Couples Wed on Elephants in Pattaya and on Balloons in Chiang Rai

CHONBURI, Feb 14(TNA) -The management of the Nongnooch Garden in Pattaya organized a wedding ceremony for couples riding elephants to celebrate the Valentine’s Day. Anucha Inthasorn, chief of Sattahip district of Chon Buri province, and Nongnooch Garden general manager Patanant Kantisukapan presided over the ceremony in the Nongnooch Dinosaur Valley. Fourteen elephants joined a parade of bridegrooms together with a brass band. There was also a Beauty and the Beast performance in the event witnessed by Thai and foreign tourists. Napolkit Sodon, PR manager of the Nongnooch Garden, said the management of the garden had organized such events for ten years. Last year 89 couples had their marriage registered in the park. He expected more than 90 couples to do so on this Valentine’s Day. The first 25 couples doing the activity on elephants were invited to a meal at Phlab Phlueng restaurant and the first 100 couples in the event received auspicious plants. In Chiang Rai province, such an activity was held at the Singha Park in Muang district. Twenty selected couples, Thai and foreigners, had their marriage registered on hot air balloons. They included stars and Lahu hill tribe people who wore their traditional clothing. Somkit Kesanakin, Chiang Rai’s Muang district chief, registered their marriage which was witnessed by about 1,000 tourists. The selected couples also enjoyed views of Chiang Rai province on the balloons at the temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. (TNA)