It was a beautiful sunny Saturday in Dallas, perfect to try out something new and adventurous. My friends and I decided to take this opportunity and go to one of the most recommended adventure park in Dallas, the “Zero Gravity Adventure Park”.
We called a yellow-cab and drove through North-Central Expressway to reach the park at 11131 Malibu Dr, Dallas, Texas 75229. It didn’t looked very happening from the front door. We went inside to see what all things were there. There were five adventure rides in all. We scanned through and went back to the ticket counter.
There was a beautiful American girl at the counter. We asked her for tickets. She quickly briefed us that being it an adventure event we needed to undertake full responsibility of any mishaps. I was quite worried and concerned while signing her undertaking form. She tied a wrist band to each one of us and wished us to have fun. Finally, we went inside the park thinking which one to experience first.
We thought lets take experience of the "Texas Blast-Off" ride first. I saw the instruction board. It read “Texas Blast Off. Launch to 150+ Feet. 0-60 MPH in 1.2 seconds. Do not ride if you have high blood pressure, heart trouble or nervous disorder.” which made me even more nervous. I started calculating 150 feet means around 45-50 meters, 60 MPH equals to nearly 100 Km/hr in 1.2 seconds!!!
A bucket seat was suspended between two giant vertical poles with tension springs. With hesitant heart I sat in bucket seat. One of the members from support staff tied all safety belts tightly around me. He attached a hook at the bottom of the seat and started giving tension to springs. I was shivering with fear and excitement. My heart was pounding at the rate of 80, 90, 100, 110 pulses per min.
And the hook was realized. I was launched into the air as if bomb being fired from the cannon. I couldn’t gasp my breath. I closed my eyes and hold handle bars tightly. I was reached at the highest peak point and was stopped for a microsecond. The return trip towards ground was a free fall. I couldn’t able to take that anymore and started screaming as loud as I could. I thought I would hit hard on the ground to death. But instead again I was launched up into the air, wobbling, rotating. There were a few up and down movements in air but a lot in my heart. Finally the ride came to rest and I came back to life. I was still alive.
to be continued…
Just after having that extreme shock, we moved to get another; it was a “Bungee Jump”. I handed over my ticket to the staff member. He asked me to stand on the weighing machine so that he could check my weight and assign appropriate tension belt. He wrote “B1” as a code on my wrist-band. Then he firmly fixed a blue nylon belt around my west and blue straps around my legs below the knees and just above the ankles. I was ready for my next excitement.
I was climbing through the staircase to reach the top of the building. With each step taken my fear was increasing. I reached at the jumping point on the top. There was a person who checked my weight and chose a tension spring-rope and tied it to my leg straps. He instructed me to stand on the red line at the jumping point.
I looked down at the ground. I was standing at the height of 7-storey building. I hold the side bars in fear and took long breath. My feet were shaking and mind was refraining to make suicidal attempt. I moved back. My friends were there waiting for their turn. They gave me moral support and I was again ready to dive in.
I stood on the red line for the second time, looked down again. The person who tied tension spring-rope to me started counting, one, two and three ………….
I was not able to jump. He said I need to get reed-off this fear and have to jump. He instructed me, this would be the final time he would be counting for me and I had to jump, else he would send me downstairs.
Again I stood on the red line. Now this was my final call to heavenly skies. Count started. One….. Two…… aannnddd Threeeeeee.
I spread my hands as wings of a bird and jumped. Yes, I jumped.
In few seconds upside-down hanging in the air, I was overcoming my fear. I put my hands on my chest. “Nice job bungee jumper. Reach out for black strap between your legs and pull your head towards your knees”; called the staff member. I did the same and reached to the balloon on the ground. It was a very good bungee jump.
to be continued...
Bungee jump was a real thriller; you need to make your mind and take a call whether you want to jump or not, standing on a point at such a great height.
We moved forward to see next ride. But to our bad luck “Free Fall” ride was closed for the day. We came to know that one need to go up at the top of a 16-storey building by a lift. They hang you to a hook and let you suspend in the air for a while. Then release the hook and you experience a Free Fall without any support whatsoever. You fall in the net just above the ground. That’s right, no bungee, no parachute, just you and the air!
We took incredible feeling of Free Fall in our thoughts only.
to be continued...
Next was the “Skycoaster”. My friend and I took this ride together. We were tied to one end of a 110 feet long steel cable. They attached a hook to us and took us to one of the crest point.
