Help a mama out! First family holiday...

[renaz]

Come over , I will buy you & some of the posters here a beer.

Rooo, a very good friend of mine is from Malaysia and his name is Roo. (Well its actually something Malaysian that's really hard for a lot of people to pronounce. ) If you are even half as decent and nice as him, which I'm gathering you are from your posts in this forum, I'm very much looking forward to that.

Edited August 27, 2013 by renaz

[PoorSucker]

I hope you are not trying to take the kids to the full moon party.

Yeah man, the three year old all ready has her light up poi's and the six year old has a skirt she made out of glow sticks and we play screaming techno all day long to get them excited.

[samuijimmy]

It's nice renaz has a good sense of humour... and appreciative of the responses made

Now let's see , Thai Visa party usually around October time I think you should come and liven up the party !!! Stand a round too

[PoorSucker]

It's nice renaz has a good sense of humour... and appreciative of the responses made

Now let's see , Thai Visa party usually around October time I think you should come and liven up the party !!! Stand a round too

We could have an informal... @TheSecretPlace.

[PoorSucker]

We could have an informal... @TheSecretPlace.

White ties and tails are optional.

Proper dinner jacket formal is not .

[renaz]

Ooh, I'm all ready being invited to parties?! At secret places and all. Here's hoping I'm not a typical drunken bogan huh?

Find us an awesome babysitter and we're there. Or have an afternoon BBQ and we can all be entertained by the antics of my daughters.

*Worst thing the Brits ever did taking their bloody penguin suits to the rest of the world. A tie in the tropics, for crying out loud.

[Tropicalevo]

Ooh, I'm all ready being invited to parties?! At secret places and all. Here's hoping I'm not a typical drunken bogan huh?

Find us an awesome babysitter and we're there. Or have an afternoon BBQ and we can all be entertained by the antics of my daughters.

*Worst thing the Brits ever did taking their bloody penguin suits to the rest of the world. A tie in the tropics, for crying out loud.

One should alwayws wear the correct attire when one perambulates between watering holes

[renaz]

Ooh, I'm all ready being invited to parties?! At secret places and all. Here's hoping I'm not a typical drunken bogan huh?

Find us an awesome babysitter and we're there. Or have an afternoon BBQ and we can all be entertained by the antics of my daughters.

*Worst thing the Brits ever did taking their bloody penguin suits to the rest of the world. A tie in the tropics, for crying out loud.

One should alwayws wear the correct attire when one perambulates between watering holes

One should not have to sweat ones, ah, extremities off because of some long dead, uptight Victorians' sense of decency and decorum.

[Neilly]

[islandguy]

Yes, we have enjoyed your posts, thanks. Weather wise, rainy season used to start the middle of October and really set in in November. Lately, we never know, but more often than not it has been later than it used to be , so it could be just great for you, especially when you are craving some lush greenery and lovely rain. Even in the middle of the real rainy season there are some beautiful days. The prices you mentioned for renting a house are crazy high, so come on over with a few days booked in advance, and scout around for a good deal. With your attitude you should be fine!

[renaz]

What a lovely thing to say, thanks islandguy!

That's what we've decided to do. Book then scout. In between the water park. We can't forget the water park!!

The prices are crazy as we have been looking at the swanky villas. We are getting married, I want seriously swanky. (Our whole house would fit into the living space of some of these places. We are on 22acres though... ) It's a rare event for us to do anything lush to spoil ourselves, we figure is okay to do when we're getting married.

I'm so glad I joined this forum though as now I'm aware that we will get something pretty good for a much better price in person. Also as we are not sure where we will want to be most. Lots of 'stuff' on Samui but KPG sounds so much more our style. I'm assuming pretty easy to hop back to Samui though for the day?

Thanks again everyone! Though now I'm just about bustin' outta my skin with excitement and we don't fly out for seven weeks. Haha. At least the sun is shining here today!

[notmyself]

I'm assuming pretty easy to hop back to Samui though for the day?

Couple of hours on the ferry. No reason why you couldn't get a good day on Samui (or KPG) before heading back.

I agree with islandguy too. Some people leave you with the feeling that they will be fine while others leaving you feeling the complete opposite.

I got married on Samui 7 years ago to a non Thai (Kiwi). Managed through a friend to get the head cheese at the amphor to come over to Lamai and do the paperwork on the beach for a small donation to the benevolent fund (1000 or 2000 Baht). Everything else such as documents from BKK, food for 60 people, flowers, cake etc. etc. done myself. Total cost was GBP600 with a free bar until dawn. I do have some pictures but they are on my PC in Thai so you'll have to wait until I return from the UK in a couple of weeks if you wish to see what can be done.

