Frappe..Second article :) I enjoyed writing this piece..!
Choose the road less taken to make those precious two days more memorable!Bored of heading to the usual coffee shops and downing a cup of mocha? Clubbing, tasting hookas, Go-karting, snow bowling... Been there, done that? Probably, the most radical way you would have spent a lazy weekend is to hit the road, head to Pondicherry for a crazy night out and get back home by Sunday night.
Frappe brings you new options that will make you change the way you look at weekends. Filled up to the brim with adrenaline, the following are the unique ways you can end up enjoying a weekend, forgetting the competitive crazy world around you.
Sport fishing: Highlights: You get to ride on a boat, visit a ship wreck and catch fish. You also get to take photos with your prized catch!
Vivid in my memory is the scene from the movie Dil Chahta Hai, where Aamir Khan and his friends catch fish from the beaches of Goa and take candid photos with the catch. In the robust beaches of Chennai, where water sports and other facilities are still in the nascent stage of development, Blue Waters sport fishing is a unique place that offers angling, or sport fishing for aquatic enthusiasts.
I headed to the Chennai Port, where The Sea Hawk, a speedboat that takes the anglers to the fishing spots stood statuesquely near the horizon. The salty air brushed us as we got onto the boat and settled down comfortably for an exciting adventure that lay ahead. Every angler is given fishing rods, artificial bait among other things and a life jacket that one should wear compulsorily.
2 hour package
The 2 hour package typically takes one to a ship wreck of 1962, near the coast of Chennai, which now houses schools of fish and constitutes a good place for trawling. The anglers are briefed about the various techniques and ways to get hold of a fish. Giant Trevally, King Mackarel and many other types of fish fall bait to the anglers near the wreck, which offers great photographic moments. Catching a giant fish is an experience of a lifetime. Don’t miss it for the world!
Cost
It works up to Rs. 6000 for a group of four, which is quite reasonable since in foreign locales, the same experience costs a whole lot more! Says Mr. Nischit from Blue Waters, “It costs anywhere between Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 1 Lakh when one does sport fishing abroad.” Make use of what you’ve got, I’d say!
Word of advice:
•The ideal time to go for this sporting activity is around 5:30 am.
•Book dates with Blue Waters beforehand so that they get your port passes ready.
•Things to carry: A set of comfortable clothing, sunglasses, cap and sun tan lotion. In case of sea sickness, carry medicines prescribed by your doctor.
•The catch can be put back into the sea for ecological conservation, but if you want to take the fish back home as a prize, that too can be arranged.
ParasailingHighlights: You are strapped on to a parachute and a jeep pulls the parachute up, along with you, of course. The very thrill of being up in the air is something one should experience most definitely!
Man has always been intrigued by the art of flying; something that has been denied to us since time immemorial. We try, in every way to replicate wings, build monster sized planes to fly across countries but have never been able to fly by ourselves.
The closest yet that man has got to flying like a bird, is Parasailing; the mind numbing feeling when one is lifted off the ground, the exultation at being able to soar through the air, the panoramic view of the world below. The people of Chennai can now experience Parasailing, at minimal cost at Adventure Zone in Madhurantakantam. Says Ms. Madhura Vaishnav of Adventure Zone, “We have got a fantastic response. A typical trip to Adventure Zone is when one finishes other activities offered by us at the campsite, lunch and then parasailing! “
The company is run by a former army commando instructor with specialised training and over 20 years experience in adventure sports.
Talking about the owner, she says “Major Roy, a retired army officer was a trained paratrooper himself and he set up Adventure Zone without any help from foreign companies.”
Method of parasailing
The method followed here is quite different and much safer than parasailing done in the sea. The participant is harnessed to a parachute and is towed by a jeep. He is then lifted into the sky at the height of about 200 feet. The joy at looking down on the world below is equal to none. After the five minute stint on air, he is brought down to a safe landing by the support staff. This sailing is done over a dry lake bed, five minutes off their camp site at Madhurakantam.
Cost
The minimum air time of five minutes on the parasail costs Rs. 600 per head which is quite reasonable when compared to cost of parasailing in other countries. If one wants to extend the air time, the costs vary accordingly.
Safety measures
The parasailing activity is conducted by trained instructors and professionals. The equipments used are high class and they are regularly checked. Every participant is given a life jacket and a helmet.
Word of Advice:
•Wear full sleeve shirts and full length trousers to avoid scratches or bruises and carry suntan lotion. Also, wear sneakers or sandals with straps. Avoid flip flops, unless you want to see them flying off your feet!
•Ideal time to go for parasailing would be 12 pm when it’s not too windy.
•There is no age limit. Anyone can go for it. You also needn’t be physically fit to take flight!
•Parasailing at Adventure Zone is closed till February due to the rough monsoon weather that Chennai is experiencing right now.
Now that you’ve got an idea how to spend a weekend that lets you take home cherished memories and de-stresses you for good, give it a try!
By Manasa. K. Kumar
