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-   -   Visiting a Country in Mourning (https://www.fodors.com/community/asia/visiting-a-country-in-mourning-1137991/)

zoso Oct 30th, 2016 03:05 AM

I'm here in Thailand and yes everyone in black or white shirts.Jeans ok
Black paints. You do see a lot of shorts on Thai girls.
Soft colors ok ...
No bright colors especially No Red!

zoso Nov 15th, 2016 03:54 AM

I'm living here in Thailand for four months out of the yr. We are all still wearing
Black or white.Even the tourists.Everyone will wear black for the entire 3 months
Of mourning.
If u don't u will get strange looks.

russ_in_LA Nov 15th, 2016 09:39 PM

We are leaving for Bangkok in 4 days, so this helps a lot. Thanks for the update.

jobin Nov 16th, 2016 06:43 PM

Outside of Bangkok, possibly Hua Hin too, this black garb is hardly seen. I do see lots of folks wearing small black ribbon tied then pinned onto the shirtsleeve, much like the pink ribbons supporting breast cancer research. I dress as i plz and never get any notice. Non-thai, aliens, are totally removed from the nonsense.

And anyway the 30 days is over, so back to unblack for all.

I do wonder what will become of those millions of black T shirts now pressed upon the public who are much afraid of non-conformity. North Korea and non-conformity comes to mind. There, if not applauding the monster ruler loud enough, the military will chop off a few fingers. Here in T'land the military will only slam someone in gaol for a few years, if not-obeying (the lese-majeste law).

Folks are nice here in T'land, it's mostly a pleasant place, but superstition, corruption and ignorance are very prominent elements of society.

Maybe only a conjecture but i did think the military rulers needed more time to get posters of the junior king (CP) ready for plastering over the land so they required the month long mourning and delay of junior's coronation.

Is said here the CP will take power on 1 Dec. We will see.

zoso Nov 17th, 2016 12:07 PM

I'm in BKK now. All Thais are still wearing black and white no colors.
Perhaps the folks u see are not Thai?
The morning period is 3 months.

khunwilko Jan 7th, 2017 05:50 AM

Thais will most likely wear black for a year......it is also a fashion thing for some so they aren't going to throw away all those new clothes in a hurry. In most towns around Thailand especially the women are still wearing black - especially in public. On the beach they may be more relaxed.

If you are on holiday - you are probably OK in just about anything - I don't know if many had noticed but the Xmas decs this year were later arriving and in many places smaller or not there at all.

If you are engaged in any formal activity, you need a "sombre" outfit. White shirt black trousers is the easiest.....but grey with black stripes etc are OK. Armbands were worn in some factories with colourful uniforms and now most have settled for the looped ribbon.

If you need to meet a government officer or any "VIP", I would recommend you wear respectful clothing - if they decide you aren't respecting Thailand, you are unlikely to get what you want.

you may also have noticed that there is very little reference as yet to the new King, the nation is still concentrating on the plethora of coverage in all media of the achievements of the old king.

khunwilko Jan 7th, 2017 05:51 AM

PS - I was camping over New Year and still many of the campers were wearing black.

Guenmai Jan 8th, 2017 05:47 AM

I've been in Bangkok now for a week and a half and have 3 weeks total here. I've just gotten used to wearing black and white now. I just now look at it as a uniform. It was very hard at first as I love bright colors, but will save those for the 3 weeks after I have left Bangkok and on to other parts of S.E. Asia.

For the first few days, I was in navy blue until I found a couple of black shirts. I had already brought with me 3, black skirts and since I have black/white sneakers it works out well. I also have some black, evening flats.

When I was at my bank, last week, we were 15 people and all were in black except me and one other person who was in a gray uniform. I was in navy blue then. Also, I've been eating out every day and at one restaurant where I've eaten about 5 times, 98% of the diners were in either all black or black and white. I ate there again today and it was the same. My Thai friend is also in all black. She gave me a #9 brooch for Christmas of which I pinned onto my black shirt, but noticed this morning that I've lost it. It must have fallen off. I've had Thais actually thank me for wearing black and white. I'm sure this will go on for a year.

Happy Travels!


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