Author: Richard Barrow
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Informal chat with Mark Gooding, the British Ambassador to Thailand
Thank you for agreeing to answer some questions about your work and life here in Thailand. Can you begin by briefly introducing yourself?
Of course. I’m delighted to be back in this region. I’ve spent much of my working career here. My first job after university was as a French and German teacher at an international school in Sri Lanka. That was fun and rewarding, and really gave me a taste for life in this part of the world. Since I joined the Foreign Office about 20 years ago, I’ve done jobs in China, Cambodia, and back in Sri Lanka. So, I hope my regional experience will be useful in Thailand. Outside the office, I enjoy running, swimming and music (though running in the tropical heat is hard work). Outside pandemic times, I also love travelling to new and remote places.
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Dates for Changing the Costume of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok
The Emerald Buddha is the most important Buddha image in Thailand. It is adorned with three different sets of gold seasonal costume; two were made by Rama I, one for the summer and one for the rainy season, and a third made by Rama III for the winter or cool season. The clothes are changed by the King of Thailand in a ceremony at the changing of the seasons – on the 1st Waning of lunar months 4, 8 and 12 (around March, August and November). On these days, the Emerald Buddha chapel is closed all day, though the temple grounds remain open for visitors. The Grand Palace closes at noon.
Changing Winter to Summer: 9th March 2020 (แรม ๑ ค่ำ เดือนสี่) Changing Summer to Rainy: 6th July 2020 (แรม ๑ ค่ำ เดือนแปด) Changing Rainy to Winter: 1st November 2020 (แรม ๑ ค่ำ เดือนสิบสอง)
For the three seasons, the three set of costumes for the Emerald Buddha:
Hot/summer
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Businesses and venues reopen with strict health and safety guidelines
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide the latest update that businesses and venues are allowed to reopen today with strict health and safety guidelines in line with Directives 5 and 6 under the extended Emergency Decree.
The Royal Thai Government has allowed relaxation of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) containment restrictions for 10 clusters of businesses and venues starting today, 3 May, 2020.
The Bangkok Governor and Provincial Governors have the authority to continue the existing restrictions or implement the relaxation in line with the government’s directives and according to the local situation.
The sale of food and drinks in hotels, airports, train stations, bus stations, hospitals, restaurants and beverage shops, convenience stores, and street stalls is allowed. Pubs and bars can open, for take-home services or under strict health guidelines.
The sale of alcohol sale is allowed to resume from today, but consumption must be
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Thailand’s renowned hospitality shines through as ‘Good Host’ in troubled times
Stranded foreign tourists are expressing their gratitude to Thai local authorities and the people of Thailand for their hospitality and assistance after being stranded in the South of the country due to flight cancellations amid the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
Foreigners stuck on Ko Phi Phi are expressing their sincere appreciation and gratitude for Thailand’s renowned hospitality and warmth to strangers, and say they are coping as well as can be expected given the current conditions that prevent them from returning home to their respective countries.
They are keen to express their appreciation, including praising the Thais for being a good host, each is receiving free medical care, free food, free masks, free hand washing gel, and free visa exemption while staying in a tropical paradise.
One foreign visitor said, “The generosity of the Thai people has warmed my heart after spending two months on a small island