My friend asked me to take the lead as he was a bit afraid of that height, unknown of the same feeling in which I was in. I too was scared of that height and also closed my eyes. We heard some words from ground like ‘pull the plug’, but I was not listening to them. I was just horrified with the thought of releasing plug. My friends on the ground yelled at me. I had to pull the plug; I made my mind and finally pulled it.
Another free fall reaching at the ground just above few feet with velocity of 60 MPH and again to crest of other end!!! We were moving like a pendulum of a huge clock. I stretch my arms in that open air and felt like a flying bird. I enjoyed the moment.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Monday, December 28, 2009
A tale to tell
Hello guys, here I'm sharing my experience of being airborne first time and a much awaited professional event called "Onsite Visit". I'll be narrating as and when I find some time to write. I hope you'll enjoy it.
You are welcome to scribble your comments on this post.
My first air travel experience…
After lot of discussions and recommondations from client for sending Amit Sali (that’s me) for the site visit for production of new software version in the month of Oct-Nov 2009, the month of Diwali itself. Being recommended by client, I was so exited for my first site visit. I was travelling to Dallas City in Texas state of United States Of America, aka USA.
Everyone in my family, friends, me, even my doodh wala was exited. I received my passport with USA VISA stamped on 15th Oct, 12:03 noon hours by courier, and then I started for ticket, hotel booking and cab registration. I completed almost all the things by 4 PM and left from Pune office towards Mumbai Airport at 5:30 PM. I received lot of phone calls and SMS during travel to Mumbai. I could not talk to my
parents much due to heavy call traffic on my phone and my cell phone battery was almost died.
I got to airport, the "Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai" at around 10:00 PM. I went through all airport security stuffs and immigration check and reached to breakout area, waiting for going aboard as the Delta Flight DL-185 to Atlanta from Mumbai was scheduled on 16th Oct 00:30 hours.
I still had 1 hour to go. Thoughts and excitements were flowing at a lightning speed within me, like how could be the flight, what facilities would be there, what if the plane crashed, have I missed any thing to take, how pretty would be the Air Hostesses, etc. I was fantasized with all those dreamy waves.
Suddenly the call for Delta flight DL-185 passengers got announced to reach the terminal. I woke-up from the dreams and head towards the gate through the breezway. A girl of age may be 24/25 of average height; curly brown hair in pink-white suite with cheerful smile on her equally pink chicks came at the gate of the flight and welcomed me aboard. Wow! She was so beautiful.
to be continued....
and the story continues....
I looked at her, she was looking pretty. I smiled and said “Thank you”. She smiled too, and then escorted me to my seat with proper directions. She asked me to call if I need anything. I nodded and thanked her again. I moved slowly towards my seat through aisle. Every passenger was busy in keeping their belongings inside the overhead compartments, reading magazines provided, listening to music on their iPods, making comfortable in the seats. I reached to my seat, it was a window seat as I requested for it at the time of issuing boarding pass. I put my bag and made myself comfortable in the seat.
I started going through magazines, watching advertisements, looking at those pretty ladies on each page and also in some of the seats of the plane, and thinking who will be the one beside me throughout the journey. My curiosity and patience came to an end when an elderly fat bull of age around 50-55 came and sat on the seat next to me. My heart was broken.
to be continued...
To counsel myself I started looking for that girl with pink suite and pink smile. My eyes were scanning every corner of the plane, but failed to get a glimpse of her beautiful face. I couldn’t find her on the flight. It was another discouragement for me.
With disappointed heart I started looking outside through the window. I could see delta flight support staff, loading our luggage and baggage on the plane. Few were inspecting the flight for the final time before take-off. There were lots of planes parked in line, waiting for their turn to fly high.
Meanwhile there was an announcement from our captain whose name I do not remember as now saying “Welcome all to delta flight DL-185. We are about to present you a video on your screen. Please keep attention to all the instructions shows in the video. Our crew members will also guide you if you find any difficulty in understanding the instructions.” There was a precompiled video showing where are the exit doors on the plane, what to do in case of emergency, how to fasten and release seat belts, etc. I was very attentive to those lessons as if I’m listening to a commander in chief addressing a very strategic speech to his soldier who is going on a war. I carefully fasten my seatbelt as instructed.
And, there was a jerk, a backward jerk. Two flight support members with green and red lamps were guiding the captain to take the plane on the runway. At last the plane was moving. The plane was moving slowly and carefully on pathway towards runway. I could see few flights taking off and flying in the dark sky. With last turn we were on the runway, a huge one may be for our huge plane. The plane stopped for a while, and was ready to take off.
to be continued…
Captain started giving thrust to heavy engines of the plane. Engines started leading to their highest potential, gaining sound like a whistle of an old chemical factory. That monster sound was unbearable for me. My ear’s diaphragms were resonating, I thought it would burst. I closed my ears tightly with two fingers.
