Have you been up in a hot-air balloon?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341743)
Rockingham, Australia
November 29, 2022 6:30pm CST
Our friends visited last night and told us all about hot-air ballooning. The trip in a balloon was a gift for the husband’s 75th birthday and included two night’s accommodation in a hotel close to the take-off site.
Our friends had to be at the take-off area by 2.30am which would be a challenge in itself. As conditions weren’t right, they then travelled to another paddock where they were able to board the basket and take off. The basket held 21 and had five compartments which was a bit of a surprise to me.
The flight lasted an hour and, when they landed, everyone helped pack up the balloon. Then they had a sumptuous breakfast and were given a video of their trip. They were extremely lucky with the weather as, soon after they’d landed, the rain started and continued all day.
We have no plans to do this but I’m sure it’s exciting. So, the question is: Have anybody here been up in a hot-air balloon?
The photo was taken by Vince. Obviously, it's not hot-air balloons but hang-gliders in Nepal. They jump off the mountain and share the sky with the vultures.
29 people like this
29 responses
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
30 Nov 22
I have not. We have a balloon race as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival every year. They have a “balloon glow,” but I don’t think they have rides available. Not that I would, I have acrophobia.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
30 Nov 22
@JudyEv — that Gatlinburg Sky bridge was enough of an acrophobia challenge for the year for me. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 22
@FourWalls Vince has to really steel himself for some height issues too.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14672)
• Hong Kong
30 Nov 22
I haven’t been up in a hot air balloon but I've played with parachute. It was exciting.
2 people like this
@Beestring (14672)
• Hong Kong
30 Nov 22
@JudyEv Yes, very exciting. I did it just once.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471969)
• Switzerland
2 Dec 22
@JudyEv It could be Annapurna hard to guess looking only at the top of one mountain.
I was seriously concerned. I heard a weird noise, went out on the balcony and noticed this big balloon just over our garden. I am glad they arrived to move a big further and land in the field where usually there are sheep.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137460)
• United States
30 Nov 22
The photo is beautiful, like always!
And no, I'm not going up into the air without something more substantial than a bag of hot air holding me up there. I was scared enough when I went up in a helicopter and in a single-engine plane. (I don't go close to windows in a building taller than five stories, either!)
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137460)
• United States
30 Nov 22
@JudyEv If I have to, I can do it, but I'd really rather not need to go up like that. When I started working at Walmart, they trained me to run an elevating work platform. The first time I had to extend it all the way up I held onto the side bars so tight they teased me that I left my fingerprints in the metal. I never liked using it and finally let my license to use it expire and refused to renew the license.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341743)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 22
@DaddyEvil Some things aren't worth persevering with.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90295)
• Arvada, Colorado
1 Dec 22
I have never and would not want to. I would be terrified as I watched Mysterious Island when a kid.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Nov 22
@JudyEv A friend of mine went sort of sky diving here. By sort of I mean it is inside fully controlled. But you get the feeling of it. I am not interested in that either 
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
30 Nov 22
i'd truly not wish fer such'n 'dventure. like havin' my feet either firmly 'pon the ground 'r with stirrups. the latter choice way closer to terra firma than a danged balloon. can't 'magine doin' such with so many folk??
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
1 Dec 22
@JudyEv aint that the truth?? such'd put much worry'n my mind e'en though i'm purty sure such 'tis built to handle 't. nah, hard pass from me if'n i 'twas the 'nly passenger :)
1 person likes this
@just4him (317250)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
30 Nov 22
What fun they had. I would like to go up in a hot-air balloon. It sounds like a lot of fun. I know I'm afraid of heights, but it is enclosed, so I think I would be fine.
I didn't know you could put that many people in a hot air basket. It must have been huge to have five compartments.
I love the picture of all the hang-gliders in Nepal.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16505)
• Raurkela, India
30 Nov 22
I have read and seen hot air balloon in the TV but have never experienced the ride.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16505)
• Raurkela, India
2 Dec 22
@JudyEv I too. I would never ride on such a balloon.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
1 Dec 22
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I believe we have one in a nearby province. However, I haven't tried it yet because I'm not sure if the cost is reasonable. Even though it may go slowly up and down, I believe it to be a really thrilling ride. Simply put, I wanted to see if it could be guided or if it would just follow the wind. Or it is simply drawn back down when it is time to land since it is tied to the area where it flew.
I believe we have one in a nearby province. However, I haven't tried it yet because I'm not sure if the cost is reasonable. Even though it may go slowly up and down, I believe it to be a really thrilling ride. Simply put, I wanted to see if it could be guided or if it would just follow the wind. Or it is simply drawn back down when it is time to land since it is tied to the area where it flew.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 22
This one isn't tied to the ground in any way. It is tracked from below and they seem to have some idea of where it will land.
@allknowing (137553)
• India
30 Nov 22
I only use balloons to decorate my Xmas venues for the several parties I have hosted - just cold air (lol)
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50580)
• United States
30 Nov 22
I’ve never been in one. I think it would scare me.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 22
I would have liked doing it once but I'm not as brave as I used to be. 
@JudyEv (341743)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Dec 22
Haha - I think the responses would be about 50-50. Maybe a few more not wanting to go than the other. lol
