Gentleman's Kom Loi Night.

Steve (right) helps Graham prepare the first Kom Loi of the evening.

Last week the ladies released theirs....tonight it was the turn of the chaps!

It's becoming a bit of a House Tradition now to set off a Kom Loi for each of our guests at some stage of their holiday. Last night was the final night for Gary Chard and pals....

Here Steve prepares his Kom Loi for lift off...

As usual it's Jai who does all the real work....here she is lighting up the

paraffin saturated fuel rings..

Lift off achieved...........Jai backs, smiling as usual, and on to the next one......

And now Gary himself....each Kom Loi makes its own flight as determined by the updrafts and wind at the precise moment of lift off....the flight is long...about 5 minutes and great heights are reached. Gary's set off very gently....wandered out over the lake and hovered just a few feet off...then shot straight up to clear the Naga Hills and up into the night sky...

Today is Chinese New Year so I think the night sky will be filled with Kom

Loi's....and plenty of fireworks.......

Ha! It's great when a photo shot works...got this beauty on time prediction....spectacular way to end of 'House Ceremony'.

Right now, as I write, Gary, Mandy, Graham, Dawn, Steve and the Gracious Lyn are waiting in Bangkok airport for their plane back to Heathrow. ....safe journey, guys, and thank you for coming to stay!!