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.