An unusually quiet Bangkok greets S’pore visitors, as Thailand mourns
SINGAPORE — When Mr Andy Ng booked his tickets for a five-day trip to Bangkok last week, he did not think that his holiday will begin on the first day in 70 years that Thailand is without its revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
It was not initially apparent to the Singaporean, as his flight landed at the Thai capital’s Don Mueang airport on Friday morning (Oct 14), that there had been a shift in mood and significant changes to daily routines as the country grieved for its late monarch. Then the clues became more obvious.
“Normally I take about 45 minutes to an hour to get from airport to my hotel in central Bangkok, but today I took one-and-a-half hours,” Mr Ng, 26, told TODAY. “I even had to get off when we were closer to town and walk 10 minutes, because my driver said it was better to do so.”
Several major roads in Bangkok’s ancient quarters had been closed for the funeral procession of the King, who died on Thursday. Tens of thousands of Thais, clad in black, lined the streets from Friday morning to bid a final farewell to King Bhumibol.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha has ordered entertainment and leisure outlets to be “toned down” for 30 days during a period of national mourning. Several countries have issued travel advisories urging its citizens travelling to or already in Thailand to be respectful of grieving Thai nationals.
Mr Ng was initially planning to visit Onyx, a famous Thai club, but was later told it would be closed for a week. Other Singaporeans who are currently in Bangkok reported similar curtailing of entertainment-related activities.
Even though shopping malls, shops and businesses remain in operation, they have gone quiet as live music has been banned during this period. For instance, the street where live bands used to play near the Siam Paragon mall, a popular shopping centre with Singaporean tourists, is now uncharacteristically silent.
“The mood on the streets is sombre,” said Miss Chen Xiaohan, 21, a Singaporean student who is in Bangkok on an exchange programme. “When I was on the streets, I could literally feel the shift in the mood. When the news (of the King’s death) was released, people were sobbing on the train.”
The third-year Nanyang Technological University student has had to make changes to a holiday she had booked for the Kho Phangan island in south-east Thailand. “I was supposed to go to Kho Pha Ngan for a Full Moon Party but it was cancelled because no entertainment is allowed for the next 30 days,” she added.
Another Singaporean, Miss Megan Tan, 24, a marketing manager who is on a short work assignment in Bangkok, said: “My yoga classes over the weekend were cancelled in lieu of staff who wish to mourn the King’s passing.”
Several sporting events have been cancelled as well. Mr Benjamin Tan, 40, a Singaporean who is deputy CEO of Thai Premier League, said: “We’ve cancelled all remaining football matches following the King’s passing, as a sign of respect. The football season is due to finish in about three weeks’ time, but it is only right to end early because this is a time of mourning for the Thais.”
Despite the minor disruptions like slower traffic and cancellation of leisure activities, the Singaporeans who spoke to TODAY said they do not mind as the event has shown them solidarity among the Thais at a delicate juncture in their country’s history.
“People have always seen Thais as rather divided when it comes to politics but for the King’s passing at least, we are united,” said Miss Tan, a Singaporean whose mother is Thai.
