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We have just returned from a short trip to Anatolian Turkey, specifically to the region of Cappodocia. There were two major attractions that drew us 350 miles north east of Antalya, the first was the geology and the second was a long held ambition to go ballooning in an area where there are more balloons in the air on a regular basis than anywhere else in the world. Currently there are 19 companies operating here and until a major accident earlier this year, which resulted in the death of three passengers, the number of balloons flying at any one time has now been reduced from 120 to 100. Unlike balloon festivals these companies take off daily at daybreak from a large variety of sites and it is not until one is airborne that one becomes aware of the sheer number that are all taking of just before sunrise. To say the sky is crowded is an understatement, there are balloons above, below and around, pilots communicating their intentions via short wave radio, at the same time operating the burners and the ropes that control the direction of the basket. The equipment is almost exclusively supplied by Cameron Balloons based in the UK and the pilots are truly international. We have previously flown in Africa and the Far East but ballooning in Turkey is really on a different scale if you get the chance do give it a try.
Copyright Paul Strawson - Blog ref: 82