2022/07/19-20
We attended the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Taitung after convincing my husband to go. We stayed in Taitung for only two days, primarily for the festival, but we also had the opportunity to visit other places. We attended the festival twice, once at night and once during sunrise. Unfortunately, the wind was too strong at night, resulting in fewer balloons being launched.
Additionally, we visited the Beinan Site and Longtian Village, which have many remnants from the Japanese era. We also made a stop in Hualien, specifically at a Japanese-era shrine. Lately, I've developed an obsession with Japanese buildings and shrines, even though I never had a desire to visit Japan. Perhaps I've become a bit bored with Taiwan and its architecture.
On our drive back along the coast road, we visited Nanrenshi, Sanxiantai, and even had the chance to see wild monkeys and the Amis Folk Center.
During our trip, my husband had a job interview with another company. He stayed in the car while I explored Beinan. Unfortunately, his interview was rescheduled and slightly disrupted our travel plans, as it was supposed to take place before we arrived in Taitung. Nonetheless, he managed to complete it. However, the signal in our accommodation wasn't strong enough for him to stay there, so he had to go to the nearby park.
We also had to shorten our trip because he had a second round of interviews. Wish him good luck anyway!
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Today, we woke up at 4AM to attend the Hot Air Balloon Festival once again. When we arrived, the car parking area was already full by 5AM. As soon as we reached the balloon site, the balloons began to inflate. Compared to yesterday, there were not as many people in attendance. We found a spot downhill, right in front of the balloons. If you don't mind not capturing all the balloons in one frame, the view was still enjoyable. However, I would recommend sitting higher up for better photo opportunities, as I couldn't fit all the balloons in one picture. The weather was stable, and a few balloons even took flight with people on board. Unfortunately, they flew quite early, and we could barely see them. The cost for a balloon ride is around 9000NT, but it's definitely worth experiencing both the morning and night sessions of the festival as the views are very different. Mornings are less crowded and better for taking pictures, and once the balloons are fully inflated, you can even get closer to them.
The Taiwan International Balloon Festival began in 2011 and has opened up new opportunities for air-related leisure and recreational activities in Taiwan. It is one of the most highly anticipated summer events in Taiwan. In 2018, the Travel Channel selected it as one of the world's top 12 hot air balloon festivals. Visitors can not only enjoy the festival from the ground but also take a ride in a balloon.
The 2022 Taiwan International Balloon Festival features seven night glow concerts, offering a unique visual and audio experience for visitors to enjoy the stunning balloon festival during the summer nights. This year's festival runs from July 2nd to August 15th, with sessions held from 5AM to 7AM and 5PM to 7PM. The festival is led by the iconic Hello Kitty balloon dressed in Bunun clothing. Many balloons participating in this year's festival come from Brazil, the US, and Japan, and new balloons will be on display each week. In total, there are almost 30 balloons taking part in the festival.
Some of the featured balloons include: The Heart Balloon, OhBear Balloon, Taipei Bravo Balloon, Rainbow Balloon, Taitung Balloon, Twilight Balloon, Witch Balloon, Sharky Balloon, Cristo Redentor Balloon, and The Car Lias Balloon.
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