I HAVE BEEN INITIATED to the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta three years ago by my good friend Burt Gabot. Burt invited me and seven other of our good friends and former officemates to join him in going to the event in February 2006. Burt was a budding digital photographer then (He is a professional now, or at least I assume that he is). He was initiated into the event himself the previous year when, together with several other amateur photographers, he was invited to ìcoverî the aerial displays of hot air balloons, light planes, and kites.
So I have been to the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta for two years in a row (2006-2007), looking forward to my third straight year. Do I recommend it? Definitely!
Even if you do not particularly like airplanes, or riding in airplanes for that matter, you will still surely enjoy the various aerial displays and stunts. It is not something you see often. After all, it just happens once a year and, until recently, it has not been that popular an event yet.
And if, like my friend Burt, you are into photography — or even amateur video ñ then you will find the view of slow-ascending hot air balloons truly spectacular. Even if you are quite a novice with your camera you will be surprised to see how beautiful your shots will turn out. Then you will feel good of yourself and maybe even decide to invest in more expensive gadgetry.
There are other attractions in the event aside from the hot air balloons. In fact, during the 4-day event you’ll get to see the hot air balloons only in the early hours of the morning or late in the afternoon just when dusk sets in.
What comes next after the hot air balloons ascend and leave the ground in the morning is a series of aerial acrobatic shows of light planes, ultralights, microlights, and helicopters. There will also be sky divers dropping off the sky several times within the day.
You are now convinced that the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is worth seeing and you are raring to go there.
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