As the island of Bali, Indonesia,  opens up to international travellers this month, an iconic resort in the tropical island’s spiritual hub of Ubud is ready to host guests as an officially appointed hotel. The boutique property, Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana, has been chosen by the Indonesian government as one of the hotels visitors can stay at as part of the “Warm Up Vacation” requirement, officially promoted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism. Although visitors may move around Bali freely after testing negative for COVID at the airport, they are still required to stay at the same hotel during their first three nights in the country. The Tanah Gajah Ubud team have crafted a short-stay package, “Welcome Back,” that allows guests to relax and unwind in comfort while meeting the local COVID requirements for a getaway to the island. This month Bali reinstated its visa on arrival services for 23 countries and revoked mandatory quarantine for vaccinated international travelers. However there are still some requirements, such as two PCR Tests (one on arrival at the airport and one at the end of the three-night stay) as well as 30 days of health insurance protection. Testing and insurance are included in the resort’s latest offering. Also included in the package: airport pick up; personal hand sanitiser, face mask and disinfectant in each villa; a personal butler service; WiFi; daily afternoon tea; a daily sunset cocktail; complimentary minibar including alcohol selections (replenished daily); daily laundry up to six pieces per villa; access to wellness facilities; a UV light treatment in the villa prior to check-in; and a daily nanotechnology spray treatment for the villa, to minimize potential infections. However it’s the property’s location and rich cultural heritage that are the real drawing card for visitors. Moored amid rice paddies in the uplands of Bali, and a destination unto itself, the 20-key property is spread out over a lush six hectares of land. With roots that go back to legendary designer and art collector, Hendra Hadiprana, the property has long attracted art and design lovers. It was originally built in the 1980s as a holiday home for Hadiprana and his family and was transformed into a resort in 2004. Though the Hadiprana family relinquished its occupancy of the site as a private family compound, the patriarch’s art collection remained, and numerous sculptures, antiques, and artwork from his travels can be found throughout the property to this day. The resort offers two dining destinations, The Tempayan and Panen Padi Lounge. The new Tempayan was unveiled in 2020 with a design inspired by wantilan, a Balinese style pavilion. The tapas outlet, Panen Padi Lounge, also debuted during the pandemic. Both locations command prime locations with views over rice paddies and the resort’s hot air balloon experience. The resort’s spa also takes in the property’s quintessential Balinese landscape, while the main pool is guarded over by Ganesh statues and partially flanked by ponds with resident swans. Private pool villas are available for guests who would like to enjoy a dip in privacy. Tanah Gajah Ubud has strict health protocols. All staff are fully vaccinated and the property was awarded a 100% score for its CHSE (cleanliness, health, safety and environment) certification from the Indonesian government. The entire property is sprayed down with disinfectant twice a week and housekeeping disinfects guest rooms on a daily basis. Package prices start at IDR 9,100,000 nett (Approximately USD 640) for single occupancy in a One Bedroom Club Suite (70 sqm) and range up to IDR 14,300,000 nett (Approximately USD 640) for double occupancy in a One Bedroom Club Pool Villa (280 sqm). After the three night stay guests have the option of staying on or continuing their journey with Hadiprana through a stay at Dua Dari, a Residence by Hadiprana. Dua Dari consists of four residences in a jungle valley overlooking the Petanu River. The hotel was Hendra Hadiprana’s private residence after Tanah Gajah Ubud became a resort. Like its sister property, his extensive art collection can still be found throughout the site and the majority of the decor and furniture were once part of Tanah Gajah Ubud. The Welcome Back package is valid until June 30, 2022. For full terms and conditions please visit https://www.tanahgajahubud.com/en/offers-promotion/welcome-back-warm-up-vacation for the latest information. Please also visit https://tanahgajahubud.com/en/press/travel-update for the full list of requirements

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The Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (MyBalloonFiesta – Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia) makes its return home to Precinct 2 in time to celebrate it’s 10th anniversary! Happening from the 28th – 31st March 2019, AKA Balloon Sdn Bhd, the nation’s pioneer of all things ballooning will again reprise their role as the organiser of this beloved free-for-all event. Locals and tourists will be able to bring their family and friends to this colourful event filled with activities suitable for children and adults alike. Undoubtedly famous for its mass balloon display and ascension, other balloon activities are in-store such as an exclusive opportunity to go on a tethered balloon ride via the MyBalloonClub package or to have breakfast with the best view for balloon watching at the Picnic Zone. There