Saturday, April 25, 2009

Ballooning. Air. Hot.

Birthday presents that benefit yourself as well are...well....sublime, are they not.

Particularly when they involve hot air ballooning in the Avon Valley, watching the sunrise, followed by a champagne breakfast. Yes, cheesy as all hell, but still its nice to do so once in a blue moon.


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The pilot and ground crew expected help setting up and dismantling the balloon. And so Stuart helped with set-up, filling the 100 feet high balloon with air fed in with a high pressure fan. The air was then heated up with a serious burner and we got in and floated up, up and away.

Seriously the most serene form of aviation. Calm, still (at 6.30am in the morning) and utterly fascinating due the fact that the pilot could only direct the balloon up or down so as to be affected by different air currents within the troposphere which in turn would direct the direction of our flight. Landing was exciting; jolting and bouncing down onto the ground in some farmer's paddock. After which, we all folded down the tarp and shoved it (for lack of a better word) into the balloon basket and headed off to the local restaurant for the highly anticipated champagne breakfast.


All in all, brilliant and highly recommended.

16 comments:

Sharon S said...

Hi there-wow, what a totally fabulous experience and such stunning pictures, too, lucky you!! Enjoy the weekend my dear!

Couture Carrie said...

How fantastic, A! Love these photos, especially the shadow of the balloon. Champagne breakfast sounds divine!

xoxox,
CC

Vertiginoso said...

Pffffffff AND Frankly the view of these Breathtaking Australian's landscapes, its captivating palette of crepuscular/creamy colors . . . will never fail to mesmerize me !!!!

à Bientôt, Antoine

yiqin; said...

SO COOL! I would love to be on a hot air balloon!!

ilikestuff said...

I'd be petrified to go on a hot air balloon ride, but the pictures you took from the air are just breathtaking. What a fun thing to do (minus the getting up at 6:30 part)!

crystal said...

How cool! I'd love to do that someday!

phamzy said...

that was a great experience.


http://ckuf-info.blogspot.com/

Emz said...

Omgosh never been looks like sooo much fun! The pictures are awesome!

Abby said...

Oh super super cute.
You are a nice girlfriend, that is a fantastic present to think of.

Are you in Melbs yet? Because I am super jealous already. haha

xx

Seeker said...

OMG so interesting!!!!! I would love to go on one experience like that.
Amazing pictures!!!!!!!

xoxo

Carolina Botelho said...

you're a lucky girl! the pic's are absolutely amazing!

Clara Campelo said...

:OOO so hot!!

Capricious said...

Heya just browsing through some fashion blogs and by golly your style is so cute!

and your so tanned?! why?! so jealous.

swap sites?

DaisyChain said...

Ohhh what an amazing experience. I go to the yearly Balloon Fiesta near me and have always wanted to go up, but sadly the weather/my timing is never quite right!

Delmy said...

Oh you are brave! I'd be scared!d

Marian said...

amazing shots darling of such a special experience.enjoy the weekend sweetie.
muah x
marian

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