This year Thailand is host to the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) 2003.
Expecting around 10,000 participants for the APEC conference, Thailand has considered this event a good opportunity to promote tourism and on October 20, the general public is welcomed to enjoy Thailand's grandeur of the Royal Barge Procession at night, which will float past the Grand Palace and Wat Pra Kaew plus many riverside hotels.
Thailand's Royal Barge Procession on the Chao Phraya River will be staged at night for the first time ever in history, specially for the world leaders attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Bangkok. The 52 royal barges, rowed by a crew of 2,082 men from the Royal Thai Navy, would be lit up and lights would be strung along both sides of the Chao Phraya river for 2 Kilometers. This will put the total cost for the procession at 61 million baht (1,5 million US dollar).
The Royal Barge Procession has only taken place 11 times in the 53 years reign of the current Thai Monarch, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX. The last time the Royal Barges sailed was to celebrate His Majesty's sixth cycle, or 72nd Birthday on 4th November 1999.
The Royal Barge procession will be led by the historical Royal Subanahongsa vessel (Golden Swan) which was built in 1911 and used by the King when celebrating the Buddhist Royal Kathin Ceremony. The Subanahongsa Barge is made out of a single trunk of teak and it is said that the master craftsman threw away all his tools after the completion of the boat and vowed never to work on any Barge again.
The Subanahongsa is more than 50 meter long and it's crew consists out of 50 oarsmen, 2 steersmen, 2 officers, 1 standard bearer, 1 signalman and 7 royal insignia bearers. The bow resembles the head of a Royal Swan or Hongsa and is richly decorated with golden lacquer and many jewels.
Speaking at an religious offering ceremony for the barges at the Royal Barge Museum in Bangkok Noi, Admiral Thaweesak Somapa, the Thai navy commander, said the procession would include more than 50 barges and will depart from Wasukri pier at 8 pm and arrive at Rajworadit pier in front of Wat Arun Ratchawararam and the Apec auditorium, where traditional shows will be held at 8.30 pm.
Admiral Thaweesak Somapa further said that all the barges had been checked and were ready for the Grand Royal Barge Procession in October.
It is recommended for those interested to see the procession to check in advance as many private places and hotels will charge an extra fee during the event and will surely be booked full. Another possibility for a good view on the procession is to go to the Wat Rakhang temple, but also expect huge crowds there as the word is spreading fast.
More than 2,000 oarsmen from the Royal Thai Navy are having currently having extensive training and are set for several rehearsals before the big event. The third and last rehearsal will take place on October 16, while the general public will be able to buy tickets to watch the second rehearsal on October 12.
Tickets for the rehearsal of the Royal Barges Procession on 12 October will be sold to foreign diplomats, businessmen and tourists. A ticket allowing you to sit where US President George Bush and other important heads of states will watch the real procession some days later is expected to cost up to 300,000 baht in an effort to help reduce the 61 million Baht cost of the procession. The idea of selling tickets for the rehearsals comes from the wife of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
