ThursdayEverybody met at 10 am in the hotel lobby and bussed to the convention center where our balloons were waiting for us. We unpacked , but there was no propane so we were assured that propane would arrive overnight, ready for our flight in the morning. The rest of the day was spent relaxing by the pool.
FridayEveryone met at 4.30am, and were taken back to the convention center. Propane had arrived, so the pilots busied themselves with refueling. Our crew were from the Indonesian Army, and every pilot had 6 soldiers assigned to them. We had police trucks and the local police as our drivers.
Dereks first flight at 7am. Quite a few people turned out to watch. Event seems to be going ahead even though it is unorganized, things seem to be coming together. We just have to work out finances and the pilots will be happy.
This is our crew and chase truck.
As we were leaving the launch field, I noticed this large poster advertising the event, hopefully there will be a good crowd here this weekend.
We are on the chase with another chase vehicle in front of us.
Going through some small villages.
The roads are really narrow through some of these places.
We had to stop a few times and asked for directions.
Passed by the local store.
Found Derek after a long chase. He landed in this Tapioca field, and most of the villagers had followed him to the landing site. He tethered about 30 kids, while he was waiting for us to arrive.
The kids that helped us pack the balloon away.
Good landing site, and for some of these kids it was the first time that they had seen a hot air balloon.
As there were no roads into this area, we had to carry the equipment out. Which was made more difficult because the bridges over many of their streams consisted of 2 bamboo trunks!!! The handrail was broken and the bamboo was covered with mud. Derek didn't fall in, but I was ready with the camera just in case!!!
The locals and our army crew all came together to get the basket and tanks across " the bridge".
Here's the basket being carried out to the road, thank goodness we have a lot of crew.
The village children watched us pack it away. The kids in uniform had run out of the school to see the balloon, so the teacher had to usher everyone back as we left. Great flight. After a lunch time of washing the mud out of our clothes, went back to the launch site for an afternoon flight, which only lasted 20 mins as a storm was coming in, and the landing site ( building development) was to good to give up.
Dereks first flight at 7am. Quite a few people turned out to watch. Event seems to be going ahead even though it is unorganized, things seem to be coming together. We just have to work out finances and the pilots will be happy.
This is our crew and chase truck.
As we were leaving the launch field, I noticed this large poster advertising the event, hopefully there will be a good crowd here this weekend.
We are on the chase with another chase vehicle in front of us.
Going through some small villages.
The roads are really narrow through some of these places.
We had to stop a few times and asked for directions.
Passed by the local store.
Found Derek after a long chase. He landed in this Tapioca field, and most of the villagers had followed him to the landing site. He tethered about 30 kids, while he was waiting for us to arrive.
The kids that helped us pack the balloon away.
Good landing site, and for some of these kids it was the first time that they had seen a hot air balloon.
As there were no roads into this area, we had to carry the equipment out. Which was made more difficult because the bridges over many of their streams consisted of 2 bamboo trunks!!! The handrail was broken and the bamboo was covered with mud. Derek didn't fall in, but I was ready with the camera just in case!!!
The locals and our army crew all came together to get the basket and tanks across " the bridge".
Here's the basket being carried out to the road, thank goodness we have a lot of crew.
The village children watched us pack it away. The kids in uniform had run out of the school to see the balloon, so the teacher had to usher everyone back as we left. Great flight. After a lunch time of washing the mud out of our clothes, went back to the launch site for an afternoon flight, which only lasted 20 mins as a storm was coming in, and the landing site ( building development) was to good to give up.
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