Balloons Over Bagan
Sunrise
(Jolie) We got up at 5:00 am, quickly got dressed while we were half asleep. As we walked through the dark, quiet paths of the hotel we looked around to see how we were getting to the hot air ballooning. Then there were a bunch of people sitting (or sleeping) in the main lobby and that’s where we were supposed to wait. Five minutes later a bus that said hot air ballooning on it was parked in front of the main lobby. Everyone in the main lobby got up or woke up and got on the bus. On the way there the bus driver stopped at a couple more hotels to pick up more people. Finally we got to an open soccer field. One of the pilots named Ellie told us that there was tea coffee and biscuits outside. When we walked outside I was so tired and it was so dark I didn’t even notice there was a huge balloon right in front of us. Then Ellie told us what group everyone was in. We were with Ellie.
The basket part was sideways and the balloon was lying down on the ground. There were 4 compartments which is where you could stand and one compartment for the pilot. Next 3 crew people held open the balloon while another crew person turned on a big fan that was blowing out hot air. At the same time when the fan was blowing, Ellie reached above her (in the basket) and turned on the fire that blew into the balloon that was now up straight and in the shape of a balloon. Then Ellie said to get in the balloon while a couple of crew people pushed up the basket and then we were off the ground. The first thing I saw was a ton of other hot air balloons, some were really high and some were really low. The balloons were colors like blue, yellow, red, and green. Our balloon was red.
Ellie told us that there were 3,000 temples that were built by everyone in Bagan that could afford to build one. Every once and a while Ellie would turn the fire thing on to keep the balloon filled up with hot air. We flew right over a temple where there were people on top of the flat roof waving to us. Then Ellie said to get in the landing position which was just sitting down. There was a bunch of crew people running over to stop our balloon. When we landed the basket was bouncing because the crew was moving the balloon over so the next balloon could land. Then Ellie pulled a rope and a circular flap slowly got smaller and it let out the hot air so the balloon could deflate. We got out and there was water and Champagne on a table. After that we took the bus back to the hotel and Maya’s stomach was hurting so she threw up 3 or 4 times that day.
wow that sound fun!!!(way better than school) I miss you so,so,so,so,so,sooooooo much. i’m waiting eagerly waiting for you to come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Jolie,
Wow that is so cool! Your writing is amazing and that was quite the landing! I miss you guys so much, feel better Maya. It looks like such a fun adventure. P.S. I drove by your house today and your minivan was covered in snow!! Cant wait to see you in August.
Love you guys,
Julia
Jolie,
That was a cool story!! You described your adventure very well. That sounded like quite the landing! I miss you guys so much. I hope Maya feels better! We drove by your house today, and your minivan is covered in so much snow!! Can’t wait to see you guys in August!!!! Love,
Julia
Dear Jolie,
I am so glad that you shared some of your writing with us. It sounds as if you noticed a lot of the details about how a hot air balloon works and you described the entire process clearly and thoroughly. Wow, seeing sunrise from the air must have been exciting – and worth getting up at 5 AM! I laughed at your description of the “landing position”. This sounds like an exciting and beautiful adventure. Love, Grandma
Hi Jo,
How are you? I love your ballooning story. But I did have a few questions, if you don’t mind answering them. I am wondering did your dad want to race the other balloons and see who won? How many people fit in a balloon? Was Maya airsick or did she eat something that didn’t agree with her? Was it loud in the balloon or quiet? Did it get colder as you went higher in the air? O.K. end of questions. I saw the picture of you standing in the doorway of the temple-I think you’ve grown in the last 2 months. It feels like you’ve been gone much longer:( Anyway, I have chewy bars here waiting for your return:) xo Rachel
Hi Jolie,
I am glad that Ellie was an experienced pilot. You described your adventure so well. I wonder if Maya mistakenly drank champagne instead of water. I hope she is feeling better now.
This morning in one of my classes at the gym, a person was wearing the Juice Bar shirt. Of course it reminded me of you. And when I got home, I saw your blog. What a coincidence, my Juice Bar!!!
Papa
Thanks for the ballooning story Jolie. I hope Maya felt better after that!
Jolie,
Thank for sharing your wonderful ballon ride over Bagan.
Keep the post coming….Hope Maya is better.
Great post Jojo! Sounds like a great adventure!
Great job Jolie! Is Maya the first one to get sick?