Sky-dive at 18,000 feet. The world's highest tandem Jump. Yes, finally after a procrastination of over a year I did it.
I wanted to sky-dive for a long time but I chickened out at the last moment earlier. Then came along an opportunity where my friends were gonna do it. I jumped at it. Well all I can tell you about this dive is, that it took me more courage to take this decision than to jump out of a perfectly fine air-craft.
Yeah, it sounds moronic to just go up there and jump out but the experience that follows is phenomenal. It is a must-do in a life-time.
So first time we went there. Boy, was I nervous? Sure! The signs at their registration clearly said "Do not play on the run-way." Are they kidding me...I am not here to play around...I am here to Jump...
However, due to inclement weather they canceled the dives for that day. The catch was that our money is not refunded, we receive a rain-check. 2 months later, we were back on-site determined to "get over" with it.
This time I really didn't think about it too much. Finally my turn came up and there was my tandem master. He fastened on the harness on us. Did I feel like going on a Mission ( that is) Impossible? Sure I did as he tightened my harness as much as possible. (what if I just get detached from him lol..)
Eventually the commandos, as I deemed myself to be at this moment, were ready to be transported to the run-way. All hauled up in a bus were dropped to ground zero.
Finally I was up on the aircraft. My video-grapher cached on my expressions at the right moments and was I smiling at the camera all the time...Sure was! With the lens on me I was ready to give it my best shot..haha...my first movie...hehe
This really small aircraft was filled with 16 of us. I was pretty much focused on the fact that my tandem master should properly fasten me to him...ehee that I realized much later that we were air-borne. Eventually 10,000 ft, 12000ft and then 18...Yay....
1, 2 ,3 and jump..If you ask me what were my thoughts at this time...None...I DIVED
The fall through clouds...the air-pressure on my face....the earth above me and suddenly the skies....The 90seconds free-fall was FANTABULOUS....the 360 degree turn until our balancer opened....amazing...
Soon our parachute opened up and what followed after that follows falls short of words to describe....The horizon...the bay...the mountains...the earth...WOW...did I feel like a bird?
After confirming with me that I have no motion sickness the tandem master turned me around 360 degrees.....
The slow descent, the amazing feel of being at flight as a bird..the miniscule we are before this entire world....practically mind boggling...A perfect landing was all that was needed and sure enough I had it!
Do I wanna do it once again? Definitely...
The experience didn't end here. I recieved my DVD the next day from my co-worker. On sharing the video with one of them, she made pretty much everyone watch it around her. Objective: Inspiring others to go with her to do it as their next team outing.
Results: And sure enough my co-worker managed a group to go with her. Buzz word : Shalini Sky-dived..how did u do it? Boy, you don't look like one who would? We didn't expect you doing this?
phew!
What can I say? Looks can be decieving!
I would just end it at this note that having conquered land and water...it was time for Shalini to go for the skies....Skies are NOT actually the limit....
Posts
