The Royal Household Bureau is allowing members of the public to enter the palace compound and write farewell messages for the great King. He passed away at the age of 89 last Thursday.
Pol Colonel Pichai Krengwuttanasiri, who heads the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s City Law Enforcement Department, said mourners could stay at the Bangkok Youth Centre for five or six nights.
The hall has a maximum capacity of 500 people.
He added that mourners from provinces could also stay overnight at Imjai House. “It’s available for 120 people,” he said, adding that people would have to present their ID cards to register for housing.
He said people could also sleep at the park at Sanam Luang, where public toilets and buses were available.

These five detainees were among dozens of people rounded up in Bangkok-based security operations last week.
“We have convincing evidence that they must have had some crucial information about security affairs, not just in the three southern border provinces but also in the centre of the country,” NCPO spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said yesterday.
However, he said at this stage, security officials had not found evidence that the five detainees were engaged in security-related offences.
“We are asking for cooperation and information,” he said.
Earlier this month, Deputy National Police Commissioner Srivara Ransibrahmanakul issued a warning about car-bomb attacks that intelligence reports suggested might occur in Bangkok or its outskirts late this month.
According to wartani.com, security officials arrested about 40 suspects in the Ramkhamhaeng area in Bangkok between last Monday and Friday to thwart sabotage plots ahead of the upcoming anniversary of the Tak Bai incident.
On October 25, 2004, dozens of Muslim men suffocated or were crushed to death while being transported in overcrowded Army trucks after being arrested for protesting in the Narathiwat district.
In a related development, police searched an apartment in Samut Prakan province, arrested a suspect, and confiscated four suspicious boxes yesterday.
“We suspect that these boxes might have contained precursor chemicals for bomb-making,” a source close to the investigation said.
Police have searched and detained several suspects since Srivara went public about the bomb threats.

THAILAND’S royal rainmaking story started when His Majesty the King visited 15 provinces in the Northeast in the first three weeks of November in 1955.
According to the website rainmakings.blogspot.com and Captain ML Chititewan Devakul of the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, HM the King wrote a document titled “Weather Modification for Rainmaking” that said: “On Monday 14 November (1955), we travelled by car from Nakhon Phanom to Kalasin, passing through Sakon Nakhon and the Pupan mountain range. We made an unscheduled stop when we saw a small group of people; one man said that they had walked 20 kilometres from Kuchinarai, just to see us drive by. Upon learning that we were going to Kalasin, which is a long way to go, he told us to go on our way, though he would love to have us stay. He said that we had a long way to go so he offered me a small packet of food.”
“When he saw my look of concern, he assured me that he had another one for himself. This is real hospitality. We next had an official stop at the intersection of the districts of Kuchinarai and Sahaskhant. There I asked the people about their rice crop. I thought that drought must have destroyed their drop; to my surprise, the people reported that they had suffered floods. For me it was strange because the area around was like a desert with dust flying around. In fact, they had both floods and droughts; that is why the people of the Northeast are so poor.
“… At that time I looked up at the sky and saw that there were many clouds, but they were blown past the arid land. The solution lies on how to make those clouds fall as rain in the locality. That idea was the beginning of the artificial rainmaking project, which met with success a few years later.”
That was how it all started. According to ML Chititewan, the first actual rainmaking operation took place in Nakhon Ratchasima province in 1969 when dry ice in small flakes of approximately 1 cubic inch (2.5cm) in size had been chosen as the first rainmaking seeding substance.
“It was dispensed from a small aircraft at the amount of 100 grams at a 30-second interval into the existing cumulus cloud in the sky over its top and at an altitude of not above 10,000 feet. As predicted, after 15 to 30 minutes of seeding, this cumulus cloud yielded and developed to become bigger, top higher, as well as intensified to become darker at its base following the method used, which is known as direct seeding.
“This strong rain cloud then also moved downwind toward the mountain and far over the ridges until it could not be seen whether it finally yielded rain or not. But with the observation by land the next day there was strong evidence that there had been a reasonable amount of rain on the downwind side over the target catchments, as it was also confirmed by the local villagers themselves in the area.
“During the years 1969 to 1970 the success and achievement of research, experiments and actual operations of rainmaking eventually spread out to the media and to the public. In the following year of 1971 severe drought hit the provinces of Phichit and Nakhon Sawan in central Thailand. Therefore, farmers, with their dying crops, took the opportunity to present a petition to HM the King for help.”
Great success came in 1971 when Nakhon Sawan airfield was used as the airbase for rainmaking operations. After the technology of rainmaking continually improved, with further continuous research and scientific experiments.
Singapore was the first Asean nation interested in the Thai rainmaking technology due to a water shortage in the city-state. In fact, the King directed all operational planning himself, as well as kindly welcoming Singaporean observers by setting a date for a rainmaking demonstration – held on October 19, 1972 at the Khang Khra Chan reservoir.
The result of the demonstration was very successful with rain clouds seeded, built up, dragged and forced to yield rain with a reasonable amount of precipitation over the assigned target in just five hours.

