than 300 species. The zoo is located in Si Racha, Chonburi Province in eastern Thailand. The Khao Kheow Open Zoo was established in 1974 with area of about 200 acres in Khao Yai National Park due to the increasing number of animals in the Dusit Zoo. In 1978, the zoo was opened to the public. In 1984, zoological park organisation allowed on expansion the area to about 1000 acres for wildlife conservation in the Khao Yai Mountain area. Princess Sirindhorn also gave tremendous support to rescue injured animals and wildlife in this project. Subsequently, the Thai government decided to expand the area about 800 acres more to support education and research about the environment. The zoo is divided into several thematic zones. African Savannah This section is designed to be habitat and environment like the animal’s natural in Africa habitat. Many animals live in the same area such as Grant's zebras, impalas, springboks, East African oryxes, giraffes, white rhinoceros, and South African ostriches. This zone is two acres in size and visitors can feed many of the animals. Khao Kheow Night Safari This zone is for visitors who want to explore and experience the zoo after sunset. After dark, visitors can hear the night time sounds of animals and get the atmosphere of a wild night. Cats Complex Park This park consists of a collection of graceful and nimble wild animals in the cat family. Visitors can observe 48 species of varying size in eight enclosures that cover a total area of 40 acres. Each enclosure area has each species nature habitats, for example, grasslands, desert, lands, woodlands, wetlands, and mountains.[5] Walk Through Aviary Visitors can walk through the aviary area while being surrounded by more than 80 different species of birds. The aviary covers two acres and is decorated with streams, ponds, waterfalls, and many plants. This section is suitable for visitors to enjoy viewing the many birds in a natural atmosphere. Eld’s Deer Park The deer park zone is an area for visitors to sit down and relax. The area is more than an acre in size. While there, visitors can touch the deer, take photographs of them, and feed them. Music: What Must Be (Old Timey Mix) by Dhruva Aliman -- Amazon- https://amzn.to/3eAjEgC - Apple - https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dhruva-aliman/363563637 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5XiFCr9iBKE6Cupltgnlet - Bandcamp - https://dhruvaaliman.bandcamp.com/album/what-must-be - http://www.dhruvaaliman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/dhruvaaliman/?hl=en #travel #animals #thailand

ALL CREDITS ARE LISTED BELOW...WITH LINKS Music: Air Baby Is by Dhruva Aliman - Amazon - https://amzn.to/3eLFy0P - Apple - https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dhruva-aliman/363563637 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5XiFCr9iBKE6Cupltgnlet - Bandcamp - https://dhruvaaliman.bandcamp.com/album/hello-moon - http://www.dhruvaaliman.com/ Video Clips from the following, IN ORDER-- dog eats bean burrito video Dog Walks like Human Cat opens door for puppies Kitten bowling 4 Cute Kittens Sleeping in a Drawer Best Cat Toy Ever? Bizkit the Sleep Walking Dog Optical Illusion - Rotating Snakes My cat can see the rotating snake illusion! clever DOG climbs up the kitchen to get food Cat takes dog for a walk! Shows dog whose the bitch 特訓するねこ。 Достал кошку leopard attack in Siberian zoo Crazy Laughing Dolphin! Most intelligent Mimic Octopus in the world End Credits Music: Slave and Rose by Dhruva Aliman #pets #funny #animals

NEW YORK - MAGA protesters in Manhattan crowded out by anti-Trump rivals – Demonstrators who want a Donald Trump indictment far outnumbered MAGA supporters Tuesday morning outside the Manhattan Criminal Court, where the former president is expected to be charged as early as Wednesday. The pro-indictment protesters gathered in front of the building where Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is investigating Trump over a hush-money payment made to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. “No one is above the law, ” the group of about 20 demonstrators chanted. “Alvin Bragg do your job!” they yelled. Despite Trump’s prediction Saturday that he would be arrested Tuesday and his call for supporters to “protest,” the courthouse was relatively quiet Tuesday as the grand jury on the probe only sits on Mondays and Wednesdays. Jurors heard what was believed to be the final witness Monday before they vote on an indictment. Across the street from the anti-Trump rally, five supporters of the former president walked around holding signs including one that highlighted liberal billionaire George Soros support for Bragg, a common right-wing talking point. Trump has seized on a $500,000 donation to Bragg from a political action committee funded by Soros that was part of a nationwide effort to help elect progressive district attorneys. #trump #bias #hilarious

