Balloon Festival I

Balloon Festival I

Taunggyi Balloon Festival 2008

There is a fierce competition between the different communities of Taunggyi for the most beautiful balloon or the most eccentric firecrackers during 6 nights until the full moon.

In my thoughts to the people of Burma, in particular to my driver Kyaw Soe, whom I met in 2006 and who could not honor our appointment in 2007 and 2008 because he has been jailed during the monk’s protest in autumn 2007. He is still imprisoned in Insein for the only reason being activist for human rights.
The oppressive and infamous regime sentenced recently 14 leading activists of the 88 Generation Students group to 65 year of prison, 25 other activists, including 5 monks and women to up to 26 years of imprisonment.
Among them Su Su Nway, Min Zeya, Kyaw Min Yu and his wife Nilar Thein, Mie Mie, Min Ko Naing.

The balloons rising to the sky should be a sign of hope, but there is no hope in Burma.

Nikon D3, AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm 1:2.8G ED
Exposure: 1/200 f 2.8 14mm ISO 6400 11.11.2008