Foreign visitors were once again allowed to visit Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, this week for the first time since the passing of His Majesty The King. Tourists visiting the site showed respect for Thai culture and the mourning period for the late King, according to local media reports.
Tourists were much more subdued in their behavior compared to normal times when loud talking and laughing could have been heard throughout the grounds. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is situated near the Grand Palace, where the late King’s body rests. It had been off limits to tourists since 14th October.
“We do understand and respect the passing of the King and the people here,” Yoann Lecointre, a visitor from France told The Nation. “Although we have not prepared any black clothes because we didn’t know we would have to, we do respect the passing of the monarch and this country.”
Visitors to the shrine have also been able to see first hand the close ties between Thai people and the Monarch. Tourists visiting the Temple of the Emerald Buddha were likely to see the large crowd of mourners wearing black who were waiting for an opportunity to pay their respects to the late King inside the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace.
“In France, we have no king. We have no idea to what extent people can love and revere a king. It’s so amazing for us to see how the people here respect the monarch,” Lecointre explained to the newspaper. “The national one-year mourning period after his passing also surprises us. In our country if a very important figure dies, the mourning period could be just up to about two weeks.”
Tourists going to the Grand Palace are advised to use the Wisetchaisri Gate, which is open from 8am to 4pm. Mourners are asked to enter the palace via the Manee Nopparat Gate during that time.
