At night, on October 4, 2009 yesterday, the residents and tourists stood lined up on the edge of the Mekong river in Nong Khai province. They were waiting for a phenomenon called ball of fire dragon.
Not long later, from the surface of the river, dozens of balls of light pink with a beautiful shot like an orchestra led by a conductor. Everyone started cheering and clapping with delight hard.
Orbs of light that hung in the air for some time before then disappearing into the night. A few minutes later, a similar incident happening again. Fireballs other flying back from the back surface of the river accompanied by cries of joy.
This remarkable phenomenon occurs only 1-3 days a year right at the end of the Thai Buddhist retreat that usually falls in October. Ball of fire that comes out of nowhere with no sound and smoke. Sometimes the color is red, pink or white and can burst up to as high as 100 meters from the river surface. Usually only the size of chicken eggs, depending on the air for several minutes before it finally disappeared. Generally this fireball can be seen only at night.
Legend of the local residents say that the fireballs are coming from a dragon that dwells in rivers.
"I've seen balls of fire this early age," said Pang Butamee, 70 years old, who lived in a hut at the river's edge. Near the apartments, there is Wat Paa Luang, a temple which has an elegant 450-year-old and is one of the most popular place to watch the fireballs it.
"I saw him emerge from the river and the canal," he said again. "My mother's father was also witnessed, as well as their mom and dad. And not only that, I never even saw a dragon with my own eyes when I was 13 years old. Shaped like a big snake silver. I saw it was swimming in the river."
Although the legend of the dragon Mekong has rooted so strong, not all Thai people believe. For the scientists, fireballs are really just a natural phenomenon that can be explained by science. According to them, the fireball appears from the combustion of natural gas.
A doctor named Manas Kanoksin has spent 11 years researching this phenomenon. With great persistence, he tried to prove his theory that the fireballs are a natural phenomenon caused by the deposition Methane gas rising from the riverbed.
According to him, the end of the Buddhist retreat exactly the same as the period in which the earth is in the closest distance to the sun. Gravity of the sun combined with increased levels of ultraviolet radiation has increased the concentration and volatility of oxygen in the earth's surface. This caused the methane gas escaped from the bottom of the river began to glow and look like a ball of fire. Even according to him, this phenomenon does not only happen in October, but also in May when the earth back toward the sun.
Thailand Ministry of Science has a slightly different opinion. But they agree that this phenomenon is caused by natural gas. According to them, this phenomenon results from Phosphine gas combustion.
Some time ago, this ministry sent a researcher to observe and find the source of fire balls of this. They then put a thermo scanner near the riverbanks in the subdistrict Rattana Wapee. Then the researchers placed five groups at various points on the banks of the river, including the temple district Phisai Phon.
Just a moment before the fire balls appeared, their equipment captured the movement of the gas flow which floats on the surface of the stream. This indicates that the fireball was triggered by the burning of natural gas.
So why this incident occurred only at the end of Buddhist Lent in October around the moon?
According to the Thai ministry of science, the answer is because the accumulation of gas in the bottom of the river to reach the peak in October. Because already reached the top, the gas that has been collected will burst onto the balls forming the mysterious light.
No matter what the cause, for locals and tourists, the festival is still regarded as a pleasurable experience and an opportunity to celebrate religious holidays with reverence.
"This is very strange and we do not know for sure what caused it. But whatever it was, I believe that this extraordinary event Nong Khai can make enough to be accepted as one of the wonders of the world." Manas said Anuraksa, a local resident.
Every year, at least, 300,000 people, both local and foreign tourists flocked to Nong Khai to witness this phenomenon.
If one day you decide to walk to Thailand and decided to see for yourself the balls of fire dragon, so there are several locations along the Mekong river in Nong Khai province the right to see it, is a village in the district Pha Tang Sangkhom, Hin Mak Peng, Si Temple in Chiangmai district, district and district Pak Khat Rattana Wapee.
The locals even provide rental bikes to be used for riding along the river from Muang district to Phisai and Rattana Phon wapee. In place, but could see the dragon balls of fire, you will also be served with the attraction of fireworks and a speedboat race.
Thus, the backpackers, be prepared for the festival next year! Perhaps dragon fireball can brighten your day a bit.
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