Anki On The Move: May 2013

Turkey:evisa for Indians,Turkish Airlines Routes

5:03 PM

E-Visa Initiative Launched By the Turkish Government : Visa in just a few minutes

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” Image Source: http://b4-online.com
Starting from 17 April 2013, the Turkish Government has launched an online visa system (e-Visa) which replaces “sticker” and “stamp-type” visas formerly issued at the border gates and enables tourists from 94 countries to obtain a visa in just a few minutes.

It's as simple as that...! Click:evisa Turkey

Thanks to this new initiative, those who would like to travel to Turkey for tourism or business/commerce purposes will not have to go to Turkish Embassies or Consulates or wait in queues at the airport to obtain a visa.Applicants just need to log on to www.evisa.gov.tr, provide the requested information, (if the application is approved) make online payment and download their e-Visa.

After a successful application, the e-Visa would be e-mailed to the applicant. Applicants must print out their e-Visa, show it to airport officials and customs officers and carry it with them at all times during their travel.It hardly takes 5-10 minutes to fill up the online form.I had my Schengen visa so I could fill up the eVisa.My friend took the help of a Travel Agency who could submit her application at Turkish Embassy,Mumbai.It takes 3-4 working days however keep a sufficient time gap between your travel and visa.

Indian citizens can benefit from this new initiative provided that:

a) Their passport has a minimum of 6-months-validity,
b) They hold necessary documents related to their travel purposes. (such as a return ticket, hotel reservation, adequate financial means (minimum U.S. $ 50 for each day)),
c) They hold a valid Schengen visa or a valid visa from any of the OECD member countries(US,USA,Australia etc) or a valid residence permit in these countries.
d) They are traveling for the purposes of tourism or business/ commercial negotiations.

Please note that e-Visa is only valid when the purpose of travel is tourism or commerce. Other purposes, such as work and study, require regular visa given by the Turkish Embassies or Consulates.

Please also note that issuance of e-Visa or regular visa does not accord the passenger the right to enter Turkey and the Turkish border/port authorities may deny entry.

Turkish Airlines adds 5 new destinations in May 2013

Image Source : http://www.geotourismturkey.com

Already having the world's 4th largest flight network and flying to 223 destinations in 99 countries, Turkish Airlines continues to grow by adding 5 new destinations in May

To know more about Turkish Airlines history(well not all history is boring!How about an airline which started way back in 1933,with 24 personal,2 five seated king birds,2 four seated junkers and 10 seated ATH.And now they are the best airline is Europe.)

The animated commercials are witty and brilliantly made.Watch them Turkish Airlines Creative Commercials

New Delhi, May, 2013: Turkish Airlines, ranked the best airline in Europe* with the most comprehensive network, adds operations to Isparta (Turkey), Santiago De Compostela (Spain), Valetta (Malta) and Salzburg (Austria) following the May 2nd addition of Friedrichshafen to its growing network.

Salzburg,Austria

Beginning May 20th, roundtrip flights between Istanbul and Isparta (Turkey) will be operated 3 times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Introductory round trip fares are available from Istanbul to Isparta (Turkey) starting at 158 TL (including taxes and fees).

Isparta flight times as planned by May 20th;

Flight No. Days Departure Arrival
TK2860 Monday, Friday IST 13:25    ISE 14:35
TK2860 Wednesday IST 10:55 ISE 12:05
TK2861 Monday, Friday ISE 15:20 IST 16:25
TK2861 Wednesday ISE 12:50 IST 13:55

*All times are in LMT.

Another destination in Spain...
With existing services to Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga and Bilbao, Turkish Airlines adds flights to Santiago De Compostela as its 6th destination in Spain. BeginningMay 21st, Santiago De Compostela flights will be operated 3 times per week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays in both directions. Introductory round trip fares are available from Istanbul to Santiago De Compostela starting at 99 Euros (including taxes and fees).

Santiago De Compostela flight times as planned by May 21th;

Flight No. Days Departure Arrival
TK1319 Tuesday, Friday, Sunday    IST 09:00    SCQ 12:45
TK1320 Tuesday, Friday, Sunday SCQ 13:50 IST 19:15
*All times are in LMT.

Malta, 226th destination in 100 country...
Turkish Airlines’ 226th destination in 100 country, Malta flights begins in 25th May 2013. Roundtrip flights between Istanbul and Malta will be operated 3 times per week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Introductory round trip fares are available from Istanbul to Malta starting from 99 Euros (including taxes and fees).

Malta flight times as planned by May 25th;

Flight No. Days Departure Arrival
TK1369 Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday IST 12:35    MLA 14:20
TK1370 Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday MLA 15:15 IST 18:35
*All times are in LMT.