Medieval Castle Defense and Assault: How Did It Work? - The feudal system depended on protecting farms and the countryside, and the key to a kingdom’s defense was its castle. Likewise, taking over a kingdom meant conquering its castles, and doing so was the most challenging aspect of medieval warfare. Medieval castle defense was very important. Loading… The main methods of attacking a Medieval Castle were: Fire Battering Rams Ladders Catapults Mining Siege Fire Fire was the best way to attack the early Motte and Bailey castles since they were made entirely of wood. The fire might be started by building a bonfire against the outer wooden fence (palisade) or, more usually, by archers shooting fire-arrows into the castle. As the fire spread through the castle those living inside would be forced to leave allowing the attackers to take them prisoner or kill them. This was one of the reasons why Motte and Bailey castles were soon replaced by Stone Keep castles. Fire has little effect on a stone castle. Battering Ram The thick stone walls of the Stone Keep castles were difficult for men to knock down. Although pickaxes could be used against castles with thinner walls, it would take a very long time to knock a hole through a castle with very thick walls. The battering ram was particularly useful since the weight of several men would be put behind it. This would make it a considerable force that could seriously weaken and possibly destroy doors or walls. Medieval Castle Defense: Ladders Ladders were used by those attacking a castle to climb over the walls and fight the castle inhabitants within the castle walls. However, ladders had the disadvantage of leaving the man climbing the ladder subject to attack by arrow, boiling water or oil, or by being thrown to the ground if the ladder was pushed away from the wall. To prevent this type of attack the Belfry or Siege Tower was developed. Belfry The Belfry was a large structure on wheels that could be pushed up to the castle walls. Ladders inside the Belfry allowed attackers to climb to the top under cover and get into the castle. Castle owners prevented this type of attack by piling earth up against the castle walls so that the Belfry, which was on wheels, could not be pushed near to the castle. Medieval Castle Defense: Catapult A variety of catapults or siege engines were developed during the Middle Ages to fire stones, fireballs or other objects such as dead sheep, cattle, or plague victims, at the castle walls or into the castle itself. This type of catapult works by twisting rope as tightly as possible so that it acts like elastic when the arm is released. Medieval Castle Defense: Mining A good way of attacking a stone castle was through mining. Attackers would dig a tunnel underground up to the castle walls, under the gatehouse if possible. They would then set a charge and make an explosion which would make the walls crumble and collapse. The advantage of mining was that the attack could not be seen by those living in the castle. However, if those inside the castle were aware that attackers were mining underground, they would often mine from the castle to meet the attackers underground and there would be a sword battle. Medieval Castle Defense: Siege Another good way of attacking a stone castle was by placing it under siege. Attackers would surround a castle with both men and catapults so that no one could enter or leave the castle. Sieges could last for months, usually until the inhabitants of the castle ran out of food and were starving. One of the castle owner’s main line of defense against siege was to send all women, children, old, weak and sick people out of the castle. This meant that only those strong enough to fight off attackers remained in the castle and that the food supply would last much longer. #battle #middleages #castle

