*-gO Go ThAiLaNd-*

วิวาห์ใต้สมุทร

(Underwater Wedding)

The Trang Chamber of Commerce in association with the Trang Province, Trang Municipality Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International as well as other participating local authorities and private sector organisations – have cooperatively launched the 13th Anniversary of "Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony 2009" event to promote tourism opportunities in the province. The event will be held during 13-15 February 2009 at Pak Meng Beach – one of the best known sand beaches with the peaceful atmosphere and the aligned Koh Meng as its background. The project is aimed to further promote the truly spectacular natural seaside and marine resources - with the warm atmosphere of love giving to each other under the concept of "Romantic Destination", as well as the beauty of a symbolic flower of the province named "Sri-Trang", whose pale violet blossoms in season are pleasantly ubiquitous everywhere.

Trang is the province endowed with charming tourism treasures combining several chests of jewels given by the nature numerous tropical rain forest valleys, distinctive and endorsing-imagination limestone stalactites and stalagmites, and spectacular waterfalls with purely natural water rushed from limestone caves. Being located along the coast of the Andaman Sea, Trang is an origin of an amazingly well-endowed coral reef, where is the habitat of aquatic plants and marine creatures. During the Trang Underwater Wedding event, when no disturbing monsoon emerges, the province's splendidly scenic resources simultaneously show their natural beauty, especially the sweet blossoms of 'Sri-Trang' flowers, to warmly welcome tourists worldwide.

Back in early 1996, Trang had been introduced and became well-known to the world as a land full of love, charming blue sky and emerald-green sea. Originated by unforgettably love of a couple who fell in love during their participation in the 1st eco-tourism event "Returning the Natural Beauty to Coral Reef" which eventually became one of the world's famous events among lovers called 'Underwater Wedding. The 1st "Trang Underwater Wedding" is initiated by the willingness of Khun Yongyudh Vichaidit (Governor of Trang at that time) and Khun Surin Tohtubtiang (President of The Trang Chamber of Commerce at that time) to fulfil the dream of lovers by arranging the traditional Thai wedding ceremony, together with a wedding certificate formally signed under the water. With the annually continuation of the ceremony, the event has gained worldwide popularity and attracted so much international interest as the first place in the world where the wedding was held that the Guinness World Records has awarded this event "The Largest Underwater Wedding Ceremony" in 2000. The event has not only equipped with the largest number of wedding couples in the world, but it also praised of anti-discrimination by facilitating handicapped couples in joining

this memorable ceremony. At present, the Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony is widely recognised as one of the most fascinating events of Trang, impressed by numerous lovers giving their love to each other among the romantic atmosphere to memorise for the rest of their lives. In addition to the marriage registration under the water, the "Trang Underwater Wedding" ceremony promotes an exotic traditional Thai wedding culture to foreign wedding couples, divers, and tourists from all over the world. The ceremony consists of Buddhism ritual and the traditional Thai wedding ceremony of pouring lustre water, and the escort the brides and grooms to their honeymoon suites by old happily-married couple in accordance with the long belief to bring peace and long-lasting relationship as well as the eternity of love to the bridal couples. The bridal couples further experience and impress the symbolic hand-woven Thai wedding costume. 'I was born and grown up in Trang, have been settled down with my wife for long, but didn't have a chance to have our own wedding. Two of us were interested by the famous Underwater Wedding Ceremony; therefore, we both practised how to dive safely and finally joined the ceremony with a great impression. Importantly, we are glad that the Trang Chamber of Commerce opens the opportunity for the handicaps to join the activities. This is an implication of social indiscrimination and we also partly promoted the tourism of Trang' said Khun Suksa Luxanaprim, Secretary of the Athletic Association of the Blind. At the same time, "Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony" event is claimed as 'Romantic Destination', for lovers to visit and get married, pre- and post-married honeymoon, or just to fulfil the affection to their love ones. Thus the event is arranged not only for soon-to-be brides and grooms or newly-wed couples, every Thai and foreign loving couples, divers, and travellers are also welcomed to join the event as a honeymoon or as a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience during the Trang Season of Love.

1st Period (1997-1999)

The event was initially held only 1 day on 14 February at Kao Whan its meaning in English is ‘Ring' which is beautiful and appropriate for the wedding ceremony. An exotic traditional Thai wedding culture was demonstrated in the decorated tremendous raft and consisted of 3 main activities as follows.
The groom possession: There were over 500 tom-tom boats and long-tailed boats parade starting from Pak Meng Beach to Ko Waen.
Silver and gold gates: The wedding couple was blessed by the ceremony president at the silver and gold gates and, afterwards, they had to change their uniform to the wetsuit.
The traditional Thai wedding ceremony of pouring lustre water, together with a wedding certificate formally signed under the water: In order to sign the wedding certificate, both the bride and the groom had to dive into the sea. There would be a trained sheriff waiting for them on the stage at the bottom of the sea.

