Anna Gove & Joe Stanislawski

Anna & Joe

August 20, 2011

Anna Gove & Joe Stanislawski

Anna & Joe

August 20, 2011

Hello family and friends!

Welcome to our honeymoon registry site. We are looking forward to seeing all of you at our wedding in August. It means so much to us to spend that day with the people we care about the most.

As all of you know, we have been living on our own, both alone and together, for many years now. Our most recent move took us to an awesome, but tiny, apartment in the city. In order to successfully make this move, we literally got rid of half our possessions. We have to say, it felt liberating! During this process, we've discovered that there is nothing we really need.

We love to travel, and it plays an important role in both of our lives. We've been so lucky to travel a number of times in our life together so far, including an amazing trip to Africa. Even before we were engaged, we were contemplating a trip to Southeast Asia as our next adventure. Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam offer the perfect combination of bustling metropolis, relaxing beach, and intriguing culture.

Since Minnesota is perfect in August, and unbearable in January, we've decided to take our honeymoon in late 2011 and early 2012. This was we can beat the winter blues, and maximize our paid vacation time!

Thanks for helping us kick off our marriage with the first of many adventures!

Anna & Joe

We're going to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand!

Based on some great advice from Spikes, who lives in Bangkok, we've put together a super list of destinations. First we will stop in Bangkok and spend a few days with the a fore mentioned friend who will hopefully be our personal, behind the scenes tour guide.

Next stop will be Luang Prabang, Laos, a destination that remains mysterious, but holds a lot of promise. Apparently its a "vacation from your vacation." With it majestic setting and relaxed atmosphere, the town is known for sucking in travelers for weeks, month, and sometimes years...

From there, hopefully, we will get our dose of history in Hanoi.

After Vietnam, we will travel to Siem Reap, Cambodia, home of Angkor Wat. Today I heard Anthony Bourdain describe Angkor Wat as the place that caused him to give up photographing his travels. A photograph apparently couldn't do its scale and majesty justice, enough to make him give up the photos all together.

We'll stop next in Phnom Phen, the capital and largest city in Cambodia.

From there, we will travel back to Thailand and rest our weary traveling legs on the beach. This will hopefully be a wicked combination of beauty, decadence, and relaxation.

Needless to say, we will spend a fair amount of time in each of these destinations exploring the local culture in the form of eating local food - a favorite past time for both of us!

