Up Up and Away

I arrived in Yang Shuo and treated myself to something I‘ve always wanted to do but could never afford to do back home。。。Hot Air Ballooning！
Early in the morning I trundled off to the travel office before the sun peered over the mountains。 I was picked up by a spritely young Lady （who possibly can be at that hour？）put in to a car and driven to another hotel， to pick up the other people who would be flying with me。 This hotel was flash and I instantly knew these guys were not going to be of the backpacker variety。 I mean it actually had western styled toilets。Of course，I took advantage of that！ My other two flying companions were an enormous sized， German couple。 They tried to squeeze in the back with me but it was impossible。 After a switch with the wee Chinese girl and humungous man， we set off for our balloon。Not to be mean but I was a little worried about us being able to leave the ground safely！ Especially when I saw the size of the little basket。 I hopped in first ensuring that I was going to have a good view and a little space to myself。 Then hoped in the Germans and I was squwished against one of the poles of the baskets harness。 There was no room to move and certainly， no where to go。 This was a bit of a comfort as I thought， if there was room to move， there was room to fall。 Since the basket came to my waist， I was happy to be a little confined in movement。 Slowly the balloon filled with air and we moved up up and up。 It was so smooth that I didn’t actually feel as though we had left the ground。 I could see the other balloons up in the further reaches of the sky and they seemed so far away。 It wasn‘t long before we leved with them at 6000 meters。 The rice fields and mountains seemed so small from this height。 The heat from the hot air balloon warmed my head and my back and the breeze from the cool morning rushed past my face。 It was beautiful and enchanting。Our Pilot was from Tiawan， trained in Sydney and had great joy in floating us close to tree tops and mountain sides。 I never once felt scared。 Even when the German guy almost knocked my out when trying to turn around！It was magnificent and something I reccomend。 Enven if you are affraid of heights。It’s the closet you‘ll ever come to flying！