After some Taitung County netizens criticized Hualien for \u2018stealing the bird from Taitung,\u2019 the Hualien County Government postponed the balloon\u2019s launch<\/p>\n
An Angry Red Bird hot air balloon and other hot air balloons are inflated at the Taiwan International Balloon Fiesta in Taitung in an undated photograph.<\/p>\n
A big hit with the public since its first appearance in Taitung County last month, the \u201cAngry Red Bird\u201d hot air balloon is courting controversy by flying the coop and landing in neighboring Hualien County.<\/p>\n
The Angry Red Bird hot air balloon \u2014 based on a character from the popular Angry Birds smartphone game \u2014 has been one of the highlights at this year\u2019s Taiwan International Balloon Fiesta in Taitung.<\/p>\n
The event, currently in its third year, started on June 1 and will run until Aug. 11 at Taitung\u2019s Gaotai Park area.<\/p>\n
Drawing a total of 880,000 visitors last year, the ballooning event has been referred to as \u201ca miracle for Taiwan\u2019s tourism industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a result, Hualien County and Greater Kaohsiung are also launching hot air balloon festivals this year.<\/p>\n
The Angry Red Bird remained popular until the end of last month, when it wrapped up its stay in Taitung.<\/p>\n
However, upon learning that the Angry Red Bird was scheduled to appear at the Hualien Hot Air Balloon Festival, some Taitung residents said their feelings were hurt.<\/p>\n
Online posts by some Taitung residents slammed the Hualien County Government \u201cfor stealing the bird from them [Taitung].\u201d<\/p>\n
Some other Taitung residents responded by saying it is not a big deal, with comments such as: \u201cIt\u2019s OK with me. The first time is the most important,\u201d and \u201cHualien and Taitung are like brothers, so we should share our good fortune,\u201d referring to both counties being neighbors in the nation\u2019s east coast.<\/p>\n
The Hualien County Government, in a bid to placate the indignation of Taitung residents, said that the hot air balloon\u2019s first flight, was initially scheduled to lift off in Hualien on Friday, has been postponed to next week.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, separately yesterday in Greater Kaohsiung, hundreds of people lined up to make flights over the city during the area\u2019s first-ever hot air balloon carnival.<\/p>\n
The one-month festival, held beside Cheng Ching Lake (\u6f84\u6e05\u6e56), not only highlights hot air balloons, but also features a light show in the evenings, as well as a summer camp and an exhibition on the sport, the Greater Kaohsiung Government said.<\/p>\n