Personal, Travel, Photos, Sports
Narrowband’s First Hot Air Balloon Experience
I saw an interesting ad in one of the online newspapers’ website a few days ago. Almost without hesitation, I forwarded the link to two of my comrades and the next thing we knew, we were hovering about 50m above ground in a hot air balloon.
It actually was a workshop organized mainly to scout for crews needed for an upcoming major hot air balloon event in Malaysia later this year. I guess I shouldn’t disclose too much in detail, as the organizing team are still in the planning stages. As for this workshop, we were taught everything we needed to know about assembling, inflating and flying a hot air balloon. With plenty of hands on, no less.
The steps are actually pretty simple. First, the basket (to carry passengers) has to be set up, with the burner installed at the top. I did not bring my baby EOS but I brought along my good ol’ Lumix compact point-and-shoot. I’m still impressed with its decent performance.
While the basket is being set up, the balloon envelope can be laid out to prepare for inflation. Yes, the big cloth in which hot air will be contained is known as the envelope. I did not know that previously. The envelope and its cords make up the entire parachute.
Once the basket was ready, we began to attach the parachute cords to it. The basket has to be placed on its side so that the attachment can be done more easily. Tethering ropes - which are used for holding the balloon at a height - are also attached to the basket. After that, a fan is used to blow air into the envelope enclosure.
While the fan was being turned on, the ground crew would help to spread out the envelope to ease airflow. Slowly, the envelope was inflated. Everyone, especially the first-timers, were pretty excited to see the balloon taking shape.
Duncan and Gan were equally excited as well. I know, you can tell too yea? Just so you know, almost everyone had a camera in their hand. Suddenly everyone took photography camwhoring seriously.
That’s the opening at the other side of the envelope. Nasirah sportingly struck a pose as well while helping to pull open the envelope opening. This top-part of the envelope is actually known as the crown, which would be covered.
Like that. Marzuki was also there to help out at the crown section. Well, we guys sorta helped out. Poor Nasirah was left doing all the stuff on her own… lol. Just kidding. She was more experienced than we were.
To prove my point, that’s how experienced she was. For the rest of us, it was our first time and Duncan was privileged enough to be given a (very) warm welcome. To raise the balloon, the air inside the envelope enclosure has to be heated up.
That’s the view of the erected balloon from the basket. Pretty cool huh? Gan, myself, and couple of other girls were given the opportunity to be the first to go up. It was a breathtaking experience, to say the least!
That’s our shadow on the ground. As it was only for demo and introduction purposes, we floated about 50 meters above ground. There was no need to go any higher (I would have probably puked the crap out of me anyway, I think).
Clear, sunny skies (albeit a little hazy) on a beautiful Sunday morning. As the air in the parachute had to be kept hot, our pilot, Mr Faizal would have to fire the flames into the envelope once a while. And whenever he did that, you’d wish that the basket was air-conditioned.
Anyway, I’d be lying if I said I did not enjoy myself. Despite the tight squeeze, the hot flames fired from just above my head, and the shaky basket, I enjoyed every moment spent floating up there. Really did!
A fellow passenger - Whitney, I heard - was taking pictures, presumably of some apartment which appeared to be the only tall building within sight, in that direction. Actually, moving around in the basket is not recommended but we changed places anyway.
This view seemed to be less boring. At least we could see cars cruising along the Federal Highway. At this juncture, Priscilla Patrick sprang to my mind. I couldn’t help it.
Climbing in and out of the basket was quite a challenge. I heard that if you’re gonna exchange wedding vows in a hot air balloon ride like this, you’ll have to carry your bride into the basket because it is impossible to climb in gracefully - in wedding gowns.
Duncan’s ride was next. To say that he enjoyed the ride is an understatement. He had everyone on the ground tittering at his jokes while he was up there.