Most important is to get the green eagle stamp on the affirmation to marry from the MFA in BKK but that only takes a couple of days for everything and you will be in BKK anyway.

[yorkie100]

Come over , I will buy you & some of the posters here a beer.

Just posting so I get a beer from Rooo!

[renaz]

I got married on Samui 7 years ago to a non Thai (Kiwi). Managed through a friend to get the head cheese at the amphor to come over to Lamai and do the paperwork on the beach for a small donation to the benevolent fund (1000 or 2000 Baht). Everything else such as documents from BKK, food for 60 people, flowers, cake etc. etc. done myself. Total cost was GBP600 with a free bar until dawn. I do have some pictures but they are on my PC in Thai so you'll have to wait until I return from the UK in a couple of weeks if you wish to see what can be done.

Most important is to get the green eagle stamp on the affirmation to marry from the MFA in BKK but that only takes a couple of days for everything and you will be in BKK anyway.

I don't even have that many friends and we haven't told any family what we are planning so no big party for us. Two friends of ours have booked flights all ready to be there, hoping my best mate who lives up north can get there, haven't seen her for a couple of years. We've told three other people, maybe they can make it. That's it.

Getting someone from the amphur to attend to do the paperwork on the day would be great but it's a Saturday we are doing the dastardly deed so not sure if that would be possible....maybe for a slightly larger donation to the benevolent fund?

We'd have enough time in Bangkok to do all the paperwork if we were there during the week but we arrive on a Thursday night. In saying that, I've discovered that the MFA will post the papers to you once done. Was going to put c/o- Samui post office. Fingers crossed that works!

Edited August 29, 2013 by renaz

[renaz]

Come over , I will buy you & some of the posters here a beer.

Just posting so I get a beer from Rooo!

That's the spirit!

[notmyself]

I don't even have that many friends and we haven't told any family what we are planning so no big party for us. Two friends of ours have booked flights all ready to be there, hoping my best mate who lives up north can get there, haven't seen her for a couple of years. We've told three other people, maybe they can make it. That's it.

You may want one of them to be some kind of celebrant and the amphur man is just the to collect the two affirmations and get you to sign a document before handing over a wedding certificate and having his photo taken with as many people as he can.

maybe for a slightly larger donation to the benevolent fund?

Money talks.

We'd have enough time in Bangkok to do all the paperwork if we were there during the week but we arrive on a Thursday night. In saying that, I've discovered that the MFA will post the papers to you once done. Was going to put c/o- Samui post office. Fingers crossed that works!

All the MFA does is check that the translation of the affirmation of marriage is an accurate translation. They join both papers together and stamp a green eagle on it (them). Express service is 2 hours in person and does not need to be booked. Just turn up and hand over some cash (not much). The real time is getting the document (affirmation of marriage) from your Embassy which will likely be 24 hours. The UK and Kiwi Embassy were surrounded by translation services for various reasons. Few details change between affirmation letters so they just bring up a template and enter DOB, name etc. I gave them mine, said I'd be back in an hour after breakfast and it was done. If you get something from Aus. that will count as an affirmation or somehow arrange it beforehand with the BKK Aus. embassy so you can pick it up just after they open there is not reason why you shouldn't be able to pop out Friday morning and be all done by mid afternoon.

Tell you what sunshine. Fingers crossed in Thailand is far removed from the fingers crossed most people elsewhere understand. To me (and perhaps yourself) it represents a risk in certainty where the outcome is positive to a high degree. Here (there) in Thailand it represents a coin flip. Even then, you need to factor in it being done correctly when more people are involved. If you possibly can, get that green eagle in BKK while you are there because it could cost lots of time and money if you don't. If something happens (fingers crossed = 50:50 = ha sip ha sip) and you both need to go back to BKK which means taking the kids the costs would be huge. See the Bangkok airways rant thread for more details.

It may pay to search the forum regarding getting an affirmation to marry letter in Aus. which is acceptable in the MFA after translation. If you can't find anything then ask here

From what I have heard, the Australian embassy in BKK is pretty good (UK one is rubbish). They may be willing to create the affirmation if you fax over the relevant documents so you can collect when they open. If they need to be paid (in Baht) to create the affirmation first then pay them over the 'net. Next, ask if they can fax you a copy of the affirmation. Refax that to a company who does translations close to the embassy and get them to do the work before you even leave. If you want to know who to fax it to, ask on the forum link above and ask if someone used one as of late. For the translation company it's COD, pay in person and nothing else.

