Trading monsters

[peteryoung]

Today I discovered that my wife has never heard of the Loch Ness Monster. This feels weird, and obviously it's a bigger world I am living in than I once thought. But then I got my own education in Thai monsters in the fabulous form of the Phaya Naga, a subterranean monster shared by Thailand and Laos, one that breathes fireballs into the sky from the Mekong River on the night of the October full moon.

Two facts I've been able to establish: 1) the naga fireballs have been a real phenomenon for centuries (suspect video), and 2) in 2002 investigative journalists from the Thai television station iTV claimed the fireballs were simply tracer bullets, fired as part of the Buddhist celebrations. The Laotians, miserable Commie bastards that they are, responded by arresting the reporters for offending local superstitions beliefs.

Comments

[hnpcc]

I should probably not find it as funny as I do that the "miserable Commie bastards" arrested people for offending beliefs instead of debunking them. Still giggling though. (And no arguments here about the miserable part, sheesh. Communist officialdom is in general not known for its levity.)

I vaguely remember reading that the naga fireballs were to do with methane, but I can't find a reference to it. Will have to google further. I somehow doubt the centuries old tradition has been tracer bullets the entire time.

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

I expect it was Laotian military trying to make a fast buck. Certainly that video looks considerably more like rounds of bullets rather than spookily glowing orbs of methane.

[hnpcc]

Heh probably. All their relatives would have been in the prime positions ready to sell souvenirs and food no doubt.

I wish I could find the article I'm thinking of, I think it was in New Scientist, but buggered if I can find where.

[kim-huett.livejournal.com]

As it happens I recently skimmed through a copy of The Leviathans by Tim Dinsdale. My impression from the stories contained therein is that probably every part of the world has legends of lake monsters. I've had another quick glance but the book doesn't seem to mention Thailand or Laos, only Malaya and Assam, but then again Dinsdale's book isn't intended as an encyclopedia so that doesn't mean a lot.

[twinfair.livejournal.com]

> one that breathes fireballs into the sky from the Mekong River on the night of the October full moon.

Why do other countries always seem to do things with more colour and excitement than us? I was going to say "flair/flare". :)

What does the Loch Ness Monster do other than appear (rarely) and then disappear again?

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

I guess we're just not as creative with our hoaxes!