On December 6, all of Thailand was out (like July 4th here) celebrating together their king's 82nd birthday. Usually, for the occasion, people wear yellow shirts, but this year it was pink. Read below for some interesting cultural info.Then, watched by millions across the country, the king gave a brief statement in reply - the first time his voice has been heard in public since his illness. The monarch's health is a sensitive topic in Thailand, where strict laws restrict debate about the royal family.
The king has now returned to hospital, but this brief public appearance will have given hope to millions of Thais. They have been hoping for signs that the man often described as the one truly unifying figure in a politically divided country is on the road to recovery. King Bhumibol, the world's longest-serving monarch, is treated with reverent devotion. His portrait hangs in shops, offices and on roadside billboards.
Two years ago, royal astrologers decreed that the colour pink was auspicious for the king's wellbeing.
Copied from BBC News report at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8396678.stm
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