Image of Asia: Up and away in octopus and van Gogh balloons

In this photo by Bullit Marquez, hot air balloons dot the sky at the start of the Philippine Hot Air Balloon festival in the Clark Economic Zone, Pampanga province north of Manila. Balloons shaped like Vincent van Gogh, an octopus and a beagle were among those lifting into the air Thursday. Now on its 19th year, the festival features 32 balloons from all over the world and other activities such as skydiving, motorized paragliding, aerobatics, formation flying, kite-flying and fireworks displays.