will be a balloon igloo showcase – which are made out of recycled hot air balloons, a corporate area for partners to exhibit their products, an F&B park to quench visitors thirst and satiate everyone’s appetite as well as other fun activities. The highlight of the Fiesta and crowd favourite Night Glow will also make a comeback this year, with a big surprise! An expected 20 hot air balloons of various shapes and colours will be making it to the event this year from all over the world including Belgium, India, United Kingdom, Spain, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand. Hare and Hound competition also known as the Rudy’s Trophy, named after the founder of Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta will be hosted by the organiser as an added highlight especially for the pilots, enabling them to showcase their flying skills as they breeze through the skies of Putrajaya and compete with each other. Updates on the event activities can be found on www.myballoonfiesta.com, Facebook (facebook.com/myballoonfiesta) and Instagram (instagram.com/myballoonfiesta). The 10th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is organised by AKA Balloon Sdn Bhd and supported by Perbadanan Putrajaya (PPj). About AKA Balloon Sdn Bhd The company has been operating hot air balloon since 1995 making it the pioneer in the ballooning industry. With vast experience in organising hot air balloon events around Malaysia, such as NST 150th Anniversary, Annual Putrajaya International Balloon Fiesta and most recently, Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

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It was with trepidation that I accepted Thomas proposal to cover the yearly MyBaloon Fiesta in Kuala Lumpur.  Hot air balloons, I though! I did not hesitate a minute and contacted the Public Relations person for the event, Miss Ezrin Balqis, in order to get some details on the event as well as to arrange accommodation for my stay. Considering that Asian Itinerary had previously covered some of the activities of the famous Malaysian balloon sisters, great articles that I had read with much interest – READ THEM HERE -, I immediately thought that the best angle to cover the event would be to discuss the idea of women behind handling these giant balloons, something usually related to men. I then arranged an interview with Izzati Khairudin, the first child of a man passioned about hot air balloons, who managed to pass on this passion to her daughters. Yes, not just one but two. Izzati and Atiqah Khairudin have a hot air balloon license and are indeed the women pioneer in this sport in Malaysia, the land of hibiscus. Hot air ballooning is the oldest form of aviation in history, and even though accidents involving hot air balloons are rare, this sport is still considered as amongst slightly risky sports together with scuba diving and winter sports. Apart from that, for a woman to get involved in this sport is very rare too, and looking at these two young women, it is hard to believe they have ballooned in the sky so many times in their lives. So the first question I threw at Izzati was sharp: AI – “What do you think about Malaysian society perception on women involved in dangerous sports? Do you think people underestimate them or not?” Izzati was not at all shocked and her answer came our after a big smile painted on her fresh face: IZZATI – “I believe it is a matter of opinion. I feel that in Malaysia females are treated equally, I truly believe so as I have never felt handled differently than people would handle a man. Same in ballooning. When I was training in Spain, people treated equally as well. You know, if you want to be a pilot, you need to pilot your own balloon. Nobody is going to do it for you.” AI – “Do you actually think hot air balloon is a dangerous sport?” IZZATI – “Yes, I believe so, however it is really fun. I mean it’s not so hard. You take your license, you practice your landings and you get all the important knowledge needed to fly a hot air balloon, which is a lot. Because the thing with hot air balloon is that you can’t navigate the way, can’t really chose where the balloon goes and things like that. Therefore, when we fly a balloon we always need to look out for things like power lines, lamp posts and any other obstacles. And when we need to land, we really need to understand wind conditions and weather patterns.” AI – “So what would you say are the main challenges behind hot air balloon?” IZZATI – “In terms of flying, there are of course challenges. For instance, once I was flying in Penang and I couldn’t find a suitable field to land so I improvised and landed in a muddy pineapple plantation. Though it was not the most ideal place to land, the operation turned out safe. Hardest are palm oil plantation, and we have plenty here in Malaysia. Generally, landing spaces are very limited, but the good thing about this country is that morning weather is usually tame, so tricky landings are possible.” AI – “What is your sweetest memory about balloons?” IZZATI – “I think my best memory is doing it with my sister: we did our license together and we flew a lot together. Ballooning is my life, and so are my ballooning fans and my company. We are a very small team and we are very close to each other. Our office is like our second home. I work a lot with young people with very bright mind, very accommodating and committed like the AKA balloon team.”  