Our Registry

Bangkok, Thailand
Luang Prabang, Laos
Hanoi, Vietnam
Siem Reap & Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Koh Lanta, Thailand
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  • $0-$50
  • $50-$100
  • $100-$150
  • $150+
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Bottle of wine Surdyk's in the MSP airport. Yes, there is a Surdyk's in the MSP airport! Let's start this trip of right.... and help us sleep on the 18 hour flight.
Gift Fulfilled
Airfare from Minneapolis to Bangkok: Help us get out of the frigid cold and into the tropics!
$7500
22/30
$100
Giving Portions
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Two nights at the Majestic Grande Hotel in the heart of Sukhumvit, Bangkok's bustling shopping district. This hotel is perfect for shoppers, sightseers and partyers alike. Which one will we be?
Gift Fulfilled
Bangkok was once known as the Venice of the East. We'll hire a private boat to tour the city's busy waterways, and explore the tiny canals of neighboring Thonburi, giving us a glimpse of traditional Thai life.
Gift Fulfilled
A traditional Thai Massage is a must do for visitors. An interesting experience, a Thai masseuse twists and stretches limbs while utilizing acupressure to loosen up tense muscles. And don't worry, we know where to find the reputable practitioners.
Gift Fulfilled
Donations to the monks of Wat Mahathat for a three hour lesson in Vipassana or Insight meditation. While we are here, we should learn from the best!
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner with our fantastic and welcoming host, Amanda, at Somboon Seafood. Since the place is packed nightly, while waiting for a table we'll peruse the restaurant's large aquariums filled with prawns, fish, lobster, and crabs. Now that is fresh seafood.
Gift Fulfilled
Shopping at Patpong Night Market - This area is packed with outdoor shopping. Here, we'll pick up our tailor made suits, silk, and unique jewelry. These are must-haves from the Thai shopping experience. Anna's on a mission for a unique elephant pendant!
$5000
4/4
$100
Giving Portions
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Breakfast in bed - This we be just what we need after the long journey to Asia. We'll relax with room service before braving the busy streets of Bangkok.
Gift Fulfilled
Flight of the Gibbon - we'll spend the day zip-lining and trekking out way through the Thai jungle. I'm not sure our mutual fear of heights will get us through this one!
$4000
4/10
$100
Giving Portions
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Flight from Bangkok to Luang Prabang, Laos. Regional travel by air is the way to get around SE Asia.
Gift Fulfilled
Three nights at The Apsara Hotel in the cultural heart of Luang Prabang Recommended by a savvy traveler friend, this charming and romantic hotel offers relaxation, beautiful river views, and a restaurant with an adventurous menu. www.theapsara.com
$4000
4/8
$100
Giving Portions
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Swimming at Tad Se Waterfall - We'll need to hire a ferry boat down the Mekong to get to this stunning spot 20 miles south of Luang Prabang. Google it, it looks worth it right?
Gift Fulfilled
Send us on a day trip to Pak Ou Caves, one of Laos' natural wonders. Accessible only by boat up the Mekong, this site is also known as the "cave of one-thousand Buddhas."
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner at Tamnak Lao - Offering the full range of traditional Lao dishes, this restaurant is located in a renovated colonial in the temple district. Anna's particularly excited about the "lahp pla," or spicy fish salad!
Gift Fulfilled
Shopping at Ban Lao Natural Products on the Mekong riverfront. Offering handmade silks, handicrafts, clothing, and naturally made beauty products, this shop promises fair trade with local producers. Help us help sustainable development.
$5000
4/4
$100
Giving Portions
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Dinner at L'Elephant - This stylish bistro is where it's at in Luang Prabang. Run by French ex-pats, is a mix of local specialties, and the best of European cooking.
Gift Fulfilled
Lao breakfast in bed! As much as this trip is a backpacking adventure it is a relaxing honeymoon too! We'll need our breakfasts in bed before we venture into the jungle.
$3000
2/2
$100
Giving Portions
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Single entry tourist visa into Vietnam. Well, this is unexciting, but totally a necessity if we want to enjoy all Vietnam has to offer.
$3500
3/4
$100
Giving Portions
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2 ticket from Luang Prabang to Hanoi on Lao Air. This quick 50 minute flight will transport us from tropical paradise to bustling big city!
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner for two at Chim Sao. Serving authentic Vietnamese dishes is a home-style atmosphere, this Hanoi restaurant promises to serve dishes not "toned down" for the foreign palate.
Gift Fulfilled
Day trip to Halong Bay - We'll cruise on a junk stopping to explore hidden grottoes in this picturesque turquoise bay filled with towering limestone rock formations.
Gift Fulfilled
Three nights at the Phuc Loi Hotel in the heart of Hanoi. Super tidy and ornate, rooms on high levels have great views of the Old Quarter.
