His Majesty the King, wearing a white naval uniform, sits with Her Majesty the Queen and Her Royal Highness Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during a Chao Phraya River trip in July.
By Terry Fredrickson
His Majesty the King increased the number of his public appearances during 2012, a clear sign to his grateful subjects that his health had improved.
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The King frequently seen in public in 2012
Kultida Samabuddhi
The King enjoys the river views from the royal vessel Angsana on July 7, 2012. PATIPAT JANTHONG
From a road trip to Thung Makam Yong in Ayutthaya, a cruise along the Chao Phraya River to Nonthaburi, to the Royal Grand Audience at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on Dec 5, 2012, this was a year His Majesty the King made a variety of public appearances which brought great joy and happiness to his subjects.
His Majesty has been under medical supervision at Siriraj Hospital since 2009. Over the past three years, people from across the country have visited the hospital, which is situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok Noi district, to sign well-wishers' books and give their blessings for His Majesty's speedy recovery and good health.
It seems those wishes came true when His Majesty's health improved enough for him to make frequent public appearances this year, including his first trip outside Bangkok in three years since he was admitted to the hospital.
On May 25, the King left Siriraj Hospital for a trip to Ayutthaya, about 80km north of Bangkok.
The King, wearing a green military uniform, visited Thung Makham Yong where he paid homage to the memorial of Queen Suriyothai, who led Siamese troops into battle with Myanmar soldiers in the Ayutthaya era.
Thung Makham Yong is also the place where His Majesty harvested rice in a royally initiated project 16 years ago.
The King's boat cruise along the Chao Phraya River on July 7 also attracted plenty of attention.
The King, in a white navy uniform, boarded the royal vessel Angsana and travelled from Siriraj Hospital to Koh Kret and the Royal Irrigation Department in Samsen to preside over the opening of five flood prevention projects.
On June 9, the King attended a ceremony to unveil a statue of King Ananda Mahidol at Suan Luang Phra Ram 8 in Bang Phlat district.
Apart from the pre-announced functions, His Majesty also made some surprise visits, which caught many of his subjects off-guard but delighted them all the same. These included a visit to the ordination hall of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to inspect its mural paintings on April 20, a visit to the Golden Place shop in Siriraj Hospital a month later, a tour of the Royal Chitralada Projects in November and a private visit to Wat Anongkharam and the Princess Mother Memorial Park on Dec 7.
However, the most significant public appearance of the King this year was his birthday celebrations and Grand Audience at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on Dec 5 in which around 200,000 people turned out to wish the King good health and prosperity.
Members of the public also vowed to take heed of the King's birthday speech in which he called on Thais to show goodwill and compassion toward one another for the sake of the nation's harmony and stability.
His Majesty the King looks quite healthy in a photograph taken last April by Bangkok Post photographer Patipat Janthong.
Delighted crowds greet the King as he arrives in the Thung Makham Yong area. PATIPAT JANTHONG.
The King pays an unannounced visit to the Golden Place shop in Siriraj Hospital. ROYAL HOUSEHOLD BUREAU
Huge crowds turn out to greet His Majesty the King at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on Dec 5. THITI WANNAMONTHA
You can read previous article at http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news.
Vocabulary
frequent – happening often เกิดขึ้นบ่อย
cruise – a journey on a ship for pleasure, especially one that involves visiting a series of places การเดินทางท่องเที่ยว
audience – a formal meeting that you have with an important person, expecially royalty การเข้าเฝ้า
throne – a special chair used by a king or queen to sit on at ceremonies ราชบัลลังก์
variety – many different types of things or people ความหลากหลาย
public appearance – coming to a place where other people can see you การปรากฏตัว
subject – a person who has the right to belong to a particular country, especially one with a king or queen ประชากร, ผู้อยู่ภายใต้การปกครอง
medical – connected with illness and injury and their treatment ทางการแพทย์, ด้านการแพทย์, เกี่ยวกับการแพทย์
situated – located ตั้งอยู่ที่
blessing – God's help and protection, or a prayer asking for this การสวดให้พร, การให้พร
recovery – the process of becoming normal and healthy again ฟื้นฟูสภาพ
improve – to get better ดีขึ้น
admit – to put someone into hospital or prison เปิดรับ
delight – a feeling of great happiness and pleasure ความปลื้มปิติ
pay homage to – to show deep respect for someone แสดงความเคารพ
memorial – a statue, stone, etc. that is built in order to remind people of an important past event or of a famous person who has died อนุสรณ์
era – a period of time that has a particular quality or character ยุค, สมัย
harvest – to gather in ripe crops เก็บเกี่ยว
initiate – to make something start ริเริ่ม
vessel – a boat or ship เรือ
board – to get onto a ship, aircraft, train, or bus ขึ้น(เรือ รถเมล์ รถไฟ เครื่องบิน)
Royal Irrigation Department – The Thai government department in charge of the country's irrigation system กรมชลประทาน
preside – to be in charge of a ceremony, official meeting, or other event (ทรง) เป็นประธานในพิธี
prevention – preventing something bad from happening การป้องกันภ้ย
unveil – to remove a cover or curtain from a painting, statue, etc. so that it can be seen in public for the first time เอาผ้าคลุมออก
statue – a human or animal image that is made of stone, wood, metal, etc. รูปปั้น
unannounced – happening without anyone being told or warned in advance ไม่ได้ประกาศล่วงหน้า
caught off-guard – to be surprised by something unexpected ตกตะลึง, งงงันม เผลอ
ordination – the act or ceremony of making someone a monk, priest or other religious leader การบวช, พิธีบวช
inspect – to look at something carefully ตรวจสอบ
mural – a painting, usually a large one, done on a wall, sometimes on an outside wall of a building จิตรกรรมฝาผนัง
significant – important สำคัญ
prosperity – the situation of being successful and having a lot of money ความมั่งคั่ง
vow – to make a formal and serious promise to do something สาบาน, ปฏิญาณ
heed – to consider someone’s advice or warning and do what they suggest ปฏิบัติตามคำแนะนำ
goodwill – friendly or helpful feelings towards other people or countries ความเป็นมิตร, ความหวังดี, มิตรไมตรี
compassion – a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them ความเห็นใจ, ความรู้สึกเศร้าใจไปกับความทุกข์ของผู้อื่น
for the sake of – for the benefit or good of someone or something ผลประโยชน์
harmony – when people are peaceful and agree with each other, or when things seem right or suitable together ความสามัคคี
stability – a situation in which things happen as they should and there are no harmful changes; when something is not likely to move or change ความมั่นคง, เสถียรภาพ