AI – ”What message would you give to those who wish to try piloting a hot air balloon?” IZZATI – “My message is: go for it. It took my sister and I a while to get our hot air balloon license, it was a long 7 years process from the initial idea to finally get it materialized, collecting necessary funds etc. Having some savings is important, so you can buy your own balloon and do not have to rely on renting one.” AI – ”Plans for the future?” IZZATI – “We are mainly planning towards setting up official training for hot air balloon pilots so that Malaysians do not have to travel out of their countries to get a license. Abroad, the cost of getting a license is about 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit (about 10000 euros).” I said goodbye to Izzati and went on enjoying my morning at Putrajaya, observing amazing balloons taking off and flying away. I love Izzati commitment towards what she loves the most, she should be an inspiration to all women. There is nothing better than doing what you desire the most in the world. And let me end this article with a quote by author of ‘Letters from the Lost Soul’, Bob Bitchin: “The difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude.” 

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After eight consecutive years of hosting the event in Putrajaya, MyBalloon Fiesta (formerly Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta) annual event has finally found itself closer to the heart of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur! Nestling itself in the scenic neighbourhood of Desa ParkCity, about 25 minutes from Kuala Lumpur city centre, the 9th MyBalloonFiesta was back with its aptly themed “Balloon in the Park” as the hot heat rose March 10th to 12th this year. It was early morning when I made my way to Desa ParkCity – http://desaparkcity.com – a lovely green residential area developed around a lake. It was a Saturday, and residents jogged, walked dogs, took kids for walks or enjoyed coffee at the local shopping area. The sun rose and a few of the balloons were being tested, ready to take people on tethered rides from 7,30 am. I got to ride on a colourful red and pink balloon, and when the pilot started the fire to inflate it, heat came to my head and warmed my scalp so much I had to duck! Two huge gas tanks fueled the balloon from inside the wicker cabin, and up we went. The feeling was great: we were lulled by a fresh breeze during the soft ascent, and from the top the view of the surrounding area was incredible. I only got to ride a mere 10 minutes, but it was enough to understand the enjoyment of flying on a hot air balloon! Down at the park, I enjoyed a gourmet buffet breakfast while listening to a quality live jazz performance. Small tents were provided for media, VIP and balloon club members who enjoyed the sight of balloon inflation, as well as activities like zumba classes and a challenging limbo dance. As I had a second serving of the amazing breakfast, I got to meet with Atiqua, one of the balloon sisters. I have been one their fans for so long, and I have followed all their rides online! SEE:   http://asianitinerary.com/around-peninsular-malaysia-balloon/ – http://asianitinerary.com/surfing-clouds-pahang/ – http://asianitinerary.com/paddy-fields-kelantan/ – http://asianitinerary.com/breezing-through-terengganu/ The day got warmer by the minute, and by 9,30 am the balloons had to be taken down as the sun was so strong there was a chance that it would damage the balloons liner. In the mean time, my colleague Cato was covering the show at Putrajaya, which started at 6,45. Converging at the park were seventeen balloons from eleven countries comprising of special shapes and colourful designs: teardrop-shaped balloons, as well as some outrageous, quirkily-shaped ones including the special-shaped balloons such as the Rooster from Thailand, Tako II and Happy Chan from Japan, a hatching egg balloon as well as Dexter the Happy Flame from the Netherlands. Back at Desa ParkCity, general admission for the public started at 4pm. The Fiesta attracted a diverse crowd of local and foreign tourists attending this annual event, some bringing their own picnic mats, cozying up while feasting upon the scrumptious food available at the http://www.foodgasmfest.com.my – various food trucks and tents serving hungry patrons. Those not keen on the idea of going up in one of the balloons did not need to worry as this three-day festival entertained in a variety of ways: besides hot air balloon rides there were activities including cultural performances, balloon workshops and more. Jordi Enrich, an artist from Spain who recycles old hot air balloons, presented balloon igloos large enough to cater people and activities inside like the ‘Silent Disco‘ and an outdoor cinema featuring movies with hot air balloons themes. VR 360 video was present with an interactive viewing of wide-angle panoramic video, encompassing a 360-degree circle spherical view, experienced through the use of special goggles, for an incredibly ‘like real’ feeling of riding a hot air balloon. The evening session included an amazing Hot Air Balloon Display and Night Glow Show display, the perfect photo shooting opportunity as well as the chance to meet and greet the pilots of these amazing balloons. Endless fun we had at the MyBalloon Fiesta 2017 – don’t miss the chance next year, check their schedule on www.myballoonfiesta.com AsianItinerary was kindly accommodated by Sri Samansara Hotel.