ALL CREDITS ARE LISTED BELOW...WITH LINKS Music Tracks 1: The Loss Of You...Song 2: Shifty Notions by Dhruva Aliman - Amazon - https://amzn.to/3poi0WV - Apple - https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dhruva-aliman/363563637 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5XiFCr9iBKE6Cupltgnlet - Bandcamp - https://dhruvaaliman.bandcamp.com/album/road-of-fortunes - Website - http://www.dhruvaaliman.com/ Video Clips from the following, IN ORDER-- Koko Responds to a Sad Movie A child with Down syndrome and his labrador ! Must watch Matty the Baby Sloth Cat tries to revive dead friend Lioness shows trust in man with her newborn cubs Slow Loris eating a Rice Ball Mono Electrocutado Sobrevive Dog pees on electric fence jacuzzibear Deer Attacks Cyclist Fun Bike Thief Chased by Dogs Motorcycle Hits Kangaroo Tiger Sharks of Tiger Beach Dolphinarium Nemo in Yerevan Super Cat Jumps Off Of 60 Foot Telephone Pole And Lives Cat jumps from power pole CAT jumps 60 feet out of a tree without a broken bone Cat shuns rescue — leaps from Hydro pole Nantucket Seal Attack End credit music - Slave and Rose by Dhruva Aliman #animals #compilation #pets

Mars: graveyard of broken dreams and landers - Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, has become a veritable graveyard for landers and rovers dispatched to its surface from neighboring Earth. Only the United States has successfully operated rovers on the Red Planet, four in all, and has lost only one stationary lander. The former Soviet Union had chalked up repeated failures, while Russia's first attempt at a rover will be a joint mission along with Europe dubbed ExoMars. If data shows that Europe's Schiaparelli lander crashed into the Red Planet on Wednesday, it will be the second failed attempt for Europe in 13 years. Overall, almost half of all attempts to land on Mars since the 1960s have ended in disappointment. A recap of surface-bound missions that missed the mark. USSR - Russia The Soviet Union (USSR) was the first to attempt to place a craft on Mars. A launch failure spoiled its first bid in 1962, followed in 1971 with its Mars 2 lander becoming the first pile of man-made debris on the Red Planet. Less than a week later, Mars 3 became the first craft to make a soft Mars landing, though contact was lost after mere seconds and the mission was chalked up as a partial failure. A small "walking" rover on board Mars 3 did not deploy. Moscow tried again in 1973 with its Mars 6 and Mars 7 landers, but contact with the first was lost as it reached the surface, and the second never penetrated the Martian atmosphere. Pre-touchdown communications were lost with two further would-be landers, Fobos 1 and Fobos 2, both launched in 1988. The United States After more than a decade of Soviet attempts, the US was successful on its first attempt—the Viking 1 and Viking 2 landers launched in 1975. They were followed in 1996 by the Mars Pathfinder, a science station and base for the Sojourner rover—the first motorised robot to be operated by humans beyond the Earth or Moon. The only US failure was its Mars Polar Lander which failed to touch down in 1999. It has subsequently placed three more rovers on the Red Planet: Spirit and Opportunity in 2003, and Curiosity in 2011. The latter two are still criss-crossing the alien Martian surface. European Union Europe's first attempt to land on Mars saw the British-built Beagle 2 lander disappear without trace after separating from its Mars Express mothership in 2003. A NASA photo last year showed finally that the craft had touched down, but its battery-recharging solar panels failed to deploy and it was unable to communicate. European Space Agency scientists are trying to establish the fate of their Schiaparelli lander, launched in March as a test run for a Mars rover due for launch in 2020. Schiaparelli separated from its Trace Gas Orbiter mothership on Sunday but signal was lost just seconds before it was to touch down on Mars three days later. #explore #nasa #space

Hyaenodon created a reign of terror by just using its head. Its powerful, razor sharp bite could dispatch a prey animal within seconds and left a mark in history that will never be matched. Hyaenodon is a genus of predatory mammals, of the extinct order Hyaenodonta. Hyaenodon species could be found across the globe in Africa, Eurasia, and North America, they lived between the Late Eocene and Miocene periods. The two species present in Prehistoric Kingdom are: Hyaeonodon gigas, the largest Hyaenodon known, which lived in Asia during the Eocene and Oligocene periods. And Hyaenodon horridus a smaller species that lived in North America, also during the Eocene and Oligocene. Despite its name, Hyaenodon is not closely related to hyenas and is instead part of the Creodonta. This family of mammals dominated the Paleogene period after out-competing the Mesonychids, ungulate predators, before becoming extinct in the Late Miocene. Their closest living relatives are pangolins, which are insectivores. The Creodonta seem mainly to have been opportunistic predators and scavengers, though some of the earlier members may have been omnivorous. Hyaenodon is the most famous of the group and was the most common predator of the Oligocene. It was widespread across almost all continents, bar South America, Australia and Antarctica. Several Hyaenodon species evolved to fill various niches, including a miniature species which would have occupied niches similar to the modern day fox. Hyaenodon was named in 1838 and its name means "Hyaena Tooth". #history #evolution #beast

