My family woke up very early today (2AM imagine!) to head out to Angeles City to witness the last day of the 2007 Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at Clark Airfield.

Sweetie has been excited for days, and nothing was going to get in the way of his opportunity to capture amazing photos of the event.

We arrived at the airfield at just about 5 am. There was already a long line of people at the gates during that time.

We bundled up the baby and we all trekked towards the site. We chose to settle down at a part of the open field where there was a makeshift tent (imagine thin poles and a thick net for a roof). We got ourselves some plastic chairs and prepared to wait for the day’s activities. Since we were at the place very early, our location was perfect for taking pictures (just behind the fence).

Soon more people started to trickle in. Some laid out blankets at a grassy area beside us, some preferred to just stand behind, while some lingered around taking pictures of the tanks, eating breakfast at the food tents.

Then the trucks started arriving at the field bearing the big baskets (sorry that’s what I call it) where the balloons will be attached. This flurry of activity solicited cheers from the crowd. It also caused them to start moving closer to where we were as we had an unobstructed view of the field. Or so I thought.

We were seated at what appears to be the second row. We had left a bit of leg space as my hubby had intended to setup his tripod in front of us. Suddenly, the sky went dark. I looked up and was eye to eye with a tie-dyed butt - literally.

One woman pulling the rest of her family, decided that whatever space in front of me where my legs did not use, can accommodate her, her friend, her daughter and her friends daughter. The result? A lot of butt a no view.

I said excuse in a polite tone saying she was blocking my view. She said sorry but did not budge. I said excuse me again but got the same result. Maria Isabel Lopez (and family) almost got into a fight with this butt-lady as they were in fact already stepping on Isabel’s blankets that were laid out on the grass. And since they were seated much lower than we were, they had more view to lose. As a result butt-lady moved… in front of us! Geez! Talk about rude.

It was a good thing, the trip was really for my husband so I just asked him to take great pics and I will just borrow. I took a few photos but nothing really spectacular.

Overall, the trip was still worth it. My son had the grandest time and was even photographed like a celebrity at one time. My husband was also happy and excited about all the pictures he took. At the end of the day - that’s what counts. Here is an example of what not to emulate.

Oh, I really have to get this in. Events like these totally bring out the worst in people. No matter who you are, how much money you have, or how educated - people have a tendency to be rude in an attempt to get ahead of other people. The last scenario we encountered was with a young couple who apparently had no manners whatsoever. They practically stepped on my son’s comforter which was laid out on the grass in front of me… the dude positioned in front of my hubby’s camera lens as he was taking pics of the aero show… and his girlfriends head hit me on the shoulder as she was hurrying to catch a glimpse of the planes just above us. What the ?!?!?

Tsk tsk. Really - there is just no excuse.

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