The King, Bangkok, Thailand
Last October 13th, the King Bhumibol Adulyadej IX (Rama Kea) of Thailand passed away, after seven decades on the throne. A year of mourning has ensued, and a five-day funeral ceremony will be his final goodbye, leading up to his cremation on October 26. This funeral will permit more public participation than those of king’s of the past, as King Bhumibol formed a stronger bond with the Thai people than any ruler ever has. Thais in Bangkok alone have made over 10 million folded paper flowers in the king’s honor.
Bhumibol was extremely dedicated to all of his subjects, and made it a point to visit even the poorest rural farming villages. He made it a point to create sustainable soil systems to reduce climate change, and brought Thailand to the booming economy that it has today. Many of his sustainable development projects are adopted as models for the rest of the world by the United Nations. Here is a tribute which covers his history, milestones, life/work, stories, pictures, and videos.The political future of the country is largely uncertain, but the Prince will take over to become the King X of Thailand.
A tribute to King Bhumibol, Pai, Thailand
Before I left my year-long study in Thailand, I got the Thai 9 tattooed on my left hand to pay tribute to the King. I want to always remember the beauty of this place, and the moment when Bhumibol passed, and I witnessed the mourning and unification of an entire nation of people; hauntingly moving and more beautiful than anything I have ever experienced.
My Tattoo Paying Tribute to King Bhumibol
