THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

A ride with the King through history

A ride with the King through history

As part of the second annual palace winter festival, His Majesty will lead a procession into Bangkok’s past

Thais have long been blessed by the kindliness of royal benefactors. The King has traditionally sought out ways to bring them happiness and a measure of prosperity.
King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V) initiated an annual winter festival that shared royal performances of khon and the all-female theatre lakhon nai that the general populace had rarely seen. In 1904 he added a photo booth that gave thousands their first chance to have portraits made with the still-recent invention.

 

A ride with the King through history

The Grand Palace and Sanam Luang will have one start and finish line.


King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) revived the winter festival following the mourning period for his father. It was held at various times in the Royal Plaza at Dusit Palace, at Sanam Sua Pa, at the Chitralada Villa Royal Residence and at Saranrom Palace. 
And this year, thanks to the benevolence of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the historic festival was reborn again – as “Un Ai Rak Khlai Khwam Nao” (“Warm Love to Temper the Cold”). The festival returns the same year as “Un Ai Rak Khlai Khwam Nao Sainam Haeng Rattanakosin”.
It will be at the Royal Plaza of Dusit Palace and Sanam Suea Pa from December 9 to January 19.
The festival will have cultural performances and an exhibition on Rattanakosin history, including artists’ models of the Aisawan-Dhipaya-Asana Royal Pavilion in Bang Pa-In, the royal barges and dwellings typical of the early period.
It will be an occasion for citizens to dress in period costume and appreciate the pageant of history since the time of Chulalongkorn.

 

A ride with the King through history

T-shirts specially made for the bike event bear a cheerful cartoon drawn by His Majesty himself.


His Majesty wants the event to bring cheer, pay tribute to the achievements of Kings Rama V and Rama IX, and celebrate Thai traditions and culture. 
He also wants to see Thais healthy, so the festival will boost bicycling – a favourite pastime of the King – with a cycling tour of Rattanakosin Island and its many historic sites.
Announcing plans for “Bike Un Ai Rak” on Wednesday, Air Marshal Pakdee Saengxuto, assistant secretary to His Majesty, said the route would take cyclists from the Royal Plaza at Dusit Palace past Sanam Luang and across Phra Pok Klao Bridge to Lat Pho Park in Samut Prakan. Then it’s back to the palace, for a total distance of 39 kilometres. 
Shorter distances – four to 11km and 16 to 24km – will be marked out along the same approximate route. It’s expected that 100,000 bikers will attend.

 

A ride with the King through history

The winter festival, “Un Ai Rak Khlai Khwam Nao Sainam Haeng Rattanakosin”, affords a splendid chance to don traditional garb and celebrate the past.


“The King is concerned about people’s health and wants to encourage families to strengthen bonds, while at the same time getting to see several tourist attractions and historic places,” Pakdee said. 
“The participants and spectators will have the chance to greet King Rama X and ride along behind his cycling group.”
First Army Region deputy chief Maj-General Narongpan Jitkaewthae is in charge of all 12 cycling routes. Route A is reserved for His Majesty, B and C for representatives of the government and private sector, he said. He estimates that 3,800 cyclists will cover the 39km distance on these routes, taking in Wongwian Yai, Somdet Phra Pinklao Hospital and Dao Khanong, returning to the palace by the Memorial Bridge.

 

A ride with the King through history

The Khlong Lat Pho Floodgate Project initiated by King Bhumibol is among historic canal scenes along the cycling route.


Route D is 4.2km and is expected to draw 8,000 people, chiefly families. They’ll get to visit and learn about the Giant Swing, Wat Suthat and the National Museum. 
Route E1 runs 16.2km and will take 10,000 cyclists from Nang Loeng Racecourse to Khlong San. E2 for 12,000 participants extends further, to Rama VIII Bridge. 
Route F will carry 20,000 cyclists 11km, G 4,000 people 20.6km, H 5,000 people 23.2km, I 15,000 people 24.3km, J 15,000 people 23.7km, and K 11,000 people 23km.
With events also planned in several other provinces, all cyclists across the nation will be flagged off at the same time – 3pm on December 9. 

 

A ride with the King through history

Cyclists on one of the routes will be learning about the amazing Giant Swing.


“Everyone on all the routes will get to see the King and anyone can follow along behind him,” said Narongpan, who predicted that the event would “make history”.
Group Capt Somsak Khaosuwan, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, said 2,600 cyclists would be allowed to closely follow in the King’s wake. 
“We want this event to have multiple dimensions and include families and the disabled,” he said. “We have arranged with Muang Thai Life Assurance for free accident insurance for all participants through the 24 hours starting at 6am on December 9.”
Everyone can also get a commemorative T-shirt bearing a cartoon drawn by His Majesty himself. The yellow-and-blue shirt has the “Biker Family” illustration on the back, depicting a father, mother, their children and a pet on a bicycle built for plenty of passengers.

 

A ride with the King through history


The main bicycle route deliberately passes no fewer than 25 historic canals, including Khlongs Mana Nak, Phadung Krung Kasem and Lat Pho, as well as the foremost example of a water-management project initiated by King Bhumibol.
Rama I had Khlong Maha Nak excavated in 1783, just one year after he established the Rattanakosin Kingdom. One of Bangkok’s oldest Muslim communities rests on its banks. The waterway once teemed with boats, the rowers often coordinating their strokes by singing klon sakkawa – poems set to music. 
Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem was dug in 1851 as a new outer moat to extend the expanding city’s boundaries from Rattanakosin Island northward and eastward. 
Khlong Lat Pho was only 10 to 15 metres wide and a metre or two metres deep until King Bhumibol chose it as the location for floodgates to accommodate overflow from the Chao Phraya River. 

Wheels at the ready

- Find out more and register to participate at www.BikeUnAiRak2018.com or call the 24hour government hotline 1111.
 

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