Dancing in the sky

IN A FIRST for the Kingdom, next weekend’s Thailand International Balloon Festival in Chiang Mai will see the magnificent hot-air flying contraptions dance in the sky to the sounds of a symphony orchestra. 

The novel experience is the brainchild of Sornchat “Aom” Krainara, founder of the organiser All About Arts and she’s even gone to far as to commission noted Lanna composer Bringkop “Joe” Vora-urai, to write a brand-new piece for the occasion.

“The past nine years have given us plenty of experience in organising this festival,” says Sornchat. “And I think the music will take the thrill of watching the balloons up to another level.”

Bringkop is the conductor of the Lanna Symphony Orchestra and is a lecturer in the Department of Music at Payap University, which is the venue for this year’s balloon festival.

“I talked to the pilots before writing the first note as I needed to understand how their balloons worked, how fast they can move up and down, whether they would be able to hear the music, and also how they feel when they are up there,” says the composer.

“I think my piece reflects all their emotions,” Bringkop says.

With the theme of “International Heritage”, art and culture will co-star with the music. 

“We are giving a new face to the elements that make up the balloon festival,” Sornchat says, adding that the event is fully supported by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. 

“‘International Heritage’ is an ideal theme as it reflects the indisputable fact that Chiang Mai is today a multi-national city. I centred the 2008 edition of the festival on this same concept but it wasn’t a success. However, my research made me aware that we have no fewer than 38 nationalities staying in Chiang Mai.

“Unfortunately, the number of hot-air balloons can’t be increased to more than 30 because of the high transportation and shipping costs. And while the balloons are the main point of this festival, we still look for other elements and activities to fill the gaps between the shows of balloons in the morning and at night.”

The festival will open with a parade featuring traditional musicians and a show by traditional Lanna-style balloons as well as the visiting foreign balloons.

 “It is an East-meets-West culture,” says Sornchat. “The physical characteristics of the hot-air balloon have been part of Lanna for more than a century. They are not the floating lanterns that are seen nowadays. Indeed, it is today very rare to see the khom mah [horse-shaped lantern] and the khom chang [elephant-shaped lantern]. 

“We asked craftsman from Kengtung in Myanmar’s Shan State to produce the ancient Lanna-style lanterns, which are traditionally made of mulberry paper and are the same size as a real horse and elephant calf. It’s going to be a highlight of the event,” she says, adding that she is grateful for the help provided by Professor Vithi Phanichphant, a historian and textile collector and Wiluck Sripasang, a Lanna artist and lecturer at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna.

In between balloon flights, festival-goers can check out workshops on water-colour painting and Thai classical dance mask making, a puppet show and models.

One of the biggest draws is likely to be the exhibition by the Khua Silapa (Art Bridge) Chiang Rai project, featuring works from Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Singapore.

“This year we are inviting visitors to enjoy music and breakfast in the field. After all hot-air balloons take off, we will offer a show of 15 remote-control balloons and music while we are eating breakfast,” says Sornchat. “I would like my festival to draw more art lovers than the usual balloon meeting.”

For her part, Sornchat is drawing on her visits to two balloon festivals in 2014 to come up with ideas for her own festival. In Brigachtal, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, she witnessed the largest display of 55 model hot-air balloons – a feat that was noted as a Guinness World Record – while at the Saga International Balloon Fiesta in Japan, she watched 100 balloonists from 15 countries and took in a broad range of activities.

“It is an inspiration for me to take ‘International Heritage’ as the theme of this festival. Saga has farmer’s markets for vegetables and fruits while I an emphasising community relationships and generating income for the locals,” says Sornchat.

In addition to the live performance by the Lanna Symphony, there will be performances of flamenco, Korean and Bollywood dance, an ocarina solo by Jaione and more music from the Musicolli Kids, Warren and the Gang Bang and local student bands.

“I think people will like this new location too. It’s bigger, has parking for more than 1,000 cars and is near the super highway. We’re excited that tourists from Singapore and Hong Kong are already buying tickets for the festival.”

 

UP, UP AND AWAY

- The Thailand International Balloon Festival will be held on Friday and next Saturday at Payap University in Chiang Mai.

- Tickets are Bt200 (Bt50 for children) at Mae Ping Supermarket.

- Free shuttles run from Nimmanhemin Soi 1, Duangtawan Hotel and the Amora Tha Pae Hotel.

- For details, check www.ThailandBalloonFestival.com.