Expansion in Austria as well...
With existing services to Vienna, Turkish Airlines now adds flights to Salzburg as its 2nd destination in Austria. Beginning May 28th, roundtrip flights between Istanbul and Salzburg will be operated 4 times per week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Introductory round trip fares are available from Istanbul to Salzburg starting at 99 Euros (including taxes and fees).

Salzburg flight times as planned by May 28th;

Flight No.    Days Departure Arrival
TK1381 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday IST 12:15 SZG 13:45
TK1382 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday SZG 14:45    IST 18:05
*All times are in LMT.

International

Scotland: Backpacking Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberteen tips

7:09 AM

Backpacking Edinburgh is not a big deal. Take a hop on hop off bus and explore it like I did.

Even shopping in Edinburgh is a delight with store such as Primark from where I got shorts and tops for £5 and earrings for less than £1

Dear lovely friends,

This is my last post on Scotland.To view all the previous posts click on All posts Scotland.The following sections have been covered

A warm "Hi" from Scotland - Live Blogging
UK,Scotland:Visas & Flights (includes video)
Top 7 offbeat things to do in Scotland
A traveler and not a tourist: Scotland(includes video)
Food and Scotexpo 2013

Hopefully you enjoyed my journey.Lets take you top three destinations in Scotland: Edinburgh,Glasgow and Aberdeen and explore it on a budget.

I have heard many people say "Doing Europe or UK on a budget is a challenge",well it is but not impossible. If you love what I write do not forget to comment back or share your Scotland experience.You can also write to me at ankionthemove@gmail.com with your profile pic and your Scotland experience and Subject line : My Scottish experience.The top 5

would be featured in next blogpost.So keep writing folks

...Tada:)

Anki S.

Edinburgh,Backpacking Scotland- Stay

When in Edinburgh,visiting Edinburgh castle is a must

Scotland's capital Edinburgh is very easy to explore.Before I make up stories on how to,let's just get to the point and discuss all that it needs.

Best backpackers Stay:

Budget Backpackers, Start £8 , best I know in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Youth Hostels

St Christopher's Edinburgh

Will hostels suit you?

Most of the Indians are a little skeptical of exploring Hostels whereas it is very popular abroad.If you are not from India,you might be knowing it very well.The notion here is that the hostels are mostly unclean dorms where rooms are dirty, there is loud music, mostly hippy crowd. But it isn't so at all times.

"Hostels are the greatest way to make new friends and travel on a minimal budget."

Didn't like what I suggested above for Edinburgh,why not explore some more at Hostelworld.com:
Hostels in Edinburgh

Or,

Need to book and not sure if you might have to cancel at the last moment?Booking.com does refunds after cancellations or sometimes you do not have to pay online at all,you can reach at the venue and then pay.Differs from one hotel to another,check terms and conditions.If in doubt,do not forget to make a call to booking.com
Booking.com - Edinburgh hotels and hostels

Or,

You can also book through Hihostels (Youth hostel Association) http://www.yhaindia.org/

Stay for free - Couchsurfing

The scenic view @ Edinburgh

Couchsurfing is finding local hosts to stay with in over 100,000 cities.Whoever said travel is expensive must be talking about the expensive resorts or the mid budget hotel.But if you want to travel really really,we have got options everywhere from apartments to couchsurfers to hosts to hostels.

Now most of us have the same old questions: How safe is couchsurfing?" or "Does free comes for a price".Recently on my trip to Scotland I met Doris(a journalist) and she told me couchsurfing is the best way to interact and live like a local in the house of the host.She has been doing it from quite a while and she has made friends from all over the world.She got one of her friends too,and me she and him we toured around a little bit of Glasgow.Still in doubt,check this out:

https://www.couchsurfing.org/n/safety

Take some time to explore.Choose the host with the best reviews,and if he/she is available that's the best you can have.Living with the local will give you an insiders view of the country,the ones which even google might not be having.

Caravans and Camping

Check this link for details on camping in Edinburgh.Got friends who would rather prefer to be a little more outdorsy?

