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Flight chronicles of the backpacker Tutubi, with travelogues, pictures/photos/videos, travel guides, independent and honest reviews, affordable, recommended resorts and hotels (including inns, guesthouses, pension houses, lodges, hostels, condotels, bed and breakfast and other cheap accommodations), commuting guides, routes (sometimes street maps and GPS coordinates/waypoints) and driving directions to answer "how to get there" questions, information and tips on tourism, budget travel and living in Philippines, Exotic Asia and beyond!

Backpacking, independent travel, and flashpacking are cheaper than the "cheapest package tours" and promotional offers around but you can also use travel information for family vacations, even romantic honeymoon destinations.

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    Clark, Pampanga: Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Pictures

    Hast Du etwas Zeit für mich
    Dann singe ich ein Lied fuer Dich
    Von 99 Luftballons
    Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont

    Up, up, and away...


    Tutubi didn't turn German, he just remembered the 80's song by German group Nena, "99 Luftballoons" and The Fifth Dimension's "Up, Up And Away" when he made a trip to Clark Field (formerly Clark Air Base and now Clark Economic Processing Zone (CEPZ)), Pampanga.

    12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Pictures:

    The fiesta saw 21 hot air balloons fly to the sky in the early morning and last day of the 12th International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. Participating ballooners from 12 countries came with their colorful propane-powered flying machines.

    the flag raising (or was it flag-descending ceremony where a skydiver delivered the Philippine flag from the sky

    the propane gas-powered balloons and a "wicker basket" for the pilots

    Wish you were blue, but "The color of the sky as far as I can see is coal grey" --10000 Maniacs, The Color of the Sky
    It's just bad that the weather didn't cooperate. 'Twas cloudy and quite windy, good thing Tutubi can stand the chilly wind due to his spending long hours inside the datacenter, typical of people in the IT industry
    the hot air balloon that looks like an octopus reminds Tutubi of the robot of Little John, member of the Voltes V quintet :P
    One of the last balloons to fly. (wanted to take pictures of all hot air balloons in flight but limited by the kitlens' ability to zoom in closer. This will change, however, in a few weeks) :P

    Photographing the Photographer: look at how photographers try to find the perfect shot

    After the balloons disappeared on the horizon, kites by fiesta goers filled the sky, skydiving, helicopter flights and airplane acrobatics ensued but Tutubi and band of bloggers (catchlyts, orange and yam) just went to some restaurants at 10:30 for something like an Angeles City food trip to again sample the famed Kapampangan cuisine and pasalubong.

    More on that next time...

    Looking forward to the 13th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta!

    Links:

    Angeles City Food Trip
    Orange's Hot air balloon post

    ---
    Notes:

    Tutubi was able to secure a VIP pass to the area reserved for organizers, media and photographers (made to cough up P350 each), courtesy of J's friend manning the entrance (a DOT employee). He was also able to spot several bloggers and photographers up close.

    How to get to Clark, Pampanga:

    Directions by car: the best way to go there from Manila is via the NLEX (north luzon expressway), DAU exit. turn right, cross the bridge then left at the end of the street (MacArthur Highway). On reaching Caltex gasoline station, turn right. You will see SM City Clark and directions to the place so it's easy to find. Travel time is around one and a half hours from Quezon City.

    Commute: Philtranco Bus to Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga is available at SM Megamall Bldg A, Fare is around P300 and P350 from Pasay City terminal. For trip schedules, visit Philtranco official website. Philtranco is also the same bus company ferrying passengers to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) that budget carriers Air Asia and Tiger Airways use.

    Labels: , , , ,


    posted by GingGoy @ 8:41 PM,

    18 Comments:

    At Feb 11, 2008, 3:16:00 PM, Blogger pusa said...

    wow nice shots! i'm green with envy coz you were there and im not! LOL cant wake up that early dang hehehehe

    yeah the robot look like the pet of lil john =)

     
    At Feb 11, 2008, 8:15:00 PM, Blogger GingGoy said...

    pusa, i woke up at 3am, left home at 4 and got there a few minutes before 530...normal lang naman sa pusalaging tulog :P

     
    At Feb 11, 2008, 10:51:00 PM, Blogger Gita Asuncion said...

    kainggit namannnn! ive always dreamed of watching an event like this.. but ive never had the chance.. . layo kasi eh.. may work pa... mamatay na lang ako sa inggit sa fotos mo... well done! very nice! thanks for sharing this!

     
    At Feb 12, 2008, 4:50:00 AM, Blogger Gypsy said...

    One of these days, I will get myself over there!! By hook or by crook!! ;)

     
    At Feb 12, 2008, 10:04:00 AM, Blogger carlotta1924 said...

    the last pic reminded me of my cousin who did the same thing to take a pic of the statue of liberty.

    so did you also lay on the ground to take some of the pics? =)

     
    At Feb 12, 2008, 10:07:00 AM, Blogger orange said...

    i was like a child simply enthralled by the beauty of humongous balloons taking off from the ground one by one. glad i was there :)

     
    At Feb 12, 2008, 11:54:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Buti nung last day ka nagpunta dun. I heard walang balloons na lumipad nung Fri and Sat because of the strong winds.

    Wow! In a few weeks me bago ng toy si Tutubi!

     
    At Feb 12, 2008, 12:59:00 PM, Blogger Toe said...

    Ang ganda-ganda! That must have been amazing. I would also have loved to see how they descended the Philippine flag.

     
    At Feb 12, 2008, 8:26:00 PM, Blogger Sidney said...

    At least you saw the balloons... it seems the next days the balloons were grounded.
    So, lucky you!

     
    At Feb 14, 2008, 12:29:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Wow this must be a fantastic event and opportunity for photographers! Awesome shots!

     
    At Feb 14, 2008, 8:44:00 PM, Blogger -= dave =- said...

    hope you could've covered the plane and chopper acrobatics, i'm interested in that one. it's also almost impossible for me to wake up that early.

     
    At Feb 16, 2008, 1:13:00 AM, Blogger lagal[og] said...

    wasn't able to make it again this year. then again, the skies were grey for days. though at least, you were there :-) thanks for sharing the pics tutubi

     
    At Feb 16, 2008, 4:07:00 PM, Blogger Mari said...

    I love all the balloons, esp. the octopus. It's cute...big cute. LOL

    Thanks for sharing these pictures.

     
    At Feb 16, 2008, 11:48:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

    awwww! i skipped it this year. kinda loaded that weekend. but looking how colorful the balloons were, i now regret it for not making it. haaay! next year uli pramis!

     
    At Feb 16, 2008, 11:59:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Hey Tutubi, nice post! Can I go with you on your next road trip when i get home for vacation.

     
    At Feb 17, 2008, 4:48:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

    What a lovely feast and what great report from you - all documented so well with wonderful photos - thanks for sharing!

    I would have loved to go in one of those balloon one day!

     
    At Mar 1, 2008, 4:30:00 PM, Blogger pieterbie said...

    Balloon meetings are always terrific settings for some photography. So colourful. Love the octopus.

     
    At Aug 26, 2008, 11:52:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

    hi...is there a for rent chopper at clark? please help...need it for a wedding event..email me feedback at event_invent@yahoo.com

     

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