Megalodon was Earth’s highest-level apex predator – ever Tooth analysis shows this prehistoric shark ate anything it wanted – including other predators. Sharks are often described as perfect killing machines. While this sort of negative press certainly doesn’t help conservation efforts today, there is some truth to this lethal impression of these magnificent beasts. And some were far more deadly than others. In one form or another, sharks have patrolled Earth’s oceans for over 400 million years – since long before even the dinosaurs. The largest predatory shark and biggest fish known to science was megalodon, which ruled the seas until around 3 million years ago. While its exact size is subject to debate, based on fossil teeth, megalodon may have been 15-18 metres long – three to four times the dimensions of the biggest great white sharks. These monsters had jaws so wide a human could stand in them. Individual teeth were the size of an adult human hand. No surprise then that recent research by palaeontologists at Princeton University in the US has shown that megalodon ate whatever it wanted – including other predators. The results of the research, published in Science Advances, indicate this ancient shark was an apex predator with no comparison in all of Earth’s history. “We’re used to thinking of the largest species – blue whales, whale sharks, even elephants and diplodocuses – as filter feeders or herbivores, not predators,” says the paper’s lead author, geoscientist Emma Kast, now based at the University of Cambridge, UK. “But megalodon and the other megatooth sharks were genuinely enormous carnivores that ate other predators, and Meg went extinct only a few million years ago.” “If Megalodon existed in the modern ocean, it would thoroughly change humans’ interaction with the marine environment,” adds senior author Danny Sigman, professor of geological and geophysical sciences at Princeton. Kast and Sigman’s team discovered clear evidence that megalodon and its ancestors occupied the highest rung of the prehistoric food chain – called the highest “trophic level”. So high is their trophic signature that the researchers believe megalodon must have eaten other predators and predators-of-predators in a complicated food web. Helping megalodon on its way to the top of the food web is cannibalism. There is evidence of cannibalism in both megatooth sharks and other prehistoric marine predators. “Ocean food webs do tend to be longer than the grass-deer-wolf food chain of land animals, because you start with such small organisms,” says Kast. “To reach the trophic levels we’re measuring in these megatooth sharks, we don’t just need to add one trophic level – one apex predator on top of the marine food chain. We need to add several onto the top the modern marine food web.” The team used a new technique to measure the nitrogen isotopes in fossilised megalodon teeth. The rule of thumb for ecologists is the more nitrogen-15 in an organism, the higher its trophic level. But this is the first time the tiny amounts of nitrogen preserved in these prehistoric teeth have been measured. “We have a series of shark teeth from different time periods, and we were able to trace their trophic level versus their size,” says co-author Zixuan (Crystal) Rao. Sometimes, prehistoric food webs can be gauged through bite marks on fossilised bones. But such evidence is scant for extinct sharks. The novel nitrogen isotope method helps paint a picture of an ancient fish-eat-fish world. “The whole direction of my research team is to look for chemically fresh, but physically protected, organic matter – including nitrogen – in organisms from the distant geologic past,” says Sigman. Organisms at the bottom of the food web, like plants and algae, absorb nitrogen from the air or water. When other species eat them, the predator species incorporates that nitrogen into their own bodies. But more of nitrogen’s lighter isotope, N-14, gets excreted (sometimes in urine) than the heavier N-15. So N-15 builds up relative to N-14 as you go up in trophic level. But there’s an unfortunate drawback. While researchers have had a whale of a time measuring nitrogen levels in animals as old as 15,000 years old, lack of preserved soft tissue in older species has made measuring nitrogen a dead end. Until now. Luckily, teeth are more easily preserved because they are encased in rock-hard enamel which acts like a barrier to decomposing bacteria. And sharks have a lot of teeth which are constantly being replaced. #history #evolution #dinosaur

