Before the Wedding

Before the Wedding (May 17 – May 19, 2012)

Back in Bangkok, just for couple hours before we are off by train to Isaan – the northeastern region of Thailand. We got off in Si Sa Ket, then continue to Kantharalak by bus. In Kantharalak one of the groom’s family members was waiting for us with a track. We had still 30 km to go to the village of Nong Diang Noi Non Yai.

There are 2 days left before the wedding. Not much is happening; no kind of preparation – no food is cooked, no decoration is done, everything, most of it will all be done the day before the big day. So we relax, drink beer, local rice “vodka” and Sang Som, a local rum­­­­­­­­­­­­­­.

A day before the wedding women started to make a Buddhist POT. Leaves of banana are cut, small flowers are added. And then all this is ensemble together.

Leaves of banana are cut

small flowers are added

The bride and groom with two witnesses and farangs (Thai word for someone of European ancestry, no matter where they may come from) went to the authority’s office, where the marriage was officially signed.

Marriage is officially signed – first bride

then groom and witnesses

document must be stamped

and now Martina and Jet are officially married

After the official wedding, we went to the market to buy food for the wedding, in the back of a pickup truck, the way everybody travels in Thailand.

Going to the market in the back of a pickup truck

In the market there were many things to choose from:

Frogs

Mushrooms

Chickens

Fish

Ant larva

Beef

and pork

Vegetables we know

Vegetables we do not know

and fruits

I should not forget alcohol – beers, local rice “vodka’” and rum were bought as well. All this was put on the truck, between us.

Chang beer for the wedding

For the family, kitschy pictures of Prague were printed and framed.

Pictures of Prague

We wanted to sleep early because the big day started the next day in the early hours. But cooking went on; villagers were visiting or just were coming to see so many farangs in one place at the same time, a rare occasion.

Cooking went on all night

I don’t know about you, but I am exhausted, good night everybody, will continue shortly, will continue shortly, will…