As in the article: big cleaning promised, a small report of the Princely visit to the Ampheu Pathiu. It took Lung addie some effort to follow the case because it was, as usual, Thai style. After all, we live in Thailand.
Apparently, for security reasons, quite a bit of secrecy and confusion was created around the visit. First it was spread that the visit would take place last Saturday, then Sunday and finally Monday. The test drives, by the escort cars, were performed frequently on Sunday, but always in the opposite direction. Finally on Monday it was announced that the visit to Pathiu would take place at 11am, then at 15pm and finally at 18pm. Lung Addie obtained the correct time from an employee at the new Pathiu Town Hall.
At 10 o'clock the undersigned went to make a small reconnaissance and could then already determine that 11 o'clock was unfeasible because they were still too busy setting up all kinds of tents. These tents had to provide a shady place for the Prince's car and the escort cars. By the way, there was still free traffic in the few streets that Pathiu has. Lung addie didn't like it either because then it is scalding hot and the Prince and his entourage would be exposed to it during their customs… so I only aimed for 15 hours, which was confirmed. The program was:
- attending the opening of a new temple in Ta Sae by the son of the Prince and this traditionally has to take place before noon?
- a tour of site seeing through the rubber and palm oil plantations.
- by the Prince and his son a visit to the faculty of the university where research is done on seafood.
- by the Prince a visit to the Center for Genetic Engineering of scampis.
- by the Prince himself the ceremonial opening of the new town hall in Pathiu.
- by the Prince's infant son attending a motocross demo race in Saphli.
The night was spent at Cabana Beach Resort and was transformed into an impregnable fortress. There was even a naval ship off Thung Wualaen Bay.
A well-filled program of which Lung addie could only attend the ceremony at the new town hall of Pathiu. A crowd of people with Thai flags which were for sale for 20THB. Not a single car parked along the road and this despite the fact that there was no parking prohibition sign to be seen anywhere. The police were present en masse and people had not yet stopped properly with a car or received a warning to continue driving. Until even the garbage cans along the street were removed or hidden behind the hedges. Two army helicopters were constantly in the air.
Te Thung Wualean (Saphli) was forbidden to sell alcoholic beverages. Apparently they know what waiting people do and what the result is or can be afterwards. Good precaution because, so far, there was not a single incident. It would have been difficult to possibly because I have never seen so many police here as yesterday. I think half the national police force was there.
At the town hall, at the official opening, it was pointed out to me that I was not allowed to take pictures. So Lung addie has no footage of it actually happening.
PS: a Princely visit to my humble home was not on the agenda either.
Excellent that the crown prince in Thailand is so well protected. You never know.
beautifully told Addie, I experienced half of it myself and sent it back three times by car, hahaha