Crowds of people are always attractive to those with less noble intentions, including Sanam Luang, the public square in front of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, where grieving Thais gather.
All the more reason for the municipality of Bangkok to tighten the rules. For example, those who offer free services such as hairdressers and artists must leave. With this, the authorities want to prevent it from starting to look like a street fair. Many mourners have complained about the activities that do not belong there. The square should exude a sober and solemn atmosphere. Only the stalls for (free) food may therefore remain on the site.
According to Apiratch, commander of the first army corps, 12.000 people have been guilty of hoarding (free) food, which is provided to those waiting. Some try to resell this. Some only come to the site for a free meal. The municipality will investigate how they can prevent abuse.
Bangkok Deputy Governor Amnuay says some vendors in the area have only commercial motives and want to make money off the grieving crowd. They mainly focus on rural Thai. They too will be addressed.
The number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Yesterday there were still 25. They were taken to a shelter.
Every day, 160.000 people flock to Sanam Luang and 130.000 mourners line up to pay their last respects to their king at the Dusit Prasat Throne Hall. Of these, 30.000 are admitted per day.
Source: Bangkok Post
I went there Friday with my wife..
To get there, we first went to Hua Lamphong central station and took the free shuttles there. There are plenty of them so you don't have to wait and it goes quickly
Lots of people at Sanam Luang and a long line waiting to pay their last respects. We haven't joined the queue, but we might go back next week, but very early.
According to what we heard there, going early is best.
To enter the square you must first go through a scanner and then you must show a passport or other means of identification. I then had to stand in front of a camera while holding my open passport next to my head. Maybe I looked suspicious.
But as expected you could just walk into the square 100 meters further without any form of control….
Free drinks and food are available everywhere. All kinds of photos and booklets of the King are also distributed. Also black fans, ribbons, ... you name it.
There are also a lot of staff around to keep the entire square tidy and that is also necessary, but they do it well.
What struck me is that they are busy paving the center square, where only grass normally grows. Perhaps in preparation for a ceremony?
In the middle square will be the pyre where the king will be cremated next year.
I was there last Thursday with my partner. This already showed the advantage of the Rosa ID card for non-Thai. Could just walk everywhere. Were there very early, around 07.00:10.30. Connected in line. We arrived at the palace around 10.30:12.00 am. But daily there is a stop from 12.00 to 12.45, for reception of the royal family. So everything should be free then. Inside the gallery everyone has just sat down and waited. After 2 it started moving again. Around XNUMX it's the turn of the whole group. Been inside for an average of XNUMX minutes per group. During the entire procedure, people sometimes asked why the farang was there, I blocked a Thai place. But after showing thai ID card a few times again and nothing was wrong anymore. Especially the queuing to give the last respects was in complete contrast to the tourists milling all over the palace taking pictures of the mourning crowd.
The advantage of the Rose ID card. Don't exaggerate. It took no longer than my wife with her Thai ID card. By the way, everyone is being filmed, but I also had to hold up my passport.