Preparations for King's Day - December 4, 2006

December 6 is King's Day in Thailand so the usual plethora of people wearing yellow gear (shirts, hats, rubber bracelets) in support of the King was even more evident in our final days in BKK. The King in Thailand in highly revered. You cannot go very far down the street without seeing a giant photo of the King (nearly all taken in his younger days as he is now 80) or walk into a shop with out seeing picture of the king sometimes with his wife and children.

Even at the movie theater there is the presence of the King prior to the main feature which is a video clip with pictures showing the King visiting people in the countryside. As the words and music play everyone stands up in respect, akin to the Pledge of Allegiance in the US except here it happens at movie theaters, and any events it seems. Also everyday at 8 am and 6pm public speakers in the city play a song to which many of Thais will stop whatever it is they are doing and stop in respect to the King.

The King is viewed as a benevolent, good man who has done a lot to develop the country, especially the poorer regions. Do not be mistaken though, the King also holds a great deal of quiet power. Some say the military coup in September could not have been successful without the King's silence, interpreted as support for the military's plan.

With the exciting annual even commemorating the King's stewardship of the country preparations were going on around town on our final days. Here are a few pics of the area near the King's Palace. Apparently, so everyone is in top form for King's Day these people are getting their haircut for free or at a discount in the park, literally hundreds getting their haircut!