28th April 2017

We've been in Bangkok for Matts wedding (Dive Manager of Crystal)  Our journey was long but pretty smooth.  We left Koh Tao on the afternoon Lomprayah ferry to Chumphon.  Once at Chumphon, we jumped in a mini bus which took us to the train station and then caught the night train to Bangkok.

on the night train

We arrived in Bangkok at some stupid hour in the morning all very tired from the journey.  The train was comfortable but it was very noisy so none of us had a good nights sleep.  Unable to check in until 2pm, we took refuge in Starbucks :-D

We were staying on Soi 11 at an Airbnb hotel which was very central and most people that had flown in from other parts were staying close by. 

The first night in Bangkok the boys went out for Matts stag doo.  Obviously no women allowed so while the boys were out on the town, I popped out to get some street food, a bottle of wine and watched a very odd Kiwi movie.  The boys didn't stay out that late which was a surprise.  I think they were all very tired and I think Carsten was conscious that Tina was returning from Canada, so wanted to be around when she arrived at the apartment.  

The happy couple

The cutting of the cake

The wedding itself was very Thai ..not that I really know what Thai wedding is like but it went on all day.  I think it started around 5am with immediate family, Monks chanting, blessings and then at 7.30am everyone attended a morning ceremony which started with a procession, the groom had to ask the family permission to marry their daughter, dowry was given, accepted andblessed,   then the groom had to find the bride who was hiding  ...all a bit odd.   They had a translator telling us what was going on but everything she said was the 'most important part' and 'auspicious' :-D   This all happened between 7.30-11am ...so very early.

The evening reception which was pretty lavish with over 500 people attended.  It was Thai/Chinese style food with a flow of alcohol.    I must say it was a very long day for the bride and groom.They must have been shattered.  We on the other hand got rather tipsy and had a great time :-D

Our wedding outfits