His Majesty has become not only the most traveled monarch in Thai history but also the best informed about a wide range of rural difficulties. His Majesty learns first-hand, from the people themselves, of the local conditions and problems. After having put them at their ease, he converses with the local inhabitants and learns from them the problems with which they are faced as they themselves perceived the situation. After consulting further with the officials concerned, His Majesty makes his own conclusions about the problems, including the causes and the possible methods to redress them. Upon his return to Bangkok, or sometimes even on the spot, he will share what he has learned with the members of the Government, requesting them to assist and give support to the people wherever feasible. Sometimes he has used his own funds in the early stages to help a project get off the ground. In 1988, he established the Chaipattana Foundation to fund and help in accelerating rural development projects that are beneficial to the people and the country as a whole. More information on Chaipattana Foundation and its projects can be found at