Baba Weddings in Phuket - Part Two - The Special Day

Smiles all round

I arrived early - well 7 am - and treated myself to a local coffee in a very local coffee shop - opposite the Honda showroom on the corner of Talang Road and Thepkrasattri Road.  A very strong kick start to the morning.

The men arrived dressed in their white suits and were escorted into the TAT office.  Then the crowds began to swell with many of the Thai people dressed in their 'Sunday best'.

There was commotion in the TAT office and I politely had a look inside - the men were being introduced and then escorted upstairs to meet their selected partner.  At this point I can only assume that the grooms 'passed through gates' where money was exchanged.  


Following this all the couples came downstairs and were taken to the Chinese Dragon adjacent to the TAT office.

Click photo for more photographs

Here a Chinese shrine was erected and the couples were taken to the shrine where they were blessed - after which they burnt some paper money in respect for these gods. During this time the Governor of Phuket arrived debonair in his tin-mining period clothing.

The couples then entered the TAT office again where tea was shared with their respective parents. 

The VIPs were then taken by rickshaw along Thalang Road and were followed by an entourage of children dressed in traditional Thai clothing and the bride and groom with their 'matchmakers'.

Click photo for more parade photographs

We stopped for a photo opportunity at the Thaihua museum - worth a look.  Then they got into cars adorned with pink ribbon and drove around the corner to Jui Tui Temple - a Chinese Temple in Phuket old town.

Click the photograph for more photographs in the temple

All the couples paid their respects to the Chinese gods with candles and incense sticks lit - fascinating, I was left speechless .....

Note: if you want to know more about the culture of this event please visit Jamie or Alisdair