BANGKOK, Thailand – Kerati Kankaew, Chief of the Provincial Court Prosecution Office in Pattaya City, together with his wife, Dr. Darin Phanthusak, and their son, David, visited Piman Rataya Palace to pay their respects, offer prayers and make merit in loving memory of Princess Bajrakitiyabha, lovingly known as Princess Pa.
For Kerati, the visit was much more than a formal act of remembrance. It was a deeply personal journey back to memories of his younger years, when he had the honour of meeting Princess Pa on many occasions. “I was privileged to meet Princess Pa several times during my student years. Those memories have stayed with me throughout my life,” Kerati recalled.
Returning to Piman Rataya Palace brought those memories flooding back. Although the circumstances were now very different, the respect and affection he had carried over the years remained unchanged. “Coming back here brought back many memories. Some moments from our younger years never really leave us. They remain in our hearts, even after many years have passed,” he said.
The family spent time quietly in the peaceful surroundings of the palace, offering prayers and making merit. For Kerati, having his wife and son beside him made the occasion even more meaningful. “I wanted my family to be here with me. It was important for us to come together, offer our prayers and pay our respects to Princess Pa,” he said.
Dr. Darin and David shared the moment with Kerati, standing beside him as he remembered someone who had been part of an important chapter of his early life. “This was not about a ceremony or about taking photographs. It was simply about remembering, giving thanks and showing our respect,” Kerati said.
Photography was not permitted inside the palace, and the family fully respected the rule. There are therefore no photographs documenting the interior of their visit. For Kerati, however, the absence of photographs did not diminish the significance of the occasion. “Some memories do not need photographs. They stay with us because of what we felt and what those moments meant to us,” he reflected.
The visit was quiet and solemn, but also filled with gratitude. The family paused to remember Princess Pa, reflect on her life and offer their prayers with sincerity and affection. “We came with respect, with gratitude and with love. We wanted to remember Princess Pa and keep her memory close to our hearts,” Kerati said.
For a family sharing such a personal moment, the experience was not something that needed to be captured by a camera. It was a memory to be carried forward, a moment of reflection, prayer and togetherness.
As they left Piman Rataya Palace, the family carried with them something more lasting than photographs: the memories of Kerati’s student years, the prayers they had offered together and the quiet comfort of having honoured Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Pa, with sincerity. “Life gives us many encounters, and some people leave an impression that remains with us forever. I will always remember the privilege of having met Princess Pa,” Kerati said.
It was a simple yet deeply heartfelt visit — a family’s quiet tribute to Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Pa, and a reminder that some of life’s most precious memories are those we carry not in photographs, but in our hearts.
