Respect for Royalty, Bangkok

A person can notice coming to Bangkok that many people (men and women) are wearing light pink shirts. Dress shirts, polo shirts or tee shirts in light pink. Winston, my VT friend, explained how the Thai people love their King and Queen. The King was recently ill and hospitalized. After becoming well and departing from the hospital he happen to be wearing pink. This was all over the media. Because the Thai people saw he was wearing pink and were happy that he was well once more, they honor him by wearing this color.

They also wear the color yellow on Mondays. The King's color is yellow and the King was born on a Monday. Hence, wearing yellow on Mondays.

If you are in Thailand on a Monday, you will notice many people dress in yellow polo-t or some form of yellow clothes. That is to commemorate His Majesty the King's 60th anniversary on the throne a few years ago and people still continue wearing yellow until today.

Why Monday? Because His Majesty the King was born on Monday.

On Tuesday, people wear pastel pink instead to wish His Majesty the King good health.

I was severely reprimanded by police for running after a 1000baht note which was blowing away in the breeze and attempting to stop it with the sole of my foot. What was ironic was that I knew this would cause offence but was more concerned about the loss of cash. The Kings head is on the note and the foot isd the dirtiest part of the human body. So treat banknotes in Thailand with respect

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HM the King of Thailand is one of the world's longest reigning monarch who has done much good for his country and subjects. He is widely respected and held in high esteem by the entire country. In Thailand, one will see much show of affection for the King and the Royal Family in many ways - such as this billboard celebrating his 80th Birthday, the wearing of yellow (or pink, red, blue) shirts emblazoned with royal emblems, the flying of flags along roads and in residences, merit making at temples in his honour...etc.

He has worked tirelessly over the years for the benefit of the Kingdom and it would be a grave insult to the Thais if one should speak disparagingly of the King, Monarchy and of Thai royalty. Please be mindful when it comes to this topic.

May he live long !

The King, the Queen and the Royal family are highly respected by Thai people. Visitors should show respect to them. For example By, stand still when national anthem is played . Or not criticizing members of the royal family

The King and Queen of Thailand is very revered by the people; so much that sometimes it felt almost in a religious way.

All over Bangkok you will see the pictures of the King and Queen; either in shops, restaurants, or even posters on the road.
When you go to the cinema, before the film start they will play a song in admiration for the King and people are expected to stand up in respect.

I know it can all be too much for a Westerner, but please refrain yourself from making fun of the Royal family and the Thai's admiration of them. This will be very offensive to most Thai.
The Thai are very polite and gracious people, if you make fun of the Royal family they probably will just smile and leave rather than try to argue, but when you disrespect their King you will lose their respect immediately.

We visited Bangkok on the year of 60th anniversary of King Bumiphol ascension to throne. Many Thai people were celebrating it by wearing a shirt of Kings colour (yellow) on Mondays (in fact, we saw people wearing those shirts every day of the week, but on Mondays there were a greater number of them). King Bumiphol was born on a Monday, and the colour for this day is yellow. Most of Thai people love their king and wore this clothes as a symbol of respect
Visitamos Bangkok en el año del 60 aniversario de la ascension del Rey Bhumiphol al trono. Muchos thai lo celebraban llevando una camisa o polo del color del Rey (amarillo) los lunes (de hecho vimos a gente llevando esas camisas todos los dias de la semana, pero los lunes habia un numero mas grande). El rey Bhumiphol nacio un lunes, y el color para este dia es el amarillo. Las mayoria de los thailandeses quieren mucho a su rey y llevan estas prendas como simbolo de respeto.

If on a particular day,
the majority of the population
is dressed in yellow shirts,
it’s in honor of the King.

Yellow shirts are sold a every other corner,
and the people of Bangkok,
proudly wear them with pride.

Especially this year
to celebrate 60 years of the Kings reign.

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Thais as a whole, almost 100%, listen to their King. Whoever you ask on the streets, they will sing praises of their King. It is amazing. A word from their King can stop almost all disputes. It is a custom for centuries I heard from the locals. So please give respect to other royalities or symbols of them.

The Thai's generally seem to be very patriotic. They are also very proud of their monarch, and it is not at all uncommon to see photographs of the king in local homes or even in stores. You will see other examples of patriotism all over the city, and for example you will even have to stand for the national anthem prior to a cinema screening a film.