2016 Lubao Hot-Air Balloon Festival with La Salle (Look) Beach Sidetrip

16-April-2016 Saturday in Lubao, Pampanga and Morong, Bataan, Philippines
biggest Hot-air Balloon Festival in Philippines and Southeast Asia

This was the 3rd Lubao International Hot-Air Balloon Festival held in Pradera Verde, Lubao, Pampanga. An almost the same showcase with Clark Balloon Festival also in Pampanga and my 3rd Hot-air Balloon event following the Cappadocia's Morning glow in Turkey. The festival is the biggest annual hot air balloon festival in Southeast Asia Aside from balloon flights, the festival will provide entertainment, fun activities, and amusement all in one venue. After witnessing the over 41 colorful designed balloons in the morning, we decided to visit and chill to a not famous yet beach side trip on nearby province.

La Salle Beach (named after the school nearby this beach), also called as Look Beach, is a public beach located in Morong, Bataan and a 10-min drive from Vista Venice Resort. Since we don't know exactly where is the location of the La Salle Beach, we took the service of Vista Venice Resort.

LUBAO BALLOON FESTIVAL WITH LA SALLE BEACH DAY TOUR ITINERARY:

April 16, 2016 Saturday 
0200H ETD Victory Liner Cubao 150 (Olangapo-bound bus dropped to Pradera Verde, Lubao)
0430H ETA Pradera Verde, Lubao, Pampanga. Entrance fee day pass 280. Breakfast 100
0600H Morning Balloon Flight (good weather condition)
0730H ETD Lubao. bus bound to Balanga, Bataan 50
0800H ETA Balanga bus terminal. bus bound to Vista Venice Resort, Morong 75
1000H ETA Vista Venice Resort (with free pick-up and drop-off to La Salle Beach)
Entrance 100 / head. Cottage 700 / 5 = 140. Tapsilog paluto with drinks 180
1430H ETD La Salle Beach. drop-off to Bagac jeep terminal
1445H ETD Bagac jeep terminal bound to Balanga bus terminal 35
1530H ETA Balanga bus terminal. bound to Pradera Verde, Lubao 40
1700H ETA Pradera Verde, Lubao
Afternoon Balloon Flight and Hot-air Balloon Night Glow (on weather condition)
drizzle occurred and windy area, no balloon show at night :(
Concert (Bamboo, Mitoy of The Voice). Dinner 100
2000H ETD Lubao, Pampanga 150

TOTAL BUDGET COST: PhP1,400

2016 Lubao Balloon Festival with La Salle (Look) Beach Sidetrip

Cappadocia 1st part; Hot Air Balloon above Turkey

4-days Turkey Summer Solo Escapade
June 27 to July 03, 2014

Pamukkale last part; Side trip to Aphrodisias Ruins

How to go to Cappadocia;
I went here from Pamukkale flight to Istanbul to Kayseri as there there was no cheapest direct flight and ideal arrival timings on bus road trip. I aimed my 1st balloon flight adventure on daily schedule of 0400H via walk-in query only in Mislina travels in Pamukkale, booked together with airport transfer. Cheapest standard balloon flight costs 270TRY($128.6=PHP5,600). I arrived in Kayseri airport at 0130H then went out and saw immediately a man waving my name on a piece of paper. Airport transfer to Cappadocia costs 30TRY($14.3) for an hour minibus travel. I arrived in Urgup Balloons Office (Mislina travels booked me on this) at 0400H. I have my early free breakfast (unlimited tea and bread) while waiting for other tourists to arrive. Obviously, I didn't have sleep, the usual itinerary challenge on me on a very limited stay. Despite of that, it did not affect my excitement on what's waiting for me in the next few minutes.

I availed the cheapest tour, they called as the standard flight. They are going to pick you up from your hotel early in the morning by their vehicles in Göreme. They will offer you some coffee, tea and snack  foods. Then they will let us watch preparing balloons at the take-off area. Preparations normally takes 15-20 minutes, flights beginning with the sunrise. Pilots climb until 3000 feets from ground level to show you the beauty of Cappadocia. Also they can fly 1 meter close to the rocks as well to takes nice pictures and for fun. Standard Flight takes 60 minutes and they are using 16-20-26 persons basket. There will be champagne celebration at the end of the flight. They will offer Flight Certificate signed by the pilot (with no additional fee) to remind this experience to you. Afterwards,  they will drop us back to our hotels.

Hot Air Balloon above Cappadocia, Turkey

2011 Clark Airfield Hot-Air Balloon Night Glow

Banchetto - Bataan - Pampanga day journey last part

February 12, 2011 Saturday

objective: to visit the best tourist spot that fits to my budget at limited amount of time.
additional tasks: to conquer the itinerary on day-tour only

banchetto to mt. samat to dunsulan falls morning escapade

PART THREE: 16TH CLARK HOT-AIR BALLOON NIGHT GLOW

finally, aroung 1400H, we have decided to leave bataan and fullfilled the highlight activity for this day, the 16th hot-air balloon festival in clark airfield, pampanga. I am shamefully announce that this was my 1st time to play and fly a kite successfully because of awesome windy weather.

around 1830H, the hot-air balloon night-glow specials started. with propane bruners ignited periodically, another man-made wonders for excellent snapshot interest. around 12-14 counts of huge balloons with darth vader as the main star of the night.

2011 clark airfield hot air balloon night glow