His Majesty the King has called on all Thais to extend compassion to others as a way to lead a happy life, in the royal New Year's greeting card released by the palace Monday.
The New Year card features His Majesty the King in casual dress, flanked by the royal favourite pet dogs, Khun Thong Daeng and Khun Mali. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Household Bureau)
The New Year's card features His Majesty the King in casual dress flanked by his favourite royal pet dogs, Khun Thongdaeng and Khun Mali. It contains a poem bearing a royal message, and a royal blessing to the King's subjects.
The card is a royal tradition which the King has extended to Thais for the past several years.
In his poem, His Majesty the King said compassion is a virtue which can bring happiness to all. The gratitude expressed to those who extend their compassion will add to ties of care and friendship between people, His Majesty the King said.
The card carries a "Happy New Year" message on the right-hand side. The card, which was released about 7.45pm on New Year's Eve (0045 GMT Monday), is framed with lines of small human faces - all carrying smiles on them.
His Majesty the King also looks cheerful, with a light smile on his face.
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His Majesty urges compassion
His Majesty the King called on all Thais to extend compassion to one another as a way to lead a happy life in the royal New Year's greeting card released by Chitralada Palace on New Year's Eve.
The New Year card, featuring His Majesty in casual dress and flanked by the royal pet dogs, Khun Thong Daeng and Khun Mali, contains a poem of the royal message as well as a royal blessing for his subjects.
In a royal tradition extended to the Thai people for the past several years, the King said in the poem that compassion is a virtue which can bring happiness to all.
The gratitude expressed for those who extend their compassion will add to caring and friendship, His Majesty said.
The card carries His Majesty's "Happy New Year" message on the right-hand side.
The card, which was released at about 7.45pm on Monday, is framed with lines of small human faces - all wearing smiles.
The King also looks cheerful with a light smile on his face.
His Majesty's message came on the eve of New Year as people across the country looked forward to the countdown to 2013.
Bangkok has activities in 31 locations with the most popular spots being CentralWord, the Asiatique shopping centre near the bank of the Chao Phraya River, CDC by the Ekamai-Ramintra tollway and Sanam Luang, according to the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MTB).
The MTB has deployed most of its force in the four places, deputy national police chief Pol Gen Pansiri Prapawat said on Monday.
It estimated around 100,000 New Year revellers would turn out at CentralWorld, which is equipped with four closed-circuit cameras for safety measures, he added.
At Sanam Luang, people began occupying the area from 6pm to pray for New Year wishes. It is part of a programme which will be held in more than 2,000 temples around the country.
Sasipim Khamdee, 35, said this was her second year at Saman Luang and this time she would pray for His Majesty. Mrs Sasipim said she and her three children will stay overnight to join the palm offering ceremony for monks on the first morning of 2013.
Elsewhere, some of the country's top tourist destinations are reporting overcrowding as thousands of New Year revellers arrive for the long holiday.
Among the most popular destinations are Phu Kradung National Park in Loei, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Chiang Mai, Hat Yai district of Songkhla, Koh Samui in Surat Thani and Phu Hin Rongkla National Park in Phitsanulok.
Phu Kradung National Park chief Sanong Kaew-amphai said the park's famous mountain top, Phu Kradung, had reached its accommodation capacity of 5,000 tourists.
No more tourists would be allowed to ascend to the mountain top.
Phu Hin Rongkla was packed with about 7,000 tourists and the park expected about 10,000 holiday-makers would visit the park during the four-day long weekend, park chief Suwan Panunampha said.
Wat Prathat Doi Suthep at Suthep-Pui National Park is another popular destination which is near bursting point, officials said. The only road leading to the mountain was packed with tourist vehicles Sunday. Several cars broke down as they climbed the steep road to the temple, worsening the traffic jam on the route.
In Hat Yai, a shopping paradise for local tourists and visitors from Malaysia and Singapore, about 12,000 hotel rooms have been booked for the holiday.
On Koh Samui in Surat Thani, about 100,000 tourists are expected to join the New Year countdown, Wannee Thaipanich, president of the Koh Phangan Tourism Association, said.