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner at Cha Ca La Vong. On a street called Cha Ca, this restaurant serves only one dish, a white fish served with peanut oil, turmeric, dill and rice noodles. Apparently the service is gruff, and you cook the food yourself. Sounds intriguing to me!
$2500
3/4
$100
Giving Portions
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Authentic Banh Mi in Vietnam. We should probably get them straight from the source -Bánh Mì Nguyên Sinh, in the heart of Hanoi.
$1000
3/4
$100
Giving Portions
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3 nights at La Noria, a gathering of bungalows connected by a winding garden path. The guesthouse is near the town center of Siem Reap, but you wouldn't know it in the hush of this laid back location. Perfect for relaxing nights after adventurous days.
Gift Fulfilled
Renting our own personal tuk tuk (a small covered trailer for two pulled behind a motorbike) to get around Siem Reap and to and from the temples.
Gift Fulfilled
Our tickets into Angkor Wat, the symbol of Cambodia known all over the world. Built in the 12th century, this intricate temple is the pinnacle of Khmer architecture.
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner at Madame Butterfly, a casually romantic spot said to serve the finest authentic Khmer food in town. Located in a converted traditional wooden home, the setting alone is worth a visit.
Gift Fulfilled
Tickets to a fun night out with an Apsara Dance performance and fine buffet dinner in a traditional banquet house theater. Apsara is an ancient art in Cambodia, characterized by gilded costumes and elegant slow movements.
Gift Fulfilled
Drinks at Dead Fish Tower - On the main road, heading towards the temples, this late night spot is set up like the rigging of a tall ship with precarious perches, funky nooks, and unique drinks.
Gift Fulfilled
A day trip traveling by boat via Chong Khneas & the Great Tonle Sap Lake, then rowing through the flooded forest & stilted houses of Kompong Phluk, and return to the Tara for a 3-course meal & 2 cold drinks.
$6000
2/2
$100
Giving Portions
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A cooking course to learn the secrets of Khmer cuisine with a cooking course, the perfect way to impress friends back home.
Gift Fulfilled
Ferry trip from Koh Pi Pi to Koh Lanta - We'll need to pass through Pi Pi, made famous in Leonardo DiCaprio's The Beach, to get to our beach destination on the more relaxing and adult friendly Lanta.
$2500
1/2
$100
Giving Portions
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Breakfast on the beach - this is kick back and relax phase of our journey, and what's better than meals on the beach with our toes in the sand.
Gift Fulfilled
Sea Kayaking - It will be a day of discovery and adventure as we paddle to secret beaches and past rugged coastline -- all while keeping an eye out for sea turtles and manta rays.
Gift Fulfilled
3 nights at the Moonlight Bay Resort, Koh Lanta - A bungalow on a quiet Thai beach would be a honeymoon dream come true. Thanks for helping us get there!
$8500
6/6
$100
Giving Portions
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Snorkeling Adventure - Thailand is a popular snorkeling destination due to its diverse sea life. Thanks to your gift, we'll get to explore many of the coral reefs and observe the abundance of underwater creatures.
$10000
4/4
$100
Giving Portions
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Massages on the beach in Koh Lanta, perfect for relaxing before the long journey home.
Gift Fulfilled
Guidebooks and Maps - Where are we? We'll need guidebooks and maps for our stay.
$1500
4/4
$100
Giving Portions
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Organized Bike Tour - Thailand has a wide variety of bike tours to choose from, some featuring excursions through vineyards and others through jungle terrain and back roads. This should be one of the best ways to explore the countryside!
$10000
4/4
$100
Giving Portions
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Dining Out - From Le Beaulieu to Shintaro, the dining destinations in Thailand are exceptional. Your gift will help us enjoy one of the best meals of the trip in an unforgettable setting.
$10000
4/4
$100
Giving Portions
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I'm not what they are yet, but I bet there are at least 4 books about SE Asia we need to read before going! Please give us suggestions!
$3000
4/4
$100
Giving Portions
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Mud baths anyone?We've (and by we, we mean Anna) have always wanted to do this, even though it sounds kinda gross.
$4000
1/2
$100
Giving Portions
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Bendy tripod! Totally essential for night shots of the Cambodian temples. We can picture it already.
$2000
2/2
$100
Giving Portions
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Nikon AF-S Nikkor 55-300mm Lens - the ultimate Nikon telephoto lens. This lens would be the one a private detective would use - perfect for jungle photos!
$5000
6/6
$100
Giving Portions
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Anna loves to snorkel. Joe snorkeled in Zanzibar for the first time, and HATED it. What say we give it another shot?
$3000
2/2
$100
Giving Portions
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