2nd Period (2000-2004)

In order to promote the tourism in Trang, the Trang Chamber of Commer

ce, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Airways International had cooperatively established more creative activities and put great emphasis on the public relations. The length of the ceremony was also extended to 3 days as to attract tourists worldwide.
Furthermore, the Guinness World Records had awarded this event "The Largest Underwater Wedding Ceremony" in 2000. The success in public relations of this ceremony was also awarded by PATA GOLD AWARD.
The major activities in this period were as follows.
Warmly welcome at Trang Airport
The wedding couple possession: There was a different type of possession each year e.g. possession using litters, possession using elephants.
The traditional Thai wedding ceremony of pouring lustre water, together with a wedding certificate formally signed under the water: This event took place at Ko Kradan.
Underwater Wedding Banquets: It was held at Underwater Wedding beach in the area of Rajamangala University of Technology.
Additionally, there were 30 couples from 27 different countries attended the ceremony in 2000, while 34 couples from 21 countries joining in the following year. Apart from that, there were 13 couples from 4 countries, 36 couples from 4 countries, and 40 couples from 4 countries in 2002, 2003, and 2004 respectively.

3rd Period (2005 - present)

The Trang Chamber of Commerce has placed emphasis on the public relations and aimed to further promote an exotic traditional Thai wedding culture. The Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony has gained popularity among a great amount of international tourists. There were 48 wedding couples from 16 countries, 54 couples from 12 countries, and 80 couples from 5 countries in 2005, 2006, and 2007 respectively.
There are major activities: Warmly welcome at Trang Airport, the wedding couple possession, the traditional Thai wedding ceremony of pouring lustre water, Underwater Wedding Banquets, and growing the plant at Peninsular Botanic Garden (Thung Khai). There was a significant change in the setting of ceremony from Ko Kradan to Pak Meng beach – the best known beach in Trang and performed as the ceremony distinctive symbol that result in a great increase in tourists visiting the province.
Hereafter are major activities of the event in this period.
"Kin Neow" the culture of Trang: 'Neow' or sticky rice is eaten with chicken curry and is believed to be an auspicious symbol to bring couples and their families together. If any families cook tasty chicken curry, that means the families will be harmonised. The culture of 'Kin Neow' is the crucial old tradition which occurs before the wedding day of Trang people.
The release of aquatic animals: The activity of returning the aquatic animals to the sea is believed to bring the couples good luck.
The release of giant clams: This activity occurs in order for the couples to help returning the natural beauty to coral reef. As giant clam is the Andaman bloodline having a long life expectancy, there will be GPRS co-ordinates to locate the proper place for them to grow up.

มนต์เสน่ห์ ณ เชียงใหม่ 3

Magic of...Chiangmai III

Next morning which is another lovely day. Baicha cooked breakfast but I think he bought it when I sleep cause it tasty-looking more than he can make but he did it. It look like very perfect American Breakfast. He so cute...Baicha told me today he will take me to hot springs at Sankampheng it far from the town about 34 km. It have flower garden, mineral pool, bathroom and dwelling house. Between this journey it pass Maung On Cave. We break and get off the car to get in this cave. When we live inside, I saw stalagmite and stalactite are sparkle so beautiful. There have a 1 million year old fossilized teak tree .

After that we go to Sankampheng hot springs it far from here about 4 km. (not far.. I think) "Bosang and Sankamphaeng are among the old tourist spots of Chiang Mai which got fame from their lovely unique products of umbrellas and fine Thai silk and cotton respectively. Nowadays this route is dotted with manufacturing centres of silverware, wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery as well as Thai silk, cotton and umbrellas. Almost everyone in the small village of Bo Sang, near Chiang Mai, derives a livelihood from making gaily painted paper umbrellas. Thai fair, held on the main strret, celebrates traditional skills and features contests, exhibitions, stalls selling umbrellas and other handicrafts." Baicha described.

Yehhhhhhh.....we arrive...I said. It beautiful like that everyone said. Oh have many travelor at here. In front of the entrance it have eggs sale for parboiled egg with your self about 20 baht per 6 eggs. I think Sankampaeng Hot Springs is an ideal destination for those interested in health and well-being. A natural spring emitting water with high sulphur content, the spring is said to cure ailments and rejuvenate the body. The water has a temperature in excess of 100 degrees centigrade and the area is so active that there is ongoing research into how

to tap the springs as a potential energy resource. Then we satiatedly with view. Baicha drived back to town and take me to had dinner. Between we had dinner I accepted my phone from my dad. He told me to back home at Nakhonsawan to celebrate Chainese New Year. Wow ...I have a new journey again. But I will went to bed very tried for today....See you in Nakhonsawn.