I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie. So when I discovered that paragliding was an option, I immediately signed up. It cost $95 for a 30-minute tandem flight, landing in a rice field, with the Himalayas as my high-definition 360-degree surround-screen view. In one word, UNBELIEVABLE! I am totally hooked on paragliding. I want to do it again, I want to be a pilot, I would do it again this moment if I could. I have pictures and video below, but it is impossible to capture the beauty and the surreal-ness of the experience. You will just have to go paragliding to understand.
First, we had to meet our pilots. They were my age, which gave me a bit of anxiety, because, well, I know boys my age. However, they told me that they have to have so many jumps and be a pilot for 2 years before they can apply to be a tandem pilot. Then I thought, this is great! They are young and adventurous like me, if I ask to do some tricks in the air, they will totally go for it. (They did.) After meeting our pilots and packing up the parachutes we got in a jeep and off-roaded our way to the top of Sarangkot. Technically there was a "road," but we were off-roading for sure. The following a views from the drive up to the launch spot. We drove for about 30-40 minutes until we were actually in a cloud on top of a mountain.
Once at the launch site, we had to wait for the clouds to clear up before we could actually take off. This took about 30 minutes. Here you can see what we first saw when we arrived, to what it looked like once we launched.
Getting the parachutes ready
Sarah, Pauliina and I waiting for better weather
Pauliina getting all strapped in
Sarah is almost ready and looking a bit nervous
Go time!
Taking off consisted of being strapped to the front of your pilot with the parachute on the ground behind him. Then, together, you walk forward a few steps until the wind picks up the parachute. This pulls you backward, so you take a few steps back until you get just a bit of slack. Then you run as fast as you can off the side of the mountain.
Below are pictures I took from the air. The pictures don't do it justice, but it'll give you an idea.
Pokhara Valley and Phewa Tal (Lake)
Mid-flight selfie!
We landed! Both of us looked at the other and said, "I want to go again!"
We landed in a small patch of solid ground surrounded by rice fields
Lots of rice
Before: looking a little apprehensive
After: loving life and wanting to fly again
WOW!!! Incredible views and such a cool thing to do! I'm slightly jealous!
ReplyDeleteOnly "slightly" because, being afraid of heights, you don't REALLY want to do paragliding. Am I right? ;)
DeleteLove the mid-flight selfie!
ReplyDeleteThanks Momma! Next time you'll have to come with me.
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