Our Adventures: Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013

Overcast. Dark skies did not dampen the eager crowd. 

If you were able to see my tweets you could tell that we were pretty excited to get to go the Hot Air Balloon Festival this year. Actually Paul's siblings have been planning to go last year especially since Paul's brother-in-law hails from Pampanga. 

Surprisingly it was still a last minute preparation and we made plans to go on the last day of the 4-day festival, which was on Sunday. The 18th Hot Air Balloon festival was held from February 21-24, 2013. 

We left at 4:00 AM in Antipolo and made our way to Pampanga only experiencing traffic when we got to the festival itself which was held in Clark Freeport Zone. 

There were so many people that we had to park our cars very, very far from the site of the event. We walked a long, long way, trudging along grass and gravel, while dust seemed to come from everywhere, we even went through a tunnel just to get to the festival. 

We were walking with so many people and some of them were joking that the long walk was already similar to a 'panata' or a promise/pilgrimage.  

Colorful balloons making their way up to the sky. 

Although the hot air balloons could already be seen from afar, they were not as many as I had hoped to see- (We were not able to see the Darth Vader balloon T.T )  maybe because it was too cloudy and the sun wasn't out yet or maybe we should have arrived earlier. But like as always we just made the most of what was in front of us. 

Spectators by the fence await for the amazing sights. 

This boy probably won't get lost since he's getting a lift from dad. 

The number of people during the festival was so overwhelming it was no surprise to hear about children who were separated from their parents. The interesting thing was that it was the seemingly 'lost' children who were able to make their way to the control booth to let their 'missing' parents know that they were there. 

"Kami po ay nananawagan sa mga nawawalang magulang ni Johnny (not his real name). Okay lang naman po siya dito. Sa mga magulang po niya pakikuha nalang po siya dito sa control booth." 

Kids, hold on to your parents, they might get lost. 

Kissed by the wind. Colorful paper windmills and souvenirs graced the festival.  

There were also many different and colorful souvenirs being sold during the festival. From kites, to paper windmills and little hot air balloons. I really wanted to buy a paper hot air balloon on a stick. I wanted it as a decoration for probably and hopefully a (future) nursery for our (future) baby. Paul went to buy one but like every line in the festival, whether for food, drinks or 'portalets' it was very, very long. 

So if anyone has that paper hot air balloon on a stick just let me know or if you are going to the festival next year-can you please, please buy me one? :) 

Since the festival was held in an open field, people brought their own mats (even tents) so they can sit back and enjoy the show. Some even brought a whole picnic with them! 

A little girl with her hot air balloon souvenir-I want one!  

Probably the highlight of our approximately 4 hour stay during the festival was the Breitling Jet Team Aerobatic show. Known as the 'premiere civilian jet team' these amazing pilots performed stunts that wowed the crowd. 

Smoke came from the jets as they flew across the sky, criss-crossing through each other in perfect and calculated formation. The stunts were amazing and the crowd gasped and shouted as the jets performed their well practiced routines. 

High way to the Danger Zone. The Aerobatic show reminded me of Top Gun.  

The Aerobatic show really reminded me of Top Gun, which is one of my Dad's favorite movies. I had the song 'Danger Zone' playing in my head during the whole show. Actually while I was writing this blog I looked up the song on Youtube and had it playing again and again. Just to get my inspiration. 

By the way- the song was recorded in 1986 which was the year I was born in- a real classic never goes out of style. :p 

Head on. Two L-39 Albatross jets meet in a head on collision only to miss seconds before.  

One of the favorite stunts of the crowd was when the jets would seemingly fly into each other as if they would crash into each other but then miss  just seconds before colliding. The crowd screamed and applauded at the dare-devil stunt. Paul was able to get a great shot of this with the photo above. 

There were also many Aeronautic and Flight schools that had booths set up to showcase the education that they offer. Any impressionable young boy would surely want to become a pilot with the amazing shows that the festival had to offer. 

Grand Finale. The Aerobatic show ended with fireworks from the jets. 

The Aerobatic show had a grand finale with fireworks that just had the crowd applauding in awe. 

If we thought that we had a hard time going to the event we were surprised to find out that getting out was even worse. By the time that we decided to leave, there were also a large number of people who were also leaving. We also had Paul's nieces and nephews with us so it really wasn't an ideal long walk but we managed. :) 

My sister-in-law said it was like the Exodus, which in some sense really was a mini-Exodus and the traffic outside Clark Freeport was indeed a sight to behold and the traffic lasted well into the night when the festival ended at around 7:00PM. 

I know that we were only there for a fraction of what the festival had to offer and there were still a lot more to see and take photos of, that's why if ever Paul and I decide to go back next year, we would probably be at the site by 5:00AM and it would be just us, minus the kids. :) 

An elevated platform would also be nice and I'm sure Paul would like that so he has a better spot to take photos. ~_~ 

To find out more about the 'longest running balloon event in Asia,' visit their website here.