Thanks for visiting our honeymoon registry. Ashley and I are looking forward to seeing everybody in December for our wedding. It will be wonderful to have all of our friends and family there to share this special day with us. We especially appreciate all of you that live outside of the Chicago area who are planning to attend. So about this registry...
Some brides claim that they have been planning their weddings since childhood. I have been planning my honeymoon. Lace vs. satin? Lilies vs. roses? China patterns????? My eyes start to glaze over. But...the opportunity to ride an elephant through a jungle in Thailand? Let the tears of happiness begin.
Luckily, in our three years together, Ashley has grown to share my love of travel. Together we have driven through the Sierra Nevada mountain range (on roads bordered by 1000 feet drops with no guard rails in a car similar to a ten-speed), been passengers in a minivan speeding up the rock of Gibraltar (again, no guard rails) and driven by a man who insisted he had been bitten by monkeys "at least once a year," had those same monkeys jump on our heads from the roof of our driver's minivan, fought about map reading in Paris and then got lost after I "won," rode the subway to Versailles with a group of drunk (self-proclaimed) gypsies and ultimately had the time of our lives. With each new experience I think we learn something new about each other and return even closer than we were when we left.
We know that, for some, a wedding registry that does not include housewares, etc. will seem...well...unconventional. Ashley and I have lived together for a long time and like most couples, have accumulated plenty of stuff. While we appreciate any gifts that one wishes to give, we would love it if our guests would consider contributing to our biggest adventure yet, our two week honeymoon in Thailand. As you will see from the items on our registry - we have a lot planned. We plan to eat street food in Bangkok, ride a boat up the Mekong river to the point where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet, stay at an elephant conservation camp, stay in a beach front bungalow on a small island, kayak through the Thai Islands and enjoy many other once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
We hope to see you at our wedding on December 5th. Don't worry, even though I'm clearly missing a gene when it comes to this wedding planning stuff, it is shaping up to be a beautiful evening that will be shared by the people we love most.
Our wedding website is:
www.brownandbrandt.weddingwindow.com
We're going to Thailand!
December 6: After spending our wedding with our friends and family, we will board a plane to Tokyo at 12:00 p.m. Soon after, we will board a plane to Bangkok and arrive in the City on December 7 at 11:45 p.m. We will be met by an English speaking person who will transfer us to our hotel. We're going to be exhausted, so I have chosen a relatively nice hotel where we can recuperate from our 22 hour flight.
December 7: We will the Royal Grand Palace compound to get a feeling of the grandeur architectural style. Since the founding of Bangkok as the Nation's capital by King Rama I, The Grand Palace has been the major architectural symbol of the Thai Royal Family. In the present time, The Royal Family resides at Chitralada Palace while The Grand Palace is used for ceremonial purposes.
Proceed to visit Klong tour (Canal Tours), Cruising along the klongs as the canals are called in Thai, takes us on a journey of contrast back to earlier eras and up to modern Bangkok. These journeys will take us to fascinating places such as The Royal Barge Museum and the colonial-style Thonburi Railway Station. On the way we will see a different side of life as we pass the homes of the klong-dwellers. Each home seems to have its own boat, be it a small canoe or a hang yao the long-tailed boats powered by car or truck engines and a propeller on a long shaft that acts as both propulsion and steerage. Also visit Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) which is the most beautiful Pagoda along the Chao Phraya River of Bangkok.
Dinner: In the evening join the charming Dinner Cruise by Manohra. Enjoy a superb Asian dinner while slowly drifting along the riverside of the Chao Phaya River. Whilst dining on a luxury style converted river barge, we will get a first hand impression of the scenic river life at night.
December 9: Private tour of Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya is one of Thailand's historical and majestic highlights. It served as the Thai capital for 417 years, it was once glorified as one of the biggest cities in the world a Southeast Asia
center for civilizations. During the 17th century, most foreign visitors to Ayutthaya, traders or diplomats alike, claimed Ayutthaya to be the most illustrious and glittering city that they had ever visited. Today, there are groups of crumbling ruins and rows of headless Buddhas where once an empire thrived. The temple compounds are still awe inspiring even in disrepair and a visit here is memorable and a good beginning for those drawn to the relics of history.
Dinner: depart from Hotel to visit Silom Village to enjoy a delicious genuine Thai style dinner in a delightful Thai atmosphere surrounded by beautiful decoration. The meal is accompanied by Thai classical music and dances.
