PH HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA

When I was a kid, I used to daydream about flying up high Jack’s Beanstalk using a hot air balloon. Now that I am a little older (by that I mean just passing by a quarter-life crisis), I realized it is expensive to just watch them fly at a distance let alone getting in the balloon basket. So, that will remain a dream.Nonetheless, being able to join the crowd of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark, Pampanga this year is but a dream come true.It is the longest-running sports aviation event in Asia, gathering aviators and spectators from all around the world for four days of non-stop flying action. They will be up high again this February 8-11, 2018 so get out of your heated buttcheeks and fly to Clark.The event starts early so you need to wake up like around 3 am to be at the area. The program starts with this nationalistic flying our the national flag. It is so momentous I could not help but feel proud being a Filipino. Of course, they are like up there risking their lives. It ‘s called heroism. So appreciate it.The crowd is soooo huge you have to tie your kids near your body or hug your bags to avoid pocket pickers.From hot air balloons to aerobatic exhibitions, they have so many activities to watch out for. They have formation flying to radio-controlled aircraft, paragliding, skydiving, and dozens of on-ground activities.A Weekend of Everything that Flies is the tagline of the international event. Surely, every thing is flying including this titanic stunt of an international twin aero exhibitionists.I tell you the crowd is such a crowd that it took us more than hour to exit. Set your face with masks a it is so dusty your hair will be glued in white ashes.Find your spot so you get a good snap. In our case, we hopped in a random pick-up truck just to get a good view of the balloons. Check their website for more information http://www.philballoonfest.net/ Butt not but. It is so picturesque because of course you do not see any of this in your daily life. More importantly, the revving up phase is considered the hardest as the weather is a consideration when flying. Guests will be right there waiting beside the balloons while being inflated. They can chitchat with the pilots and once the balloons are fully inflated and the weather is perfect to a hot air balloon flight, they will lift you off as you lift it off your bucket list.This is not just a dream of my childhood. This is a dream come true that soon, I will be in Myanmar to save another memory of the hot air balloon that once completed my childhood nightmares. If you want to come, let me know.