By Emma Jagger
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to fly to be so high in the air that all you can see for miles is the extraordinary beauty of our tiny planet just passing you by underneath? Well, I have, and I did!
My great love of thrill-seeking lead me on a path that I could have never envisioned! The idea made my imagination run wild and my emotions were getting more excited by the minute. I had already started having that conversation with myself, like I always do when I have a bright but somewhat crazy idea, it usually lasts about 30 seconds and contains about four sentences that go something like, ‘can I do this? Can I really do this? Is it possible to make this dream a reality? Am I really going to make this happen?’ Yes, yes, I can and yes, I am!
Once I have got to that point in my mind, immediate excitement overcomes my body and feeling the thrill of not knowing how this new venture may turn out. Almost immediately, I go into planning mode; where? That’s always my first question before my research begins. Researching is one of my favourite things to do as it reminds me of the endless possibilities that planet Earth has to offer as well as ensuring that my bucket list will never end of course! After all, there’s so much more to life out there!
My memories took me back to previous adventures where I felt like I was overlooking the world like when I was standing on top of Ben Nevis amidst the clouds until the clouds parted and revealed the true beauty of the scenery in such vivid colour to everyone’s amazement. It’s astonishing how in one second you can’t see a thing and then you can see everything! I really want it to feel that feeling again. I recalled my first paragliding jump over the Turkish mountains.
I was scared and wasn’t sure what to expect but once I floated off the mountain, I was appreciating every second! I’ll express the word ‘floated’ more, as I had worked myself up to expect a certain drop or a sudden freefall especially from 700 metres in the air, but the experience turned out to be nothing like this. In fact, it was absolutely thrilling, and I enjoyed every second of the Turkish air and the breeze past my face and the utter joy of flying over the colourful sea was an incredible experience. I wanted more I had to go bigger, higher, take a chance on life and well, I did!
I hit the keyboard again I worked out where I could do one of the highest paragliding jumps in Europe a jump from a whopping 2200 metres in the air. Wow, I thought. ‘Am I really going to do this? The answer was yes of course, and the excitement start kicking in. I was also even more elated when I found out the location this would take me to, it was somewhere I’d never been before, the Canary Islands. Tenerife was going to be next location. This was going to be an adventure! I started planning my itinerary and booking my flights.
Once I had made it to Tenerife, on Christmas Eve it was, I immediately felt the heat, it felt great, a far cry from the cold weather back home. I had decided to volunteer on a Finca, or an animal sanctuary while I was over there. The sanctuary was in La Tajao, the quieter side of the island, and up into the mountains. This was where I really learned to respect the terrain of the mountains. I had to take caution with every step, I couldn’t be my usual fast-paced self in this environment. I slowed myself down and really started to take on board the stunning and vast environment around me. I made it to Arco de Tajao, a small but high bridged rock that when I stood on top of, it after a tricky and puzzling climb, I could see the beautiful sea for miles. It was beautiful to see then Sun beaming down over the water. I was overwhelmed with gratefulness that I had managed to make it to such a beautiful place, and I took this time to reflect upon myself.
I began gaining more excitement by the minute as my thoughts were getting the better of me. I was also getting more nervous at the same time. I was thinking about my upcoming mountain jump. I was going to jump off Mount Teide! This is the name of the dormant volcano that is situated at the centre of the volcanic island!
I was somehow trying to prepare my mind for the unknown, at that time, I wasn’t sure what to expect, how I would feel or how I would cope. I just knew it was going to be high and that I was going to throw myself off it! Exciting!
The day came; it was the day after Boxing Day. That morning, I awoke to the beautiful warmth of the Sun and started travelling and making my way to Puerto de l Cruz, once there I met with a few other thrill seekers and of course the pilots and experts that were going to keep us safe and secure as we took on our adventures through the air. They were easy going and immediately made you feel a sense of calm around them. The locals are so nice and hospitable, they have a great sense of fun about them!
Once we were allocated our harnessing equipment with regards to our height and size, we were then bundled in a small van to embark on adventurous trip up the mountainside. The drive up the dormant volcano was very thrilling. You have to use your imagination. You must look at the shape of the rocks that once poured out streams of lava. Notice the small road you’re embarking up winding around the steep cliff edges, you notice the change of smell and start to feel the air-pressure change.
It does make you feel very nervous, my initial advice to anyone with a fear of heights is quite the obvious and not to look down! It really is quite humbling and makes you realise just how small you are and how fragile life can be. Nature is the boss right now!
Upon reaching the 2200 metre elevation my thoughts of ‘what am I doing?’ started. The sound of the wind in between us made us have talk louder to each other to be able to communicate. My trusty pilot and myself equipped ourselves, put on our harnesses and connected ourselves as we prepared for flight, a few last-minute words of courage and then…
“Run, run, run!”, the pilot yelled and so we did and drifted off into clear air, right off the mountainside! Incredibly my fears subsided, once we started floating, I realised how small I really am. I couldn’t believe eyeballs when I looked down and saw the vast number of trees! I had never seen so many trees in one view ever in my lifetime, thousands upon thousands! I would call it legendary! A sight worth seeing!
As our flight continued, something very surreal happened. I was experiencing a strange sensation as I was floating in and out of the clouds, and then I saw it! A huge white cloud up ahead, bigger than all the rest, and I was going to go right into it. When I did, the weird action of having my eyes open but not being able to see anything around me but whiteness was different, shall we say.
‘What was this place? Am I scared? Am I in Heaven?’, were just some of my thoughts as my nervousness started to reappear. I had mixed emotions for a moment or two, and then, I was overcome with a strange, maximised sense of joy! We had passed through the cloud, and I could see greenery again, the lovely trees!
My fears washed away as I began to emerge from cloud, seeing the sun lit over the horizon and the vast landscape made the experience unlike anything I’d experienced before. I felt complete surrealism as I was soaring through the air and looking at the Earth below. We flew until we were above the sea, the beautiful Mediterranean Sea that shone a lovely turquoise colour. It was beautiful! I contemplated my life, my happiness, my love, the world and all the nature within it!
My flight, although very thrilling, was one of peace and happiness, and a sign of strength and courage. Just being that one small speck above the world really does enlighten you and makes you appreciate life as a whole and all that’s in it.
Take the leap and faith! You will see and feel things you have never before!
This article is part of the practical work carried out by students on the Master’s Degree in Travel Journalism at the School of Travel Journalism.