Seated in Kanyakumari Express, having our morning chai, passing by fields of sunflowers, bouldered mountains, we're all enjoying a romance only a train journey can bring! Jokes and talks of flying - yes, the real anticipation of flying at Yelagiri has begun!!
Agnes, Gopal and Arunevi had made fantastic arrangements for our pick-up and stay. After a rested night, we woke up to yummy hot south indian breakfast and set out to the flying site at 9.30a.m.
The winds were not too strong and clearly thermic conditions. Anita inaugurated the flying festival with her first flight of the day. The rest of the Temple Pilots team followed with great flights too. Parshu in his blue zulu flew high above all the pilots. Vikash had a bumpy flight and we also had happy pilots who inaugurated their new gliders - Bolero 3, Karthik & Naren. Samson enjoyed a short and sweet flight and Jamsheed too enjoyed a good flying after a long year.
Avi test flew Naren's gllider and enjoyed a real long flight of 2 hours plus. Karthik enjoyed a tandem with Ganpat as he was flying after a long time and needed to refresh his skills.
We all connected at the landing area along with other pilots. A must mention that the pick-ups and drops were cleverly timed. There is nothing like making new friends sharing the sky with you.
We were all invited to a formal event where the collector and other officials officially began the festival. Which the pilots made it informal by clapping out loud and having fun just being themselves.
The cloud build up and the slight drizzle made it evident that there would be no more flying for the day. We headed back to the resort to get ready for the evening event and dinner. The festivities had clearly begun and we had so much to look forward to in just a few days!
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I cameacross this term recently, and it gave me quite a jolt, because I have beenthinking of the exact same thing for many years now…what with the many manyworried parents, concerned spouses, over protective friends and families andmany many clueless adults…
When was itexactly that being in the outdoors became so strange for us?
When was itexactly that sunshine began to be equated only with getting sunburnt?
When was itexactly that all of us humans collectively began to think we are in control?
My most specialmemories of childhood are walking through jungles and climbing mountains,
Of carefullysidestepping wildflowers on a hillside and splashing in mountain springs.
Of sittingcompletely still in the forest for hours just to watch the final touches beinggiven to a nest, of having a parched throat and aching limbs and yet beingcompletely content with mud on my face. Of being able to hug a tree and feel ithug back…
I havealways been able to feel a forest, sense the rhythm of the sea, to tune in tothat part of me that is one with it all…so blessed is our human race that wecan choose to experience this majestic and gentle beauty of nature around us.
All my life,I could draw strength and inspiration from nature, I can surely say that mostof my education came from there…for this I will be eternally grateful to mydad.
When I seelost souls immersed in electronic gizmos on the top of mountains, or throwplastic bottles into a valley, or noisily listen to inane music by a tree, orare so consumed by their own thoughtsthat they fail to see the purple sunset, I wonder how mother nature can standus.
By being sototally disconnected and far far away from anything rugged, pure and natural,aren’t we robbing ourselves away from what is essentially us?
We need toget out, get hurt, get sunburnt, get wet, get muddy, get terrible tired, getclimbing, swimming, flying, whatever it is…but get out there…where we are awayfrom the city and all the mechanics that go with it…dare ourselves to be withourselves…and the elements…and watch silently as the magic of it hits us…mothernature might be so loving and so ruthless…but ultimately she is a teacher…andhas patience with it.
i can neverforget what my dad used to tell me, before climbing take permission from themountain…not that the mountain with a gruff voice was going to yell a big ‘NO’to me…
but to feel thehumility in front of it…to never forget to be thankful for this enormoustreasure that is all around us, and that we never really see
everythingthat is solid and good in us is because we are a part of Nature…and the lessonswe can learn from her I guarantee can help us get a deeper understanding intoour lives and what we are about…
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