Newspapers have been selling like hot cakes over the past five days as people scrambled for reports and pictures of the celebrations.

Many dashed to bookstands to find the newspapers were already sold out.

But for those who managed to get the special commemoration issues and photographs, this was just the start. They then flocked to picture-framing shops in droves to have the images fitted in beautiful frames.

"More than 30 people come to my shop every day with celebration pictures from newspapers. They want to frame them. We're too busy to accept every order," said Vichitra Ittikamonchoke, who owns SR Laminate Shop in Chiang Mai.

Narong Chancharoen, who owns a picture-framing shop in Songkhla, said yesterday he believes he would make as much as Bt100,000 due to the overwhelming demand for framing photographs of the special occasion.

He said it is the first time he has had such brisk business.

"I am delighted to see my customers come with photos of His Majesty. I am committed to doing the best job I can," he said. He added he would not raise his price during this peak time out of his respect for His Majesty.

Currently, there are campaigns ongoing to encourage people to do good deeds in honour of His Majesty who has worked so hard for the happiness of Thais.

In Chaiyaphum, Surachai Matiang said he was so happy framing the photos of His Majesty that he did not feel tired at all.

"The King is our pride," he said.

Decho Boonsanit, a resident from Songkhla, said his family had bought newspapers published by every news organisations since Friday as a way of treasuring the precious moments.

"They are historically important events. They are priceless," he said.

Decho said he had also searched various Websites to ask if anyone would be willing to sell him photographs of His Majesty when he granted a public audience at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on Friday.

"Whenever that moment is replayed on TV, tears of delight come to my eyes," Decho said. He urged relevant authorities to produce picture books, videotapes, VCDs and DVDs about the celebrations both in Thai and English.

"We want to own such commemorative items," he said.

Meanwhile, the public has expressed a keen interest in viewing video footage, broadcast on Channel 9, of the Royal Family featuring His Majesty when he was younger. The rare footage shows His Majesty's childhood, his coronation ceremony, his monkhood period, his various trips abroad.

"I want to see these images again. I ask the channel to please re-broadcast it or distribute VCDs of the footage. After I viewed the footage it made me love His Majesty even more," Neramit Noisamlee, a student at Thaksin University's Phatthalung Campus, said.

Achareeya Namjai, a Bangkok resident, said she spent hours watching Channel 9 through Tuesday without pressing the remote control for other channels

"My eyes were full of tears when I saw our young King wade through the surging waist-deep water of the river. As a king, he could have lived a more luxurious life, but he has devoted his days to the poor people," she said.

She was impressed with Their Majesties' trip to Japan. But most of all, she admired His Majesty's decision to allocate part of his residence - the Chitralada Palace - as the testing ground for new technologies and knowledge that he is ready to share with his people.

"That he drove the tractor on the test rice field, with the Crown Prince in front of him, confirmed how devoted he is. Rather than playing with his children in more comfortable grounds, he got his children involved in everything that he did," she said. 

There is countrywide clamour for everything associated with the celebrations, be it commemorative coins, books, or yellow T-shirts.

Achareeya Namjai, a Bangkok resident, said she spent hours watching Channel 9 through Tuesday without pressing the remote controller for other channels

"My eyes were full of tears when seeing our young King wandered through the river despite the rapid water that was half his body's height. As a king, he could have lived a more luxury life, but he has devoted his days to the poor people," said.

She was impressed with His Majesty and Her Majesty's trip to Japan, one of their overseas trips that unsurprisingly led to the historic gathering of kings and queens and royal representatives in Bangkok. But most of all, it's His Majesty's decision to allocate part of his residence - the Chitralada Palace to the testing grounds of new technologies and knowledge that he is ready to share with his people.

"That he drove the tractor on the test rice field, with the Crown Prince in front of him, confirmed how devoted he is. Rather than playing with his children in the more comfortable grounds, he got his children involved in everything that he did," she said. 

In a related development, everything associated to the celebrations turned to be sought-after items from commemorative coins, books, to yellow T-shirts.