Mars flight within the atmosphere (2)

by hjdsk78940 on 2011-06-13 11:49:29

Mars Flying Within the Atmosphere (2)

Written and photographed by Guo Zien

Photography: Guo Zien

Equipment: Canon EOS-350D/SIGMA 18-125mm f=3.5-5.6

Time and location of shooting: August 2006/Cappadocia, Turkey

The instant when the hot air balloon ascends is the coolest. The sunlight also performs diligently, as the height increases, the colors on the rugged cliffs opposite change from blue to red, then to orange-yellow, golden-yellow, and bright yellow. The huge shadows of the strange rocks recede, and besides the sound of wind and the roar of the gas nozzle, it seems like there are French horns, bassoons, and timpani playing in unison, a perfect symphony performance, reminiscent of Bach, Joe Hisaishi, and Hans Zimmer.

Photography: Guo Zien

Equipment: Canon EOS-350D/SIGMA 18-125mm f=3.5-5.6

Time and location of shooting: August 2006/Cappadocia, Turkey

Once the balloon rises to a certain height, a magical moment occurs! Due to the stable height, the burner nozzle occasionally stops roaring. At that moment, the land you gaze at appears as if the fire has been extinguished, like molten lava flowing. The silence after the roar is like an even more startling noise, making one's breath stop and heart beat like a drum. Form does not differ from emptiness, and emptiness does not differ from form!

Photography: Guo Zien

Equipment: Canon EOS-350D/SIGMA 18-125mm f=3.5-5.6

Time and location of shooting: August 2006/Cappadocia, Turkey

During the stage of hovering in the air, the surrounding sounds play out in the following sequence: the roar of the nozzle mm silence mm frantic shutter sounds mm sighs and panting mm the howl of the nozzle. Conversations have become redundant, the canyons, peaks, ridges, and marvelous natural stone carvings have completely captured people's sight and words. The beauty of the changing light sweeps across the earth like magic, and the clouds manipulate the direction of the sunlight and the rise and fall of people's emotions like a spotlight on a stage. Listening but unseen, seeing but unheard!

Photography: Guo Zien

Equipment: Canon EOS-350D/SIGMA 18-125mm f=3.5-5.6

Time and location of shooting: August 2006/Cappadocia, Turkey

The caves carved into the steep peaks by ancient hermits to avoid religious persecution have long been abandoned. Why do the mouths of the cave openings facing the sky still echo with hymns? Tiny figures dressed in veiled long robes move through the unearthly wasteland, conveying wordless heavenly love like ancient ascetics.

Photography: Guo Zien

Equipment: Canon EOS-350D/SIGMA 18-125mm f=3.5-5.6

Time and location of shooting: August 2006/Cappadocia, Turkey

Time truly passes like a white horse through a crevice, disappearing in an instant yet leaving an unforgettable memory.

As the flight height slowly descends, we see jeeps with trailers reappear in our line of sight, and we can even hear "Buddy" barking happily. Everyone feels as if they have returned from heaven, and the embrace of the earth is so warm.

However, the "extraterrestrial exploration team" will soon face a more severe challenge - our landing point is actually a melon field!

On the golden sandy soil, countless beautiful melons sit plumply. Considering the dry climate and ample sunshine in central Turkey, along with the long frost-free period, we have reason to believe that the taste of these melons will take us to another paradise of taste. Looking at the jeeps parked far away, the already low flight height, and the ground crew struggling to pull the ropes, even the little ones are helping. It seems only the dogs biting the ropes and pulling hard are missing. I felt a sense of smug joy and couldn't help thinking mischievously: "If we fall into the melon field, wouldn't we get free cantaloupes to eat?" I joked sarcastically to the handsome captain. "Not necessarily," he replied with a smile, very British.

The two previous hot air balloons have already landed safely. The basket belonging to the Indian guy is slightly tilted; his newly learned emergency actions must be useful now, probably boasting and showing off. Another one is sitting proudly in the golden grass like a mother hen hugging her nest. Now all the people have gathered, standing neatly in rows like sailors entering the harbor, shading their eyes seriously watching how we deal with the Turkish melons.

The atmosphere becomes increasingly tense, and the ropes gradually tighten. I clearly see the four fingers of the German uncle's hand stretched out to block the sunlight, and a little girl is laughing and jumping beside them! The captain emits a worrying long sigh in silence. Only "Buddy" sits steadily like a bronze lion in front of the Forbidden City, motionless, with his hair fluttering in the air.

Suddenly! The captain turns on the gas nozzle that had stopped roaring again, emitting a prolonged song like an aria. The basket rises slightly accordingly, then stabilizes in the air, directly above the trailer behind the jeep!

A dull thud sounds, and the basket sits perfectly on the flatbed of the trailer. Applause erupts!

"Bravo! Encore! (Italian: Excellent! One more act!)" It must be the Indian guy joking around again.

Photography: Guo Zien

Equipment: Canon EOS-350D/SIGMA 18-125mm f=3.5-5.6

Time and location of shooting: August 2006/Cappadocia, Turkey

Relevant Information:

Hot Air Balloon Company Website:

http://www.kapadokyaballoons.com/

Domestic Travel Agency that helped arrange my trip:

http://www.wetour.com.cn/Chinese/main.asp

Their Turkey-related products:

http://www.wetour.com.cn/Chinese/ShowAr.asp?Id=479