I took flight in a hot air balloon today and it was one of the most amazing things ever! It felt like floating in the clouds. It reminded me so much of the movie UP.
Taking a hot air balloon ride has been on my bucket list for a while but it is so expensive everywhere. Lucky for me, it was cheaper in Australia when converted to USD so I knew I had to do it. Plus, I had included it in the Eastern Travels reel I made and was on a mission to do everything I included in that reel that I was made to redo more than once. Hot Air balloons over Melbourne are quite popular and are also offered over the Yarra Valley.
The hot air balloons took off just before sunset when the wind was calm. I arrived at the pickup point at 5 am from where they took us on a bus to the park where the balloon launch was. Along the way, I started talking to a girl named Kennedy who was also on a holiday working visa and was celebrating her birthday today. We became fast friends as we were both solo travelers way too excited for our first ballooning experience. By the time we were boarding the balloon basket, the pilot just assumed we came together.
As this was my first time going in a hot air balloon, I was very curious to understand how it worked. When we arrived at the park, the first thing that was unloaded was the basket that was attached to the back of the truck. From there the car drove ahead unfurling the massive balloon. The balloon unfurled was much longer than I expected. A fan was put right under the opening and the balloon started to inflate and slowly rise up to take its balloon shape. When the balloon was inflated, they tapped the gas on and a strong hit of the hot air blew into the balloon causing it to slowly lift up and take shape.
As the balloon lifted toward the skies, we all piled in the basket. It was a cozy space and I am surprised they managed to fit 12 people in. There was one particularly annoying couple who would not stop taking photos the entire time. The girl was dressed in a mini dress and stilettos at 5 am in the freezing cold. I think by the end of the ride everyone was sick of them and had been forced to take their photo from every angle imaginable. If you ask me most of the photos they took did not even look that great. Kennedy and I could not stop making fun of them. They were so irritating.
We slowly took flight and saw a glimpse of the pretty land nearby where we took off from. The sun was beginning to rise, lighting up the sky with hues of orange and blue. There were 3 balloons in front of us so we got a good view of those 3 as they floated up and down. The balloons are kept up in the air by continuously tapping on the gas to stay afloat. The rest of the work is the winds blowing us in the direction of the city. There is some level of control with the pilot being able to control the direction and position of the basket. The pilot kept turning the basket around to ensure that we all got to enjoy the view of all sides.
At last the sun arose as a great ball of fire casting a morning glow on the city below. As we neared toward the central business district, we could see people rowing on the river. The views from above were spectacular. You could see the entire topography of the city below. Everything looked so small from above. The views were unbelievable and it was worth every penny spent. I could not have asked for a better morning soaring above the city of Melbourne in the tranquil skies. Beyond beautiful! I loved seeing the city from above.
Following my high of living out my dream of going on a hot air balloon, I went to grab breakfast at a famous bakery called Lune Croissanterie. As the name implies, they are most known for their croissants. They went viral on Instagram and the line stretches down the block. Kennedy had told me to stick to the basics of the chocolate croissant or plan croissant but I really wanted to try the almond one. It was alright and I have definitely had better croissants in my life but the presentation was truly amazing.
I wandered around the central business district limping on my sprained ankle because I refused to spend another day at home. The district was full of small eateries, many of which were Asian. Melbourne is known as the food capital of Australia as there are so many good restaurants in the area. I could not wait to start eating my way through Melbourne. I had many restaurant recommendations for the area and had just knocked one off my list.
I did a bit of souvenir shopping at the little shops and strolled through Chinatown. It was still early so most places were still shut. I texted my friend Sarah from the Contiki tour and we decided to meet up at the Queen Victoria Market.
The Queen Victoria Market was recently renovated and is now massive! It has a fresh fish and meat area, a restaurant area, and then a market full of stalls selling all sorts of souvenirs. I immediately hit the souvenir area picking up socks and so many stuffed animals. Why do stuffed animals have to be so darn cute! There were many small vendors selling their handmade crafts from candles to jewelry. It was a neat place and we enjoyed just looking at what everyone was selling.
Sarah and I sat down to eat lunch at a cute little cafe called Gilli. It was an Italian restaurant with outdoor seating and I ordered homemade gnocchi while she had a pork belly sandwich. The food was good and so were the vibes. It was a beautiful day exploring Melbourne.
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