Return Of The King

[webfact]

Return of the king

The Nation

Millions watch on TV as country rejoices over monarch's historic visit to Ayutthaya; numerous shows staged Trip to be recorded in National Archives; King accepts from PM title deed of land where he harvested rice crop in 1996

AYUTTHAYA: -- Dressed in a military uniform, His Majesty the King yesterday left Siriraj Hospital for his first personal short trip out of Bangkok in recent years, bringing much delight to the whole nation.

"Long live the King" echoed across the country, during the muchbeloved monarch's televised trip to Ayutthaya.

Millions of people were glued to their TV sets and rejoiced at the sight of His Majesty. Many of them were moved to tears.

"I love him so much," Napaporn Thaveethanakij, 76, said from her home in Samut Prakan, tears of joy glittering in her eyes.

A number of people also gathered along the way from Siriraj Hospital, waving flags, to express their love and loyalty to His Majesty. Since being admitted for treatment in 2009, the King has rarely left the medical facility's compound.

His trip to Ayutthaya's Thung Makham Yong yesterday, therefore, carried much significance. His subjects were overjoyed as they all wished to see their beloved monarch in good health and with much happiness.

Fine Arts Department deputy directorgeneral Sureerat Wongsangiam said the trip would be recorded in the National Archives of Thailand.

"We will record the details of the trip right from the time the royals left Siriraj Hospital until their return. We will also include photos of people greeting the royals along the way," she said.

His Majesty, accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, left Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok at around 4.30pm. The motorcade moved along many roads, including Highway 347, to reach Ayutthaya. Along this 85kilometre stretch, crowds of people waited to greet the beloved royal members.

Thung Makham Yong was filled with people as they flocked in huge numbers to get close to the royals. All 10,000 copies of printed programmes about His Majesty's trip were taken up in less than 10 minutes.

Several people had camped out at the park since Thursday to make sure they had the best spot to catch a glimpse of His Majesty.

"I travelled from Si Sa Ket because I wished to welcome His Majesty upon his arrival," said Dusit Jankong, 38, "I stayed overnight around here."

He has much admiration for His Majesty because the King has been working hard for his people for more than six decades. "Even if he has had health problems, he has still been working," he said.

Nom Khaohomthoung, 82, said her health was failing but she was determined to camp out at Thung Makham Yong.

'Feel blessed'

"Even if I won't be able to see the royals, I still feel blessed to have been at the place visited by them," she said.

The royals reached Thung Makham Yong shortly before 6pm yesterday. Their Majesties the King and the Queen arrived in a van, which stopped at the statue of Queen Suriyothai for them to pay their respects to the late queen. Queen Suriyothai from the Ayutthaya Period fought bravely against an invading army and sacrificed her life defending the Kingdom in Thung Makham Yong.

The King also plans to supervise one of his royally initiated projects. Of the 254 rai in Thung Makham Yong, 180 rai has been used as a watercatchment area to tackle both drought and flood problems in response to the monarch's monkeycheek concept.

His Majesty, now 84, also added a historic value to Thung Makham Yong when the King and the Queen used a sickle to harvest rice in a local paddy field in 1996.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Ayutthaya Governor Wittaya Phiewphong waited to welcome the royals in Ayutthaya. During the televised trip, Yingluck also presented the King a title deed of the paddy field where Their Majesties had harvested a rice crop in 1996.

"My family and I would like to present the plot that covers 7 rai and 3 ngarn to His Majesty," Yingluck said.

The King accepted the title deed from her before proceeding into a pondside pavilion, where he watched spectacular shows arranged by many locals and agencies.

The shows started with a parade, which included nine elephants. Splendid boat processions with folk songs and a lightandsound show soon followed.

From the pavilion, His Majesty used his camera to take pictures of the show and his people.

After the performance ended, Their Majesties the King and the Queen as well as the princess moved to the Siriyalai Pavilion for dinner. From this riverside pavilion, the royals could witness the spectacular procession of decorative floats or krathong that flowed down along the Chao Phraya River that were specially prepared for them.

Fine Arts Department deputy director general Sureerat Wongsangiam said the trip will be recorded in the National Archives of Thailand.

"We will record the details of the trip right from the royals leave the Siriraj Hospital till they return. We will also include photos of people greeting the royals along the way," she said.

-- The Nation 2012-05-26

[softgeorge]

[webfact]

LONG LIVE THE KING (Photo Gallery)

The Nation

AYUTTHAYA: -- Thousands of people flocked to Ayutthaya's Thung Makham Yong Friday, wishing to be part of HM the King's historic visit.

Millions of people were glued to their TV sets and rejoiced at the sight of His Majesty. Many of them were moved to tears. The Nation online collected photos from the historic day for our readers.

