Experience: I’ve been on more than 2,000 hot-air balloon flights in 124 countries

‘It’s so serene’: Allie Dunnington photographed in Wiltshire. Photograph: Gareth Iwan Jones/The Guardian

I can still remember my first flight, in 2002. It was magical. I was working as a tour guide in Myanmar. I met a British balloon pilot called Phil, who had a spare place on a flight. He offered to take me, too.

I don’t particularly enjoy flying in planes, but this was different. We floated gently with the wind, out in the open air. There was no turbulence. It was so serene and picturesque as we flew over temples. I immediately fell in love with ballooning.