Consolidating my writing from other media. This one was written in October 2016 and published in Facebook Note.
I do not know much about him but I am touched by the great love and respect of his people toward him. Thai people show their utmost respect to the royal family, especially to their King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Many years ago, I was used to traveling through Thailand during my flying-in flying-out working at a mine site in Laos, traveling from the metropolitan Bangkok to smaller city Ubon Ratchathani, and to a small town Mukdahan next to the Mekong River before crossing to Savannakhet, Laos. My Thai friends talked about how much their King had done for the people and the country. It’s very common seeing Thai people make an anjali gesture by joining both of their palms and bow toward their king’s or queen’s pictures wherever they found for showing their deep respect.
With my family, we had a chance to visit Chiang Mai once. We passed some of King’s supported agriculture projects on the way of visiting an indigenous tribe in the north of Thailand. I can still remember when I was flying with Thai Airways on the day of the 60th Anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession to the throne in 2006, the pilot proudly made a special announcement from the cockpit that the inflight food served that day was cooked with the ingredients specially brought from the King’s supported farms.
Here in Down Under, thousands of kilometers away, the Thai community gets together to commemorate the passing away of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, they share their love to the King of the People Hearts.
My deepest condolences to my Thai friends for your beloved King departure.
Perth, October 2016
letting go 