rhkkmk

you are welcome....we only wish we could be there....

JamesA

Many people will be bused in from outside Bangkok, also a lot will be taken up with stduents from schools/colleges but other organizations. There are many buses going from the schools etc.
I you can find the route on a map the best bet is getting a river view room if possible.
I will try and check the route and get someone in the office to check it out if the map is in Thai, but maybe Michael will know where to get the actual route ?

Kathie

We'll also be in Bangkok for part of that time and would love to see it. Any info about the route and about getting tickets would be greatly appreciated!

Hanuman

Kathie and others,

Here are the detail for the Royal Barge procession:

Practice run: 26 & 29 October. Full dress rehearsal 2 November. Main event 5 November.
*recommend going to either the full dress rehearsal or the main event.

Ticket price = 1,200 Baht for a seat at a grandstand either at the Navy compound or the Grand Palace. Tickets can be obtained at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (call centre phone number is 1672) or the Royal Thai Navy.

There will be some official sponsors with their own private viewing areas and that could be the best option for viewing the event.

Kathie

The only one of those dates we will be in Bangkok is Nov 5. Do you know the time for the main event?

And are the grandstands covered (shaded)? I know, I'm a wimp, but sitting in the direct sun in Bangkok I won't last long!

PS Are you an official sponsor, Hanuman? ;-)

rhkkmk

kathie...han. is a sub-king....he sits to the right hand of HRH...

ylieberthal

I'll be there for the day of the full dress rehearsal. How do I go about getting tickets for that? Would a riverview room in the hotel do it? We will be staying at the Shangri-la

rhkkmk

sh-la may be too far down river??

Hanuman

Kathie,

Last year it was outdoor and no shade. Give me till Monday, Tuesday in your part of the world, and I'll have some information for you on the time and where to buy the tickets. It wouldn't hurt contacting the hotel where you'll be staying and ask them to get the tickets for you from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Lastly, I'm not a sponsor but I'll check around and see what I can do for you. Perhaps we can have a mini GTG at the procession!

ylieberthal,

Most of the hotels will be too far away. There's a small boutique hotel right opposite Wat Arun and that could be(never been but I do recall seeing a photo and they have a good view of Wat Arun) a good place to watch the procession. I forgot the name of the place but I first read about the hotel here at Fodors.

Here's the official web site from the Royal Thai Navy but it's in Thai only.

http://www.navy.mi.th/sctr/royalbarge50/index_sctr.php

kuranosuke

hanuman, i will also be there around the time of the procession, so i too, am interested in the exact time, date, etc., and how to acquire tkts.

TC

We'll be in BKK November 9-14. Are there other "royal" celebration activities to see during this time?

Thanks.

Kathie

Thanks, Hanuman, I'll look forward to the information. We'd love to have a mini-gtg.

ylieberthal

thanks Hanuman, but I can't read Thai! any other info would be greatly appreciated

Hanuman

Ok I've got the full information for you guys.

Rehearsals on the 26 & 29 October you can buy the following type of tickets:

1/. 3,000 Baht per person and this will include food and soft drinks. The venue will be at the main convention room, "Choa Phraya" room, at the Royal Thai Navy base near Wat Arun.

2/. 1,200 Baht per person for a seat on the grandstand setup on the waterfront at the same naval base.

Contact number for reservations is 02 6528319 - 20 or 02 2505500 ext 215.

Dress rehearsal and the main event on 2 & 5 November, bad news I'm afraid! No facilities setup for viewing by either the Navy or the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Both events will be in the afternoon starting from around 1 - 3 pm. Best bet will be to find a restaurant that the procession will past by and reserve a table for the whole afternoon.

kuranosuke

rats, i will miss the whole event. won't get there till the 8th.

thanks hanuman.

Mediatorr

The official website shows the Royal Barge Procession on November 5 - 8. [www.80thbirthdayanniversary.go.th/en/index.php] Is that no longer true? We're arriving on November 7 so we're hoping that there will still be an event going on then (or for the next few days).

Hanuman

Mediatorr,

I've checked extensively with the proper authority and the dates are confirmed as I've written. Personally I think that the event this year is poorly organize!

WaterGirl

Sounds like we will probably miss the procession as I only arrive on the morning of the 5th and won't be up for an all day reservation much of anywhere after long flights. But along a more selfish line of questioning, does the Barge parade on Monday pretty much preclude us from doing a Klong tour that day (The 5th) with stops at the Barge Museum (ok, nothing to see if they are on parade, so that seems pretty clear) and Wat Arun? Thinking we need to change plans a little...

Kathie

Hanuman, thanks for all the information. I looked at the various websites but couldn't find a map of where the parade will pass. (well, maybe it was on the Thai Navy website but I couldn 't find it!).

Any suggestions about a recommended restaurant?

WaterGirl

What about Supatra River House?? It is supposed to have an excellent view of Wat Arun and outside seating available. Obviously I've never been, but we did find that information just doing restaurant research. It has gotten pretty good reviews on this board, too.