A Complicated Man - Is the Newton-and-the-apple story true? Does anybody really understand the Principia? Was he a nice guy? Sir Isaac Newton's accomplishments border on the uncanny, as does his image in the world of science. With time, the historical Newton receded into the background, overshadowed by the very legacy he helped create. Newton thus metamorphosed into science personified. So what is that legacy? What were those accomplishments? Here, familiarize yourself with Newton's greatest contributions. Invented the reflecting telescope The standard telescope of Newton's time, the refracting telescope, was not ideal. Its glass lenses focused the different colors inherent in light at different distances. This resulted, at the edges of any bright objects seen through the telescope, in colored fringes that rendered those objects slightly out of focus. Newton solved the "chromatic aberration" problem by using mirrors instead of lenses. His original reflecting telescope, which he built himself in 1668, was just six inches long. This modest device not only eliminated the colored fringes but magnified whatever it focused on by 40 times, which, as Newton noted at the time, "is more than any 6 foot Tube can do." After presenting his scope to the Royal Society, the then-unknown Newton was proposed for membership; he later served as its president for 24 years, until his death in 1727. Proposed new theory of light and color Not long after he donated his telescope to the Royal Society, Newton delivered a paper to that august body about his novel theory of light and colors. Using prisms and his usual very exacting experimental technique, Newton had discovered that sunlight is comprised of all the colors of the rainbow, which could not only be separated but recombined into white light. Though he made his experiments on light as early as 1666, when he was only 24 years old, he didn't publish his classic Optics, which summarized his findings on light and color, until 1704. Discovered calculus When Newton began to muse on the problem of the motion of the planets and what kept them in their orbits around the sun, he realized that the mathematics of the day weren't sufficient to the task. Properties such as direction and speed, by their very nature, were in a continuous state of flux, constantly changing with time and exhibiting varying rates of change. So he invented a new branch of mathematics, which he called the fluxions (later known as calculus). Calculus allowed him to draw tangents to curves, determine the lengths of curves, and solve other problems that classical geometry could not help him solve. Interestingly, Newton's masterwork, the Principia, doesn't include the calculus in the form that he'd invented years before, simply because he hadn't yet published anything about it. Developed three laws of motion Newton's Principia is difficult to comprehend on two levels, even for experts: in its original form, it is written in Latin, and it uses very challenging mathematics. Yet one thing that comes out very simply and very clearly to all is his three laws of motion: Law of inertia: Every object persists in its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it. Law of acceleration: Force is equal to the change in momentum (mV) per change in time. For a constant mass, force equals mass times acceleration, F = ma. Law of action and reaction: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Devised law of universal gravitation Newton said shortly before his death that it was seeing an apple fall in his mother's garden that set him thinking "that the power of gravity ... was not limited to a certain distance from the earth but that this power must extend much farther than was usually thought. Why not as high as the moon ... and if so that must influence her motion and perhaps retain her in her orbit." This brainstorm (which some scholars suspect Newton may have invented late in life) ultimately led to his law of universal gravitation. The law says that all particles of matter in the universe attract every other particle, that gravitational attraction is a property of all matter. The law explained many things, from the orbits of the planets around the sun to the influence of the moon and sun on the tides. And it held sway as the accepted description of terrestrial and celestial mechanics for almost 200 years—until Einstein came along and rocked the boat with relativity. Advanced early modern chemistry Newton spent untold hours of his life practicing alchemy. Like other alchemists, he sought to turn base metals into gold, find a universal cure for disease, and secure the elixir of life, which promised perpetual youth and eternal life. #history #biography #documentary