Friday morning: Take a taxi to the embassy, show passport and maybe divorce papers if any and collect affirmation. Walk over the road and collect the translation of the fax. Catch a taxi (lots on that road) to the MFA. Hand in the docs (express service), leave the MFA and go for lunch somewhere before returning 2 hours later. Early afternoon you have your green eagles and are ready to explore. Unlike Samui, taxis are cheap in BKK as you will no doubt find out.

Johnno

[renaz]

Hello everyone!! Just wanted to pop in and say we are having an amazing time and thank-you for all the advice, it has helped immeasurably.

After four full on days in Bangkok we hit Samui and stayed an extra two days there we were having so much fun. We are here on KPG now and settled into a sweet little house just out of Thong Sala. We would have liked to be on the beach but we have a pool so that's good enough. We are used to being in the trees anyway! We all have a cold at the moment but I'm sure it will pass soon with lots of hot Thai food.

The mister, a VERY experienced rider, wants to get a bike while we are here....I think the article posted about the roads on Samui though may have convinced him to get a car instead. He wants the bike as it's cheaper and we have spent WAY more money than we intended. Haha. I say screw the expense, our safety is paramount. Anyone going away for a few weeks want to lend us their car?? We can do a deal.

We are so happy to be in a little house finally, has not been much of a holiday yet for us running round after the kids. Feel like we can relax here.

Maybe will see you around!

[renaz]

I don't even have that many friends and we haven't told any family what we are planning so no big party for us. Two friends of ours have booked flights all ready to be there, hoping my best mate who lives up north can get there, haven't seen her for a couple of years. We've told three other people, maybe they can make it. That's it.

You may want one of them to be some kind of celebrant and the amphur man is just the to collect the two affirmations and get you to sign a document before handing over a wedding certificate and having his photo taken with as many people as he can.

maybe for a slightly larger donation to the benevolent fund?

Money talks.

We'd have enough time in Bangkok to do all the paperwork if we were there during the week but we arrive on a Thursday night. In saying that, I've discovered that the MFA will post the papers to you once done. Was going to put c/o- Samui post office. Fingers crossed that works!

All the MFA does is check that the translation of the affirmation of marriage is an accurate translation. They join both papers together and stamp a green eagle on it (them). Express service is 2 hours in person and does not need to be booked. Just turn up and hand over some cash (not much). The real time is getting the document (affirmation of marriage) from your Embassy which will likely be 24 hours. The UK and Kiwi Embassy were surrounded by translation services for various reasons. Few details change between affirmation letters so they just bring up a template and enter DOB, name etc. I gave them mine, said I'd be back in an hour after breakfast and it was done. If you get something from Aus. that will count as an affirmation or somehow arrange it beforehand with the BKK Aus. embassy so you can pick it up just after they open there is not reason why you shouldn't be able to pop out Friday morning and be all done by mid afternoon.

Tell you what sunshine. Fingers crossed in Thailand is far removed from the fingers crossed most people elsewhere understand. To me (and perhaps yourself) it represents a risk in certainty where the outcome is positive to a high degree. Here (there) in Thailand it represents a coin flip. Even then, you need to factor in it being done correctly when more people are involved. If you possibly can, get that green eagle in BKK while you are there because it could cost lots of time and money if you don't. If something happens (fingers crossed = 50:50 = ha sip ha sip) and you both need to go back to BKK which means taking the kids the costs would be huge. See the Bangkok airways rant thread for more details.

It may pay to search the forum regarding getting an affirmation to marry letter in Aus. which is acceptable in the MFA after translation. If you can't find anything then ask here

From what I have heard, the Australian embassy in BKK is pretty good (UK one is rubbish). They may be willing to create the affirmation if you fax over the relevant documents so you can collect when they open. If they need to be paid (in Baht) to create the affirmation first then pay them over the 'net. Next, ask if they can fax you a copy of the affirmation. Refax that to a company who does translations close to the embassy and get them to do the work before you even leave. If you want to know who to fax it to, ask on the forum link above and ask if someone used one as of late. For the translation company it's COD, pay in person and nothing else.

Friday morning: Take a taxi to the embassy, show passport and maybe divorce papers if any and collect affirmation. Walk over the road and collect the translation of the fax. Catch a taxi (lots on that road) to the MFA. Hand in the docs (express service), leave the MFA and go for lunch somewhere before returning 2 hours later. Early afternoon you have your green eagles and are ready to explore. Unlike Samui, taxis are cheap in BKK as you will no doubt find out.

Johnno

We have all the right documents, was a bit of a mission on the last morning in Bangkok getting to the MFA but I did it! Whoot!