NONGKHAI

In "ISAN" area, Nongkhai is one of the most popular city. This popularity is mainly due to the Friendship bridge that crosses the Mekong to Laos.

Nongkhai
	The "THA SADET" market is a nice place to enjoy shopping with goods coming from Laos, Thailand, China, Vietnam. Some nice restaurants with view overlooking the river offer fresh Mekong fish dishes.

Every year more than 100,000 people gather by the Mekong River in Northeast area on November Full Moon. After sunset, mysterious fireballs rise up from the river and disappear into the sky.

This movie looks into the various theories behind the phenomenon. Some locals still adhere to the traditional myth of the dragon, Great Naga, making a sacred offering to Buddha. One doctor think that the fireballs are natural; another wants to prove the phenomenon a hoax. The movie tells the story of an abbot of a temple, who is depicted as responsible for the fireballs. A boy, who is helping the abbot, becomes reluctant to continue as he feels the media will eventually expose the practise. The abbot wishes to continue as he feels it perpetuates the faith of the local people. The morality is "believe in what you do / do what you believe". The viewpoint is that both supernatural and scientific beliefs can exist side by side. This movie has received an award at the Bangok International film festival in 2003.
	Mekhong full moon party

This movie looks into the various theories behind the phenomenon. Some locals still adhere to the traditional myth of the dragon, Great Naga, making a sacred offering to Buddha. One doctor think that the fireballs are natural; another wants to prove the phenomenon a hoax. The movie tells the story of an abbot of a temple, who is depicted as responsible for the fireballs. A boy, who is helping the abbot, becomes reluctant to continue as he feels the media will eventually expose the practise. The abbot wishes to continue as he feels it perpetuates the faith of the local people. The morality is "believe in what you do / do what you believe". The viewpoint is that both supernatural and scientific beliefs can exist side by side. This movie has received an award at the Bangok International film festival in 2003.

Mekhong full moon party

The annual fireballs phenomenon has long been a cause for local wonder and in recent years the spectacular and unexplained event has drawn many tourists to Nong Khai from all over the world. It has been a steadily increasing source of income for the locals and there have also been other benefits bestowed by the Naga, such as improved roads. Many local people claim that the fireballs are a supernatural occurrence, made by Naga in order to pay homage to Buddha.

Naga
	Some academics believe that Naga fireballs are natural and not supernatural but most do not think it is necessary to disprove the local beliefs. A doctor found that the river releases methane gas and believes this is the cause of the fireballs.

The doctor has noticed changes which he believes are caused by an alteration of the river's ecosystem because of dam construction in China. The amount of fireballs is continuously decreasing.

	Nongkhai
In Nongkhai there is a pagoda ("CHEDI" - เจดีย์), called "PHRA THAT NONGKHAI", which is located in the Mekong river. This pagoda slightly slips deeper in the Mekong river every year. During the dry season, the pagoda top can be seen.

Nongkhai
	Nongkhai has many temples with Laotian architecture influence.

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