56southeast asia
Baptism
of Fire
WITH EXPLODING FIREWORKS
SHOWERING CROWDS IN SPARKS
AND SOMETIMES FLAME, THE
TAUNGGYI FIRE BALLOON FESTIVAL
IS NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED!
Text Jared Downing
Photos Jeroen de Bakker
The massive paper hot-air balloon,
adorned with traditional Myanmar
imagery and carrying a hundred
kilograms of explosives was supposed
to ascend into the heavens and fill the
night sky with dazzling light. Instead,
it exploded nine metres above our
heads, unleashing a blizzard of blue
and white and red fireballs into a field
of 10,000 people.
Hundreds fled. Others laughed
and cheered. I just stood there,
mesmerised, until someone grabbed
my arm and told me (if my translation
was correct!) to “run like hell”.
The malfunctioning fireworks-
bearing balloon was not the first to
explode prematurely that night, nor
would it be the last. A few minutes
later, everyone was back in the
grounds, having taken the opportunity
to fetch a fresh beer or skewer of meat.
The malfunctioning
fireworks-bearing
balloon was not the
first of the night to
explode prematurely,
nor would it be the last
{ myanmar }