Curiously, nobody has mentioned this in this forum. Is even the mention of just how spectacular this event was something to get this thread banned from the forum?
If so, mods, just delete this thread.
But I ought to be able to say that I was profoundly moved by the ceremonies and was glued to my TV set for every minute of the broadcasts. . which were in English on a couple of channels, though the pictures were all the same from the TV pool.
I have an extensive military parade background, and been in more parades than I can count ( active for 20 years) . . .and I just love this stuff.
The mammoth "second procession" was especially spectacular. This is something the Thai people just do so well. Talk about "Amazing Thailand", that they can carry off something like this without a hitch ( Well, I did see one which I may bring up later if this thread even survives) is just a credit to the Thai people. Lord knows they get enough knocks here and we know that they have their weaknesses, but putting on something like this is a real solid strength.
I remember that they did something similar when the heads of state came for meeting a year or two ago. . .with the Royal barges on the Chao Praya and the million fire lanterns in the sky. Just incredible!
I used to think you Brits were the best in the world at this sort of thing, (I remember on one trip to London watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace every single day of my two week vacation. . .and I have participated in military reviews with British military bands ( both pipe and regimental) in Bermuda, all around the US, Canada, Belize and the UK. so that you know where I am coming from on this. . .and I have to say lads that (IMHO )the Thais have you beat.. . .scarlet tunics have nothing against the rainbow that the Thai army can put up. ( Yellow artillery jackets, light blue busbies, etc etc. True much of this is based on British norms. ..but they take it to another dimension. ( Their slow march style has a Thai twist to it, as has their quick. . .but the dedication to their history. . .just amazing!
So that's me on this topic. See if it survives.
The funeral of the Princess
The funeral of the Princess
Last edited by Chas on Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The Bangkok Post had a very good insert about the whole thing on Sunday, and it was included in the Monday edition as well. A 'saver' for history especially if you have kids here. If you don't have one, the shops probably still have some tonight.
I felt sorry about her passing when she passed, last Jaunary. A bit hard for me to turn the switch on again 10 months later. Everyone wearing black Friday thru Sunday and ceremonies at all the Wats around here, and country wide per my understanding. A participant presented sandal wood to be offered and burned as part of it.
Difficult for sure for His Majesty as now all of his original family are gone. Pete
I felt sorry about her passing when she passed, last Jaunary. A bit hard for me to turn the switch on again 10 months later. Everyone wearing black Friday thru Sunday and ceremonies at all the Wats around here, and country wide per my understanding. A participant presented sandal wood to be offered and burned as part of it.
Difficult for sure for His Majesty as now all of his original family are gone. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Chas,
I completely agree! I was in Bangkok and turned on the TV to a Thai channel by accident and got hooked. I stayed in the hotel room and watched the entire event.
It was amazing, the pomp and precision with which every move was executed. I was totally enthralled and moved by the entire event.
If I had heard sooner I would have attended in person but it was amazing to watch it on TV as well.
This is one of the areas where the Thai culture really excels!
I completely agree! I was in Bangkok and turned on the TV to a Thai channel by accident and got hooked. I stayed in the hotel room and watched the entire event.
It was amazing, the pomp and precision with which every move was executed. I was totally enthralled and moved by the entire event.
If I had heard sooner I would have attended in person but it was amazing to watch it on TV as well.
This is one of the areas where the Thai culture really excels!
Obviously with a Thai wife it was on the TV's all the time and although I was pumping away on the laptop I have to admit I got glued on several occasions
Thais know how to do it in style
Thais know how to do it in style
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
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Ralphsandbag
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- Location: Hua Hin
Princess funeral
I totally agree with Chas, this was an amazing Parade to be at the top of the list.. also nice to see that one channel on UBC had in entirely in English........ cheers Ralph
As Chas mentioned the numerous processions were very well planned and spectacular to watch.
I was extremely impressed with the English language commentaries. Good English language and no problem understanding the commentators (although I wish they had spoken some of the Thai names a little slower so I might have a little chance of remembering!). Plenty of informative background and historical details which put many things into perspective.
Well done to Thai tv for the broadcasts and to the commentators.
I was extremely impressed with the English language commentaries. Good English language and no problem understanding the commentators (although I wish they had spoken some of the Thai names a little slower so I might have a little chance of remembering!). Plenty of informative background and historical details which put many things into perspective.
Well done to Thai tv for the broadcasts and to the commentators.
TV comments
I was VERY impressed with the visual work throughout the parades and ceremonies. Their director and the cameramen did a magnificent job of it!
The male commentator was much more fluent than the woman. But both of them spent 90% of their time reading from their prepared scripts. I heard the same script read through at least four times ( obviously they were mandated to fill every second of air time)
Of course I was thrilled to find it in English and the target audience was obviously the world outside Thailand. ( To which they made reference several times.)
But they rarely got the narration together with the picture we were seeing. They would be talking about flowers from Chaing Mai while we were seeing a soldier. .or focusing in on the urn while they talked about the statues of mythical animals. I wonder if they even had a monitor.
The only big glitch seemed to come at the end, with the actual cremation ceremony. Often, all we could see was the back of the heads of still photographers ( poor camera placement) and something happening off to the left where the modern "electronic" crematorium was located. They had a devil of a time.. .red-coated soldiers struggling manfully with something just out of sight, some odd boxes and stuff not meant to be seen being hastily passed out and the entire party looking a bit frantic and confused for a good five to ten minutes. We will never know what happened there. . .but it was curious.
The male commentator was much more fluent than the woman. But both of them spent 90% of their time reading from their prepared scripts. I heard the same script read through at least four times ( obviously they were mandated to fill every second of air time)
Of course I was thrilled to find it in English and the target audience was obviously the world outside Thailand. ( To which they made reference several times.)
But they rarely got the narration together with the picture we were seeing. They would be talking about flowers from Chaing Mai while we were seeing a soldier. .or focusing in on the urn while they talked about the statues of mythical animals. I wonder if they even had a monitor.
The only big glitch seemed to come at the end, with the actual cremation ceremony. Often, all we could see was the back of the heads of still photographers ( poor camera placement) and something happening off to the left where the modern "electronic" crematorium was located. They had a devil of a time.. .red-coated soldiers struggling manfully with something just out of sight, some odd boxes and stuff not meant to be seen being hastily passed out and the entire party looking a bit frantic and confused for a good five to ten minutes. We will never know what happened there. . .but it was curious.