Thailand 2011 - (Page 13)

under the stars, a picnic at Hong Island, a Honeymoon Ritual treatment for two at ESPA and more. It starts at $770. Southern Thailand’s crystalclear, island-dotted waters have also created great demand for underwater weddings. One of the most popular spots for this type of ceremony is Trang Province, on the western shore of the Malay Peninsula—it’s even made it to Guinness World Records for “Largest Underwater Wedding Ceremony”. Each year, on or right before Valentine’s Day, the Trang Chamber of Commerce and other organizations put together the Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony event (underwaterwedding.com) to celebrate love and promote the seaside destination, known for its coral reef, lush foliage and marine wonders. The province offers various packages each year, with or without accommodations, that include the diving equipment— note that couples must be certified divers—and participation in both a tree-planting ceremony and a bridal parade, with a welcome after-party. The underwater ceremony takes place off Koh Kradan, one of the region’s most scenic islands, followed by lunch on the beach. Companies such as Private Scuba (private-scuba.com) offer underwater weddings, honeymoon or romantic vow renewal packages in other locations, including Phuket and Koh Samui, that include 2-night stays at their location of choice plus all necessary equipment. The Pattaya Underwater Wedding package, taking place on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, starts at about $816. Honeymooners who don’t want to participate in the ceremony can still take advantage of the great diving options in this area, known for good visibility almost year-round and many options for underwater exploration, including wreck, shallow and drift diving. The Tourism authority of Thailand has a dedicated honeymoons website, Memorable honeymoon in Thailand (honeymooning-in-thailand. com), that provides valuable information on the different regions of the country as well as special But no matter where the couple the country is ripe for exploration and romantic adventures. “Do not just hang out in the resort areas, but travel around Thailand and see why Thailand is raved about by so many adventurous travelers and why experts place to fall in love with,” Srimoon food, amazing shopping, friendly people, unique culture or even world-class golf, Thailand has something for everyone.” ❖ offers on local hotels and resorts. claim Thailand is a safe and easy chooses to marry or honeymoon, recommends. “Be it the Thai Marriage DeTailS According to the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, marriages are only valid in that country if both bride and groom show up to register it with the civil registrar at the district office, or Amphur. Before a marriage is registered, however, U.S. citizens must fill out a form that establishes their eligibility to wed. The steps for couples are as follows: 1. Make an appointment at the U.S. Embassy. 2 Prior to the appointment, download or pick up a Marriage Affidavit from the Embassy. Fill it out but do not sign it. Have it notarized at the Embassy during the appointment. As of press time, the notarial fee is $50. 3. Have the notarized affidavit translated by a certified translator. The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok has suggestions for translators available online. 4. Take the affidavit and translation to the following offices to have them legalized. This process might take a few days and will require a fee; some translators will also assist with this step. in Bangkok: Legalization Division Department of Consular Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs 123 Chaeng Wattana Road, 3rd Floor Tung Song Hong, Laksi District, Bangkok Tel: 02-575-1057-8, Fax: 02-575-1054 in Chiang Mai: Legalization Division Department of Consular Affairs Chiang Mai Provincial Hall Building Chotana Road, T.Chang Puek A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50000 Tel.: 053-112-748, 053-112-749, or 053-112-750 5. Take the affidavit and supporting documents to a local Amphur to register as husband and wife. The Amphur will also require of each person their U.S. passport or government-issued ID, plus a divorce or death certificate if one or both have been previously married. These should also be translated into Thai. Couples under the age of 20 also need to bring translated written permission from their parents. The process is not as complicated as it sounds—no blood tests or residency requirements necessary—but it can be somewhat time-consuming. Keep in mind that local wedding planners can help couples with the process, thereby expediting the registration. USefUl info Consulate General of the United States in Chiang Mai: chiangmai.usconsulate.gov Embassy of the United States in Bangkok: bangkok.usembassy.gov T13 http://honeymooning-in-thailand.com http://www.underwaterwedding.com http://www.private-scuba.com http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov http://bangkok.usembassy.gov

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Thailand 2011

Cultural Highs
Medical Tourism
Romance, Thai-Style
Think Green
Thailand Tee Times
Muay Thai
A Culinary Feast
All Aboard
Touring Thailand
Fast Facts

Thailand 2011