It’s not often that we see an elephant, a coca-cola bottle, and a red mug of cappuccino FLY high in the sky…
But we certainly did when we attended the 14th HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA at Clark field, Pampanga. It’s an annual festivities of EVERYTHING that FLIES! Made me want to hum, “Up, up & away on my beautiful balloon…” lol. 😀
My entire family had an overnight stay at one of the villas of Fontana Leisure Park a day prior to the fiesta and made sure that we’re at the venue before those colorful hot air balloons take their flights. We all got up from bed at around 3:00AM, reached the venue from our villa in Fontana at around 5AM, then saw the preparation of the participating countries in this one big balloon fiesta! We trooped to the site on its 3rd day (the fiesta started 12 February 2009) at dusk and saw how those lovely balloons in their flat linens forms until they were graciously inflated. We had our breakfast of rice & spicy barbecue on location few minutes before the 1st flying object was seen on air. I, for one, did not contain my excitement to experience such for the first time. It was really a FUN experience! An unforgettable way to celebrate the day of hearts with my whole family…
This is my son Gabby who was also in awe when we had that extraordinary, really amazing weekend…
The event started with a national anthem and an aerobatic performance with the national colors descent from heavens…
Then one by one, we gladly witnessed those colorful balloons flew to the skies. It was an awesome sight!
Isn’t it obvious that this balloon became my favorite; such a burst of colors in the air!
And there was also that flying cereals : Kellogs!
Of course, my wife Tina & our little valentine GABBY are still lovelier than those balloons…
A red cappuccino mug-balloon that came from New Zealand caught our interest for 2 reasons : we’ve been to Auckland back in 2005 for 7 week-vacation and has been missing it now, and Tina and I are both coffee-addicts!
Even a yellow phone booth managed to fly up in the air…
Goofing about a yellow flying phone booth…
There were also mascots to entertain kids and the kids at heart…
Celebrating HEARTS’ DAY IN STYLE!
Despite the fact that we barely slept for this event and the long travel that we took just to be there; it was all worth it! 🙂 We enjoyed every minute we spent watching those balloons fly! It was all pure FUN! 🙂
Till our next bonding moment…:)
beyond toxicity @ docgelo.com 
i was there too! we left manila mga 4am. we made it at abt 6am sa clark pero super super super traffick na sa loob. we watched the inflation and balloon take off from the road 😦 nice pa rin naman pero na-iinggit ako sa yo you made it there! daya kasi nag check-in ka pala!
nice photos 🙂
Thanks for the comment Ms. Anne. It was indeed an experience!