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A modern part of the traditional "loy krathong" ceremony involves lighting and launching of hot air balloons called "kom loy" in Thai. These are cloth contraptions with a soft wooden frame, in the center bottom of which is a kerosene-soaked ball. Once lit, the kerosene heats up the balloon to the point where it floats softly into the air amidst massive shouting and hollering. Of course, wind frequently gets in the way of a smooth launch. It is truly amazing to see how high these things go up into the air. (At times officials have had to close the airport at Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand, because of the presence of so many balloons makes aircraft operations dangerous.) At the end of the Chiang Saen parade, near the Mekong River, many participants were launching their kom loys.
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