Some items on my bucket list: 1.) Go Hand gliding in Brazil. 2) Go parasailing in Boracay.  3) Ride in a hot air balloon. Imagine my excitement when I heard you can actually book yourself a space in the basket of one the hot air balloons at the upcoming Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta!

This event, now on its 14th year, is one of those events that families truly look forward to.  My kids and I went to two years ago and it ranks as one of the favorite trips we’ve ever taken.

We booked ourselves a room at Holiday Inn Clark which, incidentally, is a kid-friendly hotel, with its Day Care/ Play room for kids, shaded playgrounds, and fun activities which my boys enjoyed like the bike park, basketball court and billiards table. At the Hot Air balloon fiesta, my kids stood in awe at the beautiful hot air balloons, in different colors and designs.  Our favorite was the “coolest” balloon, a bright yellow one with a face and cool shades.

It was also an impressive sight seeing hundreds of kites in the air at one time. My kids got so challenged and spent hours running around trying to get their own kites up. At the end of the day, all the balloons assembled together and did a music and lights show for everyone in the fiesta to enjoy.

So hope to see you and your families at the 14th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, happening this February 12 to 15, 2009, ! I’ll be waiving at you from my wicker basket high above the ground!

For more information on the 14th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, log on to www.philballoonfest.net.