King Bhumibol’s death stops all the clocks in Thailand

The sad news that King Bhumibol of Thailand is no longer of this world is causing considerable perplexity, because even when it became clear the King was ill, it was not possible for Thais to talk about his death. It seems that this is partly because it is a form of treason in Thailand to encompass the death of the sovereign, but also that, in Thai culture, the personal grief felt at his death will be so great that the thought of it is literally unspeakable. So foreign businesses, visitors, diplomats etc cannot find out what will actually happen when he dies, having reigned since 1946. Rumour suggests that there may be ten days of mourning so total that Bangkok airport will close down and no one will be able to leave the country. But it is no good asking if this is true, because no one will tell you, even off the record.