Showing posts with label india. Show all posts
Showing posts with label india. Show all posts

10.3.10

bir ohne e

Die Dinge, die einen hier vom schreiben ablenken, sind viele. Allein schon die Bergkulisse würde reichen, einen forschenden Geist aus seiner Höhle zu locken. Aber auch die lustigen Mönche mit ihren Ipods und Oakleys, die verschiedenen interessanten und abenteurlichen Speisen, die wilden Busfahrten auf holprigen Straßen, die buckelnden, bunten Waschweiber, die skurilen Fortbewegungsmittel, die antiken Weltanschauungen, der spürbare koloniale Touch in Sprache und Benehmen, die wundersamen Berufe und vieles mehr halten den Betrachter hier in ihrem Bann. Es ist schwer alles auf einmal zu verarbeiten. Geschweige denn in Worte zu fassen.

Die letzte Zeit in Bir war und ist sehr schön. Wir fliegen, frönen der Sonne und basteln eine slackline, die bereits bei der zweiten session reisst. Die Gewitter verschonen uns und mehr und mehr Touristen trudeln in diesem nicht mehr ganz so verschlafenen Dörfchen ein. Wir lernen andauernd neue Leute kennen, teilweise etwa Bivakpiloten, die auf eine 1500km Tour quer durch das Himalaya starten. Wir essen und essen und bekommen Drillinge, wenn man das Wachstum unserer Bäuche eingehend studiert.

Vor ein paar Tagen sind Stefanie und ich zu einem 60km Rundflug gestartet. Eine wunderbare Hetzjagt zwischen Wolkenfetzen, traumhafte Ausblicke in das Hochgebirge, wunderbar thermische Verhältnisse (trotz der niedrigen Basis) und ein sehr spannendes und noch knapperes Finish mit Ausgleiten Kappe an Kappe im Abendlicht bei Donnergrollen. Was kann man mehr wollen? (Ausser Schokolade).

Indien hat eine Zeit gebraucht um uns zu mögen. Aber dieses Fleckchen haben wir schwer ins Herz geschlossen. Es ist ganz schön hart das hier hinter sich zu lassen. Aber wer weiß was uns in Südafrika erwartet?!

The things that distract from writing are many. Just the mountains would be enough to attract an inquiring mind from his cave. But the merry monks with their Ipods and Oakleys, the interesting and adventurous food, the wild bus rides on bumpy roads, the hard working, colorful laundry women, the strange-looking means of transportation, the ancient beliefs, the significant colonial touch in speech and behavior, and the wondrous occupations and much more keep the viewer spellbound. It is hard to handle everything at once. Let alone take it into words.

The last time in Bir was and is very beautiful. We fly, indulge the sun and build a slackline, which breaks already at the second session. The storms spare us and more and more tourists dripple in this not-so-sleepy-anymore village. We constantly meet new people, partly also Bivak pilots who start on a 1500km trip across the Himalayas. We eat and eat and, closely studying the growth of our bellies, will get triplets.

A few days ago Stefanie and I are starting a 60km round trip. A wonderful chase between ragged clouds, gorgeous views of the mountains, wonderful thermal conditions (despite the low base) and a very exciting and even scarcer finish with an end glide cap to cap in the the evening light with thunder. What more can you want? (Except chocolate).

India has taken a while for liking us. However, this spot is magical. It's really hard to leave. But who knows what awaits us in South Africa?


over tibetan colonies



we don't grow up - our toys simply get more expensive

take off in bir billing

the take off activities

landing activities (haha i am not so lazy)

2.3.10

Happy Holy

It clearly needs some courage to rent an indian motorbike and hit the streets here. The other option, to be rattled to near unconciousness in the bus for far more time, is even less attractive. So we descide to visit Manali, a small town at 2000m in the midst of 6000m mountains.

The drive itself turns out to be good, a little cold though. Manali itself is a nice place, unluckily we come too soon, season is just starting. But we chill out for 3 days and visit the hot springs (they are really really hot!), explore old manali with its stone and wooden houses and have some really nice food. (Finally MEAT!)

On the way home we stop in Mandi and are immediately attacked by crazy screaming indians. But instead of eating us alive they colour us and wish us happy holi! What the hell is happy holi we thought so we googled and found out thats an holiday to celebrate the end of winter season.

Back in Bir we are happy to fly again. We enjoy a wonderful sunset while soaring over the takeoff. Today the forecast was very promising, so we tried for some XC. Unfortunately the clouds soon grew together and formed a dark mass. Climbing to 3600m in the morning seems nice, but beeing sucked into a already brabbeling dark cloud seems idiotic. The original plan, to fly to Dharamsala soon evaporated. But luckily my superfast glider brought me out of this misery. Hope the conditions grow better. Up to now there weren't too many good days.

But see for yourselfes.

monkey / Manali / the hot water springs

Royal Enfield dreams / our dog-friend / old Manali

hot springs again / Stefanie with ice cream (very happy) / old Manali from Vashisht view

Haha - paragliding Tandem offers / washing women / pilgrims in orange

Happy holy and happy Stefanie

united colours of Stefranzie

Happy indians and pilots / Stefanie just after take off at sunset

Armageddon? / sunset soarer

soaring in the calm evening air - there's nothing better


high Himalayas / clouds slowly combining / me getting exhausted with the conditions

The cloud before entry ... / ... and after exit / after landing

Here you can find the track on Xcontest