DANA WANG
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Hot air balloon rides are an indispensable part of Egypt’s tourism industry. In this land of poverty, it’s common to see five-year-old children chasing after tourists for spare pennies as the balloons touch down. The huge disparity in regional development elevates money to a godlike force, allowing visitors to momentarily assume the role of "deities" over the locals. Yet, in the seconds before the balloon lands, the roles of prey and predator are reversed. Trapped in the tiny basket, the tourists are left helpless, reliant on those below to guide them to safety, laying bare the hypocrisy of this reality.

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