2011 Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Freeport Philippines is near.
Each year tourists from all over the world and travelers heading north from Manila come to Clark, Pampanga to attend the annual Hot Air Balloon festival. Experienced visitors book hotel resorts now to avoid disappointment. Some visitors from Manila are forced to stay outside of Clark in Angeles City, Pampanga and journey into the Freeport every day to watch the hot air balloons perform.
But there are other ways to enjoy this 4-day Hot Air Balloon event in Clark.
Thursday and Friday are probably the best time to participate if you are smart and are in a position to get away from the office on a Thursday. This is probably the most convenient of the 4 days of this event for participants. Balloon pilots and crew arrive fresh and eager to meet spectators. By Saturday of the Hot Air Balloon festival, exhaustion sets in and it becomes difficult to even get someone to pose for a picture.
On Sunday there are a lot of events packed into the morning’s program. But one can mix in a bit of rest and relaxation after the morning with a day trip to Clearwater Beach Resort which is just 5 minutes further down on the same main highway M A Roxas. An admission charge is required to enter the resort and enjoy the amenities like the beach, lake and picnic grounds. There is a very charming restaurant called the Clearwater Resort Breakfast Garden and Café which serves the best breakfast outside of Manila.
Smart tourists would probably choose to avoid the weekend and check in on Wednesday or Thursday instead. Although the programs for those two days may not sound as exciting as that on the grand finale Sunday or the penultimate Saturday lead-up, many can probably approach the balloons and the crew with less obstacles on Thursday and Friday. Rooms may still be available but many tourists and local residents travelling north from Manila are booking them fast.
Clark Wine Center, Philippines’ largest wine shop is located in Clark Freeport, at a location that is very near the place where the balloons are parked. This is considered the best vantage point to watch the hot air balloon take off and return to earth. Pre-dawn breakfast is served to the lucky few who got tickets in advance to a ring-side seat at this venue, on Saturday and Sunday morning at 5am to 8am.
A wine tasting session is held in the afternoon at 5pm on Saturday 12th February 2011 to let wine lovers enjoy the afternoon hot air balloon activities scheduled to start at 5:30pm, while enjoying some fine vintage wine in an organized tasting. Clark Wine Center hold regular wine tasting sessions that attract the local wine enthusiasts because it is strictly non-promotional, no wine salesmen to pressure the guests, just a very congenial atmosphere to taste wine and meet new friends with similar interest.
Other venues and establishments of interest to visitors to Clark, Pampanga, Philippines for the 2011 Hot Air Balloon Festival include:
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa, Clark Freeport, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
(045) 599-5600 0922-870-5178 0917-520-4401 (632) 584-4085 Pedro
London Pub
(045) 499-1177 0922-870-5176 ask for Glennda
