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US President Barack Obama arrived at Bangkok's Don Mueang on schedule just after 3pm local time. We'll have updates as he carries out his busy schedule.

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Only two hours after landing, President Obama was granted an audience with His Majesty the King, creating a memorable experience for the US leader and a memorable photo for the Thai people. Photo courtesy of the Palace.

President Obama leaves Air Force 1 at Don Mueang airport as he begins his visit to Thailand. SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN

President Barack Obama arrives

US President Barack Obama arrived at Bangkok's Don Mueang on schedule just after 3pm local time.

He was met by an honour guard and a group of Thai officials, most prominent among them being His Majesty's representative General Surayud Chulanond.  After a brief conversation, Gen Surayud presented the President with a beautiful garland.

Photo: SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN

The president is then scheduled to meet with 600 members of the US embassy staff. He will stay the night at the Four Seasons hotel and he leaves for Myanmar tomorrow.

President Obama and Secretary of State Hilliary Clinton admiring Wat Pho. APICHIT JINAKUL

The president was then led to his presidential limousine where he left in a convoy of vehicles for Wat Pho. He will then be granted an audience with His Majesty the King, followed by an official dinner hosted by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House. There will be a brief press conference afterwards.

17:15  President Obama, accompanied by Secretary of State Hilliary Clinton, have completed their visit to Wat Pho and have now arrived for an audience with his Majesty the King.

President Obama views the magnificent Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. REUTERS

18:00 Still on schedule, President Obama has arrived at Government House and the welcoming ceremony has begun.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and US President Barack Obama review the honour guard at Government House. CHANAT KATANYU

20:00 The joint press conference with President Obama and Prime Minister Yingluck has now been concluded. Four questions were asked of both leaders, all in English. The event was covered live on CNN, but not on the main local  TV channels.

21:00 Mr Obama met the US ambassador, US embassy staff and American businessmen at a sports complex at Chulalongkorn University before he was to return to the Four Seasons Hotel where he spent the night.

Serious and not so serious moments from the press conference. CHANAT KATAYNU

grant an audience – (of a king or queen or other member of a royal family) to allow a meeting to be held with the ruler พระราชทานพระราชวโรกาสให้พสกนิกร หรือข้าราชการเข้าเฝ้าทูลละอองธุลีพระบาม
memorable – likely to be remembered or worth remembering ซึ่งมีค่าน่าจดจำ, โดดเด่น
on schedule – at the arranged time ตรงตามกำหนดเวลา
honour guard – a usually military unit which forms a line at official ceremonies to greet important people, like the leader of a country กองเกียรติยศ
prominent – important and well known สำคัญ, มีชื่อเสียง, เด่น
garland – a circle made of flowers worn around the neck or head as a decoration พวงมาลัย
limousine – a large expensive comfortable car รถยนต์ขนาดใหญ่, รถลีมูซีน
convoy – a group of vehicles (or ships) travelling together  ขบวนรถ
host – to invites guests to a meal, a party, official event, etc. ทำหน้าที่เป็นเจ้าภาพ
press conference – an official meeting where someone makes a formal statement about a particular issue or event to journalists and answers their questions about it การแถลงข่าว
embassy – a building where a group of officials work who represent their government in a foreign country สถานทูต
secretary of state – the head of the US State Department, the US equivalent of the Foreign Ministry รัฐมนตรีต่างประเทศของสหรัฐอเมริกา
magnificent – very good, beautiful or deserving to be admired สง่างาม, ดีเลิศ,
recline – to sit or lie in a relaxed way เอนหลัง, เอน, พิง
joint – done together; belonging to or shared between two or more people ที่ร่วมกัน, ความร่วมมือกัน
ambassador – a senior official who lives in a foreign country and represents his or her own country there เอกอัครราชทูต
complex – a large building with various connected rooms or a related group of buildings

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