Centenary of Modern Thai Writers
Date of Issue: 5th May 2005
Designs: Illustrates novelists and their famous novels
3 baht: M.L. Bupha Nimmanhemin (Dokmaisod)
3 baht: Mr. Kularb Saipradit (Sri Burapha)
3 baht: Mr. Kan Pungbun Na Ayudhaya (Mai Muengdeum)
3 baht: Royal Highness Arktdumkeung Rabibhadana
Posted in Thailand Stamps
The Thai royal family, (L to R) King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Sirikit.(AFP/File/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was crowned as Rama IX, the 9th king of the Chakri dynasty, on 5th May 1950. The anniversary of this day has been observed as a public holiday ever since.
In former times, the accession to the throne of a Siamese sovereign was not celebrated publicly. Only a simple ceremony was held by the court officials, in which the royal title and articles of royal use were presented to the king.
After King Mongkut (Rama IV) ascended the throne and performed the traditional ceremony on 6 April 1851, he issued an edict saying that the coronation of a monarch was regarded as an auspcious occasion in all countires ruled by a sovereign and was joyfully celebrated by the people of the whole country. However, this had never been done in Siam. The king, therefore, ordered that his coronation be celebrated by inviting Buddhist monks to the Grand Palace to chant sutras on the 13th day of the 6th moon and again to be entertained at a feast the next day. This was the first time the enthronement of a Thai king was celebrated.
In the present reign, Coronation Day is observed by a series of religious rites lasting for three days. On the first day, the 3rd of May, there is a Buddhist ceremony at Amarindra Vinichai Hall in the Grand Palace dedicated to the ancestors of the Chakri House, in which scriptures are chanted and a sermon is delivered by a high monk. On the second day, the ceremony consists of two parts – a Brahmanic one and a Buddhist one. The third day is Coronation Day. A feast is given to Buddhist monks and the king is dressed in full regalia. At noon, the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy each fire a salute of 21 guns. Later this day decorations are bestowed on officials and civilians who have done meritorious services to the state and society.
Source: Essays on Thailand by Thanapol Chadchaidee
Posted in Coronation Day
Well, sawasdee krab everyone…
Here are the photos from my first trip to Thailand back in March – April 2004. It was a long flight into U’Tapao from Okinawa, Japan (6 hours on a C-130). I had no idea what Thailand would be like, actually, I had barely even seen any of Japan the short time I was there.
So there we were, packed tighter than…well, I can’t think of an example to compare to the C-130 flight’s tightness. Off the plane and onto some buses we went and then we were off to a hotel somewhere in Pattaya, I believe it was the Royal Twins. We only stayed overnight, but believe me, in a town as crazy as Pattaya, that is all the time some of these guys needed. Early the next morning we loaded the buses again and we were on our way to Nakhon Ratchasima. It was Operation Cope Tiger, a multilateral military exercise pulling together the forces of the Singapore Air Force, the Royal Thai Air Force, the USAF (F-15’s/16’s), and the US Marine Corps (F/A-18’s/ EA-6B’s). It was scheduled to last around a month. Well, with two ruptured fuel bladders in a jet these things can be extended, and luckily for me, I got the option of being the only guy from electric shop staying behind. I guess we were about 2 or 3 weeks into the exercise and I ran across this beautiful lady named Tik out in town…
We’ll get back to that later 😉 …I ended up staying two whole months and loved every minute of it. The work was hard, the food was spicy, and the flightline maintained a nice 120 degrees in the day time. I’ve since been back twice and leaving soon to make my fourth round. Most of these photos were taken in or around Nakhon Ratchasima, some at work, some at play. Others were taken near Pattaya. Also shown are the Grand Temple and Royal Palace in Bangkok and one shot on the river Kwai.
…But what am I babbling about? You all want to see some photos, right?! Right…more to come later folks. Next time we’ll see photos from my trip to Phnom Rung…La-gorn na krab!
-Lance D
Posted in Guest Writers
Here are some photos from a trip taken to Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand not too far from my fiance Tik’s home. These were taken while I was there in September 2004. The beautiful views were simply breathtaking …Hope you all enjoy.
Lance D
Posted in Guest Writers, Nakhon Ratchasima
Hello everyone, my name is Lance. I am from Mississippi, USA, and I am 23 years old. I have spent a little while in Thailand over the past year. My first trip was on a military deployment to Nakhon Ratchasima from Iwakuni, Japan while I was in the Marines. This was back in March-April 2004 and also when I met my fiance, Tik. I have since been back twice…in September I returned for about 2 weeks and in December I was there for almost a month. I will be leaving on May 15 and returning for the 4th time. Tik and I have planned our wedding for May 20, 2005. I am very excited about going back and spending time with her and her family, and of course seeing more of the many sights Thailand has to offer. I will be posting photos sometime in the near future of all of my travels…stay tuned folks, take care! la-gorn na khrup…
Lance D
Posted in Guest Writers
