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Farewell beloved Princess
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Loy Krathong fun for all
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Ladies from the NSO learn English at Asian University
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Farewell beloved Princess
Cannons, conch shells and soldiers accompany funeral procession of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana
Their Majesties the King and
Queen attend religious rites for the late H.R.H. Princess Galyani Vadhana at
the Dusit Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace Friday, Nov. 14, 2008. (AP
Photo/Bureau of the Royal Household)
Their Majesties the King and
Queen kindle a fire beneath the funeral pyre for the late Princess Galyani
Vadhana. (AP Photo/Bureau of the Royal Household, HO)
HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej
lights candles as he attends the religious rites for
his elder sister (portrait at left). (AP Photo/Bureau of the Royal
Household, HO)
H.R.H. Crown Prince
Vajiralongkorn accompanies officials carrying the relics of HRH Princess
Galyani Vadhana from the crematorium to a waiting carriage.
(AP Photo/Bureau of the Royal Household)
HRH Crown Prince Maha
Vajiralongkorn, 2nd left, is joined by Her Royal Highness Srirasm, left,
Princess Sirivannavari, sitting, HRH Princess Sirindhorn, center, and HRH
Princess Chulabhorn following the funeral procession for HRH Princess
Galyani Vadhana. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
The royal cremation procession
for the late Princess Galyani Vadhana slowly moves past the Grand Palace,
background, towards the crematorium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. (AP Photo)
The Royal Great Victory
Carriage carrying the urn and remains of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana is
pulled by soldiers dressed in ancient uniforms past the Grand Palace during
the royal cremation procession. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A Brahmin priest helps elevate
the urn of the late Princess Galyani Vadhana
on to the crematorium during the royal cremation rituals.
(AP Photo/Bureau of the Royal Household)
People take photos next to a
portrait of the late Princess Galyani Vadhana during her cremation
procession in Bangkok on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.
(AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
Thai people place flowers in
front of a photo of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana
at Sanam Luang near the royal palace during the funeral procession.
(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Smoke from her remains rises
above the crematorium of late Princess Galyani Vadhana. (AP Photo/Wason
Wanichakorn)
Ambika Ahuja
Bangkok (AP) - To the wail of conch shells and the thunder of
cannon fire, crimson-clad soldiers pulled a gilded chariot containing the
body of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, His Majesty the King’s
sister, to a seven-story pyre where she was cremated.
HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, the world’s longest-serving monarch,
kindled a fire beneath the funeral pyre containing his sister’s remains
Saturday night, after a day of Buddhist and Hindu rites for the Princess.
She died of abdominal cancer 10 months ago at the age of 84.
More than 2,000 soldiers in dress uniform marched alongside the elaborate
chariot containing a tall gilded urn with the remains of the princess in a
funeral procession from the glittering Grand Palace through the heart of old
Bangkok.
Throughout the day more than 100,000 people lined the route under clear
skies to bid farewell to the princess, while millions of others watched on
television.
Many indicated they wished to honor the beloved 80-year-old King as much as
the princess.
“I am here to send her to heaven,” said Pairin Huasiri, a 69-year-old former
civil servant who came from Chonburi province, 40 miles south of Bangkok, to
pay his respects.
“The King has done a lot for the country and today we want him to know that
we are mourning with him,” he said.
Flanked by rows of drummers, trumpeters and conch-blowers, the slow-moving
procession ended at the crematorium - a temporary complex of pavilions built
at a cost of $5.7 million by hundreds of Thai craftsmen over the past seven
months.
In Buddhist temples around the country, Thais performed religious rites and
burned sandalwood flowers in her honor.
The grand six-day funeral ceremony officially started Friday when HM the
King led the Royal Family in ceremony at the Grand Palace, with more than
100 specially chosen monks in attendance.
The color and pageantry has proved popular. Jiew, a ferry boat ticket booth
operator at the dock on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River nearest the procession
route, said the boats were overflowing with people traveling to the
procession.
“On a regular day we have fewer than 10,000 passengers. Today it has been
many, many, many. Maybe nearly 100,000,” he said.
Clad in black, 82-year-old Sanit Sompotong from Thonburi, across the river,
stood for hours for a glimpse of the procession.
“The wait is not a problem for the joy of being here to support the royal
family,” he said, surrounded by others wearing black who nodded their heads
in agreement.
