I was tightly wrapped with couples of belt along with Alberto beside me. It was quite hard for me to move freely. Some twenty minute back, Alberto had tighten me with all the belts which was making me feel  a bit uncomfortable but at the same time I also could not complain.

Calm as roaring river, which is calm from surface but furious beneath

By the way, Alberto is the fellow crime partner in the next coming most wonderful TEN minutes of my life. I met him two hours before, and he was an expert in his field... atleast this is what I was told. In fact, nobody told me about that, it is just what I was expecting 😇keeping my finger crossed.

Pilatus N-699SA

Alberto showed me the Altimeter. (An altimeter or an altitude meter is an instrument used to measure the altitude of an object above a fixed level). We already reached 4200m above ground, and people in the small plane, Pilatus N-699SA, started coming to the gate one by one to take the Jump. At that point I said to myself,” Who would be such a fool, who would deny jumping after coming this far”.

Sometime in April 2012

I was giving my birthday treat to my colleagues. A month back, we got the confirmation that we are going to Denmark. For few of us this was our first onsite. And we started sharing our plans that what all we can do out there. One said that he will go to different countries, and thus the discussion was happening on how much can be saved on onsite stay. One interesting thing was a bunch of people were travelling this time, and not like 1-2 people in a month. This also means that it would be a bunch of group wherever we went for trip.

WAIT WAIT WAIT !!! You already got bored ? :( ... Well I cannot complain, it took me five year of laziness to publish this blog. So yes I can understand your feeling. You can jump directly down to the blue font paragraph. That is the summary of all the pain I took to make my 'Jump'.

Coming back, I need to tell my plans as it was a bit different from routine people. I told them my priority is to do some adventure sports since for me that is priority than to do sightseeing in a new country. We can anytime in life do sightseeing in later part of life, since it requires money and energy. But once you get married you will lose the authorization on your life. Plus you have the responsibility of your wife and Children. Moreover, after some years our body also won’t support adventure sports.

My foremost sport which I intended to do is ‘Sky diving’.

Some got surprised and remain silent; it was evident that for them I look too ambitious with my  plans, which is normal in India. But some did appreciate my decision after they understood the logic behind doing adventure sports at a younger age.

October 2012

On September end I got my Denmark salary. I mailed the Skydiving people in Denmark, with whom I was in contact from India itself. It was disheartened to know that the skydiving season in Denmark will be over by 14th of October, i.e. there were only two weeks from that time. Two weeks in actual are two weekends, adding to the misery was they are fully booked. However, the contact person gave me consolation of having it done next time when season will start in March 2013. Lest she know that I am travelling back to India by November 2012.

However, in my one month stay in Denmark I visited places like Malmo in Sweden and Oslo in Norway. It was evident from my Oslo trip that my current trip partner are not excited for new and strange things.

I made other friends who came across in my stay out there in the two months, but they were no different from my travel partner. So I didn’t expect to find or force anyone to come along with me.

I rather wanted it to be a lone boring trip rather than a journey without peace.

Moreover, I was looking for new adventure and courtesy to all the circumstances, I came to a cross Road where I need to decide that it was this time to complete some of my bucket list, or wait till next circumstance to come. I chose former because I knew if it is not today then it will never be since after some months or years I will get married and have more responsibilities both mentally and financially.

I know if I completed this trip, I will not be completing one wish list, but others also.

1. Skydiving
2. Solo travelling as tourist.
3. Solo Travelling to a country.

On 16th October, when I was surfing the internet, I was very frustrated as I was unable to accomplish my skydiving dream, than I started thinking to invest few more bucks for the same. Then I got one very useful link, which is about various drop zones in World.

         

Initially, I was thinking to go to Germany or Poland which is pretty close to Denmark, but I ruled it out since those drop zones are far away from the main city. I had in mind that if I am going to invest so much in skydiving than going to other country, I also should not waste my sightseeing in the country. Then my eyes fell upon Terni in Italy. 

There were reasons, that why I chose Italy. Foremost reason was, the whole northern Europe, with the advent of November started engulfing under chilled breeze, and southern Europe is better option since it will be sunny. Also, Italy is a wonderful word in a tourist dictionary and also Rome.

Lastly, I had one Italian Friend, which was the most important point. 

