International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2010 @ Putrajaya

This is the second year Malaysia was having Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2010 here from 18th to 21st March and the turn out was very amazing over the weekend. People from all all came to witness this amazing balloon show in Putrajaya with 23 hot air balloons participating from around the world.

We supposed catch the photographer session, which started from 7.45am - 8.15am. This is opened to photographers to take picture inside the balloon area. We eventually got there at about 8am because Steven lost his way. :S There was already a terrible traffic jam getting into the parking at the grounds. So, next year, please be prepared - Either park further and walk there or go early. We only managed to take picture outside the gate.

View of the crowd at 9am in the morning at Putrajaya
Me standing infront of the hot air balloon before going in

What came as a shock to me during the Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2010 was not only the balloons but the crowds with DSLR Cameras and high end equipments. Many came to capture the moment armed with tripods, mono-pods and all kinds of zoom lenses. Some lenses even the price of a Kancil car!

Seriously, I must have seen one in five people using a DSLR Camera during the Balloon Festival in Purtrajaya. Times must be good this year in 2010 or the big camera companies like Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Fuji are having a super sale on DSLR Cameras.

Armed and ready with a zoom lens

The Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2010 at Purtajaya was indeed a success as over a 100,000 people came to watch the balloons over the weekend. The main highlight was the unique shaped hot air balloons like the Darth Vader Hot Air Balloon and a pair of Levis Jeans Balloon which the crowd absolutely loved. It was really and eye opener for most people when they witnessed these unique odd shaped hot air balloons in Putrajaya this year around.

Darth Vader Hot Air Balloon, the much talked about balloon at Putrajaya

For the record, if you plan to visit the 3rd Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta for 2011, you should be well prepared before you head there. Reason being was through my experience at the current fiesta. Read more about this at the end of this article for tips and information.

The Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Purtajaya was held in the vicinity of the Millenium Obelisk or the Monument Alaf Baru which is the road off the main Putrajaya Boulevard in Precinct 2. So, the inner roads there will be closed off to the public making it a open walkway for everyone. However, you have to give way to the pick-up trucks bringing the hot air balloons back to the grounds from the hot air balloon races.

Well prepared for the Hot Air Balloon pictures

Preparing the hot air balloon and Firing up the hot air balloon. Managing the hot air filled balloon and stabilizing it is not easy

With Eevon and Daphne Levis Jeans Hot Air Balloon at Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon 2010
This 'lil boy is very cusrious looking at the hot air balloon

One thing that caught many children eyes were the cartoon balloon sellers which were abundant around the area. I must have seen at least 20 balloon sellers walking around with helium filled balloons. Most popular were the Sponge Bob Balloons followed by other Japanese characters like Hello Kitty Balloons and even Naruto Balloons.

Balloon sellers having a field day at the Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2010
Kids are happy with cute balloon

During the event, there were the para-gliders team who were going around the Hot Air Balloon grounds in their little machines. There must have been at least 10 of them taking turns to circle the area in groups of threes and fours. They were gliding pretty low too so this was a great photo opportunity for many people.

A para-glider making his rounds at Putrajaya

4 Para-gliders doing a formation just above the fair

Food was no issue at the Balloon Fiesta in Putrajaya as there were all kinds of fast food, local food and international food being sold. A hive of activities are provided throughout the hot air balloon grounds with informative tents to displays of light aircraft. There were also Helicopter Rides where a 15 minute Helicopter Ride was charges at RM150.00 per person. For those with a healthy wallet or purse, this would be a great experience to fly in a helicopter around Putrajaya.

I had Milo Iced

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Nasi Lemak RM5. Very simple Nasi Lemak with a small piece of fried chicken + fried egg and some sambal, but quite expensive. No choice. This is the only time seller can make more incomes at this kind of event.



Model of helicopter for viewing
Me standing with the crowd
The welcome entrance

Tickets for the Hot Air Balloon Rides at Putrajaya were absolutely sold out by 7am. Hot Air Balloon Rides is RM10 per person and there were 5 Balloons for the rides. Tickets were limited to 300 a session where there were 2 sessions a day and each hot air balloon could only go for 60 rides, meaning 60 tickets per balloon. There are no pre-buying the balloon ride tickets so you need to be there before the event to buy your tickets. You should have seen the sad faces of hundreds of people when they found out there were no tickets available.

Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2010 was a success from the turn out and hopefully for 2011, we will see more unique shaped hot air balloons. See you next year and congratulations to the Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Team for organising this amazing event in Malaysia!