HRH the Princess was noted for her interest in the arts, especially theater
and classical music, a taste cultivated when - like HM the King - she was
educated in Switzerland, where she spent much of her life.
Farewell beloved princess. You will forever remain in our hearts.
Loy Krathong fun for all
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome opens
the festivities
by floating his krathong on a specially set up stage.
Staff reporters
With fireworks banned and the world’s political and economic
upheavals kept at bay at least for the night, the traditional Loy Krathong
festival was more sedately celebrated all over Pattaya.
 The
Dusit Thani Hotel in Pattaya has its own Miss Noppamas.
Also with the funeral for HRH Princess Galyani approaching, many people
refrained from too much celebration.
Fortunately for the environment, the campaign for using biodegradable
organic krathong floats, instead of nasty foam ones, was taken up by many.
There were krathongs galore made from bread, ice cream cones, water
hyacinth, corn husks and coconut shells. But floats made from styrofoam
still turned up on the beach this year, although not as many as in previous
years.
One krathong per family or couple also seemed in vogue, perhaps following
the self-sufficiency principle in harder economic times.
The price of marigolds was higher due to heavy rain causing a shortage for
this flower in the market. Business at the fresh-flower market was in fact
not as lively as usual.
Ubiquitous Mayor Itthipol Khunplome opened the festivities at Bali Hai Pier
in South Pattaya on November 12.
 The
1st Mr. Full Moon Pattaya contest winner.
At Lan Pho public park in Naklua, Miss Noppamas, Mister Full Moon and Little
Noppamas contests of beautiful people were in full parade, followed by a
cultural show, an old-time folk dance and other entertainment activities.
It was the very first time that handsome men have a chance to show off too
in the Mister Full Moon contest, instead of just admiring the glittering
ladies.
The winner in the krathong creation competition was the primary class from
Muang Pattaya School 5. Muang Pattaya School 9 won the prize for the
secondary school class and N2, led by the Peace Flower team, won in the
people’s category.
International hotels were busy, too, showing foreign visitors our
traditional ceremony under the full moon.
 Winner
of Pattaya’s Miss Noppamas 2008 contest.
Marriott Resort and Spa served Thai food from four regions to guests who
then floated the organic krathongs in the hotel swimming pool.
Guests at the Dusit Thani Hotel loy krathong in the swimming pool next to
the sea and the hotel chose its own Noppamas.
Amari Orchid & Tower also showed off its own Miss Noppamas plus presented a
stage show and an international food buffet.
A krathong is made in the shape of a lotus and usually contains a candle,
three joss-sticks, some flowers and coins. People also cut their fingernails
and hair and add them to the krathong as a symbol of letting go of their bad
parts.
Many believe that floating a krathong will create good luck, float away sins
and bad luck and honor and thank the goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha.
Loy Krathong at the Marriott
Resort and Spa.
Lovely maidens greet guests at
the Loy Krathong Night at the Montien Hotel, Pattaya.
Winners in Pattaya’s Little
Noppamas contest.
Young elephants float their
krathongs at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden.
Tourist couples join in under
the full moon
Pure concentration whilst
making her krathong out of natural materials.
Not easy to judge! All of them
are beautiful.
Staff and guests celebrate at
the Amari Orchid & Tower.
Ladies from the NSO learn English at Asian University
The National Statistical
Office women pose
on the front steps with Dr Vip and teachers.
A thank you gift for Ajarn
Roy.
All that effort works up a
hearty appetite.
The women diligently work on
their English language skills in the classroom.
Susan Joyce
Twenty seven ladies from the National Statistical Office, mostly
from Bangkok, have just completed a special weekend English language
programme at Asian University, to improve their English communication
skills.
They have been at the university for eight weekends, arriving Friday morning
and leaving Sunday midday with fourteen hours of class each week. The ladies
were all very keen students, and their attendance record was exemplary. They
stayed on the campus, alongside the regular university students, and,
outside class times, they were able to walk on campus and use the sports
facilities to keep themselves fit.
Some of the ladies had been on several other courses and commented that the
Asian University course compared favourably.
They particularly liked having native speaking teachers, and appreciated the
teachers’ patience. Several mentioned the variety of ways in which they
learnt English, using songs and games; some of these methods were new to
them and they found that having fun enhanced the learning process. The
ladies learnt in two groups (different levels), so there was plenty of
opportunity to practice their speaking and listening with each other.
The course was run especially for the NSO staff, as a part of the English
Immersion programme.
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