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When I reached up and kissed the Sun
The concept of flying has been intriguing me since I was knee high. When as kids we were asked what you want to be when you grow up- ‘Pilot’ was my ready answer even before I had seen a plane up close.
So, when my friend asked me if I wanted to fly with temple pilots I was more than ready. The rapport was set right from the time of booking when I heard a loud hearty laugh at the other end of the phone when I asked for ‘Stone’ Pilots instead of temple pilots. That’s Anita! Her energy levels and cheerful nature didn’t go down from the other end of the phone to when I met her personally.
I was quite fascinated with Avi’s story. I couldn’t quite understand why a person with a defence background would leave that and come to back of beyond to teach paragliding! I mean what was in it for him?
I let go of that puzzle because at Japalouppe I was greeted by the most fabulous group of Dogs I have ever seen. I am sure that was a set up organised by Avi-Anita and Rohan. Because, all the Dogs have been trained to look so adorably cute and sexy and beautiful and loving and every other adjective that you OUGHT to have had a good experience in the three days flying or no flying!
Anyway, first day of the sessions went on smoothly though the description of a rotor wind set in a bit of a panic in me. First day was about knowing the wings and A raisers and B raisers and brakes and checking the equipment and running and more running and running some more!
That night I dreamt of me getting stuck in a rotor and tumbling down the hill with me entangled and then in a Harry Potter move TJ came flying and set my wings right mid air! I dreamt it was TJ and not Avi or Dhaval coz they were the ones who put the fear in me in the first place. :-p
Second day was really bad for me because I just couldn’t get the hops right. I made mistakes in correcting the wings too. What made me feel worse was my friend had his first flight that day. While I was wallowing in self pity Avi caught on immediately and asked me to give it one last try. And voila! I succeeded!
Now I was all set to fly!
But Mr. Wind had other plans. It just wasn’t right enough for me to fly for the longest time. I was just about getting ready to go into the sulk mode when the ‘tides changed’ and finally it was time to fly!! That’s when all the butterflies and in fact many other flies woke up in my stomach and started doing some sort of a tribal dance in there! When I took off that’s when I realised everything happens for a reason!
I took off and there he was- Mr Sun in his Orange best getting ready to call it a day! The entire horizon was orange yellow and the birds formed a lovely silhouette against the Sun while they were on their way home. Mr. Wind had transformed himself into Mr. Breeze and he gently kissed my cheek while I was making a steady descent. Avi’s instructions were like background music for my dance in the skies. After placing a gentle peck on the Sun’s cheek I was making a very nice descent and feeling extremely proud of myself! “Flying is easier than ground handling” kept ringing in my mind and I wanted to kick myself for not believing Avi before.
I just can’t wait to do my P2 training! And that’s when I will definitely kidnap Chilli!
- Harshita Rao
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