Public life in Thailand
Thailand is mourning and it will be understandable to everyone that public life is adapting to this situation. I've put together some information for you about what you can expect to see in terms of openings and closures this weekend and probably beyond.
It is a snapshot and certainly not complete, so any addition from blog readers who live or stay in Thailand is welcome.
General
If you plan to visit any event in the near future, please contact the organization to make sure whether or not it will take place. It is certain that most events have been canceled this weekend and cancellations can also be expected later. For example, the Morrisey Concert on October 18 has been canceled, while the Book Expo at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center will continue as planned until October 24.
Bars and restaurants
Most bars and restaurants will be open, although some may have decided to remain closed beyond the weekend out of respect. A go go bars and discos will remain closed (for the time being). In Bangkok, Nana Plaza will remain closed (for the time being).
Those places that remain open do so without music and with dimmed lighting.
Alcohol
There is no ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages, with shops subject to normal restrictions. Sales in stores are allowed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 a.m. to midnight.
However, no alcohol on Sunday October 16, because that is a Buddhist holiday, the last day of Lent.
openings
All major shopping malls and local shops are open. From Monday, the Immigration Offices, which were closed last Friday, will also be open again. Banks, hospitals and medical clinics will be open as normal.
In Bangkok, the Major Cineflex cinema is open, but the film program has been adjusted, SF Cinema is closed.
Full Moon Party
The October 17 Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan has been canceled and an unconfirmed report says Full Moon Parties will not be held for the next 30 days of mourning.
Thai lottery
The October 16 Thai lottery draw will be done without being televised.
Advice
If you are going out in the near future, keep in mind that it is currently an official mourning period. Show respect for the feelings of the Thai people and act accordingly in public. Out of respect, don't dress too flashy if possible.
Be aware of local ordinances and follow local government directions.
Source: various media
About this blogger
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Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!
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This was in the Chiang Mai City News this week:
Chiang Mai's Mayor has announced that until further notice, all sales at the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar and Sunday, as well as Wualai Walking Streets will be suspended.
In addition, Music of City event on October 16th has been postponed indefinitely. And Chiang Mai City Municipality has announced the cancellation of this year's Yi Peng festival 2016 in November.
Although disrespectful, half the go-go bars on the Walking Street were open last night with the same loud music inside as usual.
The ladies did have black lingerie insofar as they wore lingerie. The police must have earned some pocket money, but I do not rule out that the army may still put an end to it.
I fear that a long mourning period, also for the Thais and certainly for the younger Thais, is no longer of this time. I was so looking forward to some quieter music. Outside the bars, however, it is quiet and in the beer bars as well. It can stay that way for a month.
I totally disagree with BramSiam. But I have only seen serious mourning in my hotel, on the street and with my in-laws. See also my other comment. It strikes me that there are many young people among the mourners.
Bram, take a look outside of Pattaya, Thailand. What you write here is really nonsense for Thailand. The country is in sincere mourning.
ReneH, I don't know where you live, but where I live there were Thai people in normal everyday clothes. It is mainly the older Thais, 50 years and above, who are mourning. In the companies, employees wear black clothing because the company in question requires them to. I asked a younger Thai woman, an acquaintance, why she didn't wear black, her answer? "I'm tired of all that black." There you go.
TheoS, I don't know where you live, but here in Buriram black is now the most worn color, also among young people, my wife works for the court here and has to wear black to work for a year. Last night in the center, where it is normally very busy every night with lots of live music in the pubs and entertainment centers, I went to grab another beer, but without live music and disco music it was very quiet and I am back after a beer went home.
Many young people here are going to the temple today for Chulalongkorn Memorial Day.
In Buriram, big C doesn't sell alcohol until the 16th. Half of the shoppers wear a black T-shirt or similar.
I experienced "the news of the century", because that's what it really is, in Thailand. Two notable observations:
– Shortly after the news was officially announced, all TV channels in the hotels, including those that normally carry the BBC and CNN, all broadcast exclusively the images from the life of the King, which can be seen on the Thai channels goods.
– The next day (yesterday) you saw on the street (I was in Bangkok) most of the people walking in black. At Central Chidlom there was only black clothing in the windows.
And so there are more observations that show that Thailand is in deep, serious, mourning.
Around me in Rayong district I see most of the people in black or white clothes, young people are no exception.
Out of respect, don't dress too flashy if possible, asks Gringo, I would say dress up out of respect. Incidentally, I also notice that many Farang have also adapted.
Nico B
Most of the very busy Central in Udon Thani was dressed in black, young and old.
The 3 Hotels I asked about their temporarily increased prices also showed a lot of black like the visitors. I have indeed also seen shop windows with only black clothing, even at a lingerie store.
In addition, many websites are now in black and white. Large hotels have also adjusted their site and you now have to choose a room based on the black and white impressions.
Even the ATMs of the Krai bank are now in black and white.
Some security staff of (large) retail chains have pinned a black ribbon to their uniform.
The Makro also no longer sells alcohol.