Stela Razzaque  Cappadocia was one of the main reasons we decided to go to Turkey, and a hot balloon ride seemed like one of the best ways to see it. Our bus driver picked us up at the ungodly hour of 5am, and we made our way down the main road of Goreme – a vibrant commercial corridor lined with Turkish rug stores, restaurants, and street vendors selling an assortment of things, from crochet necklaces, to handmade dolls. The first call for prayer for the day could be heard as the bus driver gently navigated the soft bends of the road. After we picked up a few more people staying in the area, we made a quick breakfast stop at a local cafe. The usual Turkish fare awaited us. A lavish spread of sliced meats, olives, freshly baked bread, dried fruit and black tea served in hourglass shaped glasses. Fuelled with caffeine and Mediterranean delights, we made our way back to the bus. After a few more minutes of driving, we arrived at the launching area. A spectacular array of giant balloons were scattered throughout the field. They reminded me of jellyfish-like creatures, breathing in and out. Flames burst into the nylon membranes, as if breathing life into them. When I first saw the size of the wicker basket, I wanted to cry. I thought we might have a little room to stretch out, but we were a group of fifteen in a basket no more than 10 or so square meters. Still, there was no turning back.  Our pilot hoisted himself into the middle section of the basket and we slowly began to lift off the ground. The group cheered as we began to set sail. As we ascended over the vast central Anatolian region, I felt deeply humbled by the thought of Ancient civilizations that had once roamed these lands. As we flew higher and higher, the sky seemed to transform into a mystical land of floating lanterns. We reached our highest point of seven hundred meters. The sun began to rise over the rocky peaks and the sky glowed beautiful shades of pink and gold, illuminating the rocky wonderland below. I marvelled at the geological wonders formed by volcanic activity thirty million years before our time. Mountains, canyons, fairy chimney structures that resembled giant mushrooms. I thought to myself that as incredible as Mother Nature is, the work of human hands can be equally astonishing. Monasteries and churches that descended deep into a mysterious underground world. Houses and townships carved into the rock, creating a honeycomb effect of the land. It was remarkable.  We slowly descended, and the pilot skilfully landed our basket into a kind of metal carriage. A few men anchored the ropes to the ground. The friendly staff at Voyage Balloons presented us with flying certificates, and served us champagne upon our safe return. It was quite a ceremony! All of a sudden I felt really small again, but deeply humbled by such an exhilarating experience. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone travelling to Turkey. It is one for the bucket list! Stela Razzaque, Sydney |
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Home Page Published on: 14-Jun-2015 