With that sound, plane started accelerating on the airstrip. With every second the velocity was increasing exponentially. I was pushed back inside the seat. I hold the handle-bars tightly with fear and excitement. I was breathing my breath. 0 to 100 in just 5 sec. I could see direction boards and landing signals passing by rapidly. Finally, captain raised the nose of the plane towards dark sky. The plane was about to take-off and I was about to leave the ground. At last the plane lifted itself from the runway and I was airborne.
I was airborne for the first time in my life. I was flying in the air. It was an exciting moment. I could see the beautiful city Mumbai, illuminating in Diwali lamps and fireworks. Everyone was celebrating. Everyone was wishing good bye to me, thought rushed through my mind. I said good-bye to all of them. I was flying higher and higher, passing through dark clouds and reaching an altitude of 35 thousand feet from the ground. I was on cloud-nine.
to be continued…..
and the story goes as follows...
Within few minutes we were at height of nearly 11 kilometers from the ground, I spotted it on the LCD screen. I peeped through the glass of the window, to check how our earth looks like from that altitude. I could see nothing but endless dark sky with twinkling stars and signaling light of few airplanes. “Is it a dream? Am I in a fairy tale?” I thought. Yes, I was dreaming. It was a wonderful moment that I was enjoying for the first time in my life.
Soon one of the crew member announced, it was safe to release our seatbelts and I came back in real life. People were already moving in the plane as if they were walking in the garden. I too joint them. I walked through all corners of the plane watching every little thing on it, being it doors locking system, pathway, chairs, lavatory and very importantly those pretty air-hostesses on board.
to be continued…..
I came back at my seat and relaxed myself. That bull was not at his seat. I thanked god for the moment. I was missing my loving mom, dad, and my cute little sister who packed my bags. My sister was so excited. She had made a check list of all required items and checked so many times so that I did not miss anything important. Mom was very worried about my travel. I could make out that from her tone while talking to her on the phone. She was giving so many instructions and orders to take care of my belongings and myself, to call her when I reach at US airport. She was very concerned about my eating habits, this and that. She was telling every possible thing she could. While dad was confident enough and just wished me luck and boosted my morale.
I couldn’t meet them at the Mumbai airport. They couldn’t reach on time due to heavy Mumbai traffic and slow car driver. I had to pass immigration check and I was a bit late too. Yes, now I was missing them all.
to be continued…..
You are welcome to scribble your comments on this post.
My first air travel experience…
After lot of discussions and recommondations from client for sending Amit Sali (that’s me) for the site visit for production of new software version in the month of Oct-Nov 2009, the month of Diwali itself. Being recommended by client, I was so exited for my first site visit. I was travelling to Dallas City in Texas state of United States Of America, aka USA.
Everyone in my family, friends, me, even my doodh wala was exited. I received my passport with USA VISA stamped on 15th Oct, 12:03 noon hours by courier, and then I started for ticket, hotel booking and cab registration. I completed almost all the things by 4 PM and left from Pune office towards Mumbai Airport at 5:30 PM. I received lot of phone calls and SMS during travel to Mumbai. I could not talk to my
parents much due to heavy call traffic on my phone and my cell phone battery was almost died.
I got to airport, the "Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai" at around 10:00 PM. I went through all airport security stuffs and immigration check and reached to breakout area, waiting for going aboard as the Delta Flight DL-185 to Atlanta from Mumbai was scheduled on 16th Oct 00:30 hours.
I still had 1 hour to go. Thoughts and excitements were flowing at a lightning speed within me, like how could be the flight, what facilities would be there, what if the plane crashed, have I missed any thing to take, how pretty would be the Air Hostesses, etc. I was fantasized with all those dreamy waves.
Suddenly the call for Delta flight DL-185 passengers got announced to reach the terminal. I woke-up from the dreams and head towards the gate through the breezway. A girl of age may be 24/25 of average height; curly brown hair in pink-white suite with cheerful smile on her equally pink chicks came at the gate of the flight and welcomed me aboard. Wow! She was so beautiful.
to be continued....
and the story continues....
