What's the biggest perk of couchsurfing or spending time with local friends? Free accommodation? Getting to know the best and cheapest activities, restaurants and bars in town? Getting new friends? Not having to put too much effort into developing your itinerary? Noup, not at all. Don't get me wrong, they all are important, but not the most important.
It's something you can't get from the I-know-it-all Google or from the adventures of other travelers, it's the invitation to experience their culture. Getting to know the country you are in, the background of the people you come across from day to day, understanding the world a bit better, widening your horizon. Getting the local experience is what traveling is all about, isn't it?
Unfortunately I've met a lot of people who have forgotten that simple point or don't seem to think about it; uncountable amount of people who don't feel like getting off the beaten track, stepping that extra step, riding that extra hour, talking that extra story, writing that extra line to the CS request, giving that extra smile to get invited to the lives of the people who actually make that country. Bar crawling for peanuts with like minded people is fun-fun-fun, but is it the reason why you worked your ass off while saving for the trip and why you are in the other part of the world?
For my luck my Thai friends' friend got married while I was visiting them and I got an invitation too! It was a full traditional Buddhist wedding with a modern evening party. And this time it wasn't all about the food... Yay!
It's something you can't get from the I-know-it-all Google or from the adventures of other travelers, it's the invitation to experience their culture. Getting to know the country you are in, the background of the people you come across from day to day, understanding the world a bit better, widening your horizon. Getting the local experience is what traveling is all about, isn't it?
Unfortunately I've met a lot of people who have forgotten that simple point or don't seem to think about it; uncountable amount of people who don't feel like getting off the beaten track, stepping that extra step, riding that extra hour, talking that extra story, writing that extra line to the CS request, giving that extra smile to get invited to the lives of the people who actually make that country. Bar crawling for peanuts with like minded people is fun-fun-fun, but is it the reason why you worked your ass off while saving for the trip and why you are in the other part of the world?
For my luck my Thai friends' friend got married while I was visiting them and I got an invitation too! It was a full traditional Buddhist wedding with a modern evening party. And this time it wasn't all about the food... Yay!
Hommikune tseremoonia munkadega. / The morning ceremony with monks. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/7378427426_bf557b38f2_b.jpg
Alustasime teekonda päev enne pulma järkordse 6-tunnise sõiduga üritusega normaalsel ajal hotelli jõuda ja enne eesolevat pikka päeva korralikult magada. Äratus oli oi-oi kui vara, kell 6 hommikul. Budistlik pulm algab lausa 6-7 ajal hommikuse tseremooniaga, millest võtab osa vaid perekond, kuid ka ülejäänud külalised kamandatakse kohale ehk nälgima. Olenevalt pere ja paarikese jõukusest laulavad-palvetavad ning õnnitavad pruutpaari 3,5,7 või 9 munka (algarv toovat õnne). Pärast umbes tunniajast tseremooniat serveeritakse hommikusöök. Esmalt söövad mungad ning alles nende lõpetades võivad teised sööma hakata. Noh, see viimane läks meil küll nihu, sest mu sõbrad olid nii näljased, et alustasid söömist tunduvalt varem...
So we started out with another 6-hour drive to get to our hotel at a normal time and get some sleep before a long day. The wake-up was early-early, too early 6 am. The Buddhist wedding starts around 6-7 am with enchanting and blessings by monks. The number of the monks depends of the wealth of the couple and their families and is always prime numbers like 3, 5, 7, 9 since it is believed to bring good luck. This part of the ceremony is only witnessed by close family and everyone else should wait outside of the room. After about an hour long ceremony the breakfast is served. First the monks and then other people. Well, didn't know about the last part, 'cause my friends got hungry and had breakfast before the monks. So it was a bit about the food after all...
So we started out with another 6-hour drive to get to our hotel at a normal time and get some sleep before a long day. The wake-up was early-early, too early 6 am. The Buddhist wedding starts around 6-7 am with enchanting and blessings by monks. The number of the monks depends of the wealth of the couple and their families and is always prime numbers like 3, 5, 7, 9 since it is believed to bring good luck. This part of the ceremony is only witnessed by close family and everyone else should wait outside of the room. After about an hour long ceremony the breakfast is served. First the monks and then other people. Well, didn't know about the last part, 'cause my friends got hungry and had breakfast before the monks. So it was a bit about the food after all...
Buddistlik palve enne söömist. / Bhuddist contemplation on food before eating.
Kogu hommikust tseremooniat saatis traditsiooniline Tai muusika. / Traditional Thai music was accompanying the morning ceremony.