If you think that a hot air balloon ride should be somewhat cooling because of your altitude and wind, well it’s not always the case. Flames are fired intermittently into the balloon envelope to keep the air hot. And to keep you afloat. And to keep you happy!
That’s the view of the parachute at an almost-completely deflated state. Well there’s much more to hot air balloon rides, actually (especially in areas like safety, good practices, and how to keep the basket balanced, etc). Of course I am not covering them all here in my blog.
Yesterday’s experience was not only an eye-opener, but also a fun and exciting one as well. Made a couple of new friends, learned a couple of new stuff… I hope the event that they’re organizing later this year will be a hit. I’d love to be recruited as a ground crew member as well then.
Have a good week ahead!
Footnotes:
1. SKYEVENTS is the organizer of the said event and this is *not* a paid/sponsored post. They even have a Facebook group, called Hot Air Ballooning in Malaysia. Way to go!
2. All photos are shot with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01 digital camera.
P/s. Narrowband.org now has an advertisement in the sidebar. Nuffnang’s online presence is hard to ignore… hahaha. Besides that, they always come up with events and promotions too, so… ;) Nevertheless, I assure you that this will not affect my entries, the quality or my blogging style. And, of course, paid entries are *not* my style, so you’ll never find any of those here. Ok? *Winks*
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18 Feb 2008 narrowband
hahaha traffic phone ranger using hot balloon. so out of date la wey xD
eh but i like the idea of having the wedding on air. haha reception and everything up there. but must make sure all the guests are not scared of heights. LOL. xD
Yea man ! lets be the ground crew in May !
Word of advice to girls who are going up in a hot air balloon :
DON’T WEAR SKIRT !
wah.. nampak macam best!
hv to pay ah?
Why they can’t install a door on the basket? :)
i came back to say… “Horrrrr!! U hv joined the Dark Side…” :P
I never ride hot ballon before le… wah so nice…
actually really romantic hor to sit inside the hot ballon with your loved one.. hehehe
Once in a lifetime experience thingy. I want!
Dude, you are so brave to rite on the balloon… Was the balloon grounded? I went up before once. The bolloon was not grounded… the moment i went up i was so stress and worry on the wind blowing us out from the base then we would have to find a place to land the balloon :-p
Anyway, it was a great experience to have the ride… :->
Wow. nice experience you’ve got! I can see Gan looking so excited lol. Send my regards to him =) about the line (which I wrongly used), I thought it means something good (after loosely translating the line). I guess I was so wrong, was I? =)
So now you’re experienced enough to bring me up on a hot air balloon next time? :D
hey, that’s so nice.. can we go up too? how to join it??
yer yer yer..i thought no ride on balloon….yuan lai got de….lu pian wa….hmmp!!!..i want i want!!!
Seem to like one helluva great experience u had there!
Hot air balloon..hmm i’d love to try it out one day haha
I think the pilot said something in the lines of “You cannot navigate the balloon,it depends on the wind condition and strength”.
I think that’s clear enough that if the balloon was not tethered (tied down), we might be flying over the skies of PJ to God knows where.
Emily - Regards received. But hmmm, is this Emily, Jasmyin’s friend?
Just so you guys know (which David left out), there’s another workshop happening in March. The cost is RM 50, and I reckon you’ll probably learn the same thing as we did. The 3 of us will probably go to improve our knowledge and skills, so feel free to join us if you can dig yourself out of the bed at 6 A.M on a Sunday morning. :D
sheesh! its a long way downnnnnnnnnnn…
I dunwanna be ground crew… can I just go and pay for a joyride to nowhere up and down? *grin*
Wah very interesting! Scary or not when you’re up there? (but then not that high right? 50m)
hahaha so finally there’s an AD :P
shiok ler hot air balloon. i noticed there’s like strings attached to the basket even though it’s in the air. safety purposes ? how high did it go ?