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The Life On Air team made their way to the land of Cik Siti Wan Kembang, Kelantan. Upon their arrival, they headed straight to Wadi Sofia International School for a site recce. There, they met up with Fardia Fadzil, a cheerful baby-faced teacher whose family owns and runs the school. She showed them a lush green field in the compound of the school, making the team excited for tomorrow’s workshop. 200 local and international students filled up the field as the team started to inflate the balloon. A lot of parents came as well. It was a Sunday, but in Kelantan it was the first day of the week so schools and offices operate as usual. As the balloon workshop commences, Izzati Khairudin started to throw questions to the students and the first to answer was a seven-year old girl. As always the feedback from the students are always positive and filled with enthusiasm. After the balloon workshop, 39 passengers including students lined up for their tethered ride piloted by Atiqah Khairudin. The younger children were very expressive and a keened their experience to being a bird that gets to see the whole view of the school, and sharing that special moment with their friends. As for Fardia and husband Amir Mukmin Hassani, their ride on a hot air balloon together was a special one as they celebrated their 20th anniversary. Muhammad Arif Irfan bin Ali Azizan, 17, who’s interest sparked a few years before, found his passion in ballooning rekindled after a conversation with the balloon sisters. A budding cyclist who’s getting ready to represent Malaysia in the Southeast Asia Games, Arif expressed his desire to become a balloon pilot himself. It was obvious that he was engrossed in the whole experience as he was the only student from the upper secondary level that stayed with the younger students to pack the balloon and even converse with the crews. It seems so far, that the main objective of the expedition has been accomplished with great success. Students are thrilled to learn about the balloons and some of the older students even voiced out that they would like to seriously consider ballooning as a vocation, or at least acquire a pilot license. Pleasantly surprising for the team was also the fact that Kelantan’s geographical topography remained untouched for most part, and had many wonderful landscapes to offer. In order for them to dive into the historical part of Kelantan, they invited former Sunday Star journalist, Eddin Khoo who stayed in Kelantan for over thirty years to learn about Kelantanese culture, specially Wayang Kulit, Main Puteri and Tarian Mak Yong. Initially, the balloon sisters were set to take off from Kota Bahru’s Rural Transformation Center. However, after realising it was too close to the airport, pilot Izzati Khairudin decided to take the ‘scenic route’ and try to fly in Pasir Mas. It has been one of the items in her balloon bucket list to land in the middle of a paddy field! This hope was casually mentioned to Fardia in passing and as luck would have it she eagerly told the pilot that it would probably be a good idea to take off from Amir’s solar farm situated there. A site recce right after the balloon workshop confirmed that there was ample space for them to fly, along the Kelantan river and above the paddy fields. Chasing the first light of the next morning, pilot and team woke up extra early to drive to their departure field. The sight could not have been more mesmerising. Everyone was in awe by the rising sun. “We had the site recce yesterday when the sun was about to set, and now we are able to see the sun rise. The land is so flat! You could literally see the path where the sun comes up and retires at the end of the day”, declared Atiqah Khairudin in astonishment! Kelantan proved to be a balloonist’s dream destination to fly. The Pasir Mas Solar Farm is the largest solar farm in Kelantan. Fardia explains that Kelantan, along with a few states in the Northern region such as Penang, Perlis, Kedah as well as Sabah has the most effective sun hours compared to other states. Thus, making it a perfect location to ‘harvest’ the sun. The Government supports green energy endeavours, even offering grants for them to set up their farm in which the energy they produced will then be sold to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). Apart from having almost no negative impact on the environment, it is also a very lucrative business venture! While the sisters