RoundTheWorld

No, I'm not drunken! Here in Thailand we have got the year 2552 now. Nevertheless the customs of this wedding are seeming to be still oldfashioned.

At 6am my mobile phone wakes me up. Ingo, a german friend of Karnda picks me up one hour later. At Ingos house we meet Ohn, his wife and Reiner, another friend. Together we go on two motorbikes to the wedding. The ceremony had just begun and we are allowed to stay inside the house to watch it directly. Today we are something like Dereks family!

After finishing the ceremony we all leave the house, doing some more photos while the seven monks have some food inside. Usually it should be nine monks, but there wasn't enough space in the livingroom...

Outside in the garden some food and refreshments is served. Karnda and Derek are walking from one table to another and more and more photos are beeing taken.

After that the next step has to be done: Derek is brought by his family (That's us, yes!) and his neighbours (the people from the western part of the street) to Karndas house. To Dereks surprise, Karnda had ordered a horse carriage for him. When we arrive at her house, the milkmoney is filled into special "things" and we, Dereks family, are bringing it to Karndas family. Milkmoney is the money that the husband has to give to the parents of the bride to say thank you for your efforts they had to rise their daughter. Unfortunately Karndas parents died years ago.

Now the real meal begins for us guests ... but not for the couple! They have to sit down on special chairs and a lot of things are beeing said ... in Thai of course, so don't ask me about the meaning. Maybe I will find out later.We are washing their hands and, of course, photos are taken. Any possible combination of guest has to pose fore the cameras and every scene is taken by one Canon and one Nikon Camera. Maybe the better camera will win a price?

The neighbours are disapearing one by one ... and so do we. At about 11am we were back at Ingos house.

In the city Ohn helpes me to buy a prepaid SIM for my mobile. If there is somebody who needs to call me these days (remember, I'm 6 hours in advance) it will be possible at the

+66 8035 25239

At 6pm we join again for wedding ceremony part 2, this time in the hotel. It's hardly discribable what's going on there. After entering the gate everybody gets a small Chang, an elephant, as present. After that, of course, photos with the couple are taken. Within the next two hours 500 guests are appearing. Inside food and drinks are served. At the same time different singers trieing to attract the folk. On two giant screens life-shots from inside and outside the hall are on display, exchanged by spots from the morning celebration. We are seated at one VIP table directly in front of the stage. The other VIP table is for the family of Karnda.

Unfortunately my Thai-knowledge is at zero, so I can't report about what has been said. But it was said a lot, that I know for sure! The stories of Karnda, Derek and Karnda&Derek are told. And a very nice DVD about both is showed. I saw it in advance and it is really good.

Finaly they make me dance some Thai dance (the rest of "Dereks family" had disappeared!)

And than, at 10pm, everything is over. That's exactly like I was tolde before: they come, eat, drink, take something home for neighbours and leave... Derek finds some time to eat two prawns.Thats all he got for the whole day. Karnda had two prawns less than Derek... ;-)

So I find some time to try to enter this information into my PC......but the internet today is at 0, hopefully tomorrow it will lbe better again.....