A Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta without the balloons?!
Posted by on February 9, 2008
You might not belive me but its true. Not a single Hot air balloon flew today during the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF). The reason: very strong winds blowing from the Angeles Pampanga skies.
While the crowd patiently waited for the winds to die down, the organizers have put out so called toys to entertain the crowd. There were kites, and several sky jumpers. Of coure the people appreciated that. But what they, or shall I say, we really wanted to see here in Clark Pampanga are the colorful balloons being filled with hot gas and being blown away up up in the sky.
Seven AM came and several balloon ethusiats attempted to cold inflate the balloons. But the strong gusts of wind forces the air to be driven out of the balloon. Thus, it doesn’t get inflated.
Eight o’clock came and the host once again asked the balloon owners to thry, for the very last time, to cold inflate their hot air balloons. My heart was already skipping a beat as the Kellog’s tiger-shaped balloon finally gets its shape. But alas, another gust of wind drove all the air out of the balloon, and deflated it all leaving it flat on the ground.
At nine eight thirty (Thanks to Donj for the coorection), everyhing’s over. The host offically announced to the balloon owners that it is really impossible to fly a balloon with that kind of situation. He also announced to the hot air balloon onwers to start packing up and see if they can still try in that afternoon.
I was so frustrated. I didn’t go back to the Hot Air balloon fiesta venue again. And judging from the wind speed in the house where I stay, I guess it is safe to say that no balloons were allowed to fly in the afternoon.
I just hope that by tomorrow, Sunday the last day of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, the wind cooperates. Id be very very glad to see the 21 Hot air balloons from other countries fly the philippine skies. I would be very very glad to see that octopus and the tiger-shaped balloons reigning the Pampanga skies.
i was there last saturday … it is very disappointing … we waited until afternoon hoping that even 1 hot air balloon will fly … it is my first time to go and i am hoping the next time we will get to see those balloon up in the sky or much better i can ride one … ^_^