Penang HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA: A FIESTA OF ENTERTAINMENT

Hot air balloons with various designs and types lightens up the scenery of Polo Ground in Saturday morning.

GEORGETOWN: THE Penang Polo Ground has become a combination of excitement as the Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2019 took off. This fiesta started up on today, 9th February until tomorrow, 10th February.

The "Clown" balloon is one of the star attractions at the Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at Polo Ground.

Colourful balloons with various designs and sizes took to the skies as early at 7.30 am have attracted the public to get to the area to take pictures or ride on the balloons at Saturday morning.

Clowns entertaining the public at Polo Ground.

There are 15 display hot air balloons from different countries which only allows the public to get close. Another 4 balloons are setted up for the public to experience tethered balloon rides with a price ticket of RM50.

The display balloons will be set up in two sessions which is morning from 7am to 9am and evening which is 6pm to 9pm. The final session of balloons will be the "night glowing" session while the display balloons will be lit-up with accompaniment of music and lights.

Sean Thow and his son, Thow Qi Ren has been to thos fiesta for five years to capture wonderful photos of the hot air balloons.

Sean Thow (68) has been to the fiesta five years continuously with his son Thow Qi Ren (12) to capture photos of the balloon.

Thow is a photography enthusiast which repairs and remodel film cameras. He has brought his 40's film camera to the fiesta to capture interesting photos.

"The reason I like film cameras more compared to digital cameras is because the long-lasting of the film compared to digital equipments."

He explained that the data of digital cameras cannot be retrieved once it is broken however as long as the film is preserved, we can still make a copy of the photo.

Jonas Von Doorselaere said he enjoy sharing knowledges about hot air balloon with the public.

The balloonist of one of the display balloons, Princess Nelly, Jonas Von Doorselaere (31), said that he enjoyed the event by sharing the hot air balloons with the public.

"I usually work as a commercial balloon pilot in Putrajaya but I am on a vacation mentality participating this event."

He explained that the display hot air balloon cannot allows the public to ride on because these special designed balloons can only allow a maximum weight of 200 kg including the balloon pilot.

Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2019 is endorsed by the state government with the cooperation of Penang City Council, Seberang Prai Municipal Council and Penang Global Tourism.