The Hot Air Balloons

It is weekend today. I could have slept longer. I am enough to wake up 6:15am from Monday to Friday. But I woke up earlier than usual, 5:15am. Could not help myself. I have to wake up that early. Something interesting is awaiting me.

The venue I am about to head is slightly further by 15km than to my office. Along the way, the traffic was crystal-clear. Usually around that time, traffic starts to build up. So I drove and drove.. and drove... at a constant speed.

So tempted to speed but I afraid of speed track. So keep it at the safe-zone, 100km/h. You never know where and how or when. It can happen anytime when one is way too unfortunately.

I can tell the place I am about to go is a .. beautiful place. Beautiful architectural buildings. Beautiful scenery at night. Beautiful and clean roads. I checked the map at Google map before I depart. The whole town is actually on an island. Only last night I knew. Some people say the town is like a dead town. To me, it is as if a sleeping-town.

You know. Like those sleeping volcanoes. It is sleeping. When it erupts, it kills.

The Putrajaya!

This time is my second time. The first time I came here was with bunch of UTAR friends. Today, I came all alone. To witness

Putrajaya Hot Air Balloons Fiesta 2010.

Here's the main entrance to the events' venue. I arrived the place around 6.15am. You must be thinking I am nut. Yes, somehow,.. I find myself nut. Perhaps lack of sleep last night.

I can see people are getting ready for business. Those are balloons too. But am not interested with those balloons. Maybe Whitney and Elaine do.

Reason I arrived that early was because... only limited 300 people are allowed for hot air balloon ride. I wasn't really nut, I tell you. The time I arrived the place, I am around.. 80th - 100th inside the queue. Those people in front of me are the true nut.

LoL`

Sun was rising up. And the balloons are taken out to be filled with air. And the ticket sold out in hour time. Happiness goes to early birds and sorrow goes to late comers. They may have to wait for the next session which is at 6pm.

Oh yeah~.. That truly put a real large smile on my face. After I got the ticket, I have to wait at another queue for balloons ride. I was like.. shit. I can't wait any longer. Because there's only certain time when all the balloons are going to take off. They gonna stay at the sky for like 1 hour and they all landed back. This is only done twice a day, morning and evening.

And left those stupid, dirty balloons flying for visitors to ride in. I left the queue and went to witness the grand moment.

One more crappy thing happened. Those balloons flew on the other side of the "island" which is different from the place I purchased my ticket. I could not get myself over there. I got myself stuck. Can't help it. I only manage to enjoy the moment with blood bleeding from within.

I fixed my camera with small "rifle" and shoot all the way to the other side of the so-called-"island". Do enjoy. I don't promise to produce good one.

Wow. That's a cute lion flying.

I can't tell which balloon is from which country. There are various of countries joined for this event. It's an international event, perhaps.

That is coooooooOOool. It's wearing a shades. Ya. I can understand. It's way too bright up there. LoL`

The coolest would be the dark colored balloon. It is the head of the Star War bad guy. I can't remember his name. Zeidi, something like that. Too bad. It didn't fly long. Didn't manage to capture its "face".

Human beings can really FLY like a bird. Those two guys were flying above the crowd like nobody business.

I wonder if Levis sponsored that one or not. A gigantic jeans flying in the air. Maybe it's for The Hulk. I'm so satisfied "wandering" around the field.

I am getting as exiting as Mr. Spongebob. Because..

I AM GOING TO FLY.

So I headed back to the place where I purchased my ticket and WAIT.

Oh. Crap. Another super long queue! For the whole day, I am queueing only..

I saw people flewwwww... and landed. Fllleewwww and landed.. For one hour, I am still inside the queue. The heat is killing me. Some of the people were getting mad due to the heat and left.

By the time, it was my turn. I went low batt. Still, I'm am exciting inside. So here I go. Pop into the.. "basket".

You may be thinking. Wow, Richard is inside the "basket" and he surely enjoy himself. To be frank, the moment I stepped inside the "basket", the next thing I want to do is.. jump out.

The flame is so much HOTTER than the heat out there. Every time the crew releases the flame.. I felt like the heat is boiling me. I ask the crew. "Eh, PANAS-la!"

He replied. "Biiiiaaassaaaaaaa... ia ni memang panassss".

Contented enough to have a 10 minutes in the sky. Hey. Hot air balloon REALLY can fly, believe me that. =D

That's all folks. Goodbye Putrajaya. Till next time.. awaiting for the Malaysia International Fireworks Competition.