Life seemed quite different today. Silence everywhere and the streets seemed more deserted than usual. It was striking to see so many Thais all dressed up in black. Where was the 'Land of Smiles'? What happened to the happiness? Flags were half mast a bit everywhere. It seemed a totally different country the day after the King had passed away. The Thais were simply mourning for their beloved King in a state of shock.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927-2016), known as King Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty, had reigned for 70 long years over his country. He was born in Massachusetts but studied in Lausanne to become a French-speaking personality, like his wife, met in Paris. Queen Sirikit was the daughter of the Thai Ambassador to France at the time. She became acquainted with the King after he had had a car accident and that she attended to his well-being. King Rama IX was not born to be a monarch. He accepted to be king at the age of 18 after the mysterious death of his older brother. But he requested to finish his graduate studies in Switzerland before moving back to Bangkok.
A vast majority of Thais have never known any other leader for their nation. King Rama IX was so revered by his people that he was considered almost as a half-god. Today's Bangkok Post said it was the "End of an Era" on its cover page. Indeed, it is as the succession remains a major issue. Today, Maha Vajiralongkorn, the crown prince of Thailand requested a delay before accepting to become - as it should - King Rama X. What will happen if he decides not to be the next king? And nobody even mentions Queen Sirikit as she is thought to be also very ill.
A veil of mystery and uncertainty remains in the air. Bangkok woke up in a mist today until the sun shone fully and it became a bright, sunny day with no rain at all, just the tears of the Thai people.
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| Cover page of The Nation |
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| Back page of The Nation |
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| Front page of the Bangkok Post |
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| Thai flags are flown half mast in front of the Stock Exchange |
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| Thais dressed in black at the Thai Cultural Centre MRT station. |
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