Wat Chaimongkron - King funerals

[Idefix 2,275]

Wat Chaimongkron earlier this week, during preparations for the funeral

 

New night lighting

 

A new monument, probably waiting for a statue of the late king

 

same

 

Nice with the lights

 

 

Thousands of yellow plants have been brought in the wat

 

Works in progress for the platform where people will bow in front of the king picture

 

 

 

[Idefix 2,275]

making human chain to manage all these plants

 

Full cleaning of South Road in front of the Wat

 

Serious cleaning!

 

Dance training on the stage near the back school

 

--- Today 26 October ---

 

People were queuing already from 7AM (or even earlier!)

 

and already many people by 8:30AM

 

09:30

 

 

 

Not yet 10AM, but sun is hot despite a cloudy sky

 

The aim of their long wait: facing the king for a last farewell

 

11AM

 

[atlas2 4,329]

Thanks.

[Idefix 2,275]

About noon, in front of my condo


Tukcom


Friendship


South Road from Tukcom terrace


South Road from Tukcom terrace


Second Road not far from Royal Garden


16PM...


still a huge crowd, but no more sun





At about 5PM people started to sit and every body quickly did it



Now 8PM and the street is still fully black of seated people!

There are light, music and during the full day there was free drinks, food, cold towels distributed all along the queues by quantity of militaries, schoolchildren, scouts and quantity of volunteers. Many nurses and rescue people too, taking care of people getting hot during the day. Good organisation but the process inside the Wat may be too slow for so many people

[helloitsme 250]

I did several short wanders around that area today...the lines of people were beyond 3rd road on tai at 9am, and the 2nd road lines up to royal garden by a similar time. The queues to go in were definitely bigger than the people coming out...

 

What I was impressed about was the water, food and first aid stations set up. I was offered several bottles of free water, but declined as I already had one. Also impressed by the motorbike taxis and baht bus drivers, who appeared to be giving their time and efforts for free to Thais in black.

[Idefix 2,275]

9PM+

They have change their operating mode: now people are directly sent to the main stage with the big picture of the King, without the circuit that previous people had to follow inside the wat. It's a lot of faster than before; nearly a continuous flow of people entering in the wat!

Direct consequence is that waiting people now are standing again, as the queue regularly move forward. The queue coming 2nd Road size is now only half the way in South Road and should disappear rather quickly. So pretty sure now that all those who are still in the queue will have the possibility to enter in the wat for the farewell to their king. Good.

[jacko 8,814]

My Mrs was somewhere in that lot. Left the house soon after 08.30 and was stood in line on Tai until 3.30pm before getting into the Wat. She nearly gave up.

 

I went into Numchai Service centre, they really didn't want customers, the automatic door wasn't turned on and I had to heave it open. Inside they were watching things on a bigscreen in the AC, seemed much more comfortable. They all had plans to go down to Wat Chiamongkot after 2pm when they 'closed' though.

[tallguy 1,474]

After talking to a couple of regulars in a local bar on Wednesday night I decided to walk up to Big Bhudda Hill yesterday morning as Pattaya was likely to be very busy.

 

I eventually walked up there around 10 am. When I first got there it was not very busy but more people were starting to turn up by the time I left. Looking at the pictures from Wat Chai though it is not surprising that Big Bhudda was relatively quiet.

 

 

As seemed to be happening elsewhere the refreshment stalls were handing out free soft drinks and snacks.

 

 

I also had a wander around the Chinese garden which is always very peaceful.

 

 

[ttk 236]

9PM+They have change their operating mode: now people are directly sent to the main stage with the big picture of the King, without the circuit that previous people had to follow inside the wat. It's a lot of faster than before; nearly a continuous flow of people entering in the wat!Direct consequence is that waiting people now are standing again, as the queue regularly move forward. The queue coming 2nd Road size is now only half the way in South Road and should disappear rather quickly. So pretty sure now that all those who are still in the queue will have the possibility to enter in the wat for the farewell to their king. Good.

 

I was in line for 4 1/2 hours and got to the temple gates at 3. Not sure what circuit you refer to but but at 3 it was several short lines to get a flower and then to the plates to present it. A quick bow or curtsy and done. As you left, you got a pamphlet to commemorate the event From the time I entered the wpWat till finished seemed like a few minutes (5?) at most. Certainly nothing I would consider a long circuit

[Idefix 2,275]

Not sure what circuit you refer to but but at 3 it was several short lines to get a flower and then to the plates to present it. A quick bow or curtsy and done. As you left, you got a pamphlet to commemorate the event From the time I entered the wpWat till finished seemed like a few minutes (5?) at most. Certainly nothing I would consider a long circuit

 

Ok. I didn't go inside myself, but what I saw during most the day from my balcony are groups of people entering the Wat, sent on the right in the crematorium area where there was continuously prayers and some religious "objects" in front which people stop (pray?) some time. Then they walk towards the back of the Wat and come back looking the many stands/stalls and expositions about the king's life, with many places to be photographed in front of King pictures. Then then come take a flower or other "things"(?), and then to the main stage to offer it to the king.

 

So looks like you skipped all the pictures/photos/exposition part...

Edited October 27, 2017 by Idefix

[Idefix 2,275]

Here are a few pics from the "exposition" part, taken this morning :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main stage

 

Same place yesterday evening

[MM 6,562]

At the entrance to Wat Chai today, I noticed one and only one prominent sign. It said 'NO SELFIES". Of all the things to warn or forbid people to do, I would think that taking selfies would be fairly low on the list.

 

I can see a ban on the "selfie sticks", since they are liable to hit someone when used, but the simple act of taking a selfie seems rather unobtrusive and acceptable.

 

Someone really got a bee in their bonnet over selfies.

[Idefix 2,275]

At the entrance to Wat Chai today, I noticed one and only one prominent sign. It said 'NO SELFIES". Of all the things to warn or forbid people to do, I would think that taking selfies would be fairly low on the list. //

Many farangs misunderstood this sign. It does not concern the whole Wat but just the main stage where Thai people went to bow/wai in front of the King's picture. There are 2 reasons for that: First one is that it could have perturbed & slow down the process where they were trying to keep a cadence of 10 seconds per row of people; Second and main one is that it would have been a huge lack of respect to show your back to the King!

 

Edited October 28, 2017 by Idefix