Edinburgh's caravan and camping

Apartments

Apartments in Edinburgh

Edinburgh,Scotland as a backpacker - Eat

Where there's nothing else,there's McD,Edinburgh

1)Spoon cafe - Breakfast from £1.95; meals from £3.50.
2)Oink - Pork roll £4.60/ £4.90 (with crackling)
3)Urban Angel - Brunch dishes from £3.50; mains from £6.90
4)Tailend - Meals from £3.50
5)Mosque Kitchen - Meals from £3. 50
6)La Favorita Wagon - Slice £2
7)The Dogs - Mains from £4.50 (day); £7.90 (night)
8)Monster Mash - Meals from £7
9)Peter's Yard - Cakes from £1.90; sandwiches from £3.90
10)Henderson's - Dishes from £3.55

To know more detail on each and every restaurant listed above(what's famous what's not famous and where in edinburgh): Edinburgh Cafes Budget Food

Some more recommendations: Cheap eatouts some more

Where to eat Haggis

Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish, considered the national dish of Scotland.Here's where to eat Haggis in Scotland

Where to eat haggis in Edinburgh

Best places for vegetarians

Guys,I am not a vegetarian,I love my chicken more than anything else.But for many who are here's where you should eat-out in Edinburgh

AnnPurna
Kalpna
Mother India
David Bann
First Coast

Edinburgh,Scotland as a backpacker - Travel

Scotland has got it all the mountains,the sea and lots of waterholes

Download the app for Edinburgh

A travel guide to all the cool places in Edinburgh - the historic capital city of Scotland. This slick new local guide series has been created especially for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch with up-to-date listings, sharp writing and inspiring photos - check out our cool picks, click through for more info, rotate to view galleries, locate places on the map and get directions.

The Edinburgh App

Car Parking,Car Hire,Buses

The super cool and frequent lothian buses are the best way to go from one place to another.Fare £ 1.5,whole day fare £ 3.5.You can also hop on into one of the hop on hop off buses which takes you to sightseeing places around.Fare £ 12,whole day.Want to drive your own car?Why not,just check the options out:

Around Edinburgh - Travel

Free things to do in Edinburgh

You can enjoy a wide variety of attractions in Edinburgh that are absolutely free. From museums and art galleries to gardens and events, these top attractions provide hours of entertainment without breaking the bank.

Edinburgh for free

25 Things to do in Edinburgh

The golden glow of the whiskies @ Royal Mile,Edinburgh

20 great things to do in edinburgh
25 Things to do in Edinburgh before you die

Edinburgh with kids

Loved the cute little penguins @ Edinburgh zoo

Places to go where kids are around

Shopping in Edinburgh

Shopping was one reason why I wanted to be in Edinburgh for like forever.Shorts and top for £5 at PRIMARK at Princes street was incredible(the choices were huge,from skirts to top to bottoms to jeans for £5,£3 pounds to more) and so were the 1 pound earrings at Princes Mall with 1 + 1 offer.Kilts(the traditional Scottish dress) however is expensive,if real.

As I said before Edinburgh is walkable,so treat yourself with best of garments from the high street chains at throwaway prices :)

Princes St - Basic high street chains
i.e Topshop, Monsoon, Zara, H&M, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Gap, Levi,
Jenners is also on Princes St - Edinburghs oldest department store

2 nearby shopping centres, St James Ctr and Princes St Mall has a fast turn over of stores.I personally didn't like princes st mall much.

George St, which runs parallel to Princes St has the more high end stores - FCUK, Cruise, Karen MIller, Coast, Jack Wills, Pink, Hobbs, Brooks Brothers.

Connecting the St James Ctr to St Andrews Sq is another higher end street , called Multrees Walk. Including Armani, Azendi, CK. Harvey Nichols is there too.

For charity shops, Nicolson St on the Southside, Morningside Rd and Stockbridge all have a good selection. Some vintage shops on the Grassmarket, such as Armstrongs (which also has a branch on Clerk St ).

You can also check

Lonely planet Edinburgh Shopping Guide

Best place to buy kilt:

See this firm for an idea of the costs of a true kilt/ outfit. This company has a number of outlets in Edinburgh. http://www.hector-russell.com/index.aspx

Inexpensive viscose kilts can be bought from Royal Mile for £30-£50,,but they are not worth the buy because they are not the best qualities.

Echo the advice above; go for an ex-hire , and stay away from sub £50 efforts from the tartan souvenir shops.

Real kilt will cost - £400 , ex rental Kilts - £100+

Vintage shops for Kilts : http://www.armstrongsvintage.co.uk/

http://www.geoffreykilts.co.uk/

http://21stcenturykilts.com/

The Old Town Weaving Mill is a large souvenier shop, with Geoffrey Tailor Highland Crafts on the bottom floor-They stock a large selection

Edinburgh festivals

The largest arts festival anywhere in the world, the magnificent and world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe hosts a range of outstanding events and performances.To know more about Edinburgh festivals:

http://www.edinburgh.org/see-do/events/festivals/fringe-free

Edinburgh Cheap and Cheerful bars

10 Best cocktail bars
10 cheap bars

Edinburgh Itineraries:3-4-5 days

Now that I've told you everything,feel free to ask more if you have questions.We can sum up your itineraries as

Planning Edinburgh

Travelling in Scotland:Solo women or group / day or night?

