Couple Tie the Knot in Hot Air Balloon

LUCKNOW - Adding a dash of adventure to their wedding ceremony, a couple here in Uttar Pradesh tied the knot in a hot air balloon 100 metres above the ground.
The first hot air balloon wedding in the state cost the newly weds around Rs 80,000.

Private bank employee Dev Prashant Trivedi tied the knot with Etah girl Archana in the hot air balloon above the Aishbagh Ramleela ground Feb 27 evening, as hundreds of invitees and onlookers cheered them. Special screens were also set up to facilitate a closer look of the 20-minute ceremony.

To organize the event, special permission was taken from the Air Traffic Control.

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Canberra, it's your day to party

IF YOU happened to see a giant kookaburra drifting across Lake Burley Griffin yesterday morning, don't worry, you weren't still dreaming.

It was one of 42 hot-air balloons that glided across the city for the Canberra Festival Balloon Spectacular.

More than 6000 spectators lined the lake's shores for the 6.30am start and despite the slight chill it was a clear and bright start to the nine-day Canberra Festival.

Unlike last year when none of the 35 balloons made it into the air for the event launch, all of the balloons took flight at dawn.

Flight director John Wallington said conditions for flying were ''the best'' he had seen in years.

Mr Wallington said Canberra was one of the most spectacular cities to fly balloons over. ''It's a photographer's dream, it's a kid's dream.''

The only hiccup was a confrontation between organisers and indigenous elders, who were angry a balloon was inflated near the Aboriginal tent embassy's sacred fire. Mr Kinsmore said the altercation was a ''misunderstanding'' and that the launch point would be moved 100m back so as not to ''upset anyone''.

The sunny weather continued during the day, with temperatures hitting 27degrees.

In Civic, hundreds of Canberrans and tourists relaxed in the beer garden of King O'Malley's for the boutique beer festival.

It was the first time the Irish pub had run the event, with beers such as Cooper's Vintage Ale and Germany's Lowenbrau Original on tap, and 100 different bottled beers on offer.

Managing director Peter Barclay said tasting platters were available with the beers.

''So people can have half a dozen oysters with their Guinness, or kransky with their Lowenbrau,'' he said.

The fun continued into the night, with Kung Fu Panda screening in Garema Place for Films at Twilight.

Others decided to step, or rather, dance back in time.

The Bush Capital Ball at Albert Hall attracted dancers of all ages, including Amy Shellard, 16, of Wamboin, and Bessie Sammut, 78, of Nicholls.

Wearing a hoop and drawers under a pale pink dress, Amy said she felt like Cinderella.

Mrs Sammut, who made her own purple dress shot through with lace and ribbon, agreed the 1860s-inspired dresses were very feminine. As for those fancy steps, MrsSammut said, ''It keeps me young, truly.''

While Canberra turns 96, to keep the capital city young Canberrans should head to Commonwealth Park tomorrow from 2pm to party with Darwin singer Jessica Mauboy and rock band Hoodoo Gurus.

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Hot air balloon set to draw in the crowds at Cricklade Festival

Thousands of people visited last year’s clown-themed Cricklade Festival

A HOT air balloon ride will be the main attraction at the Cricklade Town Festival which organisers confirmed this week will go ahead for its fourth consecutive year.

The festival will have an Around The World In 80 Days theme this year, with visitors able to get a bird’s eye view of the town from the hot air balloon which will be tethered to St Sampsons Junior School field.

The previous festivals, which have had circus, wild west and medieval themes, attracted thousands of visitors to the town centre.

Nigel Wynne, chairman of the festival committee, said: "It will be a truly international day, with music, dance and entertainment from all corners of the globe.

"This will be a truly unique chance to take a 100ft high trip in a tethered hot air balloon. We’ll be asking for a charitable donation towards the running of the festival in order to secure a place.

"We also hope to have some truly international dance troupes but these plans are still underway.

"If you are a local company or organisation and you would like to see the festival continue, please consider a contribution this year."

For more information on the festival, which takes place on Sunday, June 21, call 01793 752685 or visit www.crickladetownfestival.com

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Lucknow couple tie the knot in hot air balloon

Lucknow (IANS): Marriages are said to be made in heaven and it got a bit closer to that in the case of a Lucknow-based couple who exchanged their vows Thursday evening in a hot air balloon.

