Tourists begin migration to Nong Khai for Naga Fireballs Festival

[webfact]

Tourists begin migration to Nong Khai for Naga Fireballs Festival
By English News



NONG KHAI, Oct 18 - Tourists have started their annual pilgrimage to this northeastern Thai province to see the mysterious Naga Fireballs Festival in the nighttime at the End of Buddhist Lent Day tomorrow.

Traffic on Mitrapap Road from Udon Thani to Nong Khai has been steady since early Friday morning, as travellers wend their waysfrom around the country on their way to Nong Khai province for the Mekong lights festival.

Anuchit Sakulku, Nong Khai Tourism Business Association president, said some 90 per cent of hotel and guest house rooms have been booked. The local tourism economic return this year is expected to rise up to 40 per cent more than last year.

Overflow accommodation, shelters and amenities are also prepared in the municipality, he said. Local authorities have added tents and mobile toilets for travellers as well as workers and officers on 24-hour security duty.

The Naga Fireballs Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday.

Accommodations in the town are monitored by provincial officials to not be overpriced for the popular annual festival.

Naga fireballs are said to be a natural phenomenon in many sizes which rise mysteriously above the Mekong River, and are most often reported around the night of the full moon at the end of the Buddhist Lent. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-10-18

[apetley]

Natural phenomenon my hairy a**. The display I saw was nothing more than a fireworks show but at least it kept the kids amused.

[upena]

One of the biggest hoaxes perpetuated in Thailand.

[Emdog]

Coming up from the authentic Phuket annual fireball festival?

[flyingdoc]

Try the Rocket Festival in Yasothon !

At least that is real, and failed rockets DO result in head to toe dunking in a pool of mud!

[siampolee]

Naga fireballs are said to be a natural phenomenon in many sizes which rise mysteriously above the Mekong River, and are most often reported around the night of the full moon at the end of the Buddhist Lent. (MCOT online news)

Such fireballs are under the unworldly control of the late Buster Crabb R.N..

Below is a link to explain the link.

http://www.divernet.com/other_diving_topics/general_diving/160751/how_buster_crabb_died.htm

[a2b]

To any body concerned,

If you have not got any chance to see or observe the real phenomana, what you all said can not be substantiated ie don't just say as you feel or think, your thinking are more wrong than right! If you still insist that you are 100% right, do you dare to get there and catch the source (who or what make the fireballs) of the fireballs and expose the fact to the world.

Don't just say if you don't have the fact.

Better informed member

[Lite Beer]

PM attends Naga Fireball Festival in Nong Khai

BANGKOK, 19 Oct 2013 (NNT) – Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has traveled to Nong Khai Province to attend the annual Naga Fireball Festival.

PM Yingluck, together with Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan and Deputy Education Minister Sermsak Pongpanit, paid a visit to Nong Khai Province where she was welcomed by provincial authorities and the locals.

There, Miss Yingluck presided over the opening ceremony of the renowned Naga Fireball Festival and witnessed a traditional dance performed by the locals. The Premier said Nong Khai has its own uniqueness and is rich with natural resources as she sees an opportunity to turn the province into a tourist destination.

Naga Fireballs locally known as Bang Fai Phaya Nak is a phenomenon event which takes place on the night of Ok Phansa during which fireballs of various sizes burst from the bottom of the Mekong River, sprint above the water surface, and then move skyward before disappearing.

Local residents believe that the fireballs belong to the Naga, the king of serpents. This natural wonder is linked to a legend dating back to the Buddha’s times. It is said that the Buddha went to heaven to instruct his mother in his teachings. He spent three months there until his mother attained enlightenment.

On the full-moon day of the eleventh lunar month, the Buddha returned to earth and celestial beings built a golden and silver staircase for him to come down. With his loving kindness, the Buddha created a miracle by opening a view of the three worlds, namely heaven, the earth, and the underworld.

All Nagas living in the underworld admired the Buddha for the gratitude he showed towards his mother, so they blew out flames from the bottom of the river to celebrate.

-- NNT 2013-10-19

[slipperylobster]

I do not wish to see Naga Balls. I prefer women.

[Bagwan]

To any body concerned,

If you have not got any chance to see or observe the real phenomana, what you all said can not be substantiated ie don't just say as you feel or think, your thinking are more wrong than right! If you still insist that you are 100% right, do you dare to get there and catch the source (who or what make the fireballs) of the fireballs and expose the fact to the world.

Don't just say if you don't have the fact.

Better informed member

Want to buy a bridge?

[Cuban]

To any body concerned,

If you have not got any chance to see or observe the real phenomana, what you all said can not be substantiated ie don't just say as you feel or think, your thinking are more wrong than right! If you still insist that you are 100% right, do you dare to get there and catch the source (who or what make the fireballs) of the fireballs and expose the fact to the world.

Don't just say if you don't have the fact.

Better informed member

I do not berate your English as you are clearly writing in a second or third language which is to be applauded, however there is NOTHING in nature that behaves in this way.

Much of the world's adult population no longer believe in simple smoke & mirrors "magic" and "myth", or in this case marketing.

The Naga Fireworks display is an old tradition and long may it continue to thrill, amuse and support bed-time stories for children across the world.

But if you are trying to suggest to adults on this web-site that you have some special mystical insight to the true naga origin of the Firework Rockets - then you are in the wrong place.

Thailand would be a better place in so many ways if adults acted like adults.

This story was covered here three years ago. LINK.

[JoeThePoster]

Just some fish that had too many Doritos.

