Last October the flooding caused the Royal Barge Procession to be postponed. It had been indicated that it would be rescheduled for 2012. Has anybody heard any plans about this? I'd like to do some travel planning for myself and others if a date has been settled on . . .

I'd guess that it will just be held in October as usual (flooding permitting)

Always liked the Thai Royal barge procession. A great opportunity for photos or filming the event.

The UK's rather lacklustre recent attempt at a Royal barge procession could have taken some pointers from the Thai one.

Edited August 4, 201213 yr by katana

The UK's rather lacklustre recent attempt at a Royal barge procession could have taken some pointers from the Thai one

But ours is older than theirs.....

The UK's rather lacklustre recent attempt at a Royal barge procession could have taken some pointers from the Thai one.

Or vice verse - good to see the public participate in the UK barge precession - just a thought.

Not sure if there will be a full blown procession this year for Thod Kathin as was planned for 2011. I suspect there will.

Wan Awk Phansa - the end of Buddhist Lent - is 30 October 2012, so the Thod Kathin holiday will be on 31 October 2012. In theory a Royal Barge will be used by the Crown Prince to deliver the ceremonial robes to Wat Arun on that day.

I got lucky here. I was out of the country for almost a month, and came back on Saturday. I opened the first Bangkok Post I'd seen for a month, and there was the answer to my own question: The Royal Barge Procession is ON. Scheduled for November 9th, with full dress rehearsals on Nov 2 and Nov 6, and numerous other rehearsals in October.

Read more about it (and view photos) here:

http://www.bangkokpo...et-set-on-nov-9

If you haven't seen one of these events, consider it. They are rare, only happening every few years. Seeing 52 barges on the river with 2,200 oarsmen moving in sync is amazing. Viewing a full-dress rehearsal during the 2006 Diamond Jubilee, it felt like I was watching some Hollywood epic film like Cleopatra or Ben-Hur being filmed in front of me.

More info about Thai Royal Barge Processions can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia....arge_Procession

Rehearsals proceed apace, last one tomorrow. You can get closer to the boats on dress-rehearsal days with less security and crowds.

See: http://phaethon.net/photobkk/index.php/portfolio/941/