17th Hot Air Balloon Festival

---------------------------------------------
Air Force City/Clark Airfield
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
Central Luzon
12 February 2012
---------------------------------------------


Woke up early that day and asked my uncle to drive me off to my friend's house so he'd know where to pick me up as well. While waiting, I finally got myself acquainted with Simon.

The Satellite Dish: Grumpy Kitty Does Not Approve

We left Manila for Pampanga at around 4am, and arrived a few minutes earlier than expected so we decided to order fast food before heading off to Clark Airfield.


As it turned out, "early" wasn't too early anymore. The entrance was so jam-packed with people and cars that we nearly missed the balloon flight. Sad to say, I was only able to take poor pictures of the stuff from inside the car.

The Cake

The Ice Cream

Sorbetes

The Car

In a gist, the Hot Air Balloon Festival is just that. There are things to buy and stuff to look at, but it does not exactly live up to its hype unless you're tripping with funny friends and you're actually there to cover the event for one reason or another; or, simply put, you have the capacity to take awesome pictures. Like this guy here:

Taking pictures... Like a Boss.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the balloons and others, up-close. Credits for these go to my high school friend, Marah.

Spot the Difference

Ready.

Set.

... and, weeee. Go.

CAEK! 8D

"I'm leaving~ on a jetplane~♪"

Flight of the Balloons

Wanted: Fire Bender

Verdict: If you're planning to go there next year, I'd advise you to go as early as 12 midnight (if you're coming from Manila, at least). No, I'm not kidding. If you wish to see the balloon inflation and flight, plus the mid-air acrobatics of those jet planes then that's probably the most ideal time to go. Either that, or you sleep overnight. :P Otherwise, you'd miss half of whatever the Festival has to offer because the other half is all food, kite-flying, Air Force galleries, picture-taking moments, and more food while soaking up the sun and using yourself as a net for Pinatubo dust. XD

And please, wear sun dresses, sun-block lotion, shades, or cap if you plan to stay there til when the sun is burning in all of its hateful glory.