Will you be surprised to know International Balloon Meet has already been held in Myanmar for the seventh consecutive year?
In 1999, international balloonists met for the first time in Myanmar, traversing the clear sky in Inlay and Central Myanmar regions. Since then, International Balloon Meet is organized annually and the 7th meet took place in January 2005.
On 17th January 2005, the first event of the Balloon Meeting was started in Nyaung Shew, Southern Shan State.
Fairly constant wind speed and direction is usually needed for ballooning. The most suitable flight times being 6 Am to 9 Am and 3 Pm to 5 Pm. Preparation for this afternoon’s event is going on. It is quite interesting. First the balloons are inflated with air with the aid of fans. Secondly, the gas is ignited to heat the inflated air, till the balloon began yawing ready to take off. The Balloon Meeting was sponsored by Mr. Peter Blaser of Switzerland who is the present Swiss Champion in ballooning and also the European runner-up for 2004. Finally, the balloon takes off smoothly. Participants are the balloonists from Switzerland, the United States of America and France numbering 26.
As International Balloon Meet requires clear sky, the months of December, January,February and March are the most suitable period for the event in Myanmar. International Balloon Meet has already been held in regions like Yangon, Bago, Mandalay, Monywa, Myitkyina, Inlay, Taungyi, Bagan and Popa. A Myanmar private tourism operator, the Golden Express Tours Company, renders assistance for the International Balloon Meet with the support of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
Peace, tranquility, scenic beauty with smogless clear sky, sincerity and hospitality of the people with enchanting smiles are factors that attract international balloonists for such events. A balloon can carry a crew of three to five. The balloon drifts following the wind direction across the expansive sky. The balloon reaches Shwe Nyaung, seven miles away north from the launching site in Nyaung Shwe.
The lift-off and ballooning following the wind direction seem to be easy, but the hard part is the landing which really needs skills. The landing sites may not always be a spacious open ground. Sometimes, the landings narrow strips amidst buildings or plantations are really challenging.
Our MRTV-3 crew got a good opportunity to document the day’s event. The welcoming and enchanting smiles of the local nationals who turned out enliven the evening.
Our MRTV-3 crew was enthralled and energized by the day’s event and its scenes, expecting more chances on the days to come.