had a 2000 feet clearance this time from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Izzati opted to fly low instead to enjoy the view. This time the locals working their crops chased the balloon and made sure they took photos of that white gentle giant floating in the morning. They crossed the Kelantan river twice, before finally locating a small intersection in the middle of the field to land. As they were landing, the locals ran towards the balloon. Another common assumption is that balloons land on runways, similar to other aircrafts, when all they need is some empty, accessible space to land. After explaining to them what was really happening, the pilots and passengers got a little scolding. “Why didn’t you let me know that you were coming? I would have cooked you some food! Land here and please join me in my home,” said an elderly man when the balloon landed. Eddin explained that the first time he ever set foot in Kelantan, he was greeted with the same kind of friendliness and generosity. A total stranger offered him a place to stay the first time he arrived in Kelantan! He seemed to have nothing but fond memories of this place. Wayang Kulit or Shadow Puppets was one of his passions, even more so after taking classes from a famous teacher there. One would think that Wayang...

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After a good round in Terengganu, the Life On Air expedition team heads down to Pahang for another few days of tour in Kuantan. With the generosity of The Zenith Hotel (Kuantan), the team stayed over for another three nights before heading back to Kuala Lumpur. The lucky school in Kuantan was SMK Abdul Rahman Talib (SMART), alma mater of one of the crews. Weather was absolutely perfect for the balloon workshop and a few rounds of tethered rides as well. The Milo Van from Nestle accompanied the team to the school with much enthusiasm from the students and teachers! Izzati Khairudin, CEO of AKA Balloon has always had a soft spot for schools. “I have always believed in instilling passion and good values from young. A strong support by the parents and teachers association at school will greatly benefit the students too.” Officially ending the last tethered ride of the day was the school’s principal, Tuan Haji Bahtiar Sanusi. The next day, taking off from the Mokhtar Dahari National Academy of Football in Gambang, the balloon sisters flew up with the sunrise for their free-flight together with this leg’s ‘local hero’ Farisha Mazlan. A born and bred Kuantan girl, Farisha, 28, owner of the famous Kula Cakes is also an avid surfer. “I am literally counting days to the next monsoon season so that I can surf again!,“ said this recent mother of one. According to her, many are hesitant to try out this sport as it seems so extreme. “The fact that we hardly have any grommets (young surfers) to continue this sport is devastating. Usually we can find the local kampung boys in Cherating surfing but not here in the city (Teluk Chempedak). However with the recent development of new hotels in Cherating, I am concerned that the consistent waves that we enjoy in Cherating will disappear soon.” Farisha points out that the geographical area of the Cherating beach naturally blocks the strong winds to give a steady stream of good waves to surf. Any human intervention that alters the hills or the beach itself will give an impact to the waves. Together with the recent controversy regarding bauxite mining and also the clearing of reserved forest in Kuantan, what could be an eco-tourism opportunity for Pahang has literally gone down the drain. Pelindung Hill near Teluk Chempedak, a favourite track amongst downhill cyclist, might not be as lucky either. “I doubt any of this will be around in ten years time. Our ecosystem is getting sicker. What we need is the support and intervention of the local council and tourism. Pahang is endowed with many natural resources that should be kept that way, instead of being over-developed. In fact, I am so surprised how beautiful Gambang looked from the balloon. I can’t believe such beauty still exists in my hometown!” Gambang offered a serene and spectacular sight as they flew towards the airbase. The lush green forest together with the misty weather felt like something out of a movie scene. Fortunately for both the balloon and chase team, the wind blew the balloon back towards the city instead of crossing the highway, making it a perfect retrieval after they landed in a nearby oil palm