Full of hot air

Can you guess the image above? The title basically gives it away... Hot air balloon. Not many people know it but ever since college, when I first learned " hot air balloon" in Korean I used it all the time when practicing Korean and subconcsiously (or not) I developed a strong desire to ride in one. The opportunity presented it i  the form of a panoramic flight over central Cappadocia (pronounced kapadokia). We took this chance very seriously, scheduling two days in the area just in case of inclement weather the first day.

So whats it like to ride a hot air balloon? I think the pictures say it all.

Early morning wakeup at 4 am was met with an equally groggy driver who brought us to the office where we enjoyed a light breakfast. After someone gouged themselves on biscuits and cookies (no names but I only went with one person and I barely ate) we were driven to the launch site a few minutes away. The site iz chosen differently every morning for optimal launch and tour coverage. Watching the men set up and start to fill the balloons in the predawn glow was mesmerizing. Our basket was large enough to fit 20 people. Seems like a lot of people but now as I think about it, I barely realized they were there, with the exception of the big guy next to me.

 

Finally, ready for take off! The moment Ive been waiting for. Hot air goes in, nothing. More hot air, nothing, more... and finally we gently lift up. It isn't long before we are looking down on other balloons not yet full of air. And then we are gliding over the rippled terrain, floating back down into a valley, then up over another ridge. A balloon rises up ahead

of us, its approach toward us slow and inevitable. We gently bump and then part ways. A long burst of hot air sends us shooting up into the sky, high above all of the ridges and valleys. There is no sound but the wind passing between the ears and the sound of blasts of fire from distant balloons. A slow release of hot air on one side sends us turning gently, allowing a panoramic view of the whole region. Valleys are filled with different colors, depending on the ores found in their soils, red, yellow, and grey. Ridges are speckled with tall, narrow spires, spires capped by mushroom top like stones, as softer rock below has eroded away from wind and rain over time. There is nothing I have ever seen to match that eerie landscape.

 

Finally comes the slow descent. They had prepared us prior to lift off for descent position. Sitting with back to the wall of the basket, as if there was a chair under you, and grabbing the handles at the front. It was a necessary position. Descent starts gently, but it is entirely up to the wind as to how fast we land. Luckily, the stiff grasses helped to slow our slide, and as we hit dirt, the basket started to overturn. Had it not been for the staff there to grab the basket, no doubt, we would have fully turned onto the side. After landing, a traditional celebration with champagne and then a shuttle bus ride back to the hotel.

 

The remaining of the day was filled with our own independent excursions into a city famous for pottery, where someone very wisely prevented me on numerous occasions from buying souvenirs. This was all wrapped up with an evening hike up a ridge to see the beautiful sunset over the landscape. Dawn to Dusk, hardcore adventure travellers.

 

 

Next week: Flight or fight: Christian Churches

Any questions about this or other things seen in Turkey, please leave a comment below.