Travelling solo in Scotland is fun as Scotland is very safe,road connectivities are great and people are warm.With my 25 kgs baggage,I had asked for help umpteen number of times(getting in the train or moving my luggage) and I was provided.Sometimes even voluntarily without even asking.I roamed around Edinburgh almost whole day and half the night and didn't feel unsafe even a bit.Though the safely rules apply everywhere in the world as in India.When walking through leith street one day in Edinburgh(that's where many of the pubs are and shops are..) at night,two guys came and said something to me from distance and went.I ignored.This is common sense that applies everywhere.Not much to be hoo-haad about.

Glasgow,Scotland as a backpacker - Stay

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city and is renowned for its culture, style and the friendliness of its people.

Best backpackers Stay:

Euro Hostels,starts £10
Youth hostels

Glasgow,Backpacking Scotland - Eat

1)The Banana Leaf - Starters from £1; mains from £2.99
2)Fifi & Ally - Breakfast from £2.50; sandwiches from £6.75
3)Where The Monkey Sleeps - Soup/sandwiches from £2.
4)The 78 - Starters from £3.50; mains from £5.50.
5)Cherry & Heather - Soup £2.10; sandwiches £2.60.
6Stravaigin - Sunday brunch, breakfast from £2.95; mains from £8.95
7)Tea Rooms @ The Butterfly & The Pig - Breakfast from £3; sandwiches from £4.25.
8)Delizique - Biscuits and cakes from £1. 70
9)Piece - Soup from £1.75; sandwiches from £3.
10)Two Figs - Lunch meals around £4.75; all-day mains from £5.95.

To know more about each of these listed about: Glasgow budget eatouts

Where to eat haggis in Glasgow

Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish, considered the national dish of Scotland.Here's where to eat Haggis in Glasgow

Where to eat haggis in Edinburgh

Glasgow for vegetarians

78 Cafe Bar in Finnieston/ Glasgow West End
Stereo Cafe Bar Nr Central Railway Station in the city centre
The Flying Duck (pub/club), Renfield St, city centre
13th Note near Merchant City/east end of Argyle Street
Mono Cafe Bar on King Street, City Centre
Saramago Cafe Bar in the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), City Centre

Tchai Ovna House of Tea, Gibson Lane, West End

Where To Shop

Good Shopping Centres:Braehead and St Enochs
Good Streets to shop on:Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street
Princes Square for smaller more expensive shops
Buchanna Street for House of Fraser and lots of exclusive stores
Italian Centre for Armani etc, St Enoch Centre for high street stores plus Debenhams.
The city centre wins hands down! Get the underground to cowcaddens and start from the top of the pedestrian bit where you have Deichman shoes, Dunnes, Primark and TK Maxx amongst other shops!

Best Bars

Tiger Tiger : Bunker or Bath St or Kushion
City Center: Go to Sauchiehall Street and take your pick!
Nice 'n' Sleazy at teh top end of the street is for musos - an independent that specialises in all the best music, where loads of bands hang out.
Then Box is next to it, just opening so have to wait and see.
Variety is next and has a good atmosphere as does the Griffin
Stavka, just down the street is good for Cocktails and quite classy
Brunswick Cellars is good, just before the pedestrain bit.
Merchant City area - Merchant Square is brilliant and houses both O' Neills and aa beautiful bar restaurant called Metropolitan
Head for Ashton Lane and make for Vodka Wodka where they have the best staff in Glasgow and the best atmosphere - always rammed but you can see why!
The cheapest places to go to are all the ones owned by G1, so if you want value head to theirs which are Kushion, Loft, capitol, Corinthian, Viper, Nude, radio, etc etc

Getting there and away:Within and Around

Getting Away: Link
Around the city: Link

Glasgow Festivals

Plan your holidays during festivals for which the dates are
Festivals in Glasgow

contests

Win a Free Swiss Trip

9:48 PM

Dear Adventure Lovers,

Here's an exciting new opportunity for you to be part of a virtual swiss game and turn it into reality.All you got to do is PLAY N PLAY N PLAY!And if you win "YOU GET A FREE SWISS TRIP TO SWITZERLAND"....Time to jump in the icy mountains!So do not forget to grab your chances and hold your breath because

It isn't just a normal game it is a game based on Augmented reality which means as per Wikipedia

"Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data."

