CHON BURI/KHON KAEN - Artists at a tattoo shop in Pattaya paid tribute to the late King by offering their talents free for three days to people who wanted to be inked with messages and images expressing their loyalty and affection for the late King Bhumibol.
In Khon Kaen, people also flocked to a local shop offering tattoos depicting the revered monarch, in remebrance of the late King's devotion to the well-being of his people.
In Chon Buri, young people queued up in front of Skin Art Tattoo shop on Chalermprakiat Sai 2 Road, in Pattaya beach resort town, where five tattoo artists offered their services for free from Oct 15-17.
Nopporn Naplod, 34, one of the artists, said they realised people might want tattoos that symbolised their loyalty to and love of the monarch. The artists also wanted to do a good deed and pay tribute to the late King, so they were offering their inking skills to the people for free. (continues below)
An artist tattoos the number 9 in Thai on the neck of a woman in Pattaya, Chon Buri, where the Skin Art Tatoo shop provided a free for three days in a tribute the late King Bhumibol. (Photo by Trinail Jansrichol)
The shop chose designs that were appropriate for this time, when Thais across the country mourned the passing of their greatly beloved King.
The tattoo patterns all related to the King and the country - the number 9, the national flag, a map of Thailand and other suitable symbols, said Mr Nopporn.
They announced the free service on social media, and the response was quick. With so many people wanting a tattoo the shop had to limit the number to 50 people on each of the three days.
In Khon Kaen, tattoo lovers also flocked to a local shop for patterns featuring images of His Majesty and words expressing their feeling for the King.
Korakot Phoklang, owner of Noom Tattoo shop, said clients arrived at his shop every day to have messages and images of King Bhumibol tattooed on their skin. The message “I was born in King IX’s reign’’, in both Thai and English, was popular.
Customer Thanadol Sribura, 28, said he had brought a photo of the late King taken during his visit to Pattani from Post Today newspaper to the shop, and asked that the image be tattooed on his chest.
He and his family felt gratitude to the King for his hard work and devotion to the country, and he vowed to perform good deeds to pay tribute to the father of the nation. The passing of the King was a great loss for the nation, and he was still in the hearts of all Thais, Mr Thanadol said.
Customers get free tattoos in remembrance of the King, in Pattaya, Chon Buri. (Photo by Trinai Jansrichol)