When I first heard that there’s going to have a Hot Air Balloon Festival so near to the place I stay, I say, I MUST GO! Moreover, I also read from newspaper that you only need to pay RM10 for a ride on the balloon. Amazing ain’t it?
It was held for 3 days, starting from 28th May 2010. Each day it was divide into 2 session, 6.30am to 9am and 5.30pm to 7.30pm. The event was held at Taman Jubli Emas, Alor Setar.
However, the organizer had done a poor poor job. Taman Jubli Emas is a huge park, but we are not allowed to drive our car and park inside, while inside there’s still loads of place for parking. The police told us that only VIP can drive in, and others had to park their car on the road side. We were lucky as we reach early at around 3 PM while others who came late had to park their car as far as 2km from the entrance of the park.
Since we reach early, we got nothing to do so we just walk around doing nothing. However, suddenly we heard that tickets for a chance of ride on the hot air balloon will be sold at the counter at 5 PM. BUT, only 120 tickets available!
Wa fark!!!! They are easily hundreds of people, if not thousands wanted to have a ride on it, but only 120 tickets are for sale??????
As being kia su, I straight went and find the ticket counter and queue up there. It was only 3.45 PM at the point of time when I start queuing, and I am first on the line.
However, this is what happened at 4 PM. Being kia su is good eh?
After queuing up under the hot sun for more than an hour, finally at 5 PM sharp, we got this! YAY!
120 people are waiting patiently inside the camp for their turn of their ride.
Preparing……
and preparing……..
Since just sitting inside is quite boring, I went around and took some pictures on how other country set up their hot air balloon.
The area I enter is actually restricted for normal people. However, it seems having a DSLR hanging on your neck is a good thing. They thought I might be a reporter or something, and I can enter freely inside the area. The same goes to many other photog.
Which one will be the 1st to raise?
Balloon fight!
and FIRE!!!!!!
I believe I can fly,
I believe I can touch the sky,
I think about it every night and day,
Spread my wings and fly away…….
It’s actually quite a great scene to see so many hot air balloons flying high high up. How I wish I can be 1 of those sitting inside the basket?
Eh wait! 1 might ask, didn’t you already get the ticket for the ride? Why are you complaining again?!
Well, this is the hot air balloon we are riding on. Notice the 2 rope tight on it?
Yes, they are tight to 2 big truck, which limit the height of the balloon can fly up to around 3 to 5 story high only. The ride takes around 10 minute from the minute we step inside the basket, until it flew up to it’s maximum height and then back down.
But nevertheless, it’s still a good experience, and RM10 is certainly worth it. However, the waiting time of 1 hour under the hot sun is not worth though.
After the ride, both of us are so damned tired and just head straight back to our car without staying and see how the balloon are being inflated. Now I just hope, next time I got the chance to sit on a real hot air balloon
Total Damage: RM20 for 2 person, and 1 hour++ of queuing under the hot sun
You can go to Cappadocia to experience real hot air balloon!