See All Man and Beast videos here- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4108AB7D0E0C043E ALL CREDITS ARE LISTED BELOW... Music Track 1: Dream Walking (Original Mix) ...2: The Game by Dhruva Aliman - Amazon - https://amzn.to/3eLFy0P - Apple - https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dhruva-aliman/363563637 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5XiFCr9iBKE6Cupltgnlet - Bandcamp - https://dhruvaaliman.bandcamp.com/album/hello-moon - http://www.dhruvaaliman.com/ Video Clips from the following, IN ORDER-- ATE team rescue another baby elephant from a well Exploding Southern Right Whale on beach near Cape Town - 14 Sept 2005 ヘッドバンギング熊V.S. はしゃぐ子供ら Horse kicks camera man The reaction of ducklings on the Yo-Yo Nice Hamster Alaska Bull Moose Street Fighting deer sucker punch Kido's First Shell Game Crow unties the laces and tries to steal the pan (Хитрая ворона и сковородка) Humpback whale gives our canoe a love tap! Turtle Fails Hard Video of giant whale shark washed up in Pakistan Man vs. Canada Goose (ORIGINAL) Cockatoo Charlie And My Dog - Funny (Original Video) Bird hits windshield of a180mph Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Utah Working Dogs pull over 5000 pounds!! The one that got away! _ shark bait End Credits Music: Slave and Rose by Dhruva Aliman

A Complicated Man - Is the Newton-and-the-apple story true? Does anybody really understand the Principia? Was he a nice guy? Sir Isaac Newton's accomplishments border on the uncanny, as does his image in the world of science. With time, the historical Newton receded into the background, overshadowed by the very legacy he helped create. Newton thus metamorphosed into science personified. So what is that legacy? What were those accomplishments? Here, familiarize yourself with Newton's greatest contributions. Invented the reflecting telescope The standard telescope of Newton's time, the refracting telescope, was not ideal. Its glass lenses focused the different colors inherent in light at different distances. This resulted, at the edges of any bright objects seen through the telescope, in colored fringes that rendered those objects slightly out of focus. Newton solved the "chromatic aberration" problem by using mirrors instead of lenses. His original reflecting telescope, which he built himself in 1668, was just six inches long. This modest device not only eliminated the colored fringes but magnified whatever it focused on by 40 times, which, as Newton noted at the time, "is more than any 6 foot Tube can do." After presenting his scope to the Royal Society, the then-unknown Newton was proposed for membership; he later served as its president for 24 years, until his death in 1727. Proposed new theory of light and color Not long after he donated his telescope to the Royal Society, Newton delivered a paper to that august body about his novel theory of light and colors. Using prisms and his usual very exacting experimental technique, Newton had discovered that sunlight is comprised of all the colors of the rainbow, which could not only be separated but recombined into white light. Though he made his experiments on light as early as 1666, when he was only 24 years old, he didn't publish his classic Optics, which summarized his findings on light and color, until 1704. Discovered calculus When Newton began to muse on the problem of the motion of the planets and what kept them in their orbits around the sun, he realized that the mathematics of the day weren't sufficient to the task. Properties such as direction and speed, by their very nature, were in a continuous state of flux, constantly changing with time and exhibiting varying rates of change. So he invented a new branch of mathematics, which he called the fluxions (later known as calculus). Calculus allowed him to draw tangents to curves, determine the lengths of curves, and solve other problems that classical geometry could not help him solve. Interestingly, Newton's masterwork, the Principia, doesn't include the calculus in the form that he'd invented years before, simply because he hadn't yet published anything about it. Developed three laws of motion Newton's Principia is difficult to comprehend on two levels, even for experts: in its original form, it is written in Latin, and it uses very challenging mathematics. Yet one thing that comes out very simply and very clearly to all is his three laws of motion: Law of inertia: Every object persists in its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it. Law of acceleration: Force is equal to the change in momentum (mV) per change in time. For a constant mass, force equals mass times acceleration, F = ma. Law of action and reaction: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Devised law of universal gravitation Newton said shortly before his death that it was seeing an apple fall in his mother's garden that set him thinking "that the power of gravity ... was not limited to a certain distance from the earth but that this power must extend much farther than was usually thought. Why not as high as the moon ... and if so that must influence her motion and perhaps retain her in her orbit." This brainstorm (which some scholars suspect Newton may have invented late in life) ultimately led to his law of universal gravitation. The law says that all particles of matter in the universe attract every other particle, that gravitational attraction is a property of all matter. The law explained many things, from the orbits of the planets around the sun to the influence of the moon and sun on the tides. And it held sway as the accepted description of terrestrial and celestial mechanics for almost 200 years—until Einstein came along and rocked the boat with relativity. Advanced early modern chemistry Newton spent untold hours of his life practicing alchemy. Like other alchemists, he sought to turn base metals into gold, find a universal cure for disease, and secure the elixir of life, which promised perpetual youth and eternal life. #history #biography #documentary

