Page 5 - Gazette2_59-2016
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/ COVER STORY
to him but before I opened my
mouth, he started the conversation.
Proudly, he said “This is the rarest
photograph in Thailand, His Majesty
the King working as a village scout
in plainclothes”.
Foreigners, apples, and black
ribbon
Not only the Thais from 77
provinces around the country, but
a few foreigners came to pay their
respects too. In front of the Sri
Soonthorn Gate, the exit for people
who went to pay their respects in
the Grand Palace, a Western man,
his Asian friend and his daughter
were walking with a basket of
apples in their hands, smiling. They
gave out their apples to the Thais.
At the same time, I noticed that
here because the line of people entering the The rarest photograph in Thailand most of the foreigners put black
Grand Palace was in Sanam Luang. I took not In the crowd moving across the road, I ribbons on their shirts, although they didn’t
so long to find out the answer. Everybody saw a village scout man holding up a King wear black clothing. This might be the best
around the place sat on the ground suddenly Bhumibol’s photograph. I was about to talk thing they could have done. I would like to
with their legs tucked back to one side when sincerely say thank you to them.
the trumpet sound came out from the
Wiset Chaisri Gate. At the same time, a
procession of royal cars drove passed me
into the Grand Palace. At that second, it
seemed like sorrow fainted for a while as
the Thais were crying out “long live the
princess”. The picture of Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn smiling and waving at
us is still vivid in my memory until now.
The Mien
It was late in the morning but the rivers of
Thais yet had not declined, composing of
people at almost every age ranging from
primary school students to grandmothers
in wheelchairs. One of the most eye-
catching visitors seemed to be the Mien,
a major hill tribe in Thailand, from
Kamphaeng Phet province. They were
dressed in their traditional clothes, and
with King Bhumibol’s photographs in their
hands; they walked through the gate with
immense intention.
Students
“Is that a student from our school?”, one of my
friends who were with me spoke out. I swiftly
turned and looked. There stood a girl, with her
family I guessed, who wore Satit Pathumwan
uniform. I was not really astounded since I did
meet a boy from our school before, in that
morning. The government declared that the
students coming to pay their respects should
wear their uniform, that is why it was so easy
to spot anyone I might know. I ran to the girl
and introduced myself. “We were here since
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