The French Are Coming!
The city of Lopburi recently celebrated their annual Narai festival, in
honor of King Narai who reigned over Thailand from his palace here in
Lopburi about 400 years ago. Part of the story of King Narai includes
ambassadors from France who came to visit the king and initiate
diplomatic relations between Thailand and France. Later on, the
ambassors, together with some Jesuit priests, all got knocked off
because some higher up folks in the royal entourage were afraid that
the priests were getting to close to converting the king to
Catholicism. So, for the Narai festival parade, the organizers needed
some white guys to be the French ambassadors. I thought it would be
fun, so I volunteered. It was, kind of, but I felt somewhat ridiculous
in my ambassador's costume, especially the wig. Even more ridiculous
than the guy with the cone on his head in the picture below.
I
was a serious French ambassador marching in the hot sun. I look silly
enough being a white guy in Thailand, so why not put on some funny
looking clothes to top it off?
There
were four of us white guys in the parade as ambassadors but only Simon
got to ride in the sedan chair. He must have been heavy because the
soldiers carrying him changed shifts halfway through the parade.