Jaunted

Culturally ignorant, grossly insensitive

The tone and language of your 'coverage' of the mourning of Princess Galyani Vadhana of Thailand is, unfortunately, so typical of the brainless traveling dilettantes who favor Thailand with their dollars/pounds/marks, etc. Knowing nothing about Thailand, other than "some of the palace and temple grounds set beside the Chao Phraya River", and cheap guesthouses, you manage to deprecate an entire culture's reverence for their spiritual leaders with a few tossed off, lame, jokes. It's no wonder that Thailand is becoming more mercenary and less "the Land of Smiles" than it was before the internet and Hollywood enabled the truly spoiled and ignorant to find their way to Khao San Road for the obligatory gap year, and a few full moon parties. It's a testament to the graciousness of the very royal family that you so cheaply deride that you, and your ilk, are still allowed to disembark at the airport. A fine example of our Western culture. Disgusting.

Princesses' passing

I agree. What is to be gained by disrespecting the Thais' culture and beliefs? This lame attempt to be cool falls flat.

Under the Surface

It seems the BBC has also been pertinent in getting under the surface appearances of what is happening in Thai society today. The full article is here... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7730830.stm "More than 2,000 Thai soldiers in dress uniform pulled an elaborately decorated chariot carrying the 84-year-old princess's remains through Bangkok. "The body of the princess, who died 10 months ago, was cremated after a ceremony at a 40m (130ft) funeral pyre. "Correspondents say the $9m (£6.1m) funeral was intended to reinforce the monarchy's status in Thai society...." <edit> "....The BBC's Jonathan Head in the capital says the outward public affection for Princess Galyani is genuine - during her life she devoted herself to a range of charitable and artistic causes. "But this elaborate funeral is also intended to reinforce the monarchy's status at the apex of Thai society, at a time when its future role seems less certain, our correspondent says. "King Bhumibol has been almost entirely out of public view this year and, at 80 years old, his health is frail, he adds. "Our correspondent says that under Thailand's lese majeste laws the succession cannot be discussed, but it is still unclear what will happen after a reign that has already run for 62 years. "There are many doubts, which cannot be expressed, over the capabilities of the crown prince, the presumed heir to the throne, he says. "The difficulty of maintaining the official line that the monarchy is above politics was illustrated only last month, he adds, when Queen Sirikit presided over the funeral of a PAD protestor, giving the impression that she was taking sides." While I may find the writing in this blog somewhat blunt, it is refreshing to read a commentary that does not go with the tory tourist view of certain elements of Thailand's cosy chocolate box lid culture - one that they would like to see and believe in.

"Correspondents say..."

"...the $9m (£6.1m) funeral was intended to reinforce the monarchy's status in Thai society...." This is, of course, utter nonsense, written by the typical BBC/API/Reuters hack, who is probably having a hard time balancing his laptop computer and his laptop bargirl, while drunk and attempting to write something 'interesting'. The traditions and reverence for the royal family do not NEED reinforcing to any but the cynical few who are counting certain chickens before they hatch. The Thai people know the difference. Long Live The Thai King.