16th September 2012, few week back

On my second Sunday in Denmark, I went to St Andrew Church in Gothersgade. After Church service I was invited by Church secretary, Jensen, to Rev Ron house for barbeque. That was the day I was surrounded for the first time by many people from different parts of the world, Mexico, Tanzania, Spain, Korea, America, Italy and ofcourse Denmark. Before that I had a similar experience of sitting with people from different region on India, i.e. Telgu, Malayali, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Oriya etc, but this time it was from around the world.

The Italian girl was the only one who looked of my age, her name was Chiara.  At first, I thought it is Kiera as in Kiera Knightly, but to my amazement even though she was living in Europe she don’t know about ‘Pirates of  Caribbean’ and Kiera Knightly.

After the barbeque, she was kind enough to accompany me till her College in Christian Havn, and showed me some sightseeing before I left for home via Metro.

Might be Chiara was not the major reason for choosing Italy’s drop zone, but surely it was an important one. As it was going to be a solo trip, I need to take a calculated risk to go to an unknown country. And she played a silent co-traveler.  As Indian we love to tell others about our country and be a happy guide to foreigner, even I could see the excitement she had; once she knew I was planning for a trip to her country. However, she doesn’t know about Rome (as she went only once there when she was a kid) since she lived in upper part of Italy in Cervasca (CN), 80 km south of Turin.

Below is my first mail to her regarding Terni and Rome.

Hi,

My story is, I want to do skydiving. But when I got my salary on 1 Oct, the Denmark skydiving season which ends in 14 Oct was fully booked so I was dishearten. But two day back I got to know that skydiving in Terni is open throughout the season, so I booked my ticket to Rome.

But still I am not sure I can able to do diving, since many thing depend upon the climate that Saturday. So I just kept my finger crossed and praying that everything will be good. I am just playing a big gamble, if it not turns good, i need to roam in Rome for two days and return back :(.   

Well If you help me in finding decent, safe and cheap hostel information near Rome Terminal Station ( from where i need to go to Terni and Airport FCS) it would be good, but don't work hard, since I have already can find some from internet. what i am looking is, if your friend who is non italian, went to Rome, then s/he can guide me, for what all places to visit (btw is Rome has any Hitler/Nazi influence) ,place they stay ,train information (i.e. how it work) any passes, taking tour guide is good or bad, etc 

Other important thing is i am taking this trip all alone, (my colleague  are neither interested in skydiving , nor wasting money in flight ticket, they are going to cheaper option, i.e. Germany by train). And I heard that in some site you can find a group or travelling partner, are you aware of the same ?

thanks in advance

Samarth

Below we can find her answer and much other information from our interaction, which help me plan my trip.

• Best thing about the hostel is using a website like Hostelworld or Booking.com and reading the comments. I booked my Hostel from Hostelworld in ‘Hotel Legend’. If you pay through debit card or paypal, please confirm your booking prior of arrival 24 hour before your arrival.
• The train ticket amount and time table can be found in below site. Remember that regional train tickets (both bought at the ticket office or at the machines) must be stamped before taking the train. There are green (sometimes yellow) stamping machines.

         Look up timetable and purchase of tickets

• Rome has two airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino. And my destination was Fiumicino airport. Shuttle bus service between Fiumicino airport and Roma Termini. The cheaper bus company is Terravision, but as far as I could read on their website, their last bus is before 23.

       This company has better timetables.

         Otherwise there is an express train, but it is expensive (14 euros)

• Remember that in Italy credit cards are used less than in Denmark. In some places, when you have to pay few Euros, they don't accept them. It's better to have some currency.
• Italy uses EURO as currency.
• Hostels have several kinds of shared rooms. There are 4-bed rooms, as well as 10-bed, or 15-bed rooms... Usually, the bigger the rooms are, the less you sleep! :-) Some hostels have separate dorms for male and female, others not. However, when you book you can choose the room which best suits you. It best if you are bachelor.

• Site for bus route while going to Porto San Giorgio.     

• The phone calls between Italy and Denmark are quite cheap, because there is some EU-agreement. I don't know anything about calling India from Italy with a Danish number! It could be quite expensive! :-)

Below is the actual extract of budget planning, from Chiara mail, which shows how serious she was to help me.

