I have seen the billboard about this a couple of years ago.  During that time, I felt that I do not have enough money to go there.  I don’t know but no matter how much I earn, I feel that I do not have enough to spend on traveling.  Call me kuripot or something but I usually feel nanghihinayang when I spend a couple of thousands on fares and accommodation.  Not that I don’t enjoy it but I just feel it’s sayang.  Well, after attending the landmark forum introduction and after realizing that I am not getting any younger and I am missing on a lot of things, I decided to make this year a year of doing things I haven’t done before.  So, after dreaming of going to the hot air balloon fest for a number of years now, this year I decided to go.

The trip did not cost me that much anyway.  The bus fare from Cubao to Dau is only about Php150.  From Dau, we walked a bit and took the jeepney to the jeepney station going to Clark.  We decided take a private vehicle though which cost Php180.  It is too warm for us to walk from the station to the venue.  The entrance fee for the balloon fest is Php100 per head.  If you get hungry, there is Jollibbee and McDonalds so you don’t have to spend much on food either.  They also have Burger King if you have a few more peso to spend.

So we had a picture fest inside.  We took pictures of ourselves beside the planes, the tanks, the jeeps, with guns, etc.  There are two planes that we can ride and take pictures but the line is too long so we decided to skip that.  I guess a lot of people have the same thinking - riding a fighter plane is cool.  After taking some pictures, we had lunch then watch the remote controlled plane exhibition.  The Japanese guy is really great - not that great for me to remember his name though or it just did not register.  Perhaps, he’s not that cute.  Anyway, after that was the skydiving exhibition with about 7 skydivers.  It’s cool to find out that among the seven, about 2 are women.  Men still outnumbered us there but at least, it’s not purely men.   Then another plane exhibition - this time real plane.  It was so good that I don’t really know if it’s real plane or just RCs again.

Then, we walked around again and went back for the drifting exhibition by Lance Feliciano.  Honestly, it’s the first timeI heard his name but they say he was part of the movie Tokyo Drift.  He was good anyway.  I even wanted to volunteer as passenger in one of his exhibitions. After that, the female members of the air force had their silent drill exhibition and a dance number.  I find it scary whenever they fire their gun towards the direction of one of the parasailers who was also having their exhibition at the same time.

Since the event was held on a Valentine’s day, someone took advantage and proposed.  He made this little helicopter (I’m not quite sure what it is, but sure looks like a mini chopper) fly with a streamer saying something like: I don’t mind not being the first one, but I want to be the last.  Kinda mushy but if that was intended for me, I would have cried and said yes.  Though, I must say that is not my idea of a romantic marriage proposal.

Then, finally at around 6pm, they started to “inflate” the hot air balloons.  There’s one really big one shaped like an elephant, another shaped like a coke bottle.  They did not fly the balloons though, that happened in the morning.  They said it is risky to fly the balloons at night because they might get tangled with electrical wires, etc.  If you want to ride, it will cost you $150.  I would have been willing to spend Php1500 for riding one but 6k is just too much.  6000 just for the bragging rights that you have been able to ride a hot air balloon? Never mind.

They also sell a number of souvenirs, costing from Php10 to Php160.  I am sure they have more expensive stuff but I just didn’t bother asking.  My favorite souvenir is the miniature hot air balloon sold at Php160.

The hot air balloon fest experience is quite good.  It was a good starting point for all my future little adventures. My mother even hinted of going back next year or perhaps, go to Baguio for the flower festival. All in all, I spent about Php2,000 which is not really a lot.  I can say, it’s worth every penny I spent.

Categories : My Little Adventures