Raising of the Craft. Taungyii Balloon Festival. Burma.

After unfolding the Balloon, these dudes run inside and while some guy props it up with a stick, other people come in with torches and start filling it up with Hot Air. The Women in the foreground light the votive candles that will eventually be attached to the sides of balloon in a decorative pattern.

Rocket Shield

When a Balloon goes Bonkers and crashes onto the Crowd, you're lucky if one of these shield guys are nearby. They'll take the brunt of the outcoming blasts to protect the public. The Non stop Blitz of the entire payload can last a good 10 minutes!

(click on pic to enlarge)

Balloon Fest Crash!

An ill timed gust of wind can spell instant Disaster by causing the craft to come crashing down in Flames into the Crowd. Worse even is the entire Payload of explosive Fireworks blasting full force into the spectators. Most years claim a Life, the Deadliest 2001 claimed Seven. Dangerous, but it's a Blast!

Balloon Fireworks fest in Taungyii, Burma. On the First Full Moon after the rainy Season Hundreds of ballons loaded with fireworks are launched towards the sky, amazing!