       Examples: Friday:   5 euro (bus shuttle from the Airport)
                        1,50 euro (bottle of water)
                 Saturday: 5 euro (breakfast)

                       13,60 euro (train to and from Terni)                         

                         160 euro (skydiving)

                           6 euro (sandwich and beverage)

                          20 euro (dinner: pizza, dessert, beverage)                  

                  Sunday:  5 euro (breakfast)                           

                           6 euro (transport pass)

                          12 euro (archaeological sites: Colosseum, Foro Romano)                                            
                          10 euro (t-shirt from Rome!)

                           6 euro (sandwich and beverage)

                           5 euro (bus to the Airport) 

• In this link you can find information about Metro/trains lines which runs in Rome. Basically Rome has two lines, Metro A and Metro B, and they divide Rome in shape of ‘X’ where the interaction happens on Termini station. Also the link has other several sightseeing information.

• You can take metro ticket from a Newsstand or Tobacco shop inside Metro station. At my time it charged me 1.5 Euro for 100 min, from the time you swipe your ticket once.

• This link gives more descriptive map of transportation. (Click on previous/next button).

• Google Map of Rome. Link

• Bus is also an option, but I won’t suggest you to take it. Bus for sightseeing, because Rome is a pretty small city and most of the sights are walkable at 20-25 min max. But if you are staying in Rome for a longer time, then you can wait for particular no. of bus which come at its usual time. I rather choose to walk than to wait for a particular no. of bus. However, if you want to take sightseeing bus, then it will be completely a different scenario. Please find the link below for ‘Open Bus for sightseeing’.

http://trenitalia.trambusopen.com/en/110open.htm
Sorry the link don't work anymore. But Open Bus are good alternative.

• Few words might come handy. However, for my 2 day trip only ‘Grazie’ was used often.

          Hello = Ciao / Bonjourno
          Goodbye = Ciao / Arrivederci
          Please = Per Favore
          Thank you = Grazie
          You're welcome = Prego
          Yes = Si
          No = No
          Of course = Certamente
          Excuse me = Scusa
          How are you? = Come stai?
          Open = Aperto
          Closed = Chiuso
          What is your name? = Come ti chiami?
          My name is... = Mi chiamo...
          How much? = Quanto costa?
          The bill please? = Il conto per favore.

• You can book online ticket for intercity train from below link. 

• Please!!! Don't eat burgers from McDonald in Italy! Eat pasta, pizza, Panini (sandwiches)! :-) .

Well coming back to our story, 

I done all planning for my trip (as you can see from the information above). I am really thankful to Chiara for tolerating my small queries.

I knew I can't see Rome in one trip :) because one of my Danish friend told me that people stay in Rome for one year and feel that they didn't saw anything, so I decided not to go to Museum, since museum will atleast take my 3 hours.

My only fear was that if this trip was not successful then all my money will be wasted. I mean, I was taking this trip only because ‘skydiving’ and If I will not be able to do the same because of unavoidable circumstances like weather, flight delay, bus punctured, me getting robbed :D , etc my whole trip will go in vain .However,  I tried to mitigate my risks by visiting Italy, i.e. that if I was not able to do skydiving, atleast I can roam in a historical city. But still if I would not have done skydiving, I would not have realized one of my dreams even after coming so near to it.

And my fear started to realize on 5 November 2012, when ZOO dropzone people mailed me that they are shifting the dropzone from Terni to Orbetello, which is farther far from Rome. But I was relieved when I saw Orbetello in Italy map; it was near western coast of Italy and near to beach which means I can go to beach too once I am free from skydiving.

Before taking any trip, it is wise to check on the weather. On 8th November I checked the weather forecast, which it was not at all promising.

Before leaving for Italy on 9th November I again checked the weather of Orbetello and climate was not promising. I glance at the net again for any substitute drop zone in Italy, and I found one in the east coast. But it was quite far, which means maximum of my time will be going to be spend in commuting and returning back to Rome. However, I mailed the contact person, Alberto for which he replied back to me in a positive way and I don’t want to keep him in dark so I mention to him that I will be coming to his drop zone only if weather is not good in the west Coast.

