Glowing Hot Air Balloons & Gangnam Style at Night

The 2012 Thailand International Hot Air Balloon Festival

Location: the Gymkhana Golf Course in Chiang Mai

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending Chiang Mai’s hot air balloon launch during the 2012 Thailand International Balloon Festival. The three day affair was full of family-friendly activities, music, food, fireworks, and, of course, hot air balloons.

 

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What is the Thailand International Balloon Festival?

According to the official Web site,

The Thailand Creative Event awarded, Earth Wind & Fire has run the famous Thailand International Balloon Festival annually since 2007. The festival is recognised as one of the most popular festival that visitors look forward to it each year.

The festival has been held in different places e.g. Pak Chong, Ayuthaya, and Nakorn Nayok. Each venue we have different theme and different kind of activities; Cowboy Country, Ayuthaya Heritage, Adventure Sports. This year the festival will be held in Chiang Mai and the theme will be the Balloon & Music Festival.

 

 

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Wandering the Festival Grounds at the Gymkhana Golf Course

After getting incredibly lost trying to find the Gymkhana Golf Course and suffering a flat tire on our motorbike, my wife Carrie and I arrived late in the afternoon just as things were getting interesting.

Across the golf course, hot air balloons of all shapes, sizes, and designs were being inflated while a a marching band traversed the grounds. Much to the joy of everyone, the more unique-shaped balloons never went more than a few feet in the air and seemed to be there just for fun. This was especially helpful for the scores of photographers (like me 🙂 who wanted closeup shots of the balloons.

 

 

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Going Inside and Up in Air Balloons

I’m always amazed by the influence women have just being themselves. When my friend Natasha wanted to go inside a large balloon to take photographs, I just followed along knowing that she would get us in.

If I were alone, the gruff-looking Thai man guarding it probably would have said no. But, sure enough there we were, looking at the world through the bottom of a hot air balloon.

Another exciting moment was when Caroline – whose blog you must follow – won a raffle to go up in a hot air balloon. She was by far the most enthusiastic of us all during the number calling, so it was wonderful that she won the ride.

Meanwhile, while Caroline went up, Natasha and I had a great excuse to stand directly beneath the balloons and point our cameras towards the sky. Shutters opened and closed in unison as the sun set and balloons were illuminated by fire and gas. Below are two of my absolute favorite photographs from that experience.

 

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Gangnam Style @ the Thailand International Balloon Festival in Chiang Mai

The highlight of the Balloon Festival was by far the Night Glow. After sunset, another half-dozen large balloons were inflated and lined up on the golf course and took part in a choreographed light show set to popular music.

As the bass began pumping, each balloon took turns illuminating its walls with gas, fire, and light along with the beat. It was as if a laser light show met the alien ship at the end of Close Encounters of the Third Kind; the whole event matching the frequency of every ADD brain in attendance.

By far my favorite part of the Night Glow was when the DJ blasted out the hit of the summer: PSY’s Gangnam Style. (video below)

 

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Fireworks, Hot Air Balloons and Yi Ping

As if all that wasn’t enough, the Night Glow culminated with a fireworks display behind the hot air balloons and a concert by local musicians. From start to finish, the Balloon Festival truly was an unforgettable event; especially since the night sky was continuously peppered by fiery Yi Ping lanterns in the distance.

 

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Have you ever been in a hot air balloon? Been to a launch? Are you completely sick of Gangnam Style already or do you still find yourself doing the dance every time it comes on?