Guests, media persons and even onlookers watched with curiosity as the ceremony took place nearly 35 feet above the ground in the gondola of a hot-air balloon that took off at 10.20 p.m. at the Ramlia ground in Aishbagh locality.

The hot air balloon carried the pilot, the couple and a priest, who not only solemnised the wedding but also filmed it with a video camera.

While the couple tied the knot in the air, closed circuit TVs captured the action for those on the ground who watched it on LCD projectors.

The fragrance of rose petals and other flowers filled the air as the couple showered them on the guests on the ground.

It was groom Dev Prashant, a resident of the LDA colony here, who thought of solemnising his marriage in the air.

"As I always wanted to make my marriage a memorable event, the idea of tying the knot in the air came to mind," Prashant told reporters before the wedding.

Employed with a private bank in Lucknow, Prashant discussed the idea with his fiancee Archana and she agreed.

"After the final decision, the next thing before us was to convince our parents for the wedding. Initially, my parents were nervous when they came to know about our idea. But, I managed to persuade them and got the permission," said Archana, who hails from Etah district.

Prashant then approached the Sky Aerospace Club, Uttar Pradesh.

"The wedding has generated a lot of curiosity and excitement. Now, we expect more couples to approach us," said captain R.P. Sen, owner of the Sky Aerospace Club that was formally launched during the marriage function.

"Although as per the plan, we wanted to go nearly 100 feet above the ground, owing to unfavourable winds the balloon could not reach the desired height," Sen said.

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Mayor's Cup balloon race is canceled

The Mayor's Cup Invitational Hot Air Balloon Race has been canceled for 2009 after discussions with the event's major sponsors and examination of projected operating expenses.

Roscoe's Root Beer and Ribs, Re/Max of Rochester, Higgins Custom Cabinetry and Spring Green Lawn Care, as well as event founder and organizer George Ibach of Ibach Balloon Company in Minneapolis, came to the agreement this week.

The future of the event in 2010 and beyond will be evaluated soon.

The Mayor's Cup has been part of Rochesterfest for 23 years. It has traditionally been held during the last weekend of the celebration.

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Out takes: Hot air balloon in a slot canyon

Hot air balloon in a slot canyon near Page, Ariz.

Dee Thorell, of Layton, sent in this picture taken by friend Val Gleave, of Marysvale. The hot air balloon, piloted by Kent Barnes, of Murray, was flying in a slot canyon near Page, Ariz.

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Hot air balloon safely touches down on Hemet area after running out of fuel

Here's something you don't see in Hemet every day: a hot-air balloon landing amid homes.

Hemet police had their hands full Wednesday morning, dragging on ropes and tugging to help Bill Dobbs, of Utah, make an emergency landing of his hot air balloon near Johnston Avenue and Arbor Parkway.

The balloon had apparently ran out of fuel, and its operator was trying to land on nearby Mary Henley Park but overshot the park by about a block because of strong winds, Cpl. Dan Reinbolt said.

Hemet police officers pull down a rope attached to a hot air balloon that made an emergency landing in a residential area in Hemet Wednesday morning. Strong winds blew the balloon about a block away from the operator's intended landing spot.

As police officers and other city workers saw the balloon descend into the residential area, about 20 of them gave assistance by tugging and dragging on ropes to keep the balloon from hitting nearby homes or causing injury, Reinbolt said.

"With everybody's help, we were able to bring it down safely," he said.

Dobbs could not be reached to comment.

Reinbolt said the incident occurred about 8:30 a.m. He said Dobbs, who took off from Perris Airport, had taken two groups of skydivers for jumps. After the second group made the jump, Reinbolt said, Dobbs had planned to descend on an open field, but the strong winds blew him to Hemet, and he soon found himself dangerously low on fuel.

"He was heading for Mary Henley Park, but as he landed, he overshot the park," he said.

The roadway was shut down for about 40 minutes while the balloon was cleared up, Reinbolt said. He said Dobbs and his crew drove off with the balloon.

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