It’s unforgettable. A buttery sun shimmers over the misty Pollachi landscape and I catch the stunning sight from a hot air balloon floating above coconut groves. As Elii, a special balloon shaped like a grey elephant rises in the sky, Mark Stokoe, the pilot steers her ascent. “This elephant can fly,” says an excited Lisa Stokoe, the co-pilot about the star attraction at the recently-concluded Tamil Nadu International Balloon Festival (TNIBF).
The couple, based out of the UK, plan to tour the world showcasing Elii at international ballooning events. “Cartoon-shaped balloons look attractive, especially at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico, the biggest festival where as many as 500 balloons are lined up. While many innovate shapes for commercial purposes, we do it for fun. My son Ben has a pilot license and has been training with Mark during his outings in Thailand and France,” says Lisa, as she gets talking about her family’s twin passions — travel and hot air ballooning.
