His Majesty the King's seventh-cycle birthday | Bangkok Post: learning

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Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers are expected to converge at Siriraj Hospital, Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace to show their love and respect for the King. The celebrations will run for a week.

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A large boat adorned with His Majesty the King’s portrait, giant lotus lanterns and lighting decorations is lit up in the middle of the Chao Phraya River in Pathum Thani province. PONGPAT WONGYALA

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Joy as His Majesty is 84 today

After two months of an enduring flood disaster which affected almost 5 million people, all Thais will rejoice today and celebrate His Majesty the King's 84th birthday.

Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers are expected to converge at Siriraj Hospital, Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace to show their love and respect for the King. Today His Majesty will travel from Siriraj Hospital to the Grand Palace and appear at the balcony of Chakri Throne Hall at 10.30am to greet his subjects.

This year, Dec 5 is even more auspicious as it also marks the seventh-cycle anniversary of His Majesty.

The monarch has rarely made public appearances following his admission to Siriraj Hospital due to fever, fatigue and loss of appetite on Sept 19, 2009.

Despite his ailments, the King has never stopped working over the past two years. He granted audiences to state officials to give advice on many issues, especially water management.

When the flood disaster struck the central provinces two months ago, His Majesty closely monitored the situation every day.

Earlier last month, the King suffered a stomach bleed which doctors suspect was caused by the stress of continuously following the flood news.

Many streets in the capital as lit up, particularly in the Rattanakosin Island and Ratchadamnoen (above) areas.

The King's birthday appearance today will not only provide a healing force for his subjects in these hard times of flooding, but also ease the people's concern over his health.

The government is organising a week-long celebration for this auspicious occasion running until Friday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that she would refrain from talking politics during this period as the nation celebrates.

The red and yellow camps will also suspend their usual political activities and join the nationwide celebration. Over 1,000 red shirts, led by United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leader Kwanchai Praipana, will travel from Udon Thani to join the celebrations at Sanam Luang today, while the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy will replace their political talkshow on the ASTV channel with documentaries to promote royal projects.

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adorn – to make something/somebody look more attractive by decorating it or them with something ตกแต่ง, ประดับ
portrait – a painting, photograph, drawing, etc. of a person ภาพวาดหรือภาพถ่ายคน
lantern – a light enclosed in a container which has a handle for holding it or hanging it up, or the container itself โคมไฟ
endure – to suffer something difficult or unpleasant in a patient way over a long period of time อดทนเพื่อให้ผ่านเวลาหรือเหตุการณ์ที่เลวร้าย
(natural) disaster –an unexpected natural event, such as a very bad storm or flood that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage ความหายนะธรรมชาติทาง, ภัยพิบัติธรรมชาติทาง
rejoice – to feel very happy about something, or to celebrate something in a happy way ดีใจ, ปลื้มใจ, มีความสุข
converge – to come from different directions to reach the same point ไปยังจุดหมายเดียวกัน
respect – a feeling of admiration that you have for someone because of their personal qualities, their achievements, or their status, and that you show by treating them in a polite and kind way ความเคารพ, ความนับถือ
balcony – a place where you can stand just outside an upper window. It sticks out from the wall of a building ระเบียง
throne – a special chair used by a king or queen to sit on at ceremonies ราชบัลลังก์
auspicious – (opposite: inauspicious) suggesting a positive and successful future ที่มีฤกษ์ดี
monarch – a king or queen  กษัตริย์ หรือราชินี
due to – because of เนื่องจาก
fever – an abnormally high body temperature ไข้
fatigued – very tired, both physically and mentally เหน็ดเหนื่อย
appetite – a desire for food ความอยากอาหาร
ailment – an illness อาการป่วย, โรคทางกาย
grant an audience – (of a king or queen) to allow a meeting to be held with the ruler พระราชทานพระราชวโรกาสให้พสกนิกร หรือข้าราชการเข้าเฝ้าทูลละอองธุลีพระบาม
state – government รัฐบาล
issue – a problem that needs to be considered ประเด็น
monitor – to regularly check something or watch someone in order to find out what is happening  ตรวจสอบ ตรวจตรา
bleed – losing blood, especially from a wound or an injury เลือดออก
suspect – to believe that something is true, especially something bad  สงสัย
stress – mental pressure or worry  ความตึงเครียด
healing – the process of becoming or making somebody/something healthy again; the process of getting better after an emotional shock การรักษาให้หาย
subject – a person who has the right to belong to a particular country, especially one with a king or queen ประชากร, ผู้อยู่ภายใต้การปกครอง
ease – to make a problem, situation or pain less severe or serious บรรเทา
concern – a worry ความกังวล
refrain – to stop yourself from doing something ระงับ เลิก
suspend – to stop for a period of time ยกเลิกชั่วคราว, ระงับชั่วคราว
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) – the group originally formed to demonstrate against the 2006 coup and which supported the Somchai Wongsawat government against the PAD and which led the fight against the Abhisit government. They are known for wearing red shirts แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาต
People’s Alliance for Democracy – the union of several groups protesting against the Samak, Somchai and Abhisit governments and which staged large protests against the Thaksin government as well พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย  
replace – to put something new in place of something old  นำสิ่งใหม่มาใช้แทน
documentary – a film or television programme that deals with real people and events สารคดี

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