Thais like to celebrate with Sky Lanterns. These are a paper ‘balloon’ with a burner underneath.
First the burner must be attached to the lantern with thin wire. The burner is like a roll of tape that is impregnated with some kind of substance that burns with a nice big yellow flame, which gives the lantern that lovely bright warm glow. The burner is actually quite difficult to light, with a lighter, but once lit it stays lit.
Then you must wait for the balloon part to fill with hot air from the burner. Once there is enough hot air the sky lantern will take off, generally people give them a little encouragement, with a ‘push’ skywards.
The real pros with these things light them then rest of the sand until ready to take off. However for a couple it’s nice for one to hold either side, until the lantern is ready to go.
The sky is lit up with 1000s of these lanterns during Thai festivals such as Loy Catong, it’s a very pretty site.
Enjoy 😀
Our fantastic photos are available to buy at Photos.DonCharisma.com. For our blog readers we’re currently offering a 15% promotional discount – use code dc1406 at checkout.
Taken in Thailand, Asia © Don Charisma
Don Charisma 
I saw these for the first time last summer. They are just beautiful.
Aren’t they just 😀 … where did you go ?
In a park at night there was a family who lit them.
😀
They send these up in our neighborhood in Sweden. Maybe a dozen or so. Beautiful sight, though I kept asking my husband, ‘what if they land in trees? Won’t the trees catch fire??’ He assures me they won’t! I can’t imagine how enchanting it would be to see hundreds of them drifting through the skies in Thailand.
My son and daughter-in-law live in Thailand and there is a big festival with these balloons. It is an awesome site to see them in the sky at night!
Probably the same one, there are two main festivals in Thailand. November is Loy Catong and then they have the water festival Songkran in April.
We bought some of these during our recent holiday at a well known seaside resort. It was great fun watching them fly away over the ocean late at night, but the use of these lanterns has since been forbidden by the district council, due to the fire hazard. Last Saturday at our weekly farmer’s market, a bought “ready made” paper lanterns from the Chinese gentleman who sells sushi at the market – these have LED lighting and they make a very nice display. How clever is that? You can see them on You Tube.
Sounds awesome … just can’t figure out how they’d fly without the hot air ?
Come to think of it, you’re right, I also can’t figure out how lift-off can be accomplished without the hot air. Maybe these are meant to be used as patio lights or strung up in trees? Pity though, seeing them fly was 90% of the fun.
Opinions seem to vary on the risk of sending ignited objects into the stratosphere … the UK, US and probably Europe are worried about things catching fire … the Thais and others in Asia seem to manage without worrying about it … I haven’t studied the stats so I don’t know if it’s a risk or not … so for me it’s a when in Rome …
And yes, 90% of the fun … perhaps there’s a “safer” form of propulsion built in ?
Reblogged this on Strength and Sense.
Thanks for the reblog 😀
you got it buddy!
Nice!!!!
😀
How I would love to see this!!!
I hope you do get the chance 😀
They may be very lovely to look at, but has anyone else here thought of the environmental impact? Even when biodegradable it can take a year for the metal wire to decompose. Wildlife get trapped and farms risk injuring their livestock as they could accidentally eat it in their hay. As the cliché goes: what goes up, must come down… Just a thought.
It’s been thought of 😀
One of my friends claims that he made a sky lantern that is as big as a house. I think he is full of hot air.
LOL … I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow ‘yer house down …
They have these in China too, how beautiful it was to see the sky lit up with dozens of them taking wing. The Chinese would often attach prayers, like when I left Taiwan the children in the school I taught attached their prayers for me to the lanterns to take them to heaven – such a lovely idea.
Yes, very much, they are very pretty and a wonder to see in real life 😀
Me and my friends love those. We order a bunch from China every year and during the summer we send them out over the lake.
They are a beautiful sight to behold … hope all is well with you Phil 😀
Reblogged this on Kelly Kole Kahian.
Thanks for the reblog 😀
Very cool!
Thanks 😀