estate. “Surfing and ballooning share a lot of things in common”, exclaims Atiqah Khairudin, who piloted the balloon that day. “Essentially, we are very weather dependent!. It is quite endearing to meet someone else who wake up early in the morning to look at the sky, making sure the weather was perfect for that day’s outing!” she adds with a laugh. Even Farisha is happy to acknowledge at how many women are passionately enjoying extreme sports such as herself. “When I was invited to fly, I thought I’d be piloted by old men! To find out that the pilots were women my age was very empowering! I hope my daughter and her generation will still be able to enjoy all this opportunity in the future.” This expedition is made possible in association with AKA Balloon Sdn Bhd, Ford Motor Company and local distributor, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) as Official Vehicle, iM4U.fm as Official Radio and Ultron as Official Apparel. To find out more information on the expedition, visit www.lifeonair.asia and #LifeOnAirMY on Facebook and Twitter. Live feed is available on Youtube and Snapchat, @LifeOnAir. DISCOVER MORE ABOUT HOT AIR BALLOON ON ASIANITINERARY.COM – CLICK HERE!

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Kuala Terengganu – The winds and sunny skies in the East Coast greeted the hot air balloon team with much excitement. Or so it seemed. Pilots Izzati and Atiqah Khairudin as well as their crews made their way to Sekolah Menengah Sains Kuala Terengganu for a balloon workshop. A group of 60 students gathered at the school field to set their sights on 9M-AKA. While the weather was sunny and clear, it was definitely too windy for the balloon to be up too long. “It’s not a let down, to be honest. In fact, it is a good way to demonstrate the nature of the balloon so that they can understand that in some circumstances, too much wind is not ideal for this aircraft, especially when it is tethered to the ground.” explains Izzati. Life On Air, an initiative from AKA Balloon Sdn Bhd, aims to educate and expose the people to hot air balloons in their natural environment. While many have seen these gentle giants being displayed at the Putrajaya and Penang Fiestas, not many has had the opportunity to see how they really fly in the ‘real world’. Atiqah, who takes turns to pilot the balloon with her sister had this to say, “When we fly, we are very dependent on a lot of things. We need help from our ground crews, input from the Department of Civil Aviation, the locals, especially when we fly somewhere unfamiliar. Balloons are also submissive towards the weather, so safety is always number one. Eventually you will realise that you don’t just make it on your own. It’s about teamwork and cooperation.” Heavy rain in the early hours of Tuesday did not dampened the spirit of the team as they made their way to a field in Bukit Payong for their free-flying attempt. Setting up their balloon while the rain drizzles on, it eventually came to a halt just before the balloon was fully inflated. ‘Local Hero’ from Marang, Abdul Aziz Yusof who works with the Fishery Department, was selected to fly together with the sisters. An enthusiastic man who spent his whole life working with the sea, now tries his best to attract tourists and surfers to head over to Terengganu during the monsoon season with his passion for photography. He is well known in the local surfer community and a firm believer that conservation of nature happens when people start to appreciate it. “The best waves comes when the coral reefs break the waves,” he explained. “When people who start surfing realise this, they take the extra mile to make sure not to harm those reefs so that they can enjoy good waves when they surf. ” It is not easy to get people to share the same values when they do not see what is “in it” for them. For now, it is safe to say that you can find many sports to enjoy in any kind of weather. Come rain or shine! This expedition is made possible in association with AKA Balloon Sdn Bhd, Ford Motor Company and local distributor, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) as Official Vehicle, iM4U.fm as Official Radio and Ultron as Official Apparel. To find out more information on the expedition, visit www.lifeonair.asia and #LifeOnAirMY on Facebook and Twitter. Live feed is available on Youtube and Snapchat, @LifeOnAir. DISCOVER MORE ABOUT HOT AIR BALLOON ON ASIANITINERARY.COM – CLICK HERE!

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