16 Hot Air Balloon Festival

February 13, 2011. It was the 16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival, but it was our first time.

Honestly, we do not know how to get to Clark Pampanga, good thing we were able to read a blog regarding Discover Asia Travel and Tours (Discover Asia Travel and Tours Website). It cost us Php800.00/head for the van service from Makati to Clark and back, plus the ticket. However, three days prior to the day it self, we received text message from the travel agency, that we were the only couple who booked for the service. They gave options:
1. Back out - NO!
2. Join other groups, which aside from Hot Air, they also have side trip to Subic. It will cost us additional Php500/head if we choose this option. - still, NO!

We didn't chose any of their option, instead we made a deal. They gave us refund of Php300/head for opting out on way back.

It was already 3:00 am when the van left Makati. All the way there, we slept. At 5:00am, we arrive at Clark. Tons of people were there to witness the event. So, we had a hard time finding a good spot and nice vantage point.

We were able to stand near the barricade though, but we realize there were some who were able to get in. We didn't knew that there this pass that you can get for a certain cost. If we only knew about, we must have been there, near those balloons. arggghh!

Anyway, by 6:00am, they started firing up. And there they went, up in the sky.

Fire Up

Giant Balloons

After the balloons rose up, we decided to do a quick roam around the area and went home. How do we got back? We took a free shuttle to Marquee Mall, eat at Reyes Barbeque then took a bus back to Cubao. Haha, that was easy.

Next year, we will surely comeback with the pass!