Long wait pays off for King's loyal subjects

The crowds around Siriraj Hospital had waited for many hours with a common desire - to catch a brief glimpse of His Majesty the King.

Many had been preparing for the rare opportunity to see their beloved monarch since the early hours of yesterday. Some even spent Saturday night in the hospital compound to make sure they did not miss their chance to greet the King when he came down from his room.

At 3am yesterday, people also had begun to gather along the pavements near the Grand Palace to secure a good vantage point for when the King arrived to grant an audience.

Joining the early birds waiting near the palace was Somboon Pooksook, who had travelled nearly 400km from his home in Trat's Muang district, then waited another seven-and-a-half hours for his brief opportunity to see His Majesty.

"I'm overjoyed to see the King," he said. "This is worth travelling so far."

The 58-year-old business owner said it was the first time in his life that he had seen the King in the flesh. He said he is now determined to come to Bangkok to wish His Majesty happy birthday every year.

Mr Somboon spoke little but he shared the desire of the others waiting to greet the King on his 83rd birthday - to know that His Majesty is happy.

Udon Phudong, a 33-year-old tailor, travelled from the northeastern province of Kalasin with his family to greet the King.

Mr Udon said he planned to make a suit for His Majesty, but did not know if he had to seek permission from the authorities.

Bangkok resident Roongsaeng Lertjinda, 72, said she thought the King might have been unhappy in recent years because society was divided by the quarrel between the red shirt group, which supports former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the anti-Thaksin yellow shirt group.

The two colours were barely seen along roads heading to the Grand Palace yesterday. Instead, most people wore pink shirts, the colour His Majesty chose when he was discharged from Siriraj Hospital in November 2007, following a previous illness.

The King was admitted to the hospital again on Sept 19 last year after he developed fever and fatigue. He has remained in hospital since and leaves only on special occasions.

"Really, I don't want him to feel worried over things, but he still has to because of his [quarrelling] people," said Ms Roongsaeng, who has never missed coming to greet the King on his birthday over the past several years.

"If this problem [political division] has been solved, the King must be happy."

Foreign workers, mainly Burmese and Mon, joined Thais to see the King near Sanam Luang yesterday.

Anweng, 25, who came from Burma to work on construction sites in Bangkok three years ago, said he had seen the King on television and had developed a love for him.