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft was the first spacecraft to explore Pluto up close, flying by the dwarf planet and its moons on July 14, 2015. In early 2019, New Horizons flew past its second major science target – Arrokoth (2014 MU69), the most distant object ever explored up close. It is intriguing that such a small planet can have such a complex collection of satellites. The discovery provides additional clues for unraveling how the Pluto system formed and evolved. Pluto's entire moon system is believed to have formed by a collision between two the dwarf planet and another Kuiper Belt Object early in the history of the solar system. The smashup flung material that coalesced into the family of satellites observed around Pluto. "The moons form a series of neatly nested orbits, a bit like Russian dolls," said Mark Showalter of the SETI Institute. The known moons of Pluto are: Charon: Discovered in 1978, this small moon is almost half the size of Pluto. It is so big Pluto and Charon are sometimes referred to as a double planet system. Nix and Hydra: These small moons were found in 2005 by a Hubble Space Telescope team studying the Pluto system. Kerberos: Discovered in 2011, this tiny moon is located between the orbits of Nix and Hydra. Styx: Discovered in 2012, this little moon was found by a team of scientists searching for potential hazards to the New Horizons spacecraft Pluto flyby in July 2015. How Pluto Moons Get Their Names All of Pluto's moons are named for mythological figures associated with the underworld, a naming conventions started by 11-year-old Venetia Burney in 1930 #space #explore #documentary

Paleontologists seek evidence to determine which of the three competing theories - kill, chill or ill - best account for the disappearance of all the large animals at the end of the last ice age. Thousands of years ago, the earth was populated by giant prehistoric animals, from New Zealand's giant moa, a giant relative of the ostrich, to the ultimate symbol of the ice age, the mammoth. At the end of the last ice age, they died out, but what killed them off? Did humans play a part? Or was it down to environmental causes such as disease or climate change? Saber-toothed tigers, giant ground sloths, woolly rhinos and other ice age megafauna are all extinct now — but who or what is to blame remains a mystery. The huge herbivores of the Ice Age were ecosystem engineers. Wherever they went, mastodons, sloths, bison, and their ilk changed the landscape by eating, defecating, trampling, and otherwise going about their plant-mashing business. But they were not isolated agents. Following out the engineer analogy, the megaherbivores of times past had managers. These were the sabercats, hyenas, wolves, and other predators past. Many Pleistocene carnivores certainly look menacing enough. The long fangs of Smilodon have made it a staple of museum halls as well as schlock horror, and the thought of staring down a giant hyena is enough to send a shiver down my spine. So given that some prehistoric predators had such impressive weapons it’s not surprising that we’ve often imagined them setting into mammoths and other Ice Age giants. Bigger prey requires bigger cutlery, right? Well, not quite. Many of the most iconic Ice Age herbivores were simply too big to kill. It’s the same reason why lions don’t chase after adult elephants. Clawing into a pachyderm is a high-risk scenario, even considering the fleshy reward, and fossil evidence has suggested the same pattern held in the Pleistocene. Smilodon didn’t take on adult mammoths and Megatherium, for example, but often targeted camels and bison instead. Large size was a refuge was most Pleistocene giants. #iceage #documentary #history

The Science Behind Aviation Failures - Planes in Flames - Crash landings Caught On Camera. #rescue #sos #flight