ONE of the most delightful of Phuket ceremonies is to return for Valentine's Day this year: the Baba Wedding.

While the underwater marriage ceremony has become a regular fixture for February 14 in Trang, the Baba wedding, which takes most of the day, has not been seen on Phuket since 2005.

Eight couples will be hitched on the day, with 25 couples coming from Taiwan to honeymoon on the island as part of the Valentine's Day event.



Taiwan visitors have fallen since the 2004 tsunami but the Baba wedding this year looks set to attract a sizeable number of media and tour agents to Phuket.

Under the theme ''Two islands one culture,'' the Taiwan visitors will have the chance to see first-hand the traditional manner in which Chinese traders married Thai women more than 100 years ago.

Onlookers are welcome. As the accompanying Photo Album shows, it's a stylish cultural event.

Most of the activities will centre on Baan Hongyok, one of the sino-portuguese mansions in Krabi Road, Phuket City, that has many passersby wishing they could see inside.

The day begins with a parade at precisely 8.19am, with respect being paid to the Chinese gods at the TAT office in Phuket City.

At 8.30am, the grooms parade and proceed to Baan Hongyok to pick up their brides. A tea ceremony follows.

At 10.30am, the couple pose for photographs.
At 10.45am, a parade will carry the couples to pay their respects at Pudjor Chinese temple.

The morning ceremony ends at 11am.

Evening festivities begin at 5pm with group photographs and a wedding party at Thai Hua Museum, in Krabi Road.

The Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan, will host the grooms, while local TAT chief Settapan Puttanee will host the brides.