Thailand is a lovely country. Tropical, warm, humid, with wonderful, kind people. Where we are staying, near the Night Market, life has a consistent flow.

At 8:00 tourists get on their buses, vans, or red trucks to visit the elephants or waterfalls. The coffee shops open with free Wi Fi and slowly fill up with commuters, digital nomads, or foreigners looking for a bit of home. Stores and street vendors open their doors. Cooks go to the large vegetable, fruit, meat, and fish markets to pick up their supplies for the day. Young men begin to set up the street market for the evening’s festivities. The streets are relatively quiet and it is easy to go for a walk.

By afternoon it is a challenge to walk with out dodging someone setting up a stall, selling fresh coconut or asking if you want a massage. The streets are filling up with cars and motorbikes. By 5:00 the vans and buses return with tourists who flood the streets looking for souvenirs, delicious Thai food, or a bar where they can have a Chang Beer and people watch.

It is dark by 7:00. The streets are crowded like Michigan Avenue at Christmas but everyone is shopping outside. You walk past the smells of grilling, curry, wonderful spices, and on a humid night,the scent of Jasmine fills the air. Lights from lanterns illuminate the streets and you hear the sound of music from many bars. This is a day in Thailand.

This has changed briefly with the death last Thursday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej after an unprecedented 70-year reign.

The King and Queen

It has been humbling to see the sadness and grief the nation feels at the passing of their king.  We were out to dinner when we learned he had died. There was a large television screen and they showed a video of his life in black and white.  The Thai people think of him as their father. They were outside of his hospital clutching his picture wearing pink, a color thought to bolster his health.  When the people learned of his death there was an outpouring of grief from young and old, men and women.  Pat and I went to a resort over the weekend and we were touched when the young woman who worked there asked us if we knew her king had died.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in the US, in fact at the time of his birth the hospital room was declared Thai territory.  He became king in 1946.  The Thai people consider him their father.  He always wanted what was best for them.  King Bhumibol played the saxophone, loved jazz, was a scientist, and encouraged the green movement in Thailand.  He was our ally during the Vietnam War and prevented communism from making any inroads here.  The King and Queen’s picture are everywhere, especially in the temples.

The king will rest in the Grand Palace in Bangkok for 6 months to one year, allowing time for Thais from all over the country to come and pay their respects.  There are Buddhist monks and Brahmin priests burning incest and chanting in the Grand Palace.

The government has declared a month of mourning asking civil servants to wear black.  They have also asked for an increased production of black t-shirts for other citizens. Everyone is asked to try and refrain  from wearing bright colors.  Some festivals and sporting events have been cancelled.  There are no television shows to be shown on Thai TV other than the video of the King’s life and coverage from the visitation at the Grand Palace.  There is currently no live music in any bars.  The temples and government buildings are draped in black and white.

The king’s oldest son is to take the throne.  He has asked to wait before he is declared king so he can grieve along with the Thai people.

Overall life continues here in Thailand, with little reminders of the sadness the Thai people feel with the passing of their King.