Here I am in Albuquerque, New Mexico.. hearing all kinds of stuff being mentioned about the International Balloon Fiesta.. and I couldn't help but wonder about the abundance in hype surrounding it? Cometh the hour and what awaited me was something spectacular. Hot air balloons to your left.. Hot air balloons to your right.. Hot air balloons above you and all around you. This was the sight that welcomed me on most mornings when i looked out of my window. What a sight! More than hundreds of balloons in full flight.. different shapes, sizes and color..
How this laid back city came to life en course of the event made me realize how big an event the fiesta is to them. I was transported back to my hometown where a particular 'Thrissur Pooram' arouses similar fervour among the masses. Though the number of people attending the Balloon fest is a smaller proportion when compared to the Pooram, the sentiment involved is the same. The people consider the event to be an integral part of their heritage. They are proud of it and wants the world to take note of the rich culture that they have.
Leaving those thoughts aside, let me dwell a bit more into the beauty of the event that did unfold in front of my eyes.
The very first day of the Fiesta turned out to be a disappointing one. Having got up at 5 am and traveled the 4 miles to the grounds in one and a half hours (i've never seen so much traffic here), nature played spoilsport. There are ideal conditions in which the Hot Air Balloons can lift off the ground.. but then the wind was too strong on the day. The disappointment in the faces of the locals and the hundreds of balloonist's from all over the world was clear. But then with time the disappointment turned to ecstasy. The second day turned out to be the one where in the balloonist could lift off.. and boy.. did the crowd love it!! Wherever you were, all that the people wanted to talk about was the Ballloon Fiesta.. and you could get a feeling of their glee in the way the expressed their feelings.
It is a spectacular sight to witness hundreds of hot air balloons hovering in the sky. Albuquerque is famous for the extent of the sky you see. I have never seen the sky prettier than what I have witnessed here. Now imagine this beautiful bright blue sky filled with balloons of vibrant color.. that too, in different shapes.. moving in the sky only influenced by the wind. Imagine it.. hundreds of feet above the sky.. without any control over the direction in which you are travelling.. you go where the wind takes you.. The different shapes and the colors of the balloons are a manifestation of the riders themselves.. there are balloons which are plain, balloons having such a huge dash of different colors that it is impossible not to take note of it.. and then to showcase peoples support of things they believe in, there are balloons shaped like Darth Vader from Star Wars to the Shark from Finding Nemo, to one shaped like an Elvis Presley, to a balloon shaped as an ice cream to one supporting basketball to what not! People find different means of expressing their likelihood to stuff and the Balloon Fiesta comes with its share of it as well.
For a place like New Mexico which does not have many avenues to express itself at the world stage, the Balloon Fiesta brings out the true flavor of the people. For a state which was the first testing grounds for a nuclear weapon, the people living here are a peaceful lot who love the laid back lifestyle that they live in till the Balloon Fiesta arrives! Once the balloons arrive, the energy arrives. The city is abuzz with activities. The whole town sets out in support of the Fiesta. The balloons lifting off in the morning and the illuminated balloons kept in the evening are met with the highest of regards. There are activities galore at the grounds and the people just love to take part in it and be a part of a local tradition that is very close to their hearts. Even with the risks involved in having so many balloons up in the air at the same time, like all traditions that have lasted many a decades, the show goes on.. and boy.. does the show go on in style!!!
Leaving those thoughts aside, let me dwell a bit more into the beauty of the event that did unfold in front of my eyes.
The very first day of the Fiesta turned out to be a disappointing one. Having got up at 5 am and traveled the 4 miles to the grounds in one and a half hours (i've never seen so much traffic here), nature played spoilsport. There are ideal conditions in which the Hot Air Balloons can lift off the ground.. but then the wind was too strong on the day. The disappointment in the faces of the locals and the hundreds of balloonist's from all over the world was clear. But then with time the disappointment turned to ecstasy. The second day turned out to be the one where in the balloonist could lift off.. and boy.. did the crowd love it!! Wherever you were, all that the people wanted to talk about was the Ballloon Fiesta.. and you could get a feeling of their glee in the way the expressed their feelings.
It is a spectacular sight to witness hundreds of hot air balloons hovering in the sky. Albuquerque is famous for the extent of the sky you see. I have never seen the sky prettier than what I have witnessed here. Now imagine this beautiful bright blue sky filled with balloons of vibrant color.. that too, in different shapes.. moving in the sky only influenced by the wind. Imagine it.. hundreds of feet above the sky.. without any control over the direction in which you are travelling.. you go where the wind takes you.. The different shapes and the colors of the balloons are a manifestation of the riders themselves.. there are balloons which are plain, balloons having such a huge dash of different colors that it is impossible not to take note of it.. and then to showcase peoples support of things they believe in, there are balloons shaped like Darth Vader from Star Wars to the Shark from Finding Nemo, to one shaped like an Elvis Presley, to a balloon shaped as an ice cream to one supporting basketball to what not! People find different means of expressing their likelihood to stuff and the Balloon Fiesta comes with its share of it as well.
For a place like New Mexico which does not have many avenues to express itself at the world stage, the Balloon Fiesta brings out the true flavor of the people. For a state which was the first testing grounds for a nuclear weapon, the people living here are a peaceful lot who love the laid back lifestyle that they live in till the Balloon Fiesta arrives! Once the balloons arrive, the energy arrives. The city is abuzz with activities. The whole town sets out in support of the Fiesta. The balloons lifting off in the morning and the illuminated balloons kept in the evening are met with the highest of regards. There are activities galore at the grounds and the people just love to take part in it and be a part of a local tradition that is very close to their hearts. Even with the risks involved in having so many balloons up in the air at the same time, like all traditions that have lasted many a decades, the show goes on.. and boy.. does the show go on in style!!!
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