This year is a major year of celebration here in the Land of Smiles. For 2006 marks the 60th anniversary of the King of Thailand's ascention to the throne. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (or Rama IX and ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช in Thai) is world's longest-serving head-of-state and as well as the longest sitting monarch. So for this entire year Thailand is celebrating. There are firework displays, dragon boat races, candle carving competitions, and that's just to name a few.Although Bhumibol is a constitutional monarch, he has several times made decisive interventions in Thai politics, including the political crisis of 2005-2006. Bhumibol is widely credited with facilitating Thailand's transition to democracy in the 1990s, although in earlier periods of his reign he supported military regimes. Bhumibol also uses his great wealth to fund numerous development projects, particularly in rural areas. Bhumibol is immensely popular in Thailand, and is revered as a semi-divine figure by many Thais. Critics, mostly outside Thailand, attribute this status to the suppression of criticism of the monarchy.
Bhumibol was born in the United States and educated primarily in Switzerland. Bhumibol is also an accomplished musician, artist, and sailor. He is one of the wealthiest people in the world and has received many honors.
The Thai's reverence for their King goes so far as to require one to stand while a video montage is played in the cinema. A very odd experience for a westerner to say the least. To the Thai people the King is not just the head-of-state, or some sort of semi-divine individual; he is 'Father.' King Rama IX is viewed by most to be the guardian and protector of the common Thai. Not a bad sentiment considering all that the King has done for his people.