OMG! I WAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bro burn more burn more and go up to space be the 1st of the normal ppl kind to be up in space. slap me now pls slap me. haha! Liked ur entry, made me smile and it’s really a great thing u did there! :)
i want to go up toooooooo!!!!!!!
wow some experience u haf there :D
It so nice can go up the baloon..
But it’s even nicer you can set up the baloon too..!
Oh ya.. how was ur chap goh mei?
Did the boat rowing?
Get any oranges?
[…] 3. I actually went to a Hot Air Balloon crewing workshop quite recently too. Wanted to blog about it, but didn’t got around to, and besides I didn’t have the pictures. So if you want to read about it, and check out the pics, go to David’s blog here. […]
Wah.. I want to go on it too!!! :)
Wahha….!!!! Best nye..!!!! When got summore..!??? I wanna fly..!
A great ride for you.
Pinksterz - I don’t think it’s outdated. It’s not even a feasible idea!! Hahaha. Ok, wedding on a hot air balloon… is best accomplished without any super-high hairdo… lest the party’s gonna be flamin’ hot!
Duncan - Oh, wearing skirt is permissible but not recommended :pPp Yes can’t wait for May 1st!
Angel - Ya… kena… RM50!
Neo - Now that’s a very brilliant idea. I think that’d add to the manufacturing cost :p But I’ll make sure I’ll ask for you the next time k? :D
Angel - Ehh! Grey lar… not totally dark yet. I don’t do paid posts mah!! *Stares innocently at Angel a la Shrek 3’s Puss in Boots* :P
Keeyit - Everything must have first time mah! Can be romantic also la… if both parties don’t mind the hot air above… hahah!
Jason - Can have few times also ma no problem! Hehe…
TZ - Yes the balloon was tethered to the ground, cuz otherwise the wind would blow us to Holland ;p
Emily - Regards received! Ya that usage abit terbalik liao… ehehe.
Day-dreamer - Can can! No problem! Just pay! *Evil grin*
Fluffy - I joined the crew workshop… I think to ride as a passenger is a different thing completely. But if you wanna join as a crew, you could drop Skyevents an email or call them up! Their next round of workshop is on March 16th, so act fast!
Erico - I didn’t bluff you ar!! Nevermind la, March 16th got another round. You go lar :p
Victor - I never thought I’d ride it for the first time in Malaysia. I thought probably overseas or something! Oh well…! ;)
Gan - Yes dude, it’s that Emily. Hehe. Eh, did we get up at 6am that morning? Oh wait we did!!
Wuching - Is it???
Rinnah - I think that one have to pay lor :P
Che-cheh - If you don’t have silly thoughts then it’s not scary. If you keep scaring yourself with nonsense like “I may tip over and fall to the ground” then you’d probably not enjoy it as much :p Anyway, I reckon it’d be more scary if it had flown higher… definitely!
Sat - Hehe, just to see how it will benefit me and my blog :p The strings (ropes) are to hold the balloon so that it doesn’t get blown away! There’s no way you can navigate the balloon’s directions except being blown by the wind! That day it was pretty windy, so we went up to about 50m only. I think during the real deal it may go higher!
Smashie - Haha, feel free to drop them an email and prepare to pay RM50 :p
Jian - I think there’s a limit of how high you can go… air pressure will drop, and it’ll eventually balance up with the pressure of your hot air. Anyway, I think by then you would have been dead anyway due to the extremely low air pressure. Haha. I’m glad my entry made you smile bro!
Cbenc12 - Come join us lar! :D
Alicia - Yes! It was indeed as exciting as it appears in photos!
Cybie - Eh, I didn’t row any boat (where to find boat lar!), didn’t get any oranges also. But I happened to make some friends haha. We’ll talk on MSN :)
Drumsticks - As a crew or passenger? LOL… everyone who went that day were there as ground crew members :p Gotta work and learn how to set it up knoe!
Yellowbanana - March 16 bro, March 16! Quick drop them an email or give them a call! I hope still got places left.. haha.
Cheerfulday - It indeed was :)