That means it is more real and its gonna be super duper fun..

The game runs with your webcam & you ski in Switzerland to score points. Since it is AR enabled your body movements on the webcam would lead the player to move in the game.There is a leader-board for the game & at the end of the month, the top scorer will get the prize.

So if have been planning to ski somewhere for long , the Augmented Reality(AR) just provides you the great opportunity to practice on board.Who knows your movements can make you the top scorer,the achiever for your next vacation.Do not waste time,start playing folks..

http://switzerland.makemytrip.com/experience_adventure.php

This contest is brought to you by makemytrip and we all know them,don't we?The first name which comes in my mind when I am thinking of hassle free package travel to anywhere in the world.To know if the flights are costly or cheap,to book the best price for any place at the most affordable cost,or to just browse through the various travel options available be it for honeymoon or adventure or just leisure.If your wedding day's around the corner,why not plan your switzerland honeymoon for your o'so lovely wifey?Switzerland tourism has got it all,and what else than making it happen with the team of enthusiastic travel professionals at Makemytrip.

Switzerland is a lovely country and if you are planning a vacation to this part of the world,you wouldn't want yourself running for shelter in the cold.That's where Makemytrip Swiss packages comes in picture which says...

Image Source: Makemytrip

"Explore the best of Switzerland with this exclusively designed package. Enjoy exploring Lucerne, the city of lights and Interlaken, a quintessential Swiss town. Interlaken lies in the Bernese Oberland on an alluvial plain, between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz that are extremely picturesque and beautiful. Get enchanted by the scenic beauty of the region from Jungfraujoch, literally the top of central Switzerland! Marvel at the changes in alpine scenery riding the charming cogwheel train. Come back home delighted with some of the most wonderful memories."

This is just one of them listed on top and we have 6 other options to explore the beautiful and popular Switzerland.To know more about the Switzerland packages click here: All Swiss packages

Wanna do something more interesting,how about planning a paragliding trip or flying in Switzerland or Snow tubing in the white snow?Isn't that impossible when Makemytrip is guiding you through

Let's play all of us,and let's see who wins.I am good at Ski,are you?

Anki S.

Adventure

Templepilots Paragliding:Interview,Photos,Videos

12:59 PM

Avi and Anita gets candid with Ankionthemove about all things aero and the journey with Templepilots so far......!!!

Avi and Anita Malik

Avi,the founder of Temple Pilots is effectively the most qualified Instructor in the country today. APPI International’s Instructor, Avi is a qualified and Certified Tandem Instructor, XC (Cross Country) Instructor and SIV Instructor. Anita flies a Zulu, Gin glider which she is quite attached to and has flown different sites at Bali, Indonesia, Kamshet, Maharashtra and Vagamon and Munnar, Kerala. She was also the only woman pilot and Indian to fly at the Third International Flying Festival at Vagamon, Kerala. Anita is the powerhouse behind the success of TemplePilots as the top School and Club in the South East Asia region.Recently featured in NDTV “Swiss Made Dreams” this candid couple is flying brilliantly high.

Clouds and Clowns : The Cute Duo on Air

What inspires you to face the challenges every day?

Avi: Its a wonderful feeling when you face a challenge and overcome or accomplish what you set out to do so.That feeling of having faced the challenge and learn from it and grown from it is what inspires us

Anita: For me its seeing smiles on our students or pilot students,those who come to us.They all come with their own lives at their back they have chosen to do this.They trust us and for 3 days they are putting everything to learn how to fly and we have to help them in this journey and finally when they fly ,that smile that connection they have with us is very unique.Its only something as beautiful and as natural on being outdoors and an outdoor sport can give you,nothing else.That's my motivation to see how much joy it gets to be with and hence to me.

Avi: And it also comes from nature. To be in the sky ,to teach people to have fun in the sky and in an outdoor setting.It is also very inspiring.

The journey of 17 years in Templepilots and how it all began?

Avi: It began like I started to fly in the Himalayas and it was very beautiful,very gorgeous to fly in the big mountains.While flying a dream was born that this needs to be shared and if I can fly like this I think any and everybody can fly by taking part of this experience.That time it was a very new sport all around the world,specially in India where there was hardly anybody flying.There weren't any schools and I had just come out of the air force and found something aviation related so that's how the seed was born in the sky that we need to have Indian pilots in the Indian skies.This needs to be kind of done here because we have such a massive huge country,it is so beautiful and offers so many different kinds of flying in the big mountains or the hill stations.The weather is very conductive to flying as well.

