EVENTS on Phuket to mark HM The King's 80th birthday begin at 6am on December 5 at Saphan Hin with floral tributes and end after sunset with a mass display of lighted candles, music and singing.
At the 45-metre Big Buddha in Chalong, being built on a hilltop as a lasting mark of respect to HM The King, the first seashell-like white marble whorls representing Buddha's hair will be lifted into place at precisely 1.19pm.
This is considered to be an auspicious time to begin adding the first of the 300 curly pieces. Most of Buddha's white marble face is already in place, with completion scheduled for 2009, the 50th anniversary of The King's first visit to Phuket.
Monks will be involved in ceremonies at the Big Buddha from 10am on December 5.
In a busy birthday for officials, the new Phuket Information and Communications Technology Centre will be opened at Saphan Hin at an auspicious time soon after 11am.
Twenty-one houses have also been given to deserving residents on Phuket as part of the celebrations. Six more will be donated later this month.
On the King's Birthday at Saphan Hin, the popular seaside park in Phuket City, marching bands will play some of the King's own compositions and there will also be singing, followed by fireworks.
Eighty important Phuket officials, including the Governor, will form an elite choir to sing a special birthday song for HM The King.
At Surin beach, the opening ceremony for the newly-erected pavilion that marks the birthday will be held will be held from 2pm to 4pm, with the Governor doing the honors.
From 6pm, book-signing and floral tributes will be followed at 7.30pm by a mass display of lighted candles, fireworks, and music. Officials from Thalang will oversee proceedings.
Other events are being held in virtually every part of the region.
The 21 King's Birthday houses, with six more to come, have been given to the poor, or needy residents who have performed notable public service.
The houses are scattered across all districts of Phuket and the recipients were chosen in a thorough process that took many weeks.
The cost of the housing, averaging 100,000 baht, has been met by the national government, which is outlaying cash for 8880 houses in celebration throughout Thailand.
Each of the houses on Phuket will carry the auspicious number 9809.
The King's birthday celebrations are to be followed on Sunday, December 9, by an 'Old Phuket' walking street festival from 6pm in Thalang Road and Soi Romanee. Cultural attractions will focus on music and tasty local food.
At the 45-metre Big Buddha in Chalong, being built on a hilltop as a lasting mark of respect to HM The King, the first seashell-like white marble whorls representing Buddha's hair will be lifted into place at precisely 1.19pm.
This is considered to be an auspicious time to begin adding the first of the 300 curly pieces. Most of Buddha's white marble face is already in place, with completion scheduled for 2009, the 50th anniversary of The King's first visit to Phuket.
Monks will be involved in ceremonies at the Big Buddha from 10am on December 5.
In a busy birthday for officials, the new Phuket Information and Communications Technology Centre will be opened at Saphan Hin at an auspicious time soon after 11am.
Twenty-one houses have also been given to deserving residents on Phuket as part of the celebrations. Six more will be donated later this month.
On the King's Birthday at Saphan Hin, the popular seaside park in Phuket City, marching bands will play some of the King's own compositions and there will also be singing, followed by fireworks.
Eighty important Phuket officials, including the Governor, will form an elite choir to sing a special birthday song for HM The King.
At Surin beach, the opening ceremony for the newly-erected pavilion that marks the birthday will be held will be held from 2pm to 4pm, with the Governor doing the honors.
From 6pm, book-signing and floral tributes will be followed at 7.30pm by a mass display of lighted candles, fireworks, and music. Officials from Thalang will oversee proceedings.
Other events are being held in virtually every part of the region.
The 21 King's Birthday houses, with six more to come, have been given to the poor, or needy residents who have performed notable public service.
The houses are scattered across all districts of Phuket and the recipients were chosen in a thorough process that took many weeks.
The cost of the housing, averaging 100,000 baht, has been met by the national government, which is outlaying cash for 8880 houses in celebration throughout Thailand.
Each of the houses on Phuket will carry the auspicious number 9809.
The King's birthday celebrations are to be followed on Sunday, December 9, by an 'Old Phuket' walking street festival from 6pm in Thalang Road and Soi Romanee. Cultural attractions will focus on music and tasty local food.
