1st Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009

We were lucky to have found out about this Hot Air Balloon Fiesta that was held in Putrajaya last weekend. Luckily too, our Langkawi trip was not scheduled then! We decided to catch the Saturday morning show. We arrived exactly at 8 a.m. Most of the balloons we inflated and were ready to go. What a spectacular sight it was. That was my first time ever seeing a hot air balloon.

We were so excited to see this particular balloon that had Nelly -B- printed on it. Poor Nayli had to endure Nelly - B - jokes, half of the morning. Like Nelly Busuk (smelly), Nelly Besar (Big/Fat)...

Because of its name and I guess the sheer size of it, Nelly - B - took sometime to be inflated.

We all waited patiently.

Peekaboo! A friendly looking Mastercard balloon behind Nelly.

If you look closely, the people handling it are not in a basket!!!

Love this orange balloon!

Another closer shot, taken by Nayli (a budding photog huh?),

I honestly did not compose this shot for her. We just did what we were told... to smile :-).

Don't the balloons make such a lovely background? So colourful and big!

This peacock balloon was shot by Zarif... he explained to me how he waited patiently for the balloon to slowly move into position right in the middle of his viewfinder before he actually clicked the camera. Not bad for a 5 year old huh! Hope they are not expecting a camera each.

Up and away!

All were up in the sky.

CAT balloon.

Nelly finally lifted off.

That thing in the background is supposed to be the "New Millenium Monument" (Monumen Alaf Baru, if I translated that correctly).

While waiting for this final balloon to be inflated, there was a paragliding show.

Up close.

Must be nice to be flying freely up there.

Once the show was over, we took a walk around the stalls.

At least they got a chance to get up close to the basket.

Letting Nelly do her thing with the camera.

The kids got a treat on the inflatables, not balloon though.

Climbing the twin peaks.

Zarif's turn.

Since it was early still, about 10:30 a.m, when we could not bear the heat any longer, we decided to check out Alamanda Mall, which we have never been to before, ever. The excuse was that Zarif and Nayli needed new school shoes. Whatever! The mall is nice and big. Lovely place. Since we had the camera... more photography sessions ensued.

The kids fooling around.

This is at one of the side entrance. Very nice isn't it??

Lunch

Until next year, hopefully by then I would have a longer lens already! Amen!