Anita: And when we started that time no one in India was actually taking up adventure sports as a very cool thing to do.It was just people who were in small towns or villages or near hill stations who used to pursue things like this.And of course in cities there was trekking and rafting and things like that,but aerosport was not pursued in this way.We had no road maps as such to follow.We had to really do our own research, our own study, trial and error.When we used to go and find sites we used to literally cut the grass while going to make the pathway,it was so raw.So it was very interesting to learn like that.When first few people came,like even if we used to get 4 students a month for us it was a great thing.And these were mainly people who had done travelling abroad who believed that it can happen you can learn flying like this.We both loved what we were doing,we didn't even have a Plan B that if this doesn't work what would we do,we were just fully into it.

Are you the first paragliding school in India?

"Yipeeee...I was flying in the air almost in the clouds,

the enviable view in front

the other paragliders all around

Now I know how the birds feel..

It's just something words can't explain.

Do not forget to watch a small video

taken from the field and the air below" @Templepilots

Avi: We are not the first school as such.There were couple of units or groups that were teaching but very basic training was going on and they were mostly doing tandems,the 2-seated joy rides.What happens is on a hill station like Manali,you get tourists who don't have 3-5-10 days to learn to fly,majorly get people for joy rides.So a school would not run for a place like that.

Anita: There's a difference between two things Joy Rides people would do to get a rush something like how you get on a roller coaster.But for people who come to school are different,they are passionate about flying.They want to take it up because they want to learn how to fly or take it up as a lifestyle sport and that's where we came in from his knowledge of airforce to whatever I could bring from the corporate side of the world.

Avi: We were actually the first structured training school in India and a club which means you could continue flying.Like even in the Himalayas if you do a three day course,that's the end of that.Then you come back to Delhi or wherever that's the end of that.But we offer people courses and plus an opportunity for people to come on weekends and continue their flying,or help them buy gliders and become hobby pilots.We actually spread the culture of flying to encourage people become pilots.

Templepilots Paragliding:Field,Fly and My Visit

How did you both convince your parents to start something offbeat and unusual?

Anita:For me,my dad was a total outdoor person.I was on my first trek when I was 6 years old.I think he secretly liked it that I wanted to do something different quite supportive but it was a shock for my mom.I was leaving my whole corporate career well paid job and going into complete unknown territory,she didn't like it at all.But somethings if you are passionate about you need to take your own decision.You have to have the courage of conviction.Passion doesn't demand asking for permission you just do it.You have to say "I am very sorry,I love you but I have to do this".I have been very independent very early on in my life.

Avi:They themselves could not kind of fathom as to what is this.Nobody has done it,no body is doing it,they didn't see any future,they couldn't visualise any future and nor could we.And there was no road map or a plan as to this is how it'll work out,this is how it'll be.It was all just trying it out.It was a journey,an adventure in itself to find sites,look for sites,to fly those sites,make sure they are safe for training,then get people tell them what it is,convince them its not like suicide.On all terms it was a challenge in terms of marketing in terms of getting a set up in terms of creating a structure in terms of giving information about paragliding because people have such weird notion about adventure aviation.And hand gliding never took off in India.It was like finding a path in the jungle.

Anita:Basically there were too many unknowns,I could not even tell her that this is the future or these people have done this we are doing something similar,I could have not given any assurance.Just have to tell them please trust us.

Your greatest achievements so far?

Featured in NAT GEO Traveler,Receiving awards

Avi: Each other

Anita: Each other,greatest achievement is I am with the man I love

Anita: To be with the person you love,and to do something you love so much everyday is my greatest achievement.I dunno how many people in this world can say that.

And long back I realised my achievements and success would have nothing to do with money,or materialistic things.So I love this,not that I am not totally out of it,I love travelling,I need money for travelling and flying and it's an expensive sport.But this in itself is a great achievement.

Avi: Because it was real adventure at that time in the beginning.Now its structured people know about us,set up and everything.Back in those days it was very new,very fresh so life was fantastic.

Wasn't there any moment you felt this is not happening,I should give up?

Avi: Never

Anita: Never.That's really strange because at many times in this journey we were actually left with nothing,no money.

Avi: We didn't give us an option,or there was no option.I tried various things but they were not attractive enough to hold my attention,paragliding was the only thing I found bearable or that could hold my interest.Either this or nothing at all.

Anita: Everytime there was a down,we could just fly and by flying we could tell ourselves "Why would I want to leave this?,why would I leave sharing this with others and make that into a career?"

