Page 6 - Gazette2_59-2016

COVER STORY \

four in the morning,” the girl’s mother told
me. “I wanted to come myself, and my parents
were willing to take me here too, so our
family all came together,” the girl explained.
Unfortunately, she could not stay so long
because she would be having a tutoring class
soon.
Wail
In front of the Sri Soonthorn Gate, the people
who had paid their respects walked out one
after another, some mourning, some wailing.
A grandma in a wheelchair weeped as if she
would lose her breath until the boy scouts
came to take care of her. I walked to another
grandma and asked her how was it inside;
she sobbed and answered “The atmosphere
was heartbreaking. I could not stand it that
finally I cried.” She also stated that she was
71 years old. Her house was in Bangkok and
she was here since 2 o’clock in the morning.
Everyday since the King’s death, she came
to Sanam Luang as she reminisced about
the King. “Although it was tiring, I could gain
my strength back after taking a break. For
His Majesty the King, it is just a little thing.”
Grandma’s younger brother joshed “My sister
is still energetic”. Before I said goodbye to
grandma, she told me “The guards said they
would close at 9 PM. I wanted to wait for my
children from the other provinces and go in
again together, it would be in time.”

White flowers and jasmine garlands
Because the queue for paying respects in the
Grand Palace was rather long, many people
did not go inside. Instead, they payed their

“Although it was tiring, I could
gain my strength back after
taking a break. For His Majesty
the King, it is just a little thing.”

respect outside. Hundreds of white flowers
and jasmine garlands were ubiquitous. Few
hundreds lying in front of the late King’s
pictures in around Sanam Luang, another
few hundreds rested beside the Grand
Palace’s walls.

Live Broadcast
Even though the sun was gone and the
darkness took over the sky, the amount of
Thais didn’t drop. However, the queue of
people remained outside during the royal
funeral ceremony. During that time, I saw
a woman wai, put her hands together as
to show respect in Thai way, facing to the
Grand Palace with her phone on her knees. I
thought she was chatting with her friends or
doing something; but no, she was watching
live broadcast of the royal ceremony and
were praying for the late King as if she was
also in front of the late King’s body.

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