As Pattaya mourns the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty, residents took a pause to remember King Rama V, who ushered in the modern era in Thailand, on Chulalongkorn Day.
Chonburi Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai led military and police officers, civil servants and residents in offering flower garlands to King Chulalongkorn in front of Chonburi City Hall Oct. 23.
King Chulalongkorn was only 15 when he ascended to the throne in 1868, ruling until his death in 1910. He transformed the country then called Siam from a backward Asian land to a modern 20th century nation.
When he assumed power, Siam had no schools, roads, railways, hospitals or well-equipped military forces. To achieve the enormous task of modernization, he brought in foreign advisors and sent his sons and other young men abroad for education.
After his death, King Chulalongkorn was named Piya Maharaj, “the beloved great king” and is commemorated every Oct. 23, the date of his death.
Both Sunday, the official holiday, and Monday, the legal observation day, were busy in Pattaya with weekenders flocking to the beaches as Thai tourists visited the Prince Chumphon Monument on top of Pratamnak Hill to pay respects. Most local residents were seen at temples as well for the occasion to make merit and ask for blessings for the following years.
Jomtien and Pattaya Beach were full of tourists, who were mainly in town for water sports and relaxing on the beach. Koh Larn was busier than usual as well since a majority of people preferred the uncrowded beaches and pleasant clear water
But on a day to commemorate King Rama V, it was King Rama IX, who died Oct. 13, that was on most Thais’ minds. Tourists or not, they dressed in black and maintained a quiet decorum.