Avi: And actually when you fly it's an awesome experience,its so beautiful.Just because you are able to do that you will continue doing that.When you are not getting people to learn but you have a one hour flying in the sunset its so awesome things on the ground don't matter at all.You are just so happy that you flew and you are on a high,you would not think an alternate.Why wouldn't somebody else want to do this?There was never a doubt,we didn't know we'll have a school like this or training instructors or it'll be so successful or people would know us in the market or we'll have articles in the magazine.There was an invisible force that was driving us that carry on carry on because it was beyond reason beyond logic.

Anita:We were quite blessed.

Didn't you face the initial financial hiccups?

Anita: We had some savings and we started off very small.

Avi: Literally from scratch

Anita: Like one student

Avi: If you see the set up now there are 5-15 students learning flying everyday,imagine in a month,imagine in a year.It's not an easy operation where you get all kinds of people with all kinds of backgrounds with all kind of IQ level,learning to fly managing their risk,managing their fears,its very challenging.And we are able to do this because we built it from scratch

How safe is aero sports in India now?

Templepilots Airforce:The latest batch
with Spikey the wonderdog of Templepilots

Avi: It's like both the things are there - safer in some sense not so safe as well because it depends on the kind of people who get involved and how safely they practice the sport.For example the way it developed in Manali and Panchgani were extremely dangerous because it was a quick buck.People would buy a two seater for anybody ,just learn how to take off and land and start flying the tourists and for some quick money.And what was happening was all the European backpackers who would have some glider with them when they won't have money,they sell it without being responsible to who they are selling and what will be the end result.So lot of unsafe practices started in Manali.They are sometimes flying without helmets,flying poor quality equipment,so lot of accidents happen in Manali and Panchgani.Same thing happen in Bir.Fortunately Kamshet is not a tourist destination and we have always focused on training and creating pilots in the country.So its very safe here.These things happen at the touristic places where joy rides have dictated the direction of the sport and since there is no governing body,no national association it,it happens.It's a very new sports like it would be same 50 years back in Europe.

People in India have a notion that aero sports/adventure sports are not that safe yet?They would rather do the same sport abroad.

Avi: They have got reasons to feel like this.There are people and operators who don't have any experience,don't have knowledge,don't use the right equipment and they start to operate.There have been incidents of accidents because of very silly mistakes.So people are right in their own opinions.

It is just like the airline industry.Initially when the airline industry was trying to establish itself in the mind of people that it is safe to do air travel they faced lot of problems.They had to put systems in place,procedures in place.And keep improving those systems and procedures,checklists and slowly and slowly people changed their view about air travel and started to trust even though there were accidents.Even though there are accidents but systems are so much in place that people trust today to travel by air.For example,our school we have systems in place procedures in place proper structure,we have been training for 17 years people have learned and flew safely.So people trust and they talk about it to others and then they trust and come.So we are creating large number of club pilots and pilots who are flying safely and they follow the discipline that the sport demands.They understand the limitations you need to understand,limitations of weather equipment,limitations of your own skill and knowledge so there is a sizeable community now which is flying safely.That is keeping the sport relatively safe despite some operators who are not giving that kind of impression in the minds of people with some accidents.

Anita: We are also associated with APPI which is an international organisation based in Switzerland and Avi is a master instructor on an international license.So we give out licenses to our club pilots.So they can pretty much fly anywhere in the world.We are following international norms of safety and training.

Avi: APPI is an association of professional pilots and instructors based in Switzerland and they are the only international education system of paragliding.We are a registered school with them.We are 5 star rated school with them and I am the master instructor,the highest rating for an instructor.All the members of our team are registered instructors and assistant instructors.So they all have licenses and this gives people trust.

Any future plans of expansion?

Anita: We conduct flying at many places, we go to Nepal where we conduct advanced courses.We go to Himachal in bir.We go to Bali every year,this August again we'll be going.We explore different places and take our club pilots like a flock of birds going along.

Avi: That's the most beautiful part of flying.When you learn to fly,you would want to fly to exotic locations.So I know how to fly I have got my own wings,and now I get them with my flock my community and we all go like school children with our gliders on a holiday.We fly by the Himalayas,by the coast,we fly in Nepal so in future we plan to conduct tours to Europe where we take our gang and fly in the alps and have fun like this,very special flying holidays.

Anita: Combine travelling and flying.Generally paragliding sites are very unique,very off the normal sightseeing and then you get to see very different part of that land.

If there's one social cause you'd love to contribute to in India,what would that be?

Avi: Animals

Anita: I would love to be associated with Animal welfare and more so related to elephants because I think they have been very neglected in the country which is associated with elephants.

