This is a view of the Wat Jong Kam temple across Jong Kam lake in a small mountainous town Mae Hong Son in northern Thailand. It is an old Asian tradition to release "sky lanterns" (big rice paper bags with burning something attached underneath, a huge fire hazard if you ask me :)) in various celebrations. As our guide told us, Thai people celebrate all kinds of holidays, Christmas and Western New Year included. So I was lucky to witness the beautiful sight of the release of hundreds of these lanterns during the New Year night in Chiang Mai. This release on January 3rd in Mae Hong Son was unexpected, since there are no significant holidays on that day I am aware of... Perhaps it was to dispose of some leftover lanterns :)
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Place: 3 out of 133 Avg (all users): 6.9375 Avg (commenters): 8.6923 Avg (participants): 6.6622 Avg (non-participants): 7.1373 Views since voting: 4542 Views during voting: 377 Votes: 176 Comments: 41 Favorites: 7 (view)
Perfect presentation of the name. You were very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. Love the golden glow of the rising paper lanterns that complement the golden glow of the temple spire. This is truly a breathtaking moment of time captured beautifully. Congratulations on the ribbon! One of my very few 10's.
Congratulations! That is a beautiful sight and lucky you to be there. It sounds like they don't need much of an excuse to celebrate. Fire hazard indeed. I can just imagine what would happen here (Australia) if this were the way we celebrated. As it was they almost called off the fireworks for Melbourne's New Year because of fire risk.
I love these lanterns. I was at a German wedding where they set these off - pretty large, though - about three feet high! Wonderful interpretation of the username.
This is just wonderful! Didn't get a chance to vote on this one, but I'm sure it would have been one of my favorites. Actually I just made it one! Congrats on the red.
Maybe next time, can I have yellow and you get 4th??? Pleeeeeease??? :) What are the odds of that happening 2 times in a row. But seriously, I'm kidding because this is SO deserving of a ribbon! Congratulations!
Wow, what are those things hanging from the sky? I first though they might be inserted from another image but apparently not. Thanks for using my username for your entry. Very unique image!
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