I left office around 2 pm, and reached airport around 3.15, and boarded my flight to Frankfurt. After a brief  transit time of some 2 hour I boarded my next flight to Italy around 10 pm and reached Italy by 12:30.

I knew that the bus shuttle, train and metro will be close. In order to save money, I tried to reach the train station which is opposite to the airport  to catch the train to Roma termini but it was of no help. I now felt I did a foolish thing to go to the train station with the hope of finding a train at such a night time.  

When I didn’t find anything I returned back to the airport. I tried to take some prepaid taxi as I knew how Indian taxis use to cheat a stranger in a new place. But even the prepaid taxi amount was a bit heavy. I thought that anyhow I can take the prepaid taxi at anytime during the night, so better try for some option. When I started to lose hope for any other cheap options and my legs got tired, I saw a group of oriental people coming out of airport.And I choose to follow them, keeping a safe distance, so they should not know, I am following them 😊

Fortunately, they entered one bus. Later I got to know that even after the last bus shuttle, there were some night buses which travels at night. It charged 6 EURO. I was finally glad to find a cheap mode, otherwise for taxi I needed to pay some 40 EURO.

Bus dropped me at Roma terminal, Rome main train station. I recently broke my Motorokr E6 and was using a small Nokia C4 dual sim mobile. So I was travelling without a smart phone, I chose to do this trip also like old days. I took printout of all the trains and bus stops and different maps.  I also took a map to reach my room Hotel Legend from Roma Terminal. It was just walk able distance.

After reaching hotel I took out my room keys. I was going to share my room with other boys and girls. As I guessed it was not so awkward as it sounds in my country. When I entered the room it was 2:30 am, there were two girls and one boy who already occupied the room. The girls had left the room before I woke up in the morning. When they left the bathroom, I took no time to get myself ready by 7 am.

I decide to go with Plan B. Porto San Giorgio, east coast drop zone. I called Alberto but he didn’t pick up the phone, I think it was pretty early for him. However, I texted him.

I ran to Roma Terminal and took the metro to Metro station, whose name I forget now, however it was 2-3 stations away, hardly 15 min drive. From there I was fortunate to catch the bus at the last moment. After I got into the bus I took some sigh of relief and for the first time in my last twelve hours I had my much needed  rest. I enjoyed the suburbs of Italy saw beautiful hills and long tunnels. In bus I met an old couple who were also going to Porto San Giorgio . They were going to visit some relative there. They told me they too will come back by the same bus that same evening. Interesting thing about our conversation was that they don't know English and that was the reason why our conversation didn't last long but still I felt amazed how we had converse for a short period of time.

One of many tunnel

One village

Another village

Some lush green scene

some high hills

view from inside the window

Eastern coast, Adriatic sea

Town market

When we entered Porto San Giorgio, I could see the sea from some 2-3 km on my right side. The old couple got down some 2-3 stop before my stop.

I called  Alberto from the stop and waited for some 15 minutes, and then some another 15 minutes and then again 15 minutes. I the mean time I went to see one Church nearby , but I didn't stayed there much since I was afraid Anthony will come. Anthony had send his colleague Alberto to pick me up. When I called Anthony he told me that Alberto is standing there in front of the Church. As we both were there but still we could not be able to see each other I then asked Alberto's number and called him. I got to know he don't know English. By God's grace I got the idea to find a person and made him talk to Alberto. I found a mini truck driver who was waiting for someone, since he too don't know English, I gave the phone to him after he talked to Alberto he pointed to one place and ask me to wait there and told Alberto will come in 15 minutes. It seemed I was standing at a wrong place.

Anyhow I thanked that kind person, who walked along with me to show me the place and then stood for Alberto. After 5 minutes a black Mercedes came and it was evident that he was Alberto. It took some 15 minutes for me to reach drop point. It was in a distant outskirt, I realized that even if I tried to walk or take some taxi I would have never reached the drop zone because of language barrier.

On reaching drop zone, Alberto took me to Antonio cabin, after having a formal introduction I paid my bill through credit card. There was an option of taking video or still picture or both. Then there was other option that the camera will be placed on the instructor who will be tied along with you or another third person who will jump along with you solely to capture video. For obvious reason, third person dropping and taking your video is expensive among others. And I chose the same not because it was expensive but because I might not take any other skydiving and hence wanted to make sure to do it once with all available options.