Avi: We are on the fringes of getting into this now because when we fly,we used to see so many more birds who used to fly with us before than they do now.Like earlier when we used to fly,there used to be 50-60 vultures flying with us but over the years they have vanished,population have just reduced.It's not so in the Himalayas though,I mean the vultures are not going extinct,you can see the healthy population over there but around us here we see.We have a dog ourselves.We have some vet friends who work in animal orphanages who tell us the stories of poor state of animals etc.We are deeply touched by the conditions and we would like to do something.Like in Junnad,there is a leopard sanctuary,very bad state the leopards are kept in.And these animal orphanage in Pune,people get birds and animals there but the department doesn't accept them.They don't want to take in more animals so they are stuck there.They have limitations of how many birds and animals they can keep.They don't have enough funds.We have lands and are trying to shift out of city and then we might be in a better position to do what we want to.

There are these cows also who are left in the city they eat garbage,we need to do research in our area and decide what will be best.We also want to work with children and their education.

Anita: I have been associated with environment and environment awareness for a long time.I used to work with WWF also for 2 years.I have also done a lot of volunteer work with red cross and other organisations.We have seen someone coming at night excavating and stealing soil and you literally see a mountain being eaten up after a decade.Its very sad and on no one's agenda on what's happening to the outdoors.And only when someone takes up paragliding and comes outdoor and is in nature for a certain amount of time,you realise how much in tune we are with nature.We can't live without it.This arrogance of being a human being living in a city with all the gizmos at my fingertips on and off buttons it can go away in a jiffy if mother nature wants it.So we really need to get a reality check on how much we can destroy the environment and think we can survive that.I don't think we can

Your venture is an inspiration for many people who want to chase their dreams and do what they like even if it is out of their league. What would you like to say to them?

Anita: If you dreamt it,you can do it nothing is out of your reach.If you really really love something and you are passionate about it,you can do it.

Avi: First of all it really feels good that we are in a position like this as an inspiration.The answers too are very cliche but true.Please believe please have the faith and trust in yourself in the universe in the divine to achieve what you want.You will always always achieve it.Just go for it.Just don't compromise and settle for less.Be whatever you dream and go for it.

Anita: The intention has to come out from purity and then it fulfills itself.The motive should not be selfish or self gratifying.The strength comes from it being pure.

Your top five likes and dislikes

Anita: He has no dislikes

Avi: Very difficult question,it is for me because I am trying to free myself from likes and dislikes.She has her dislikes and likes,I would like to accept everything,I have no likes and dislikes.

Avi: Her likes are

-Nature

-Animals particularly Elephants,Dogs,Cats

-Loves travelling

-Loves dark bitter chocolate

-and I think she likes me

Dislikes are

-Arrogance

-Dishonesty

-Poor treatment of animals

-Pune ke autowalas

-Doesn't like sweets

Anita:His likes are

-He likes talking about anyone's path to higher learning or enlightenment

-He likes talking about anything that has not to with this world something that is metaphysical something beyond what you can just see.His motivation comes from learning what is within us to find out the truth.That is his endeavour and flying is a goal to this endeavour or divine

-He loves sweet

-Loves mangoes

-He loves his family back home

Dislikes

-He does not like dislikes,he aims to have complete balance.He wants to see everyone's limitations.

-Dislikes being very active,he has to have total laidback environment.He smart enough to let me do all his work ;)

-Doesn't have many dislikes,that's all I can say

Best experience in the holiday "NDTV Swiss Made dreams"

With Neha Dixit in Switzerland

Anita : There were many.Wine tasting,cycling and Glaciar 3000.The mountain on the trek when we were on the top the view of the whole alps,that was gorgeous.There was a huge bird flying there,and it came right in front of us flying.And he gifted me a big sunflower from the market over there and I was walking the whole day with that.We loved the hotel we were staying in Beau Rivage and the evening we were walking there was a rainbow on the lake.

Anything else you would like to say?

Anita: I'd like to say that none of us in our lives need to settle for less.You can live fully without having to compromise and one can live by taking care of environment and surrounding without saying this is someone else's job,what does it got to do with me.Very very delicate web of life,everything matters.

Avi: The future is very beautiful.The new life that is coming these days is very very beautiful,there might not be place for negatives and those who are not right.only people who are good and have consciousness bout nature will have place.The new consciousness which is coming is very great.

I'll quote something he has told one of our friends earlier

Anita : He taught me how to fly and according to him I taught him how to land

Ankita: Really?

Avi: Not like actual landing while flying, but to stay grounded in life.

It was awesome meeting you two love birds on a paragliding high for 17 years.May god bless you and with your blessing may the environment around be more beautiful and inspired.

Thanks for being part of the interview -Anki S

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Anki S