Many techniques developed
Over the years, many techniques were developed, including a way to induce and “drag” rain clouds away from mountaintops to “force” them to rain on target areas on the rain-shadow side, downwind, plus a way to “delay” condensation and precipitation by rain clouds which move away from targeted areas.
Other techniques sought to expand rain clouds and rain mass upwind, and “drag” a rain cloud away from an undesired location and on to a targeted area, as well as a technique of using a “hot formula” along with cold rainmaking substances at timed intervals over orographic or stratiform clouds over mountain areas near a reservoir in order to make them develop more rain.
In 2005, the European Union granted an Intellectual Property Right Patent for HM the King’s rainmaking technology. In 2006, the United Nations presented its top award – the UNDP Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award – in recognition of the King’s great success in human development.
In 2007, World Intellectual Property Organisation or WIPO presented the King with a World Leader’s Award in Intellectual Property Rights for developments including royal rainmaking technology.
One of the royal techniques is called a “super-sandwich” and involves using aircraft to “seed” warm and cold clouds at different altitudes to make rain. This technique is quite efficient and effective, as it can precisely target areas where rain is sought.
Malaysia, Indonesia and some Middle Eastern nations have sought details of the patented technique for use in their countries. The King previously also granted permission to Queensland in Australia to use his techniques of artificial rainmaking to combat severe drought.

– Buses running on 37 routes will pass Sanam Luang.
– Four passenger drop points are set at: the front of Skyhigh shop on Rajadamnoen Klang Road; the front of the old Government Lottery Office on Rajadamnoen Klang Rd; the front of the Bangkok Tourism Office under the Somdet Phra Pinklao bridge; and Wong Wian Rodo Junction.
– Shuttle bus services are available from Hua Lamphong Train Station, Mor Chit Bus Terminal, the Old Southern Bus Terminal and Ekkamai Bus Station.
– Those coming by car can park at the following areas: Muang Thong Thani (5,000-car capacity); Buddha Monthon 1 Road (1,000 cars); and the Bangkok Mall construction zone, Bang Na Intersection, Central West Gate and the Police Club (each at 450 cars). At those locations people can board shuttle buses to Sanam Luang.
– Buses from upcountry will drop passengers at drop points and then park at six parking areas with a combined capacity of 2,500 buses at the Old Southern Bus Terminal, Buddha Monthon 1 and 2 roads; Rajapreuk (between Borommaratchachonnani and Phetchkasem roads); and New Kanchanapisek Road (Fai Chai Intersection and Phetchkasem-Borommaratchachonnani Intersection)

Alternative routes for motorists:
– Phra Pok Klao bridge
– Rama VIII bridge
– Krung Thon bridge
– Sri Rat-Outer Ring Road expressway

For more information and updates, call 1197 around the clock or visit http://www.trafficpolice.com.th

Eight roads closed around the clock

1. Rajdamnoen Nai (between Parnpopob Leela and Pom Phadet Datsakorn intersections)
2. Sanam Chai Road (from Pom Phadet Datsakorn Intersection to Wong Wian Rodo Junction)
3. Na Phra Lan Road (from Pom Phadet Datsakorn Intersection to Tha Chang Pier)
4. Na Phra Lan Road (from Wiset Chaisri Gate to Phra Chan Intersection)
5. Hap Phoei Road
6. Lak Muang Road
7. Kalayana Maitri-Chang Rongsi Road
8. Soi Saranrom

