Goodbye, Father.
Photos and text by Joshua Paul
In the concrete jungle of Bangkok, Thailand's citizens prepare to bid farewell to their beloved king - Bhumibol Adulyadej. The air is heavy with grief as soon as I stepped into the streets. The once vibrant cityscape has turned monochrome to reflect the desolate mood felt throughout the nation.
Through the windshield of the taxi, I see portraits of the late king being shown everywhere- on the billboards, walls, murals and even the auto-teller machines. Alas, the year of mourning is coming to an end as for the King who served his nation and the people for 70 years.
As my taxi drives through Bangkok, everyone on the streets are dressed in black. Even after a year, the feeling of shock and disbelief is still felt by the people as the city prepares for the royal cremation - which starts on October 26 - at a shrine built exclusively for their beloved king.
"It will be a big day. I will be there too, but I have to work as driver for one of the VIPs, but I will be there. I will miss my king," said Thongchai Kakmuang, a taxi driver as we pass another billboard on the royal event tomorrow.
Thongchai looks out to the streets covered with the image of his nation's father in both pride and sorrow.
I hear vendors on the main street selling commemorative notes, as the wind of change blows through the "Land of Smiles".
Every corner is decorated with a farewell note to his majesty, whose picture is framed and worshipped in a divine manner. No monarch has been loved and revered so much like the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej. It is the royal funeral of the century.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej was a beloved father figure, respected leader, a pillar of strength and charisma that unified the second largest economy in Southeast Asia through the tests of time. With an overall gratifying sense of devotion, Thailand bids farewell.