[siampolee]

a2b post # 7

To any body concerned,

If you have not got any chance to see or observe the real phenomana, what you all said can not be substantiated ie don't just say as you feel or think, your thinking are more wrong than right! If you still insist that you are 100% right, do you dare to get there and catch the source (who or what make the fireballs) of the fireballs and expose the fact to the world.

Don't just say if you don't have the fact.

Better informed member

''A better informed member'' In the medical profession ''a member'' is the badge of '' manhood'' so what would that make you?

[Michael Hare]

I saw the fireballs in 1996. They rose, not like fireworks, but slowly up through the water, and then shot up into the sky in a slim stream of silver-blue and explored in a puff of light blue smoke. They occur at other places along the Mekong river and in other parts of the world from inland rivers and swamps. The scientific explanation is that they are probably caused by methane gas, but there is no proof of this from the Mekong river. They seem to rise better when there has been good rain in early October, followed by clear blue skys and cooling temperatures at the end of Lent. In some years, they do not rise at all and I think that this year will be a year of inactivity.

In the old days there were no boats and festivals on the river. Just dead quiet and dead calm. Nowadays, with all the thousands of people lining the banks, the boats on the river, the noise from the bands etc, it is surprising that any fireballs rise at all.

[keestha]

In 1999, I arrived in Nongkai knowing nothing about the festival which was going on. Searching more and more desperately for a hotel room, we were soon ready to spend thousands of Baht on it (not my usual thing), but no luck. Finally we ended up in an incredibly decrepit downtown hotel (no private bathrooms), which was nevertheless full of Thais who looked like they had money, bearing their fate and grinning at each other.

[a2b]

Again,

To all concerned. This is the final message, I don't want to waste any more of my time with all of you. If your thinking is scientifically correct, can you all tell me your date of death? Remember that even the scientists can not prove and dictate such dates in advance if you are not sick. Your date of death is dictated only by your Lord or God or Heaven or Hell in your religions, provided that you are not an athiest. Comparatively, they are similar.

[sevenhills]

Again,

To all concerned. This is the final message, I don't want to waste any more of my time with all of you. If your thinking is scientifically correct, can you all tell me your date of death? Remember that even the scientists can not prove and dictate such dates in advance if you are not sick. Your date of death is dictated only by your Lord or God or Heaven or Hell in your religions, provided that you are not an athiest. Comparatively, they are similar.

I'm pleased that this is your final message.

[sawadee1947]

To any body concerned,

If you have not got any chance to see or observe the real phenomana, what you all said can not be substantiated ie don't just say as you feel or think, your thinking are more wrong than right! If you still insist that you are 100% right, do you dare to get there and catch the source (who or what make the fireballs) of the fireballs and expose the fact to the world.

Don't just say if you don't have the fact.

Better informed member

I do not berate your English as you are clearly writing in a second or third language which is to be applauded, however there is NOTHING in nature that behaves in this way.

Much of the world's adult population no longer believe in simple smoke & mirrors "magic" and "myth", or in this case marketing.

The Naga Fireworks display is an old tradition and long may it continue to thrill, amuse and support bed-time stories for children across the world.

But if you are trying to suggest to adults on this web-site that you have some special mystical insight to the true naga origin of the Firework Rockets - then you are in the wrong place.

Thailand would be a better place in so many ways if adults acted like adults.

This story was covered here three years ago. LINK.

it's good to speak more than only one language, isn'it? Can't find many poms speaking a foreign language, Seems to be a lack of education?

[Cuban]

I saw the fireballs in 1996. They rose, not like fireworks, but slowly up through the water, and then shot up into the sky in a slim stream of silver-blue and explored in a puff of light blue smoke.

If produced smoke they are not just gas.

Also there is no ignition source, the 'firework' is probably initiated by a Sodium or Potassium fuse reacting with water.

Funny if you read the old accounts of the Naga Fireballs they were white and only rose a few feet above the water. Yet after international tourism came into play the fireballs became orange and shoot much higher into the air.

What color next year?

It would be interesting to see if only to get some first hand pictures and plot their ballistic curve.

[richard_smith237]

I saw the fireballs in 1996. They rose, not like fireworks, but slowly up through the water, and then shot up into the sky in a slim stream of silver-blue and explored in a puff of light blue smoke.

If produced smoke they are not just gas.

Also there is no ignition source, the 'firework' is probably initiated by a Sodium or Potassium fuse reacting with water.

Funny if you read the old accounts of the Naga Fireballs they were white and only rose a few feet above the water. Yet after international tourism came into play the fireballs became orange and shoot much higher into the air.

What color next year?

It would be interesting to see if only to get some first hand pictures and plot their ballistic curve.

Who cares ???.... Why are we, well, some of us TV members fighting so hard to prevent the locals from pulling the wool over our eyes when customs and traditions are concerned? Why would we try so hard to prove these traditions wrong?

You believe in Father Christmas when you celebrate Christmas right ? (and whats his relationship to the Birth of Jesus?)...

Lets not be so quick to jump all over the misgivings in other traditions when are own are equally so flawed....

Its just a bit of fun...

[Cuban]

I doubt any adult considers Father Christmas any more real than the Easter Bunny or The Boogeyman, they exist for commercial interests and to amuse kids.

Thailand considers and keeps on that Naga Fireballs are mystical and a "natural" occurrence while muddying the waters with Ultraviolet Moonbeams and Hocus Pocus not as "the story" but as an honest this is true science, as per the above poster.

In exactly the same way that a car/truck "went out of control" by itself killing 10 people or a "ghost made me kill those people" is seen as a legitimate cause of such events.

Be honest - it makes you a better person.