After payment I was asked to wait for my turn. I went outside and started appreciating the warm climate and scenic beauty of the outskirts of Italy, which was quite contrary to Copenhagen's climate of November. The drop zone was build in a very small area but it was covered by a very big farm and ground. At one side I could see hills and on the other side it was covered with dense forest, while the other end was wide open.

I could see some parachute coming down, it was such a good site to see colors of orange, black , yellow , blue , and red in a clear blue sky. Meanwhile Antonio came for some chit-chat, his one question was that why I came to Italy for skydiving. I told him what happened to me from the last few months. But he was more interested to know that why I didn't do it in India itself. The question was a bit awkward to me but I asked him in surprise that skydiving is there in India ? Then I told even if it would be there I would not have taken it, because we Indian are a  bit skeptic about 'Rules and Regulations' followed in India. And keeping faith on them and risking our life would not be a wise choice. However, in that short conversation I got to know that Antonio was more faithful towards skydiving in India. I felt he was not actually seeing only India, but he have faith in Skydiving fraternity worldwide.

Antonio then took me to a evacuated steel box in which there was an opening from middle. He told me that the box is actually the model of a plane :). He then told me how I would be tied against an instructor and how I need to sit at the opening of the  plane gate when my turn will come and then to look at the camera and smile. Then he told me once I will be in the air how I need to keep my legs and head. And then how the parachute will be open and finally how to land.  I remember asking that tying one more person will make sure that if I die , I will not die alone :) for which Antonio confirmed me yes that I won't die alone with a chuckle.

Plane model as a grey Box.white Plane in background  was our plane; and one plane is landing

It sounded not so hard as it felt like. But again I need to mentally prepare my mind and not to get tense and think much about it. I don't want to change my mind.

Preparation bay shade

Alberto, the person who brought me to the drop zone from bus stop approached me and told something. Without understanding much of Italian, I just followed him in some big sort of garage or preparation bay, there I saw people who came down from sky. They were packing their parachute back in the parachute's bag again. I met quite a few people with introduction in Italian, which I didn't mind concentrating. However, with passing of time I realized that what was the role of each person I met at that time, since only a few of them came to talk to me because of communication gap. Among them was a Czech girl with whom I could communicate in English. I got to know that though she is from Czech but she has been living in Italy from the last decade which made her more Italian. Skydiving became her passion and now she was striving to take skydiving certification. In fact, she was suppose to take her first solo skydiving before that day but due to wind her instructor denied her on safety reasons and she need to come down all the way by plane and not by parachute.

I was amazed by her and she inspired me to do some solo skydiving, but not in the near future or might be never.

My eyes

Then Alberto took me to a room inside the garage, which was full of skydiving clothes. He asked me to try and tell which one fits me. Alberto was then making sure that every belt was tied properly and there should not be any lose end. An old thin guy in his 50s with big moustache, whom I met some time back, was asking me to look at him, he was holding his helmet on me. It took me some time to notice that a small camera was in his helmet and was ON.

No string unattached

I also realized soon that Alberto will be tied on me, or to say I would be tied with him. When time came a group of people went to the direction of the plane. It was hard to know now by the costume that who were tourist and who were staff.

When we were walking towards the plane, there was a very young boy only some inches shorter to me. He was not a tourist. He told he is the camera man. I asked him what is his jump count after this skydive? It took him some 20-30 sec and in mean time I was guessing that it could be 20 or 30 but he told that it is  his 141th jump. When we enter the plane, the pilot and co-pilot were already present. Alberto first went inside to take the left back seat, I went and sat with him. One tall guy came and sat next to Alberto, i.e. back right seat. Then in the bench where I was sitting a girl came and sat in front of me. She was girl/friend of the guy who was sitting next to Alberto, beside her one man came and sat. That guy and Alberto were suppose to be tied on her and me respectively, which they did once we all sat. Then my cameraman, Franco, the big mustache old thin man and the 141-jump cameraman entered and sat. He was suppose to take the girl's video and girl's boyfriend was diving solo. There were two more guys, one could be the cameraman for the boy sitting next to Alberto.

