A country relieved
November 8, 2007
Photo: Well-wishers bow and perform a ‘krab’ as the monarch passes by in an electric wheelchair. JETJARAS NA RANONG
Yesterday was an emotional day for many Thais, especially those who had travelled to Siriraj hospital in time to see His Majesty the King leave to return to Chitralada Palace. They were obviously relieved that the King looked alert and reasonably fit after 25 days in the hospital. The King himself was in good spirits and even carried on short conversations with some of the dignitaries who had come to wish him well. As usual, the King took numerous photographs, indicating is well on the road to recovery.
rejoice –
to express great happiness about something รู้สึกปิติ ตื้นตัน
relieved –
feeling happy because something unpleasant has stopped or has not
happened โล่งใจ
alert – to
be able to think quickly or to notice things quickly รู้สึกตัว
dignitaries –
people who have important official positions บุคคลสำคัญ
recovery –
the process of becoming well again after an illness or injury
ฟื้นจากการป่วย
King returns to palace
Thousands at hospital cheer his recoveryAPIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
Photo:
His Majesty places a garland before the statue of the late Princess
Mother before he leaves the hospital. JETJARAS NA RANONG Several thousand well-wishers converged at Siriraj Hospital yesterday to witness His Majesty the King being discharged after 25 days of treatment and his return to Chitralada Palace.
Hoisting national and yellow flags bearing the royal insignia, people from all walks of life sent up a deafening roar of ‘‘Long Live the King’’ when the monarch left his ward on the 16th floor of the Chalermprakiat Building at 11.40am.
Dressed in a pink jacket and black trousers, the King used a wheeled walking aid for support. He waved and took photos of the crowd as he passed through the corridor linking the building to the Somdet Phrasrinakarindra Building.
The monarch was accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen, Princess Ubolratana, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s royal consort HRH Princess Srirasm, HRH Princess Siribha Chudhabhorn and doctors.
The cheering crowds also held up the photos of His Majesty given out when they signed a well-wishing book, and sang the royal anthem, Sadudee Maharaja, and a new song, Phor Haeng Paen Din, when they saw him.
Photo
left: The King stands with the assistance of a walker before the statue
of the Princess Mother at the hospital.CHANAT KATANYU The King was admitted to the hospital on Oct 13 after experiencing weakness on the right side of his body. He spent 25 days recuperating.
Many shed tears of joy as they waited for hours just to get a glimpse of the monarch.
Satang Kaoteh, a 73-year-old resident of Ratchaburi’s Ban Pong district, was among the thousands of admirers at the hospital.
‘‘As soon as I heard the good news that the King was going home, my family and I rented a van and came here right away,’’ she said. ‘‘I can’t miss this once in a lifetime occasion.’’
Sopha Srichalerm came alone to the hospital at 5am.
‘‘I missed the chance to see the King leave the hospital last year after he was admitted for spinal surgery. ‘‘I won’t let it happen again,’’ she said.
converged – (of people or vehicles) moved towards a place from different directions and met มุ่งหน้าสู่ มารวมกัน
witness – to see something happen เป็นสักขีพยาน
discharge – to give official permission to leave a place, in this case, a hospital ออกจากโรงพยาบาล
bearing – showing; carrying something so that it can be seen แสดง
insignia – the symbol of an organisation; emblem สัญลักษณ์
deafening roar – a very loud noise, in this case, made by a crowd of people (so loud that it hurts the ears) เสียงกึกก้อง
monarch – a person who rules a country, especially a king or queen กษัตริย์ หรือพระราชินี
ward - division of a hospital แผนกในโรงพยาบาลที่มีคนไข้ประเภทเดียวกัน
corridor – a long narrow passage in a building ทางเดิน
linking – connecting เชื่อม
consort – the husband or wife of a ruler พระวรชายา
anthem – a song which has a special importance for a country, an organisation, or a particular group of people เพลงสำคัญประจำองค์กร สถาบัน หรือเพลงชาติ ในที่นี้หมายถึงเพลงสดุดีมหาราชา หรือเพลงสรรเสริญพระบารมี
admit – to take into a hospital or other institution to receive care เข้ารับการรักษาตัวในโรงพยาบาล
recuperating – getting back your health, strength or energy after being ill, tired or injured ฟื้นหรือหายจาการป่วยไข้ มีกำลังวังชา
shed tears – cried ร้องให้
glimpse – a short look at someone or something การมองปราด
resident – a person who lives in a particular place ผู้อยู่อาศัยในพื้นที
admirers - ผู้ที่ชื่นชม ในที่นี้หมายถึง พสกนิกรที่มาคอยชื่นชมพระบารมีของพระเจ้าอยู่หัว
spinal surgery – a medical operation on the long series of bones which run down the middle of the back ผ่าตัดกระดูกสันหลัง
‘‘At first I thought that with people crowding into the hospital, which is supposed to be quiet and peaceful, it might be hard to do my work,’’ she said.
‘‘But now I know that being a part of the crowd is a most memorable experience.’’
Many well-wishers dashed to shops near the hospital to buy pink shirts after seeing the King checking out in pink.
Sarin Chantharang, 27, from Nakhon Ratchasima, said she would wear pink to express her loyalty towards the King.
Thais believe that pink is an auspicious colour for those who were born in the Year of the Rabbit.
His Majesty the King, who will turn 80 on Dec 5, was born under that sign.
Meanwhile, the Royal Household Bureau said the condition of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, the King’s elder sister, was stable yesterday.
Royal physicians increased her physiotherapy and maintained her medication.
The Princess has been hospitalised since June for abdominal cancer and recently suffered a blood clot which damaged part of her brain.
overjoyed – extremely happy or pleased ปิติท่วมท้น
regain – to get back something กลับคืนมา
sample – a small amount of a substance that is tested in order to gain information about the substance ตัวอย่าง
immunology – the scientific study of protection against disease วิทยาภูมิคุ้มกัน
memorable – special, good or unusual and therefore worth remembering or easy to remember เป็นที่ระลึก อยู่ในความทรงจำ อันจะลืมเสียมิได้
dashed – went quickly and suddenly พุ่งไปไปด้วยความเร็ว
loyalty – the quality of being faithful in your support of someone or something ความจงรักภักดี
auspicious – suggesting a positive and successful future; showing signs that something is likely to be successful in the future นิมิตมหายอันดี มหามงคล
stable – unchanged คงที่ มั่นคง หนักแน่น
physiotherapy – the treatment of disease, injury or weakness in the joints or muscles by exercises, massage and the use of light and heat กายภาพบำบัด
maintained – kept at the same level คงสภาพ
abdominal – relating to the part of the body below the chest that contains the stomach, intestines, etc. ช่องท้อง
blood clot –a lump that is formed when blood dries or becomes thicker ก้อนเลือด