Nepal 97 Travelog / Hot air ballonning : facing the Himalayas & the landing (7/24)

<BODY BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT = "#ABCBBE"> Inside the basket, you get a sensational view of the snowcapped Himalayans peaks. The major problem is to find out who is who !! Gauri Sanker, Melungtse, Cho-oyu, Gyachungkang, Everest : it is very easy to point out a peak with an incorrect name, especially as there xas some white clouds, so that every peak was not fully cleared... Anyhow, the full panorama is amazing ! <BR> Compared to ground level, you can finally breath some fresh air..<BR> It is as well a good opportunity to observe the actions of the Pilot on the balloon flight, and to understand how climbing rates are controlled or how wind speed and direction may be forecasted.<BR> On top of that, the Pilot has regular contact with the Nepalese air Controllers, which are not fully used to hot balloon piloting constraints : this results sometimes in unusual requests or funny comments. The landing is far more exciting the takeoff, because you do not know where you are going to finish your course.. Before the landing, every of the 20 eyes inside the balloon are scrutinizing the horizon in search of power lines, the most dangerous thing around in the Valley. <BR> </BODY>