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The most beautiful thing in my life...
 This afternoon, as I stood preparing to take off from Nandi SE face near Bangalore, it struck me how far I have come since I first flew my solo with Temple Pilots on 25th October last year.
With butterflies in my stomach (They are Big Butterlies ! always have them while taking off) I run through the pre-flights and my companion, a pilot friend of Avi, runs a thorough buddy check. With all lines clear and all checks done , I turn to face my new wing. A touch of the A-risers and the beautiful white sail cloth inflates and rises over my head. A touch of brakes to stabilize, a quick turn, 2 steps down that horrible 65 degree slope and I am away....
Today was my first flight after a month. I just got my wing recently, with blessings from Big Chief Avi. Soaring along the Nandi East face, it took barely a few seconds to gain 700 ft over take off. As I turn and do my beats, gaining height steadily, the adrenaline rush of the Take-off slows down and I settle myself comfortably in the harness hit the speed-bar and head out over the fields, watching far below the next gliders getting ready to take off. I spent nearly 2 hours soaring today. My longest flight till date.
The wonderful thing about Paragliding is the immense feeling of solitary space that you get when in the air. It is what I crave, the hustle and bustle of life creates a hunger for space that is seldom achieved. Flying gives you the option of opening up the heavens in reality coloured blue with the skies and tinged with the woolly cotton puffs of clouds. Far down below, Mother Earth Beckons you with her beauty, so sublime and subtle that you wonder why you don't see that while trouncing around on the ground.
Thinking back a few months.. I arrived in this strange sounding place called Japaloupe.. It sounded to be like a Japanese Diamond Checking centre (Sorry Rohan !!) But of course it was a Horse's name !! Arrival was late evening & I was met on the highway by Avi and Anita.. A warm welcome from them settled me in and I spent half the night navigating through the course material that they so obliging gave me a'fore they crept into their quarters..
We started the course late afternoon the next day.. with an introductory lecture on the basics of paragliding and the physical dynamics behind it. The scary part was the 80% Physical 20% brain that one using when starting.. I obviously got my dose of that on the first 2 days. But as time and learning progressed, it has become 10% physical. I did my P-1 (Beginner) and P-2 (Novice) Back to back and was back soon thereafter to finish my 5 Flying days and and begin my P-3 (Intermediate) I still am in my P-3.. that will extend for many months more as and when I keep getting my sigh-offs.
A lot of people ask me why I fly. Its easy to say that it is what I have always dreamed off, isnt that what most people say ? In my case yes, till I was 17-18 years old all I wanted to do was to be a fighter pilot. But now 20 years down the line, I can only say, it crept up on me and I just did it, and brother, am I glad I did !!
My experiences with Temple Pilots were filled with fun, games, serious learning (and of course the regulation sprained knee) and soon I was feeling confident enough to join in the de-breifings as a Guest Lecturer !! One of the greatest things about Paragliding and people that fly is that you always find that these people have something common across the board. It is difficult to pin this down but it is obvious in the feeing of easy companionship and the quick making of strong bonds with fellow pilots and trainees.
Big Chief Avi, a quiet and normally unassuming young man, comes into his own on rare occasions with his words of wisdom and snatches of sheer boyish gaity. I spent some amazing quality time with him. He somehow managed to impart to me, a normally thick headed self opinionated bum, some wonderful thoughts and life changing ideas.
As I write today, I have decided to go back to my place of birth, Kamshet, to spend time with the team that gave me the most beautiful thing in my life... the ability to fly and introspect. My place of birth ? In a psycological way, yes. As an Aviator, I was born on the 25th of October, 2005. A grey haired, dog eared man took a new lease to life.
I am coming back to the "Safe School Skies" (quoting Avi) A place where I will always belong. Thank you all at Temple Pilots. Especially to Avi and TJ - The Big Chief and Little Chief.
- Joy Sarkar
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