
WOW!!! I finally did it. And it was as magical as I expected. I've wanted to go hot-air ballooning for a long time ... and on May 21, we took Robin's family on this great trip, to see their hometown and the surrounding area from up above. His parents were just in awe ... to see the city they've lived in for nearly 60 years from 1600 m.
The weather didn't start of the best this morning. What I've learnt about ballooning is that everything is unpredictable ... because weather is unpredictable! Thankfully the day cleared up around 1600 ... and as we all arrived to the departure area, which was a big park on the outskirts of Utrecht ... we found out that the wind was still to strong. So the waiting game began! And some more waiting ... till finally the 'captain' gave us the green light and we started blowing up the balloon with hot air. The gigantic balloon started to inflate ... with a massive Virgin logo on it. I thought perhaps you had to be a virgin to go on it ... I would have been kicked off for sure!!!

As the people in the park were staring in amazement as the balloon inflated fully and started lifting into the sky, we all jumped into the basket ... and up, up and away we went. It was amazing! I just love watching the world from up high ... for the beauty is just so undeniable. What totally surprised me is that the ride was completely silent and smooth. There was absolutely no noise ... other than us chatting in excitement. Just the wind blowing us into the horizon, over the evening lit landscape with the sun setting over a perfectly cloudless sky. Even at 1600m, when you looked down ... no fear! It's weird for all that you have between you and the emptiness below ... is a basket. Not much ... but enough I guess.
That's when Bas exclaims ... it's like watching Google Earth! Today's youth :-)

After over an hour, and with the sun having had dipped into the horizon, it was time to start our descent back to mother earth. The sky was ever-changing from a yellow, to a burning orange, to an indigo blue ... to ever darker colours. As we descended you could see the houses, people having dinner outside in their backyards, the dogs barking at us, cows staring with a bewildered look, rabbits running through the fields, foxes dodging the shadow of the balloon ... and I could go on and on. I just couldn't help smiling. I was happy!
We were told to hold on for landing ... for it's a bit bumpy. So we all got ready ... with our backs facing the direction that we were travelling in ... and suddenly thump, bang ... and back into the air ... and another wack into the ground, a jump, a hop ... and our basket finally came to a stop. Beautiful! And somewhat rough!

A side-story ... I've had these Prada sunglasses for years, for which I paid a small fortune, and I've been thinking recently how it would be great to loose them so I could justify buying a new pair. Dont' get me wrong, I've loved these glasses, and they've done me well ... but you know, it's time for a new pair! Wouldn't you know it that on the first thump into the ground with our basket ... the sunglasses flew off my head and into the field below. Finally ... I thought! God is telling me ... go buy yourself a new pair!! Yooohoooooo! you see ... nature takes care of everything :-)
The funny thing about landing in a hot-air balloon, is that you never quite know where you're going to land ... and actually our landing spot couldn't have been better. Right by a small country road, on a field that looked barren. Until ... the owners of the land came to pay us a visit. An older couple: stern, angry, sour, distant ... and displeased that we ruined their field! They said that they had just planted grass seeds and that we ruined everything with our landing. Hardly!! They finally extorted 50 EUR from us!!!!! I assume for replacing their grass seeds. More likely though ... to have a drink at the local pub!!

Oh ... and wouldn't you know it ... my nieces and nephews wanted to go see if they could find my sunglasses. They were all clamouring for them. I said fine ... first one who finds them ... keeps them. So off we all went. We're all searching in very little light, for the sun had set a long time ago ... till the captain calls us back, for the farmer was complaining that we're trampling even more seeds. As I turn back, I make my first step to return ... and right by my foot ... my Prada sunglassess. Damn!!!! I picked them up, put them on my head ... and realized that nature is telling me ... don't spend money on a new pair just yet.
To book a ride on a hot-air balloon in Utrecht, contact Sky Promotions at
www.virgin.nl