Sounds like they need money to buy lanterns...it's on the hotel, not you, don't go there, go to some hostel rent a bed and make sure they've registered you.
Yes, you'd need them translated and the translation would have to be certified by both ministry of foreign affairs here in Thailand and the embassy, whichight prove different because people at the embassy can't read what the Thai translation says lol, so you might have to do a little convincing)) but I've ever done it INSIDE the country.
here comes the one that always complains on others complaining and telling them what to do and what not to do and tells everyone he disagrees with to leave))
maybe if he flies to that particular airport on that particular date, he could just 'transit' without having to go through the border controls...sounds like he doesn't have the luggage to check in anyways. His things could be mailed to him later.