Aug 12
Long Live The Queen
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand The birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit is a national holiday. Thus, on Aug. 12 -- also “Mothers' Day” in the country – the entire nation holds a big celebration featuring a variety of merriment and festivities designed to pay respect, honor, and express love, esteem and reverence for a woman, who is not only the world’s longest serving consort of a monarch, but also known for her charitable works, individual achievements, talents, compassion, and generosity. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the “Mother of the Thai Nation,” turns 78 this year. Born in 1932, Her Majesty is particularly revered in the more remote and traditional parts of the country, where the monarchy is regarded as semi-divine. Her work in promoting tolerance and understanding for the Muslim minorities in the southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat – she spends months in the Muslim-majority provinces every year -- have made her especially popular among the local Muslim populace. Her Majesty is the eldest daughter and the third child of Prince Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara, the son of Prince Kitiyakara Voraluksana, Prince of Chanthaburi and Mom Luang Bua Sanitvongse. Her name, given by King Prajadhipok, means “Greatness of Kitiyakara.” After her birth, Her Majesty was raised by her maternal grandparents for a year. When her father went to United States to work as the secretary of the Siamese Royal Embassy at Washington D.C., her mother joined her father three months later. Her parents returned to Thailand when she was one-year-old, and lived with her family in Dheves Palace, near Chao Phraya River, Bangkok. As a child, Her Majesty often had outdoor visits with her paternal grandmother. Once in 1933, she traveled with Princess Absornsamarn Devakul following King Prajadhipok’s tour in Songkla. At age 4, Her Majesty attended the Kindergarten College at Rajini School (sometimes named as the Queen’s College), where she studied until her first year at the primary level. When the Pacific War broke out and Bangkok was attacked many times, she moved to Saint Francis Xavier Convent School, because it was near the palace. She studied at that school from her second year at the primary level to the secondary level. In 1946, when the war ended, her father moved to the United Kingdom to work as the ambassador to the Court of St. James's, taking his family with him. At that time, Sirikit was 13 and had graduated the secondary level. In England, she learned to play the piano and learned English and French. She and her family moved to various countries including Denmark and France. In France, she studied at a music academy in Paris. It was also in France that she met King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who at the time had ascended to the throne and had been studying in Switzerland. Both happened to be staying at the Thai Royal Embassy in Paris, and both found common grounds on their likes and dislikes to begin a relationship. When His Majesty was hospitalized in Lausanne in 1948, Her Majesty visited him frequently. She met his mother, The Princess Mother Sangval, who asked her to continue her studies nearby so that the king could get to know her better. A quiet engagement in Lausanne followed on July 19, 1949, and the couple married on April 28, 1950, just a week before his coronation. Later, she received the Order of the Royal House of Chakri, and became queen. After the coronation ceremony on May 5, 1950, both went back to Switzerland to study. They came back to Bangkok again in 1952. When the king undertook a period of service as a Buddhist monk in 1956 (as is customary for all Thai Buddhist males), Her Majesty became regent. She performed her duties so satisfactorily that she was made queen regent and given the title "Somdej Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat" by her husband on his birthday, Dec. 5, 1956, thereby becoming the second Siamese Queen Regent. The first was Queen Saovabha Bongsri of Siam, who was regent when her husband King Chulalongkorn traveled to Europe. Her Majesty is well-known for her charitable works; she is the honorary president of the Thai Red Cross (since 1956). She gained new prominence in this role in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster in southern Thailand in 2004. She has also been active in relief work for the many refugees from Cambodia and Burma who have sought refuge in Thailand. The queen is also active in promoting Thai culture and history. Her royal work in various fields and disciplines have been recognized with awards from various respected organizations, both local and international. The Royal Couple have four children: Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak. The management and staff of Lookeast Magazine join the entire kingdom in wishing Her Majesty a happy birthday. Long Live the Queen!
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A solo painting, sculpture, and furniture exhibition by Danish-Chilean artist Marco Evaristti, who is known for his ability to create art that stirs the emotions and provoke debate among his audience. He works with a wide range of materials -- heroin, sperm, extractions of human fat, blood from accidents, gold, diamonds, paintings by the Cobra-artists, and nature -- to produce art pieces that show a highly confrontational quality.
A furniture fair for those interested in house decoration, builders of new houses; architects, interior designers, and other people with related interests. Organizer: World Fair Co., Ltd.
Zuk Bar welcomes back two high-energy resident DJs to chill everyone out this month from 9 pm. to 1 a.m. DJ A (Nitchapat Laochaisri, guest DJ at Click Radio and International DJ Festival) spins every Tuesday and Thursday, while DJ Bung (Bungkorn Lattimon), a resident DJ of True Move, spins every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