Eighteen roads with parking banned on both sides
1. Rajdamnoen Nai
2. Sanam Chai
3. Lak Muang
4. Kalayana Maitri
5. Soi Saranrom
6. Charoenkrung
7. Phra Pipit
8. Soi Setthakarn
9. Chetupon
10. Tai Wang
11. Maharat (the section next to the Royal Palace)
12. Maharat (the section next to Wat Mahathat)
13. Phra Chan
14. Soi Phraya Phetch
15. Na Phra Lan
16. Na Phra That
17. Rachini
18. Phra Arthit

The ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, Dr Kiattibhoom Vongrachit, yesterday said 24 medical teams along the route provided services to 43,616 people that day.
“Most of them needed smelling salts because they felt woozy,” he said, “Some had minor accidents”.
The much-revered monarch passed away at the age of 89 last Thursday. The news of his passing plunged Thailand into grief.
As soon as people learnt that a royal procession would be carrying his body along the route on Friday, they headed to find a spot nearby and waited for hours to show their undying love and respect for him.
The crowds were so huge that some said they were at the other end of the road and hardly caught a glimpse of any vehicle in the procession.
Kiattibhoom revealed yesterday that the ministry had prepared medical teams and focused on the first 72 hours since the news of the King’s passing became public.
“It’s the critical stage,” he said. “About 406 people sought help during the first 24 hours to try to cope with their grief and heart conditions.”
He said after receiving attention, people’s conditions had improved.
The ministry has also set up emergency medical teams and emotional-rehabilitation teams for people in the provinces.
Kiattibhoom advised people who planned to take part in activities held in remembrance of their beloved King to take proper precautions.
“Bring along a hat or an umbrella, drinking water, food, smelling salts and any medicine you may need to take,” he said.
He added that if any member of the public felt ill amid the big crowds, he or she should rush immediately to medical teams in the area.
At present, the Royal Household Bureau has allowed mourners to enter the Grand Palace to pay their respects to a portrait of the much-revered monarch and sign farewell messages.
There were very long queues yesterday, with people remaining even amid heavy rain.

Despite heavy rain, mourners in Bangkok lined up in a long queue from early yesterday morning in front of a portrait of the King at the Grand Palace. Many people travelled to the capital from upcountry, having camped at nearby Sanam Luang since Saturday night.
In northeastern provinces, mourners gave alms to monks while in some areas, where the traditional practice of sculpting angel palaces from wax is carried out to make grand merit to Lord Buddha and the deaths of loved ones, special palaces were made for His Majesty as well.
Thiwa Rungkaew from Si Sa Ket province said many residents of the province had created wax angel palaces filled with items such as candles, incense, clothes, and food, to make merit for His Majesty. Locals believe the dead need those items in the next life.
In Bueng Kan province, locals and their Laotian neighbours jointly gave alms to monks yesterday morning to make merit for His Majesty.
In Nong Khai, people gave alms to monks in the morning and paid respects to highly respected spirits and spiritual places, including Mae Song Nang, Naga, and the prominent stupa in the Mekong River, to make merit for His Majesty.
Nong Khai officials called for the suspension of all entertainment, leaving only its traditional Naga ball watching to proceed to mark the end of the Buddhist Lent.
Scores of residents in Ubon Ratchathani congregated yesterday at the province’s main ground, Thung Sri Muang, to mourn the King’s passing in front of a portrait of him.
In the North, many Chiang Mai residents and highlands people congregated at the City Hall ground to mourn His Majesty. Around 500 lined up in a heart shape.
Governor Pawin Chamniprasart said Chiang Mai residents, especially highlands people, felt gratitude for the King’s kindness and his efforts to help improve their quality of life. The King, he said, had initiated several royal projects in the province.
In Mae Hong Son, residents held a traditional alms-giving ritual in which alms were given to monks who walked from the mountain-based Kong Moo Stupa temple. It signified Lord Buddha coming down from Heaven to the Earth for the making of merit at the end of the Buddhist Lent.
Meanwhile, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya led senior agriculture officials to pay tribute to His Majesty at Khun Dan dam in Nakhon Nayok. The King had suggested the dam be built to relieve residents’ suffering from flooding and drought.