Karbitseremoonia: Sümboliseerimaks ühtsust on pruutpaar päid pidi ühendatud kogu selle tseremoonia ajaks. Tai (teo)karbi sees on munkade poolt varem õnnistatud vesi ning külalised panevad natuke vett heade soovidega pruutpaari kätele. Ujutasin nende käed mõnuga üle, sest mul polnud õrna aimugi, kui palju seda valama peab. :D
The shell ceremony (Rod Nam Sang): The bride and groom wear a string between their heads symbolizing unity. The guests pour a bit of holy water on the palms of the couple. Since I had no idea how much should I pour I managed to give them a nice bath. :D
The shell ceremony (Rod Nam Sang): The bride and groom wear a string between their heads symbolizing unity. The guests pour a bit of holy water on the palms of the couple. Since I had no idea how much should I pour I managed to give them a nice bath. :D
Õnnistatud vesi, keraamiline karp ning lillekaunistused pruutpaarile. / Blessed water, ceramic shell and flower decorations for the couple.
http://www.creativeeventsasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/weddingGC0187-Large1.jpg
http://www.creativeeventsasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/weddingGC0187-Large1.jpg
Khan Maak ehk kingituste üleandmine: peiu pere ja sõbrad kogunevad umbes 500 m kaugusele ning liiguvad rivis tagas pulma toimumise kohasti. Aga... see pole teps mitte matuserongkäigu moodi, vaid käib ikka tantsu ja tralliga. Tai tants pole aga midagi sarnast meie ettekujutusele tantsust. Vaata videot (pane tähele käsi)!
Khan Maak Procession: the groom's family and friends form a line about 500 m away from the place of ceremony. Everyone is carrying a gift or a piece of dowry to the bride's family. But of course it's nothing like a funeral procession! It's accompanied by a band and people dancing in the front. The dancing though is not what we think as dancing. Watch the video (notice the hands)!
Peiu pool kingitustega. / The groom's side with gifts.
Keti tseremoonia: Kui peig ning ta pere-sõbrad pruudi juurde jõuavad, siis pruudipoolsed naised blokeerivad ta tee. Peig peab oma tee välja teenima ning see tehakse talle raskeks ("auhind" on ju kah seda väärt!). Tema käest küsitakse võtit (raha roosas ümbrikus), kuid mida kaugemale ta jõuab, seda keerulisemaks see läheb, sest pruutneitsid ning lähedane pere on kõige viimane. Nende jaoks pole raha piisav: peig peab oma tee pruudini välja rääkima. Tore ja lõbus tseremoonia! Kui muidugi Tai keelest aru saad...
Chain ceremony: Bride side ladies block the way when the groom reaches the house of the bride. The groom has to earn his way to the bride and since the "prize" is definitely worth it it's made hard for him. He is asked a "key" (money in the pink envelope), but it gets harder as he gets closer and closer to his goal, because the bridesmaids and close family is the last ones. Money is not enough for them and this time the groom has to talk it's way through. Nice and fun ceremony... Of course if you understand Thai!
Chain ceremony: Bride side ladies block the way when the groom reaches the house of the bride. The groom has to earn his way to the bride and since the "prize" is definitely worth it it's made hard for him. He is asked a "key" (money in the pink envelope), but it gets harder as he gets closer and closer to his goal, because the bridesmaids and close family is the last ones. Money is not enough for them and this time the groom has to talk it's way through. Nice and fun ceremony... Of course if you understand Thai!
Kingitused pruudi perele. Kingid varieerivad seakintsust kommidenu ning kõik toovad erinevat head õnne. /
The gifts to the family of the bride. The gifts vary from pork to candies and every basket is symbolizing different kind of good luck.
The gifts to the family of the bride. The gifts vary from pork to candies and every basket is symbolizing different kind of good luck.
Kingitused peiu külalistele pruudi pere poolt. Pudelites on alksi asemel vihmavarjud! / Gifts to the groom's guests from the bride's family. The bottels hel umbrellas instead of booze!
Kaasavara esitlemine. Vau! Tais on kaasavara kohustus aga mehel/tema perel! / Presenting the dowry. Wow! In Thailand it's the groom's (family's) obligation instead.
Pole kindel, kas esivanemate austamine või osa kaasavarast. / Not sure if honoring the ancestors or part of the dowry.
Tark mees räägib tarka juttu ning pruutpaar palvetab hea abieluõnne nimel Budda poole. / A wise man saying wise things and the couple enchantes for the Buddha for good marriage luck.
Valge paela tseremoonia: Vanemad inimesed sõlmivad õnnistatud vees leotatud valged paelad ümber pruutpaari käe toomaks head õnne. Nad võivad need alles 3 päeva pärast ära võtta nähes vahepeal välja nagu backpackerid oma tuubitamise käepaeladega.
White thread ceremony: The elders place a white thread soaked with holy water around the couple's wrists for good luck. They have to keep it for 3 days looking like backpackers with their endless (tubing) bracelets.
White thread ceremony: The elders place a white thread soaked with holy water around the couple's wrists for good luck. They have to keep it for 3 days looking like backpackers with their endless (tubing) bracelets.
Pruutpaar traditsioonilistes riietes. Ilusad, eksole?! / The couple in traditional clothes. Beautiful, aren't they?!
Pruutneitsite ja peiupoiste kostüümid. / The costumes of bridesmaids and groomsman.
Modernne-traditsiooniline Tai kostüüm (üks teine pulm). / Traditional-modern Thai costume (another wedding).
Ega pulmgi selfidest prii pole! / Even the wedding is not saved from selfies!
Õhtune pidu oli nagu ikka: süüa, juua, hullu, tantsu ja tralli. Kuninga laul. Tuled kustu. Karaoke. Hommik. Iga roju oma koju. / Evening party was like always: eating, drinking, dancing and "baaa". The song of the King. Lights out. Karaoke. Morning. Everyone home.