Thai king honoured

ARTISANS in Bangkok are working hard, fashioning ornate articles, large and small, to be used at the cremation of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej who died last year.

The work – weaving embroideries, restoring artifacts and making sculptures, all in the royal style – is overseen by the Culture Ministry’s Department of Fine Arts but about 100 volunteers have signed up to help the experts, demonstrating their devotion to the beloved monarch.

Thailand’s military government has allocated a staggering 1 billion baht ($A38m) for the funeral of Bhumibol, who died on October 13 at age 88 after seven decades on the throne.

Bhumibol’s funeral is scheduled for this October in a ceremony that will take place over several days.