Beloved King

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama 1X is the longest reigning king in the world, having been the head of the country for an incredible 60 years. For sixty years he has maintained a reputation for working tirelessly for the benefit of the Thai people. Because of this, Thais pay their respects to him everywhere you look. With the notable exception of Pattaya (see previous entry), every city, town, and village that I've been to in Thailand has been riddled with the king's flag and enormous photographs. On top of this, every Monday is the King's day and most Thais wear the yellow shirt that commemorates their adored leader. Walking along the busy streets of Bangkok on a Monday is a bit disorienting, because it feels like you're walking into the sun: everyone is wearing yellow. While I don't have a shirt, I do wear the yellow rubber wristband (just like the Lance Armstrong one) that say "Long Live the King". At the movie theatres, you are expected to stand while a video commemorating the king plays prior to start of the film.
I don't actually know for sure what he has accomplished to warrant such praise (it's hard to unravel 60 years of history while backpacking for one month), but I've asked a few people just what it is about him that people admire so much. I was amazed when I heard things like, "He works so hard, more than anyone in Thailand", and, "He is like a father and a big brother to us all". Moreover, he seems unusally gifted in a wide variety of fields (perhaps broadening his appeal even further). He's been a scientist, a painter, a carpenter, a photographer (when was the last time you saw George Bush or Tony Blair take loving pictures of the hardworking citizens of their countries?), a jazz musician (from his time spent in Switzerland as a youth), and more.
I have yet to travel into southern Thailand, but it would be interesting to see if love for the King is as unanimous there (particularly in the three troubled provinces bordering Malaysia) as it seems to be everywhere else.
Long live the King!