Sad News: The Thai King has died
 

The Thai King who reigned for 70 years has died. He was 88.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/14/wo...=top-news&_r=0

Very sad. Condolences to the people of Thailand.

Yes very sad. I heard they will mourn for one year.

Sad -- he was so revered.

Thanks for the info. I hadn't heard yet. Now let me contact some Thai friends. It will be interesting when I get there in a couple months.

Happy Travels!

Entertainment venues are to close for one month. What I heard was mourning for 100 days. I, too, will be curious to see how the country is coping when I return for the holidays.

The one yr. mourning period was reported on BBC radio this morning.

Condolences to the people of Thailand.

jacketwatch, I just found the BBC story on line. You are correct about the one-year mourning period. I'm not sure where I got the 100 days information....trying to retrace my searching. Anyway, the country will mourn for the foreseeable future. The death of the King is certainly a sad time for the country and the Thai people, and I wish them only the best as they deal with his passing. We can only hope the transition to the new King is peaceful and smooth.

Thats the big question simpsonc. From what I read he was the glue keeping things together during tumultuous times. I certainly know next to nothing about their political situation. I also heard in the same report that his son will assume the throne so lets hope he is up for the task. He has tough shoes to fill.

My thoughts with the people of Thailand, too and the loss of their King who has been such an important figure for so long.

I, too, hope that the transition to the new king is as peaceful as possible.

Once again at least two of three American icons in U.S. TV news reportage have failed to live up to their claim of broadcasting "World News Tonight." Neither Scott Pelly at CBS nor David Muir at ABC mentioned the death of the King on the Thursday night news. While I'm surprised at Mr. Pelly's failure to do so, I'll just add this omission to Mr. Muir's long list of international events that he considered less important than some celebrity's life, the lost dog who found home after three years, or a story that he cloned from another network. His program should be named "Good Evening, America" for its concentration on domestic events, the national weather, and a narrow focus of topics. ZZ

Pls also note the lack of interest here on Fodors

Bob, the "usual suspects" here are very interested.

I have to admit I am holding my breath for what comes next in Thailand.

Oh, I'm interested, but there is little to say aside from condolences and hope for a peaceful transition. Hope I am not sure is well founded, given the last decade or so.

You may be interested in Thailand's possible future, as outlined here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/15/wo...T.nav=top-news

For tourists and locals little change in life with this man's passing. The Thai military remains firmly in control and will install with pleasure the weak-willed crown prince.

Wow, He sounds like a really nice guy!!!

He's a piece of work Crellston, big time.
Poor Thailand and it's lovely people who will continue to be serfs.

I thought this NYT op ed piece was a much sharper picture of the King and his partnership with the military as well as the dangerous role of the law of lese-majeste.

Sadly, I agree with sartoric and her concern for the people of Thailand.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/15/op...f=opinion&_r=0

Here's another link to the NYT op ed piece in case the above one doesn't work:

http://nyti.ms/2e1froE

Here is a time when I hope jobin is correct that "For tourists and locals little change in life with this man's passing. The Thai military remains firmly in control and will install with pleasure the weak-willed crown prince."

I fear the transition may be much bumpier. The crown prince is unloved (at best). The military has been currying the favor of the crown prince, but the crown prince does not have the love and trust of the people that his father had, so he will not be able to calm the country has his father has.

Here is a article that might help prepare visitors arriving in Thailand during this period of mourning:

http://blog.takemetour.com/what-to-e...riod-thailand/

I was in Bangkok from Tuesday till Thursday.
And not too unhappy that I did not extend my business trip by a few extra days in the capital or elsewhere in Thailand this time.
I hope it will bring change for the better for the people. But I will not bet money on it.

Looks like mourning and no change for quite a while:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/wo...cremation.html

BBC blocked as a several other Channels - Thai authorities "deplore" reporting of International media.

Every fabric shop is full of people buying up eery last inch of black fabrics.

Bars etc will not be closed, but overtly ribald behaviour will be condemned.

Ultra-royalists are shaming others for not wearing black.

In general business will continue as normal, but somewhat subdued.
As the Thai people have no prior experience of such an event they await announcements by the government.

To find out what is happening politically it is best to be outside the Kingdom where the media is not censored.

The main mourning is one month, but the next period is one year and a King's official mourning is 999 days. There is a Buddhist ceremony after 100 days too One assumes that these processes will be graduated.

Although the king's cult was not universal, now is not the time to voice any criticisms when visiting the country

FYI not much change in Phuket, restaurants open selling alcohol, live entertainment stopped for a while including any concerts and the full moon parties, requests for people to wear dark clothing for at least 30 days although this was not the case in Kata on Saturday night. Bangla Road closed for a few nights and some shops stop selling alcohol but this is short term and it can be bought in places.

BBC are saying no foreign channels on TV, this was true but not sure for how long, think the cable channels still on as they were showing football on saturday.

TRUE are "censoring" some of their channels - Australia Plus and most of the European channels have been replaced with a string of Thai documentaries.
Al Jazeera is still untouched.

R.I.P

The country now is in the mourning period of 1 year starting from Oct 14th and this will affect the country's tourism quite a lot. Like I've just heard that the lantern festival in Koh Phangan was canceled :((

The primary mourning is for one month, then 100 days then a year and finally 999 days.

I'd be vey careful of saying it will make a big difference beyond one month - certain events appear to be in the process of "toning down" and one or two are cancelled, the palaces in BKK are inaccessible but in a few weeks the country will probably seem little different from usual.

It will as it always has, be inadvisable to express any strong views about the monarchy or the junta.