Home      Contact us Nong Khai "Naga Fire Ball" Escapade     Be prepared to be amazed at the balls of goose-eggs-sized light, with uniform reddish-pink or rich crimson-burgandy hues of Siamese Ruby, which rises up into the night sky brfore they simply fade into thin air without a trace.   Nong Khai is on the Mekhong, 615 km from Bangkok, in North Eastern Thailand. It is on the Thai - Laos border, 24 km from Vientiane, the capital of Laos, where the Frinedship Bridge crosses the Mekong. The scenery around Nong Khai and along the Maekhong river is very beautiful and worth cheching out. Outside of Nong Khai is Wat Khaek (also known as Salaa Kaew Kuu), a zany Buddhist-Hindu scupture park worth a visit. The city is also a good place to buy handicraft of the region and neighbouring Laos.   What's fascinating about this place is that at the end of October people from all around Thailand and thousands of tourists visit river near Phon Phisai to witness a true phenomenon - the Naga Fireballs. Totally unexplained, great balls of fire rise up through the water and shoot into the air time and time again.   FIRE BALLS : The fireballs are visible for approximately three to eight seconds at a time, before they vanish completely. Sometimes the fireballs float up languidly, two or three at a time. Other times, five to seven float in a single sequence, and occasionally, up to nineteen of the balls of light float vigorously into the night sky. There's no scientific proof whrer the fireballs are from, but there are many theories dating back to ancient times.   People's Belief : As the moon crests the horizon, ruby orbs of light begin to rise out of the Mekong River. As if by magic, they float silently into the air and then evaporate in the inky blackness, a phenomenon that awes and delights observers privileged to have seen them. For centuries, their existence was a closely-held secret among villagers living near the northeastern town of Nong Khai. Then, the miraculous event was discovered by outsider who now flock to the riverbanks each October full moon night in enormous numbers 400,000, at last count.   Between 6 and 9 p.m. on the full moon night of the eleventh lunar month (October), the final night of Buddhist Lent, smokeless, scentless, soundless fireballs begin to rise from the deepest, Lao side of the Mekong. As many as 19 ruby globes at a time ascend to heights of 30 to 300 meters for three to eight seconds each, and then simply vanish. In 1999, nearly 3,500 fireballs were counted. They can be seen from ponds and a dozen riverbank villages but are most numerous near Phon Phisai.   During his final incarnation, Lord Buddha returned to earth after teaching his mother in Thavatimsa heaven at the end of Buddhist Lent. Phaya Nak and his followers welcomed him back by blowing fireballs into the sky. Since then, on thr October full moon night, fireballs-regarded as the firery breath of the nak, mirroring medie val European beliefs of fire-breathing dragons--have risen from the Mekong River, a miracle that people call "Bang Fai Phaya Nak," in recognition of the serpent king's devotion.         Wilber Trading Ltd.,Part 998/82 Sukhumvit 77 On Nut 30 - 32, Suanluang Bangkok 10250, Thailand Tel/Fax : +662-7422604 Mobbile : +668-12825234     E-mail : ubonnee@wilbertrading.com : ubonnee_n@yahoo.com