When the plane started Alberto asked me to close my handcuff’s button, I started the timer in my watch and closed my handcuff’s button. I wanted to do it just before I jump to know exactly how much time it would take me to cover my skydiving, but since Alberto had asked me to closed the handcuff’s button, I needed to start stopwatch once the plane started.

Up ! Up ! and Away !!!

When the plane flew for few minutes I thought after seeing from the window that yes it is gettable. But then the plane didn't stop for the next 16 minutes. we were travelling away from ground (or earth) in spiral motion. The scene was awesome, those hills which I saw from ground was now below our level. With the passage of time things were becoming like eternity and I needed to make my mind vacuum and stop each and every though to come into my mind, because I feared that welcoming even a random thought will lead me to reconsidering my jump. But then a thought intrigued me ,

” Who would be such a fool, who would deny jumping after coming this far”.

Even though it was a positive thought, but it was giving a room of doubt.

I quickly shooed it away and focus to unfocused myself. Then the gate opened much at my relief. Few people quickly jumped and they were invisible on rear of the plane. Just before I, the girl and her cameraman jumped I remembered what Antonio told me and I sat with my hands crossed unto my chest and look at my cameraman, Franco, on my top right and whopped with joy.

When we jumped our body was slant with the earth and now our (me and Alberto) body was out of the plane and its relative speed was reduce hence I cannot figure out what was happening, only few seconds later when Alberto manoeuvre our body parallel to earth , I then got the sense of direction.

When I return to my sense of direction, all my fear was gone and I could see directly down towards the earth. There was a huge gush of wind around my ears. It was pretty painful. I thought my ears will come off but after some time I could not feel any pain because my ears went numb.

I was seeing down vertically first time to earth with that height, and was in awe and ecstasy of falling towards the earth, however it was short lived by a budge on my head which pushed my head upwards I realized that budge was not because of wind (which was tearing my neck apart in upward direction) but Alberto who was tied with me before the fall( Yes I know, he was tied with me, but that movement happens in jiffy and i did  not remember it all), signal me to put my head up. Antonio told me in my small mock training that I need to put my head up after falling, so I could see the mountain and enjoy the view.

When Alberto budge my head upwards I remembered  Antonio's advice. After putting my head up I could see the sun in full glory still much above the mountain. The view was indeed superb.

Within the last few seconds I was mixed with fear, anxiety, pain, ecstasy and euphoric.

When I was still mesmerizing my movement, I could see the Franco, was dropping down in front of us from diagonally left side. By this time, my body was fully stretch. My head was pulling above, my legs were perpendicular upward, ( I was fearing that my shoes should not come out and fall on someone on earth). By now, the pain on my ears lobes were gone, because they went numb, but due to stretching of the body, the same wind which made my ears numb was now hitting my stretched neck.

In all this pain, I was happy to concentrate on the camera. Franco was manoeuvring toward us, he came closer to me. I shouted looking at camera, " Kaano  ki vaat lag gayi " (Ears messed up) in typical Hindi slang. Since there was deafening sound, and I can't hear what I am saying, I thought I will lip read it when I watch the video, ( however I could not trace that later when I saw the video).

Franco was orbiting around us and taking video from different angles. Alberto then started rotating in our own axis. I could see that opposite to mountain was the sea.

(Later when I was thanking God for my skydiving, I also thanked for a good drop zone with a good scenic beauty, which was accidently chosen).

It was getting hard to endure the pain(,which though I was enjoying). Alberto opened the parachute and it was then like everything became stationary. The loud sound was gone. Franco was also gone. It was peaceful after so much of noise and pain. I was relieved that the pain was gone. And happy at the end that I did my skydiving, even though we still need to touch the ground. (Now when I re-live that movement, I feel, I never thought of landing or completing. For me my biggest achievement was to Jump. Jump to my impossibility).

Later after watching video I realize that Franco had some more 15 second free fall, before opening his parachute. This he did to make sure he reach ground before us.

Finally when parachute opened Alberto showed me the hills and the sea in our back. He then rotated the parachute, first to the right and then to the left, after some time he gave me to handle it. I tried right and left turn then gave back to him. Alberto then rotated us again, I asked him not to do much since my head was on the verge of spinning. I told him that I don't want to spoil my best moments in spinning my head. Moreover, I was still in awe that I did my skydiving.

