In this Oct. 17 photo, an image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej covers the side of a building in Bangkok. Photo: Charles Dharapak/ Associated Press
BANGKOK — Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej watched over his kingdom for 70 years — and he continues to do so a year after his death.
As Thailand prepares for his cremation ceremony Thursday, Bhumibol’s image is omnipresent across the country in messages commemorating his life and mourning his death. Photos of a monarch many Thais loved like a father can be found everywhere from billboards to ATM screens, from full-page tributes in national newspapers to commemorative books in street-side markets, from shrines in shopping malls to exhibits in art galleries.
As the text next to one image read: “In the hearts of all Thais he will forever remain the leading bright light.”
A visitor looks at a photo exhibition of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Sept.14 in Bangkok. Photo: Sakchai Lalit / Associated PressShoppers walk past on Oct. 21 a shrine with a book to write tributes for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej set up in a shopping mall in Bangkok. Photo: Charles Dharapak/ Associated PressPassenger reads a newspaper on Oct. 13 with a full page tribute to the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Bangkok’s international airport. Photo: Charles Dharapak/ Associated Press An image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej is seen Oct. 17 on a screen at a Japanese restaurant in Bangkok.Photo: Charles Dharapak/ Associated Press The image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej is seen Oct. 17 on an ATM machine in Bangkok. Photo: Charles Dharapak/ Associated Press An artist copies a photograph of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 17 in Bangkok. Photo: Charles Dharapak/ Associated PressA Buddhist monk walks past a self-portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Sept. 14 at an exhibition in Bangkok. Photo: Sakchai Lalit/ Associated PressA vendor sells posters and other souvenirs bearing the image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 12 in Bangkok. Photo: Sakchai Lalit/ Associated PressA large portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej is draped with black and white cloth on Oct. 19 outside of an office building in Bangkok. Photo: Charles Dharapak/ Associated PressA visitor is reflected in a mirror as she takes a picture of a large photo of late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 13 at Siriraj Hospital, where the king died, in Bangkok. Photo: Sakchai Lalit/ Associated PressCommemorative books and magazines bearing the image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej are displayed Oct. 7 at a bookstore in Bangkok. Photo: Charles Dharapak/ Associated PressA bust of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej is displayed on Oct. 7 in a shop window in Bangkok. Photo: Ted Anthony/ Associated PressVisitors pose at an exhibit of paintings of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej Oct. 8 at a shopping mall in Bangkok. Photo: Ted Anthony/ Associated PressA framed image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej is displayed Oct. 22 alongside images of Buddha at a shopping mall in Bangkok. Photo: Ted Anthony/ Associated PressImages of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej are projected Oct. 17 on electronic billboards above an intersection in Bangkok. Photo: Charles Dharapak/ Associated PressA worker paints a stand bearing a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 12 in front of a hotel in Bangkok. Photo: Charles Dharapak/ Associated Press
