I'm really bummed out that I missed the Royal Barge Procession on the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok. It's one of the most wonderful things for a tourist to experience if visiting Thailand, and it wouldn't be at all unreasonable to actually schedule a trip to Thailand based on the timing of this rare and special event, which has occurred only 15 times in the last 60 years.
The 52 barges are truly spectaular, measuring almost 50 meters in length, with up to 60 rowers. Some of the barges are centuries old, and have uses ranging from carrying the king, to carrying weapons into battle. One thing they all have in common, however, is their incredible decoration and craftsmanship.
The practice of the procession itself is believed to have originated over 700 years ago, and is performed for various special celebrations and other significant events. This year's procession was a "Royal Kathin Ceremony", in which the king (actually, this time his son, the Crown Prince, as the king is in hospital) presents new kathin (robes) to the Buddhist monks of the temple of Wat Arun.
Here is a video of a Royal Barge Procession passing by the Grand Palace at night in 2003 during the APEC Summit of world leaders.
Visitors who come to Thailand in the years that pass between these processions are not completely out of luck, however: The barges are kept on display at the Royal Barge National Museum on the Thonburi side (i.e. the far side) of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok.
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