March 14, 2011 at 2:00 pm
All is quiet and peaceful when suddenly a dark shadow looms over your figure. At first glance the shadow is discernible, but upon closer inspection it looks to be like the shape of … Darth Vader’s head?? Though it may sound like an invasion by this menacing leader, rest assured that it is only the shadow of a Darth Vader shaped hot air balloon about to take off into flight at a hot air balloon fiesta held in Putrajaya last year.
Darth Vader Hot Air Balloon
Following the success of last year’s International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, Putrajaya will once again open its grounds to host the 3rd Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2011 come 17th to 20th March 2011 at Monumen Alaf Baru at Precinct 2. This year’s event will see more than 20 balloonists from 13 countries including India, Vietnam and Hong Kong taking part for the first time. The theme for this year’s event is 1 World, 1 Malaysia and 1 Fiesta which is in line with the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia campaign. To make this year’s show a livelier event, the organisers have also lined up a host of side events that will run concurrently with the main event to keep its guests entertained. There will be tethered hot air balloon rides which are available for the public. These tickets are sold at RM10 for adults and RM5 for children. Ticket counter opens at 7.30 am for morning session and 5.30 pm for evening session rides. The hot air balloons will operate from 8.00 am till 11.00 am for morning session and from 6.00 pm till 9.00 pm for evening session daily during the event. There will also be remote control aircraft flying displays, helicopter rides, inflatables, clowns and magic show for children as well as extreme games like paintball, zorbing and wall climbing.
Hot Air Balloon in the shape of Nescafe cup
Some of the hot air balloons that spectators can expect to see again this year include the famous floating ‘head’ of Darth Vader from Belgium, an upside down hot air balloon from the Netherlands, a tree trunk together with birds perched on it as well as a clown hot air balloon also from the Netherlands. Some of the balloonists that are participating in this event include Alain Claude from France, who has been a Balloon Pilot for 10 years, Frank Wecther from the United States of America, who has experience flying hot air balloons for 35 years. This year’s event will also feature a display of hot air balloons glowing like light bulbs followed by a fireworks display on the night of 19th March. For more details, visit http://www.myballoonfiesta.com/index.html.
Helium balloon vendor
Photos (c) man | www.snapxture.com , a4gpa
Tags: 3rd Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2011, Darth Vader, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Putrajaya, Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta