Paragliding Oludeniz, Turkey

A one, a two, a one two three!

Exploration of ruined cities (Roman, Greek and Lycean), visiting historical monuments and walking the galleries of archaeological museums are all great, but sooner or later there comes a day when all you wanna do is have fun!

So here we are: Eating the breeze high above Oludeniz on the Turkish Mediterranean coast.

BabaDag (Father Mountain) tops out at 1975m and we've just spent 45 minutes in a jeep doing the the low gear bump and grind to the summit ridge. Below us the sinous, island garlanded and canyon-riven coastline lies at the foot of the pine and olive treed hills that our mountain rears above.

We're going to jump.

Paragliding's got to be fun, right?

My pilot Cino has me harnessed and helmeted and now shoves his video camera in my face as we wait our turn in the lineup. This place is busier than Ataturk Airport. While we all wait out a lull in the breeze, Cino goes for the interview.

"So Doug - are you ready?"

"You bet! Let's do it!"

"Do you trust me?"

"Sure do. With my life ;)"

"Great! You know this my first time tandem, yes?"

He's kidding. I look over to where Emo is talking to Mau. It seems he's the one who's nervous in their banter.

"Emba - I must ask you - do you feel OK?"

Mau's got a grin the size of the Grand Canyon and assures him she's feeling fine.

"You are sure? Not a little sick or anything?"

It turns out Emo's last passenger had thrown up five seconds after they ran off the slope. Not a good thing when the wind's in your face. Emo's still somewhat shocked and needs reassuring that he's not in for a repeat drenching.

Suddenly the tapes on the poles at the sides of the slope flutter back to life and Cino's calling me over. He clips my harness to his.

"I am going to ask you to walk a few steps and then I'll say 'run'. Keep running until until I say sit, OK?"

"Gotcha."

"Doug. Don't sit before I say. If you sit before, we can crash."

O... kaaaaaay...

"Walk, Doug!"

I hear the 'chute fill on the second step and by the third I'm in its shadow.

"Run, Doug - run!"

The ground beneath my feet disappears before I've managed half a dozen strides...

It's amazing how quickly a gentle slope becomes a 5000ft drop. We turn above the mountain and catch the updraught. We're off. I'm looking for Mau's chute but I can't see it and I don't spot her until forty minutes later when we're back on the ground at the beach and Cino tells me Emo's his brother and points out the 'chute they're flying.

Is it fun? Oh yeah. Now I want to learn!

There's nothing like flying without engines. Just the wind and your armchair in the sky. If you get the chance, jump on it!