I looked at her, she was looking pretty. I smiled and said “Thank you”. She smiled too, and then escorted me to my seat with proper directions. She asked me to call if I need anything. I nodded and thanked her again. I moved slowly towards my seat through aisle. Every passenger was busy in keeping their belongings inside the overhead compartments, reading magazines provided, listening to music on their iPods, making comfortable in the seats. I reached to my seat, it was a window seat as I requested for it at the time of issuing boarding pass. I put my bag and made myself comfortable in the seat.
I started going through magazines, watching advertisements, looking at those pretty ladies on each page and also in some of the seats of the plane, and thinking who will be the one beside me throughout the journey. My curiosity and patience came to an end when an elderly fat bull of age around 50-55 came and sat on the seat next to me. My heart was broken.
to be continued...
To counsel myself I started looking for that girl with pink suite and pink smile. My eyes were scanning every corner of the plane, but failed to get a glimpse of her beautiful face. I couldn’t find her on the flight. It was another discouragement for me.
With disappointed heart I started looking outside through the window. I could see delta flight support staff, loading our luggage and baggage on the plane. Few were inspecting the flight for the final time before take-off. There were lots of planes parked in line, waiting for their turn to fly high.
Meanwhile there was an announcement from our captain whose name I do not remember as now saying “Welcome all to delta flight DL-185. We are about to present you a video on your screen. Please keep attention to all the instructions shows in the video. Our crew members will also guide you if you find any difficulty in understanding the instructions.” There was a precompiled video showing where are the exit doors on the plane, what to do in case of emergency, how to fasten and release seat belts, etc. I was very attentive to those lessons as if I’m listening to a commander in chief addressing a very strategic speech to his soldier who is going on a war. I carefully fasten my seatbelt as instructed.
And, there was a jerk, a backward jerk. Two flight support members with green and red lamps were guiding the captain to take the plane on the runway. At last the plane was moving. The plane was moving slowly and carefully on pathway towards runway. I could see few flights taking off and flying in the dark sky. With last turn we were on the runway, a huge one may be for our huge plane. The plane stopped for a while, and was ready to take off.
to be continued…
Captain started giving thrust to heavy engines of the plane. Engines started leading to their highest potential, gaining sound like a whistle of an old chemical factory. That monster sound was unbearable for me. My ear’s diaphragms were resonating, I thought it would burst. I closed my ears tightly with two fingers.
With that sound, plane started accelerating on the airstrip. With every second the velocity was increasing exponentially. I was pushed back inside the seat. I hold the handle-bars tightly with fear and excitement. I was breathing my breath. 0 to 100 in just 5 sec. I could see direction boards and landing signals passing by rapidly. Finally, captain raised the nose of the plane towards dark sky. The plane was about to take-off and I was about to leave the ground. At last the plane lifted itself from the runway and I was airborne.
I was airborne for the first time in my life. I was flying in the air. It was an exciting moment. I could see the beautiful city Mumbai, illuminating in Diwali lamps and fireworks. Everyone was celebrating. Everyone was wishing good bye to me, thought rushed through my mind. I said good-bye to all of them. I was flying higher and higher, passing through dark clouds and reaching an altitude of 35 thousand feet from the ground. I was on cloud-nine.
to be continued…..
and the story goes as follows...
Within few minutes we were at height of nearly 11 kilometers from the ground, I spotted it on the LCD screen. I peeped through the glass of the window, to check how our earth looks like from that altitude. I could see nothing but endless dark sky with twinkling stars and signaling light of few airplanes. “Is it a dream? Am I in a fairy tale?” I thought. Yes, I was dreaming. It was a wonderful moment that I was enjoying for the first time in my life.
Soon one of the crew member announced, it was safe to release our seatbelts and I came back in real life. People were already moving in the plane as if they were walking in the garden. I too joint them. I walked through all corners of the plane watching every little thing on it, being it doors locking system, pathway, chairs, lavatory and very importantly those pretty air-hostesses on board.
to be continued…..
I came back at my seat and relaxed myself. That bull was not at his seat. I thanked god for the moment. I was missing my loving mom, dad, and my cute little sister who packed my bags. My sister was so excited. She had made a check list of all required items and checked so many times so that I did not miss anything important. Mom was very worried about my travel. I could make out that from her tone while talking to her on the phone. She was giving so many instructions and orders to take care of my belongings and myself, to call her when I reach at US airport. She was very concerned about my eating habits, this and that. She was telling every possible thing she could. While dad was confident enough and just wished me luck and boosted my morale.
I couldn’t meet them at the Mumbai airport. They couldn’t reach on time due to heavy Mumbai traffic and slow car driver. I had to pass immigration check and I was a bit late too. Yes, now I was missing them all.
to be continued…..
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)