PHUKET: Plans are underway for a walking cortege through Patong tomorrow to carry the body of former mayor Pian Keesin to a temple where his remains will be cremated in one of the largest funeral Phuket has seen.
Hundreds and perhaps thousands of people are expected to gather to farewell the man who, more than any other person, guided Patong through the key decades as tourism developed and the small west coast Phuket village grew to become an international hub.
Khun Pian's unexpected death from a burst artery at the age of 70 will inevitably herald a period of even more rapid change for Patong and for Phuket.
During the period of mourning in which his body lay at the family mansion off Phrabaramee Road, thousands of people who knew him or were associated with him in some way came to pay their respects and say farewell.
The occasion produced a turnout of people across the entire spectrum of life on Phuket. Vice Governors, beach vendors, rich businesssmen, all have joined the queue to visit Khun Pian.
On the day Phuketwan called, we followed closely on the heels of the island's mayors, who all came in the same minivan. Alongside us in the queue was the Chief of Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut.
Heading up the stairs in front of us was Maitree Narukatpichai, whose family owns the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa and other resorts.
We kneeled to pass on our condolences to his sons Prab and Peun, and to his wife. Each mourner was given a small bowl of water and one by one we tipped that water onto Khun Pian's hand, which was immersed in a larger bowl.
Tomorrow's procession on foot is expected to interrupt traffic from noon, which is the time that the casket will be carried out from the mansion.
Mourners will turn right and then right again, into what's still called the ''new road,'' where lighting was being installed with gold-colored fixtures when we were last there.
The route was still being finalised late today with officers at Kathu Police Station likely to make arrangements tomorrow to divert traffic.
Khun Pian would not want to interrupt the normal course of business in his home town for any longer than necessary.
Those who take care of Patong's people from now on will see more of the 21st century but they will have less knowledge of the village and the values of Patong as it was 70 years ago.
It must have been a great place to grow up.
There are few now who can recollect Patong in the 1940s and '50s but it's plain that Pian Keesin never forgot the turtles and the dolphins that must have been a delight to children around that small fishing village, long ago.
Tomorrow's cremation ceremony, at Wat Laem Pech, behind the Loma Park football field off Patong's beach road, is due to begin at 2pm.
Hundreds and perhaps thousands of people are expected to gather to farewell the man who, more than any other person, guided Patong through the key decades as tourism developed and the small west coast Phuket village grew to become an international hub.
Khun Pian's unexpected death from a burst artery at the age of 70 will inevitably herald a period of even more rapid change for Patong and for Phuket.
During the period of mourning in which his body lay at the family mansion off Phrabaramee Road, thousands of people who knew him or were associated with him in some way came to pay their respects and say farewell.
The occasion produced a turnout of people across the entire spectrum of life on Phuket. Vice Governors, beach vendors, rich businesssmen, all have joined the queue to visit Khun Pian.
On the day Phuketwan called, we followed closely on the heels of the island's mayors, who all came in the same minivan. Alongside us in the queue was the Chief of Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut.
Heading up the stairs in front of us was Maitree Narukatpichai, whose family owns the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa and other resorts.
We kneeled to pass on our condolences to his sons Prab and Peun, and to his wife. Each mourner was given a small bowl of water and one by one we tipped that water onto Khun Pian's hand, which was immersed in a larger bowl.
Tomorrow's procession on foot is expected to interrupt traffic from noon, which is the time that the casket will be carried out from the mansion.
Mourners will turn right and then right again, into what's still called the ''new road,'' where lighting was being installed with gold-colored fixtures when we were last there.
The route was still being finalised late today with officers at Kathu Police Station likely to make arrangements tomorrow to divert traffic.
Khun Pian would not want to interrupt the normal course of business in his home town for any longer than necessary.
Those who take care of Patong's people from now on will see more of the 21st century but they will have less knowledge of the village and the values of Patong as it was 70 years ago.
It must have been a great place to grow up.
There are few now who can recollect Patong in the 1940s and '50s but it's plain that Pian Keesin never forgot the turtles and the dolphins that must have been a delight to children around that small fishing village, long ago.
Tomorrow's cremation ceremony, at Wat Laem Pech, behind the Loma Park football field off Patong's beach road, is due to begin at 2pm.
(moderated)
Posted by Mister Ree on October 17, 2014 13:56
Editor Comment:
Disresepect is your only skill, MR. Back to TV you go. You won't be published again here. One too many lies.