asia

If natural phenomena is more your style, head over to the northern region of Thailand, the Nong Kai Province.  Every year on the first full moon of October spectators are awed by hundreds of lights and balls of fire that surge abruptly into the night above the Mekong River.  This occurrence directly follows the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat, and is the main event of a two day Thai festival along the river including light and sound shows, an illuminated boat contest, the King's Cup long-tailed boat race and food offerings.  These Naga fireballs, named after the mythical fire-spitting serpent Naga, say to bring over 400,000 visitors to the region year after year.