* Photos by Thawechai Jaowattana/Nanthasit Nitmatha/Charnnarong Porndilokrad/Prasert Thepsri

-- The Nation 2012-05-26

[submaniac]

I was awake at 3:00 a.m. in the United States to catch the live broadcast of the appearance and the show on channel 3. So happy to see HM touring the Kingdom again.

[ratcatcher]

I am sure just about anybody who has a TV saw the magnificent display put on for His Majesty's visit to Ayuttaya this evening.

The British can always be counted on to put on a grand performance for H.M. the Queen, but this was a wonderful traditional Thai spectacle what with the elephants and the whole atmosphere, it just goes to prove how revered, respected and loved the Royal family is in Thailand.

It was fantastic, and to most people very moving to see the King & Queen enjoying the performance, taking pictures and smiling.

Wonderful !

[Bagwan]

I am not a supporter of the estate of royalty but I am pleased for the peoples of Thailand and heartened that this good man looks so full of life and vitality. It appears that his doctors have excelled themselves in restoring His Majesty to good health and I trust that the country will continue to enjoy his pearls of wise counsel for many more years.

[NCFC]

I am so pleased to see the king looking so well and able to go up to look at some of his projects to help the nation.

However was it necessary to spend so much money on a show that involved 9,000 officials to organize (as we were told yesterday)? That money could have been better spent alleviating poverty.

[brit1984]

Long live the King!

Sent from iPhone; please forgive any typos or violations of forum rules

[harrry]

It was good to see him about among his people. He has done a lot for his people and always reached out to them.. It must upset him being isolated from them so much in the hospital.

[harrry]

I am so pleased to see the king looking so well and able to go up to look at some of his projects to help the nation.

However was it necessary to spend so much money on a show that involved 9,000 officials to organize (as we were told yesterday)? That money could have been better spent alleviating poverty.

In this case I disagree. Call it nation building if you will but even as a token for some of the work he has done it was worth it.

[brit1984]

I love the King!

Sent from iPhone; please forgive any typos or violations of forum rules

[Greer]

Sadly I missed the show, but from what I have heard, it was wonderful!

I am very happy to see our ever popular King back on his feet, and with a smile to his lips at being out and about and being able to see his Kingdom first hand again. Our King was always famous for his visits to see the real people of the country, and to know that His Majesty is again well enough to travel is certainly a great relief to us all.

Long live The King.

Edited May 26, 2012 by Greer

[Lite Beer]

Ayutthaya people welcome King in grandeur

AYUTTHAYA, 25 May 2012 (NNT) – Their Majesties the King and Queen, accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, this afternoon proceeded in a van to Thung Makham Yong field in the central province of Ayutthaya, on a private visit to monitor the progress of royal projects initiated since 1995 in this province.

Upon his arrival to the Monument of Queen Suriyothai located at the center of Thung Makham Yong field, His Majesty the King, in a green Army uniform, paid respect to the monument and visited a display center of local products and agricultural produce. His Majesty was later presented with a land title deed for a 7-rai plot of land in Thung Makham Yong by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and a monetary donation by the Governor of Ayutthaya. The land plot covers rice fields where HM used to harvest paddy 16 years ago to boost marale of local farmers.

The royalty then watched a variety of colorful performances prepared by the provincial administration and the people of Ayutthaya to show their gratitude to His Majesty for his great contributions to the province. The 250-rai Thung Makham Yong had usually been severely hit by floods before 1995, when His Majesty introduced a water management program making this low-lying field a water retention zone to store flood water in the rainy season and to supply water for agriculture in the drought season.

The performances at the welcoming ceremony included, among others, a light and sound show featuring Queen Suriyothai’s battle on the elephant’s back nearly 500 years ago, traditional boat songs newly composed in honor of HM the King, and flute performances and poem recitals by celebrated artists.

His Majesty the King's visit to Ayutthaya marked the first royal departure from the capital since His Majesty the King was admitted to Siriraj Hospital more than two years ago.

-- NNT 2012-05-26

[webfact]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScdhbsFTok8

[lungmi]

I am so pleased to see the king looking so well and able to go up to look at some of his projects to help the nation.

However was it necessary to spend so much money on a show that involved 9,000 officials to organize (as we were told yesterday)? That money could have been better spent alleviating poverty.

It was.

F1 race, lady Gaga, Championships of Football etc. are more expensive ...

[bigbamboo]

Good news indeed.

[AZBill]

Huge fan of HM and glad to see him doing well! He embodies all that is good about Thailand!

[AngelofDeath]

Long live the King!

He looked strong and healthy.

[hellodolly]

There is no way in the world to evaluate the good will and sense of unity the king coming out to see the people ha brought to the Kingdom.

I am not Thai or a Brit so royalty is foreign to me. But to see a man who has done so munch for his country and can continue to inspire the people is beyond priceless.

[farang62]

Long Live The King.