Laos Blast, Rockets

[Midnitemapper]

]beer-laos.jpg[/attachment:tr60p4kc]
Seems like there is danger involved but many were lighting these in their hands

Never run dry, if you buy this big one

Seems like maybe this is part of the tradition of just having fun?
Designers of failed rockets are thrown in the mud or a pond

And a quick bath after the mudface

Detail of rocket design


Just havin fun

More rockets arriving

Loading the rockets

 

[KTMphil]

Some great photo's there Don, love this one

 

[mikehohman]

Great shots! Looks like a lot of fun. Hope no one got hurt...

 

[Midnitemapper]

More big booms and fun
Hard to believe these guys would sit on the Launch pad during the "event"! you will see why later.

Explosives for sale

Dancing with rockets

Laoding the projectile

Dad and Son team


Beer Lao setting the stage

Countdown

Woops this one destroyed itself on the launch pad in a shower of sparks and flames!

 

[KTMphil]

Anyone killed?

I think a guy a few years back at the Yasothon Rocket Festival (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_Festival) a guy got his head blown off.


http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-21533696.html


The Nation (Thailand)
05-10-1999
YASOTHON -- The popular local rocket contest festival turned tragic
yesterday when one missile crashed back to the ground and exploded, killing
four people, police and witnesses said.

Eleven other people, including a young boy, were injured in one of the
worst accidents involving the Bang Fai (home-made rocket) contest festival.
They were treated for burns and broken bones.

''None of the people who were killed or injured were involved in the
contest. They came to watch the festivities,'' said a police officer.

The four killed were all men, while two of them could not yet be
identified. The other two were …

 

[Midnitemapper]

Actually I was amazed when the smoke cleared that only one guy came running back, and disappeared into the crowd the show went on, so must not have been so serious, amazing.

Recalling the fertility rite origins of the rocket festival, parade ornaments and floats often sport phallic symbols and imagery. Festivities also include cross-dressing, and great quantities of alcohol, with the high alcohol content Lao rice whiskey, Lao lao or Lao khao, being a favourite


Morter Dick
Safe sex, watch out for the rockets

 

[Midnitemapper]

Duck Jam,
On the way home.
They duck herder said there was 1000 bodies in this parade.

 

[bigntall]

Some fantastic shots in there Don.

So are they using ammonium nitrate from fertilizer and potassium hydroxide for the rocket propellent or something else?

 

[2wheels]

Agree; some superb images.
Especially like the one of the guy and his tray of bugs.
Thanks Don.

 

[Steve Canyon]

Never seen a duck herder before.... :RO

 

[KTMphil]

1st for me too