Hot Air Love Affair
This was a year in the making for me! I had planned on going to this event in 2009, but my love for diving took priority at that time. 
So this year, I finally got to go (and I was actually going to go on my own if I had to! 
) Good thing I saw my friend, Adora the Explorah's status on facebook, and saw that she was going too! Yay! We eventually ended up as a group of 6: Brennen and Kats – a Lumix and G10 couple, Vera and Toti – soon to be mum and Mr. new to the Photography world, and Adora and Me – two bouncing Kaladkarin Explorers! 
We all agreed to meet up the night before so we can get to Clark Airbase in Pampanga by 3:30 am. Adora was there last year and she said that arriving at 6am is already a little too late. So we left Manila at 2am and got there at 3:30am. Good thing we were there by that time because in a matter of minutes, the cars started streaming into the parking lot and the spots nearest the gate was filled up fast as you could say "Dude where's my car?" The line to the ticket booth was also formed in a flash. Bottom line – be there early, and if you can, get your tickets to the event ahead of time. There's a separate line for folks with and without tickets. But both queues were pretty fast so it's not too big of a deal. I couldn't help but laugh at a Japanese guy trying to bribe a teenage local behind me in the queue to buy him tickets. The girl totally did not understand and was getting the money as his payment for the ticket and not as a bribe – or maybe she was trying to be nice. Either way, I didn't see the point of rushing madly inside as the balloons weren't up yet.
When we got in though, I realized why there was such a rush. People wanted to be by the fence so they can see the balloons being set up in the field. And if you were going to photograph the show, you need to be in front or in that field to max out the opportunity. I was three people-rows behind, so it wasn't so bad – but I wish I was in that field!
It was pretty exciting to see them set up after an hour and a half of waiting under the stars (yes, the stars were still out when we got there!) When the first few 4×4's started entering the field carrying the balloon baskets, you can start hearing people buzz with excitement. It's actually quite infectious! Then when the first burst of light from one of the balloon baskets broke the darkness, I had to make sure I stood my ground as people started standing up from their picnic set ups and started pushing to the front. Good thing, it wasn't a mad push to be there, but still, you had to secure your spot or you'll find yourself lost amongst the crowd. But again,unless you're photographing, no matter where you stand in that area, you can see the balloons from afar, so you can still enjoy the show.
By 6am, the balloons were all up and ready to go. People were excited with all the parachute-gliders flying, drums beating and hot air giants up and awake.
It was all over by around 7am – people were happy to have seen the show, and now ready to either go home or get some real food (there were only hotdogs and a few fastfood stuff being sold in the area!) I personally hoped to eat at the famous C's Italian resto, but it was closed. So we decided to meet up with my friend Louis and his family, Alynne and Little Luisa and have some famous Aling Lucing's Sisig. I was getting a little impatient with the traffic getting out of the parking lot. I wonder who was the smart guy who planned it and only had ONE exit (and one make shift exit) in that area?!
Sisig-filled and memory-card filled, I drove myself back to Manila happy with my morning.
So for those planning to go, just plan ahead and be there early! Bring little stools if you can or anything to sit on, and keep your fingers crossed for better weather (my experience was a little gray, but I still enjoyed it Hope you do too!
So this year, I finally got to go (and I was actually going to go on my own if I had to! ) Good thing I saw my friend, Adora the Explorah's status on facebook, and saw that she was going too! Yay! We eventually ended up as a group of 6: Brennen and Kats – a Lumix and G10 couple, Vera and Toti – soon to be mum and Mr. new to the Photography world, and Adora and Me – two bouncing Kaladkarin Explorers!
We all agreed to meet up the night before so we can get to Clark Airbase in Pampanga by 3:30 am. Adora was there last year and she said that arriving at 6am is already a little too late. So we left Manila at 2am and got there at 3:30am. Good thing we were there by that time because in a matter of minutes, the cars started streaming into the parking lot and the spots nearest the gate was filled up fast as you could say "Dude where's my car?" The line to the ticket booth was also formed in a flash. Bottom line – be there early, and if you can, get your tickets to the event ahead of time. There's a separate line for folks with and without tickets. But both queues were pretty fast so it's not too big of a deal. I couldn't help but laugh at a Japanese guy trying to bribe a teenage local behind me in the queue to buy him tickets. The girl totally did not understand and was getting the money as his payment for the ticket and not as a bribe – or maybe she was trying to be nice. Either way, I didn't see the point of rushing madly inside as the balloons weren't up yet.
When we got in though, I realized why there was such a rush. People wanted to be by the fence so they can see the balloons being set up in the field. And if you were going to photograph the show, you need to be in front or in that field to max out the opportunity. I was three people-rows behind, so it wasn't so bad – but I wish I was in that field!
It was pretty exciting to see them set up after an hour and a half of waiting under the stars (yes, the stars were still out when we got there!) When the first few 4×4's started entering the field carrying the balloon baskets, you can start hearing people buzz with excitement. It's actually quite infectious! Then when the first burst of light from one of the balloon baskets broke the darkness, I had to make sure I stood my ground as people started standing up from their picnic set ups and started pushing to the front. Good thing, it wasn't a mad push to be there, but still, you had to secure your spot or you'll find yourself lost amongst the crowd. But again,unless you're photographing, no matter where you stand in that area, you can see the balloons from afar, so you can still enjoy the show.
By 6am, the balloons were all up and ready to go. People were excited with all the parachute-gliders flying, drums beating and hot air giants up and awake. It was all over by around 7am – people were happy to have seen the show, and now ready to either go home or get some real food (there were only hotdogs and a few fastfood stuff being sold in the area!) I personally hoped to eat at the famous C's Italian resto, but it was closed. So we decided to meet up with my friend Louis and his family, Alynne and Little Luisa and have some famous Aling Lucing's Sisig. I was getting a little impatient with the traffic getting out of the parking lot. I wonder who was the smart guy who planned it and only had ONE exit (and one make shift exit) in that area?!
Sisig-filled and memory-card filled, I drove myself back to Manila happy with my morning. So for those planning to go, just plan ahead and be there early! Bring little stools if you can or anything to sit on, and keep your fingers crossed for better weather (my experience was a little gray, but I still enjoyed it
Hope you do too!