Previously  we were parallel with the earth but now we are perpendicular and hanging with parachute. When I looked down I could now see the base camp. I could also see the lake across the base camp. We were approaching the base camp and with each descent my much awaited dream was going to come to an completion ........ with success.

Later Antonio, told me that we climbed to 4200 meters (14,000 feet) in about 16 minutes. The free fall was 50-55 seconds and the ride after parachute till we reach ground was approx 4 min long.

OMG !!! my leg is stuck, but no worry, not in a hurry 😖

💓💓Heart beating💓💓

Okay not so far .....

Don't look down !!! Don't look down ...

okay !!! 'smile' can be done.

Leap of faith

Surreal

Isn't earth look just like Satellite view of google Map

Cameraman, Franco coming to our level

Dude !!! see at camera and say cheesse

okay !!! lets go for 360ᐤ view.

Adriatic sea

Blazing sun

Its a bird, Its a plane ..... Its 'two' superman

Alberto signal Franco to go to away

Time to bid bye to Franco

Parachute opens, switching mode from Free Fall to Parachute mode

Franco had some more free fall, in order to reach ground before us.

LANDING

As we came nearer to the ground, the speed seemed to increase and we could see the ground approaching fast. Alberto maneuvered us in long spiral directions so our speed will be slow and we could land properly. I bend my legs as Antonio asked me to do while giving instructions previously that day. And it was a perfect landing. I saw Franco but I didn't realized he was still filming us.

Yes !!! I did it. 😀😀😀

"Yes ... I did it" followed by hysterical laugh😀

Apart from the Franco their were two-three people who was there to collect and pack the parachute. I was so excited that I asked them how to say 'I love you Italy' in Italian. But they didn't get what I was asking them in English. In hindsight, when i remember, that movement, i feel i made a fool of myself :), but anyway, sometimes in over excitement people does such things :)

On my way to bay-shade area, to change cloths, the Czech girl asked me how was it, with brimming smile I replied ' Terrific'.

I had to wait for some time for someone who could drop me to the city bus stop. The drop zone had a restaurant also, I purchased sandwich from there. The lady at the counter who was in her 40-50s, with whom I was having a light chat about India. She realize some Indian coins, when I was separately euros and paise to pay her for sandwich. She wanted to have it for her grand kid, who collects coins, she wanted to pay me for those coins, which I didn't accepted. Moreover, they hardly have much value in comparison to euros.

I was then dropped by another gentleman, Mozza to the bus stop. I asked Mozza where I was suppose to stop in morning. He told me that the Bus stop we are going is the one (which actually quite far from my morning bus stop). Mozza dropped me at my bus stop. I got some time before my bus approached, and I wanted to go to the sea, but one shopkeeper told that it is near but still far to come back for my bus, so I decided to roam in the city for some time. I saw one church, I went inside to say small thank you prayer.

streets of Porto San Giorgio

Church where I said a small thank you prayer

on my way back to Rome on a Bus

Epilogue

On Monday early morning I flew back to Copenhagen. First from Rome to Munich, where I spent all my time in sleeping. And then Munich to Copenhagen, where I spend my time in writing my Diary entry of last two days. Some time in between I looked down through my window and watch the earth, and thought to myself, " If something happens to the plane, I knew how to fly :)" Somehow my fear was gone.

The skydiving has helped me to venture to another horizon altogether, the horizon, where few people knew about. I mean if we really calculate in percentage how many did the free fall in the entire human history, then it would be minimal. I mean you know how it feels when earth approaches, the wind around you. You will know that how genuine the film stunt will be when you see them next time.

However, I didn't do the skydiving, it was actually a tandem skydiving, where a person is attached on your back. But still if given an option, I don't think I will try to do it (unless it free :) ) For me, I will try to venture other adventure sports. And cross more items from my bucket list.

p.s. Sorry for my grammar and please do leave a comment to cheer me up, when I re-read them in my old days. 
Thanks again for coming to my blog and reading it.

EDIT: 5 Dec 2020

Exchange rate from 9 Nov to 11 Nov 2012 from Euro to INR

this means my 160 Euro costed me 11,103.05  INR. But  i guess it was priceless, hence after 8 years i am doing the exchange.