A Visa, a Problem, and a Perfectly Logical Solution
K, so I’m in Kathmandu; I overstayed my visa, something I’ve never done in all my travels. In doing so, I dealt with a slightly annoying agent who took pride in going by the book and was more than ready to excommunicate me from his country. It didn’t help my day go well, but hey, what can I say? It was my fault. I asked him if I needed to leave immediately. He replied that I had four days to leave the country, so I did the most logical thing imaginable; I immediately booked an SUV and a guide and headed to Pokhara, Nepal, near the Himalayas, for some paragliding.
The Road to Pokhara
After an almost 7-hour drive from Kathmandu and some much-needed rest at my hotel, my guide arrived at around ten o’clock the following day and picked me up for the excursion.
We wasted no time heading to the offices of Frontiers Paragliding in Pokhara, paid approximately 10,557 NPR (roughly $100.00 USD), watched our tandems load the truck, and were ready for my next adventure; what came next after the 20-minute drive to the site was blog-worthy at the least.
It was somewhat frightening watching both parties struggling not to go over the edge of the mountain. I shudder to think of the worst possible outcome.
The All Important Gear
Arriving at the gliding site, I saw numerous paragliders drifting through the skies like colorful feathers caught in the wind. My tandem pilot unpacked his gear, laying out the Ripstop nylon on the side of the mountain — the very fabric that would soon keep me suspended between earth and eternity.
He explained the mechanics of our gear: lightweight, durable, air-resistant — and, most importantly, reliable. He pointed out a few instructions to be mindful of while in flight and assured me of his record and skill level. We watched a few takeoffs. And solidified our position in line, patiently waiting for our turn.
A Cliffside Reality Check
“Did you see what just happened?” my tandem calmly expressed to me, attempting to mask his heightened sense of tone, referring to a colleague of his who we both just witnessed almost fall off the cliff with a young lady tethered to him.
“She was supposed just to lift her feet, and they both would glide from the mountain,” but instead, she tried to jump right before they took flight.”
It was frightening to watch both parties stumbling and struggling not to fall over the edge of the cliff. I shudder to think of the worst possible outcome.
Also, being next in line to go, I certainly would have changed my mind, but fortunately, they managed to come out of it unscathed, having a much better takeoff the second time.
Trusting the Tandem
My tandem then told me to please follow his every direction; my response was a simple one:
“I’ve never done this before, and your expertise keeps me alive, so you give the instruction, and I will follow it to the letter.”
-NOTE TO READERS: Your life is mainly in the hands of your fearless pilot when you partake in these bold excursions, and following rules keeps both parties on the ever-important schedule of making it to the next day. I urge you to pay attention and be safe.
Excuse me, readers; It’s my turn to fly.
Takeoff Above the Himalayas
My tandem led me in the ready position near the edge of the cliff. We briefly went over a few more directions, and like an albatross, our short run to the edge transformed into a textbook lift-off into the clouds.
The feeling of progressing upward was satisfying. At 2,000ft in the air, the view was spectacular; we drifted for almost 20 minutes before I found myself adjusting to such a high altitude, and it’s one of the most relaxing feelings I’ve felt during any of my air excursions.
A View Fit for Eagles
The beauty of the landscape below was captivating, and I felt as safe as possible, considering we were so high up. We sailed for quite a while, and for a moment, I knew what the Eagles felt like when they soared through the serene skies.
The Daredevil Request
As I continued the excursion, I grew more daring and asked if we would do stunts. My tandem replied,
“Are you sure you would like to do stunts?”
Needless to say, my answer was an emphatic, “yes.”
Without wasting a second, we started swaying in the air intensely from side to side, almost feeling that we would flip over in mid-air.
But I needed to see my limitations, so I asked for more, and then we started spinning in a complete circle. We went faster until my system roared, “abort, abort!”
I started getting nauseated; it was a bit more than my system could handle.
At approximately 2 minutes, into a hyper spin, I folded like rice paper, mentally tapping out with honors. Yes, I tried, but the daredevil in me had finished for the day.
The Descent and the Aftermath
I immediately saw the vast markings on the ground where we would be landing. My run was over, and we started descending to the landing area.
Needless to say, after that attempt at stunt flying, I carried nausea around with me like a sick kid lugging around a lunch bag for about forty-five minutes.
Our landing was spot on, and a brief romance ensued with the earth due to my desire to kiss the ground.
The warmer winds continued to provide uplift as we drifted above our counterparts, who at specific points were unable to fully gain the height.
Reflections in the Clouds
I took a few photos and rejoiced at my descent, trying not to lose my early morning breakfast.
When visiting Pokhara, Nepal, I highly recommend visiting Frontiers Paragliding for an unforgettable adventure in the clouds.
I certainly will be doing this again, folks, but without the morning breakfast.
đź”– explore, travel, vacation