![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fdavidbokuchava.com%2Falbums%2Findoors%2Fcontent%2Fthe-past%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Fdavidbokuchava.com%2Fkoken%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F000%2F059%2FDSC-1274-p%2Flarge.1553946037.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fdavidbokuchava.com%2Falbums%2Findoors%2Fcontent%2Fthe-past%2F" title="Thailand that we remember"%3EThailand that we remember%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EPortrait+of+King+Bhumibol+%281927-2016%29+and+Queen+Sirikit%2C+an+old+mirror+and+shabby+cutout+paper+planets%2C+stars%2C+and+spaceship+on+the+fridge+in+an+old+Thai+house+in+Ubon+Ratchathani%2C+Thailand+-+February+11%2C+2017.%0A%0AIn+spite+of+being+more+a+symbol+without+much+of+the+official+political+power%2C+King+Bhumibol+became+the+mastermind+and+creator+of+the+country+many+of+us+fell+in+love+with.+He+died+in+2016+but+the+portraits+stay+on+the+walls+of+simple+Thais%27+houses%2C+and+the+memory+about+him+will+last+for+centuries.+We+got+used+to+the+idea+that+only+violent+authoritarian+leaders+like+Lenin+or+Mao+achieve+such+devotion.+King+Bhumibol+the+Great+proved+the+opposite.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
Thailand that we remember
Portrait of King Bhumibol (1927-2016) and Queen Sirikit, an old mirror and shabby cutout paper planets, stars, and spaceship on the fridge in an old Thai house in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand - February 11, 2017.
In spite of being more a symbol without much of the official political power, King Bhumibol became the mastermind and creator of the country many of us fell in love with. He died in 2016 but the portraits stay on the walls of simple Thais' houses, and the memory about him will last for centuries. We got used to the idea that only violent authoritarian leaders like Lenin or Mao achieve such devotion. King Bhumibol the Great proved the opposite.