December 10: Transfer to Suvarnabhumi Airport to take departure flight from Bangkok to Chiang Rai.
ABOUT CHIANG RAI: THIS IS WHAT SARAH IS MOST EXCITED ABOUT!!! Chiang Rai is located in the Golden Triangle. This is the area where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet. The area is less popular than Chiang Mai, a neighboring province that is more touristy.
ABOUT ANANTARA RESORT: Surrounded by the natural beauty of Northern Thailand's rugged hill country, Anantara's Golden Triangle resort is a luxury nature retreat set amidst 160 acres of lush tropical jungles overlooking the winding Mekong River and the border with Burma and Laos. The resort features a unique onsite Elephant Camp, offering guests such unforgettable experiences as mahout training courses, elephant trekking and other conservation activities. We will also explore the vibrant culture of Thailand and Southeast Asia with our Thai cooking school, guided visits to local hill tribe villages, excursions to Burma's colourful border markets and the longtail boat rides up the Mekong to Laos. This resort is dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of elephants.
December 11:
Chiang Rai: Three modes of transport journey: An elephant trek through Anantara's own forests, a longtail boat trip up the Mekong to the Lao island of Don Sao, and a journey by local traditional truck through countryside rice paddies and colorful farmland.
December 12:
Chiang Rai: Morning strolls through a bustling border market in Burma, lunch in the historic Lanna Kingdom, afternoon shopping in Laos.
December 13: Relax at resort. Afternoon Thai cooking course and visit famous Opium Museum.
December 14:
Morning Flight to Krabi, transfer by boat to Koh Lanta.
ABOUT Koh Lanta: With nine white beaches and beautiful sunsets, the island of Ko Lanta Yai provides an unparalleled escape to paradise. Located in the Krabi Province, one of the southern provinces of Thailand, Ko Lanta offers fantastic scuba diving with exotic marine life and grand coral reefs. The Island is an average of 80 degrees and boasts quieter nightlife and a less touristy feel.
LAYANA RESORT: The Layana Resort and Spa is located in the middle of a tropical garden, the hotel is designed to harmonize perfectly with the natural surroundings; the resort consists of low-rise, contemporary Thai-style buildings that combine spaciousness with an open, cool and natural ambience. Koh Lanta is (luckily) cheaper than the more developed islands and Layana is the nicest resort on the Island.
December 15:
Morning: Relax at the beach
Kayaking in the Mangrove Forest (Half-day Trip)
10 minutes transfer from Layana by car to Sea Gypsy pier. Board 3 kayaks (1 guide and 4 guests) and paddle with the tide to enter the mangrove canals. Depending on tidal levels, see a variety of colourful crabs, birdlife and possibly monkeys too.
Dinner: Time For Lime restaurant & bar is not just a well known professional Thai & Fusion Cooking School, it also boasts now a Beach & Tree-top Restaurant. In just a short time because of the word of mouth, more and more people are checking out the great food, atmosphere and the famous Mojitos.
December 16:
Four Islands Excursion: A snorkeling trip to Koh Cheuk, and Koh Ngai; 45minutes south of Layana by speedboat. Enter the Emerald cave at Koh Muk swimming through a tunnel into the secret center of the island.Land on a white sandy beach at Koh Kradan for a delicious picnic lunch. Fee includes snorkeling equipment, picnic lunch, fruit, soft drinks, beer and wine, and national park entry fee.
December 17:
Jungle Adventure: Depart Layana in 4WD jeeps traveling approximately 40 minutes to the Marine National Park. Leave jeeps and follow a trail into the lush and dense jungle. Enormous majestic trees, trailing liana vines and giant palms shade the trail and the sounds of birds and forest wild life can be clearly heard. Total walking time approximately 1 hour. Rejoin jeeps and drive via a Sea Gypsy Village back to Layana.
Dinner at Cook Kai: Wholly built of wood and lovely decorated, it offers a spacious open dining area and bar. Run by the cook and his brothers and sisters, their Thai food, which has a bit of an extraordinary note, is probably the best we can get in the area and beyond. Go for the daily specials announced on the board at the entrance! Cook Kai also offers Thai cooking classes.
December 18:
Relax at beach
December 19:
Fly back to Bangkok
Overnight in Bangkok
December 20:
Return home
Our Registry
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- $50-$100
- $100-$150
- $150+
- All