Bagan Balloon Ride

November was the perfect time to re-schedule my trip to Myanmar because (1) it coincides with  Chiang Mai/Loy Krathong trip, and (2) the balloon companies start flying only from October to March each year. I hurriedly asked my travel agent to book me a ride, and yes, it was expensive at $310, but this is my birthday gift to myself, so WTH. 

Then the travel agent replied and told me that I have been wait-listed, and that she would get back to me after she gets confirmation that I can get into the balloon. That worried me, because I did not know you can get wait-listed if you're paying 310USD. I kept my fingers crossed, and while I was in Chiang Mai, I received this from her:

Syet, pwede ipa-cancel na lang? Haha.
The fineprint later read that people over 280lbs are required to pay double.

My body weight. Yikes. But I suppose it could not be worse than what my friend Kat had to go through when she bungee jumped in Nepal: they were weighed, their weight written in clear black ink on their forearms, and they had to line up according to their weight. If you're one of the light ones, you get to jump in the morning. If you're heavy, you have to wait 'til the afternoon, when they change the ropes to the heavy duty ones. I am never going to Nepal, everrrr.

On my first day in Yangon, my guide handed me the Golden Ticket. Yay! And then said, but you have to wait because we need to confirm it again. I was like, wth again! I thought this has already been confirmed. 

When I got to Bagan, the travel agent told me the same thing: Can I have your ticket again so I can confirm with the balloon company if your ride tomorrow is a go? (OMG these travel agents are killing me). But then she gave me confirmation before the day ended, and reminded me I could not be late. The bus of Balloons Over Bagan (BOB) will pick me up at 5am. 

I almost missed it. I was the last to board that cute red bus. 

We arrived at a dark open field and were led to this assembly of folding chairs and a table where you can help yourself to tea, coffee, and some (English) biscuits.

I chatted with a couple from Belgium and found that they got their ticket for $560 (so, $280 per person) when they booked online in April. I just chucked my ticket price's difference to my travel agent's fee, plus her efforts to get me into that waiting list so late into the scheduled ride, and during the highest tourist season in Bagan at that. 

After a few minutes, the pilots, Bryan and David started calling out the names of their respective "teams." I got drafted to David's balloon. 

5-ish so still quite dark.

I cannot help but notice the professionalism of everyone from BOB. David explained in detail how the balloon is going to get inflated (cold air first, then hot air), and gave us instructions how to climb the basket ("step on the foot holds and just swing yourself over...there is no elegant way of getting into the basket") and how to go into the landing position. Also, he told us what not to touch, which is basically all of the lines connecting the balloon to the basket. AND DO NOT EVER, EVER, PULL THE RED LINE -- I found out why after we landed and the balloons are getting deflated. The basket has 5 compartment (one for the pilot and his tanks, 4 for the passengers). There were 12 of us and we grouped ourselves into 3 -- this nice, good-looking, young couple asked me to be their third-wheel and I gladly said yes. 

And we are off! I can see the Schwezigon Pagoda and hear the early morning chants. 

There are now several balloon companies flying over Bagan. It used to be only BOB before, the pioneer. And then the boys in yellow and green came, and for a while, the agreement with the Myanmar government was that the yellow company would fly only in Mandalay, and the green one in Inle. And then all of a sudden, David laments, they're all in Bagan. Hence the many colored balloons in the sky. I always think competition is a good thing. 

But I also like to think I'm with the best balloon company in Bagan haha. The Red Balloon, aka, Carrie.

My tribute to Homeland.

Along the way, David started pointing to us the famous pagodas. There's the mighty Irrawaddy river -- not a lot of rain lately so it's not looking so mighty. And thank God, because it was raining in October and a lot of balloon rides got cancelled.

Oh sweet mother of God. 

I'm guessing the Htilo Minlo temple?

Champagne supernova in the sky. Lol.

The balloon ride went for about 45 minutes, before David starts looking for a landing place near Dhammayangyi, the haunted temple. 

And we're back on solid ground. A passenger asked our pilot, "That was great, how long have you been doing this?" Never missing a beat, David replied, "About a couple of days." Funny guy. 

We get to have this photo on a USB for an additional $15. Plus a certificate and an awesome postcard. 

Up in the air. I'm swear I'm there. #ShortPeopleProblems

There was a baseball cap too, but forgot to take a pic.

And yay, champagne and croissants after the ride! 

Cheers!

And banana bread and fruits too!

The ever cheerful staff of BOB started packing up the balloon and basket. David said that back in the UK, they would ask the passengers to help with the packing up, because it is hard work. But thanks to the cheap labor in Myanmar, the passengers can just sip their champagne after the ride.  

Looks fun though.

As we boarded the bus back to our hotel, David asked us to recommend him on TripAdvisor, if we had a good time. And if we didn't, to put his name down as Bryan. Lol.

Byeeee!