Mini Balloon Festival - Pranburi (with photo report)

So what is going on around here and where does it happen? This section is for discussion on local events, festivals, and holidays as well as activities and things to do.
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Mini Balloon Festival - Pranburi (with photo report)

Post by Big Boy »

Maharaj Club, Pak Nam Pran
27 to 29 Sept
4pm until 10pm
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6fzPzGYqcp8ZzZiA6
Balloon.jpg
I don't think I will bother personally, having come from Balloon City in the UK - this would be a bit of a let down for me, but a great spectacle if you haven't done it before.
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Re: Mini Balloon Festival - Pranburi

Post by Big Boy »

I had nothing else to do, and was considering popping down for a look until I saw the photos. I had presumed a mini festival, not mini balloons.

Balloon.jpg
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Re: Mini Balloon Festival - Pranburi

Post by STEVE G »

^I never knew there was such a thing as a mini hot air balloon.
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Re: Mini Balloon Festival - Pranburi

Post by Big Boy »

Neither did I, but there obviously is :laugh:
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Re: Mini Balloon Festival - Pranburi

Post by STEVE G »

If I was in Hua Hin, I’d go just out of curiosity. I’ve seen plenty of full size hot air balloons but never a model one like that.
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Re: Mini Balloon Festival - Pranburi

Post by Big Boy »

Actually, thinking about it, they had one man balloons at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta a couple of times. They were competition balloons. 'Things' would be left in treetops along the route, and the pilot who collected most 'things' would win.

Quite funny to watch but a small balloon with a tiny seat attached at the bottom.
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Re: Mini Balloon Festival - Pranburi

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I was going, no I wasn’t, I was going, no I wasn’t. Then it was decided for me – my granddaughters wanted to go, so soft touch that I am, we went earlier today.

We arrived at Pak Nam Pran quite early at about 4:30, and road parking was easy, alongside the beach – perfect. Pak Nam Pran is quite unique in Thailand – it has wheelchair friendly pavements. However, Thailand being Thailand, several people had taken picnics, and with their ‘me first’ attitude, laid their blanket right across the pavement. However, I managed.

We got to the main arena, which was still quite deserted. The arena was decorated with colourful inflatables.
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Lined up like little soldiers on parade were the balloon baskets – so small. I actually took a photo of a basket with my foot in the picture to give some perspective.
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The first wave of balloons were rolled out and semi inflated with regular air using large fans. The sea breeze was too strong to go any further for quite a while.
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This was strictly a no smoking and no alcohol event. It didn't deter this guy, who had quite a collection of empty cans by the time we left :D
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To keep the growing crowd interested, barefoot visitors were allowed to walk inside the envelopes to take selfies – very popular.
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The crowd slowly built, and eventually, they started heating the air inside the envelopes. One by one, the balloons lifted into the air. However, the baskets were too small for a pilot, so they remained tethered for the duration.
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As the evening moved on, special shapes were introduced. We saw a heart, a rabbit and a frog (no photo of frog).
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On the stage, there was initially a DJ playing tunes
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and then some Thai band, which my granddaughters went to see – didn’t do too much for an old wrinkly like me though.
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It wasn’t the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, but I wasn’t expecting that. It was pretty good for what it was. With the limited capability of the mini balloons, I felt a Night Glow might have been a good way to showcase the balloons, but maybe too sophisticated for Thailand.

One observation, Health and Safety would have had kittens in the UK – there was no restriction regarding where people could wander amongst the balloons.
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Re: Mini Balloon Festival - Pranburi (with photo report)

Post by STEVE G »

^I'm impressed you went, Pranburi is smaller than Bristol so obviously the balloons were smaller too!
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Re: Mini Balloon Festival - Pranburi (with photo report)

Post by Big Boy »

LOL, blame my granddaughters. It was a very well organised event, and even wheelchair friendly. There was a huge food court, and family members reckoned food was about 60% the cost of eating at Baan Khun Por. The setting beside the sea was perfect. A lovely way to spend a Sunday evening.
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