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Shelar and Sunsets

Shelar and Sunsets

After the hustle and bustle of the holiday week, I arrived at Native Place on a quiet Sunday afternoon. I walked in to the house to find a grinning Kalyan and Dinesh, who had managed to fly home from Tower Hill. Stories were exchanged over a cup of tea and more plans were made for butter chicken! The best part about this cup of tea, was finding a quiet spot to myself.

Tea on the terrace
Tea on the terrace

The complete opposite of the Christmas week, we were only 5 of us in the house. And my favourite part about that being, no fights for the hammock!!

Peace & Quiet in the Hammock
Peace & Quiet in the Hammock

This was one of those weeks where there was some random West wind at the sites, which meant we flew at Shelar. It was great being back there, with the familiar ridges and fields and the view of the lake as you fly. The windmills look as spectacular from the air as from the ground, as does the sunset when you fly the west wind.

Paragliding at Shelar Hill, Kamshet
Paragliding at Shelar Hill, Kamshet

As luck would have it, the next day, we flew Tower west face. This was a first for me. And I stood nervously at take off, eyeing the expressway below. But once the usual pre-flight jitters were shaken off, it was an amazing flight. As you take off, you have the ridge to your left and more hills in the front. With the expressway below you, it is quite a surreal experience and you wonder what the cars driving below can see. And the best part about this flight, was that we were treated to yet another spectacular sunset.

Sunset at the Tower Hill Paragliding site
Sunset at the Tower Hill Paragliding site

With only a few Club Pilot students in the house and a few pilots around, mid-week flying is definitely something I’ll recommend and it goes on the top of the list of best times to visit Fly Nirvana. And honestly if I had to choose between the madness of the holiday season vs the quiet mid-week solitude, I would pick both. Why choose when you can have the best of both? 🙂

Sunset from the Native Place terrace
Sunset from the Native Place terrace

Peace Bliss & Happy Landings

Apoorva Talwalkar

Author: Astrid Rao

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