Ritual

The time had come.  We were seated in front of the Brahmin, a local layperson and former Monk.  (A Brahmin here is not the same as a Brahmin Priest in India.)  Colorful silk sashes had been pinned over our garments and things were about ready to begin.  

My Heart and I were each given a boiled egg and a ball of sticky rice.  We placed these items on the flower tray of the altar piece.  

We were then adorned with our flowered garlands.  My One looked lovely in hers.  I ended up looking like an extra from "A Midsummers Night Dream," but it was all part of the ritual.  

Speaking of goofy, according to Bunloed, my very nice sarong turned out to be a women's pattern, at least in Thailand.  He said that in Burma and Lao men wore sarongs with my pattern, but here in Isaan it was a girl sarong.  Regardless, I brazened it out, smiling at the giggles of the women who were very amused at the cross-dressing Farrang.  Besides, my pattern matched My Love's sarong perfectly.  

The officiant reciting some very long prayers.

The prayers at an end for the moment, we lit the candles at the top of the altar piece.  It was now the time for well-wishers to bind us together with the white strings and small gifts of money.  While balancing the egg and sticky rice in one hand, the white strings were tied around each of our wrists and 100 baht bills pressed into our hands.  Our other hand was held up in a half-Wai, the Thai form of respect.  

There were more long prayers, candles lighted, and more chanted prayers.  We removed the eggs from the flower tray and handed them to the Brahmin.  The eggs were duly peeled, revealing or fortunes.  My One had the stronger egg-fortune, while mine was still good, but not as good.   Later, as an old married couple, we wondered if the good man every said "Wow, rotten luck, that is one bad egg."  We ate the eggs and washed them down with water toasts.

The candle of marriage lighted.

The white strings to bind us together.

And the rings to join us in another tradition.

Thus were we wed.  

The wedding ritual was concluded and it was time for the party to begin.  Actually, the party had already begun in the background, with people wandering over to tie yet another white string on our wrists and wander back over to the mats laden with food and drink.  The eating and drinking went long into the night.  The eating crowd waned and the drinking crowd waxed.  

My new wife, looking lovely, reclining on the mats borrowed from the local temple.

Thus comes to an end our year-and-a-half long-distance courtship.  Of that eighteen months, we have been together about ten.  The rest of the time we suffered the separation for better or for worse, but we have always made it through the next obstacle, be it distance, time, or paperwork.  There will be more paperwork obstacles to overcome, and yet another marriage ceremony in Austria, but we are hopeful that the enforced time apart is at an end.

Our deepest thanks goes out to our hosts Bunloed, Angelina, and Baby Rose.  We also wish to thank all of the wonderful folks from Ban Kham Pia.  Their warmth, hospitality, humor and sense of fun was fantastic.  

Lastly, all of my love and thanks to my beautiful Sabine.  I am indeed a lucky man.

Of course, to you my beloved Freinds and Neighbors, I say "Ciao for Now!!"