It’s 6 am. A bright and sunny day. We’ve booked a helicopter from Gangtok to Bagdogra. But we’re unsure if it will take off or not—it heavily depends on the weather. Sikkim weather is highly unpredictable, and helicopter cancellations are quite common.
We reach the Heliport (yes, like an airport) at 8:30 am. The helicopter ride is scheduled for 9:30 am. We’ve booked a cab as backup since we can’t miss the wedding (the reason for this trip). The cab will either take us and our luggage (if the helicopter is cancelled) or just our luggage as there are strict baggage restrictions on the helicopter—max 10 kg. Small bags and so on.
Till 9:15, no one confirms whether the ride is on or not. We wait patiently. Everyone is dreading the cab ride now, and we genuinely hope the helicopter takes off.
And finally we get the go ahead.
It’s the first time on a helicopter for all of us. It’s a strange mixed feeling. Excitement, relief, happiness, some slight fear.
It’s a small helicopter with only around 20 seats, half of which are empty. From the inside, it looks like a small flight. We all take window seats.
After a lot of warming up, the helicopter just lifts straight up into the air. It’s a weird feeling—like being on a lift shooting up to the 30th floor. The helicopter reaches a low altitude and stays there. The city, roads, and cars are all clearly visible. It looks like the view from a flight about to land. But in a helicopter, that view just stays. Helicopter: An ever-landing flight.
We trace the Teesta river and get a beautiful view of its curves and flow. But the helicopter’s windows have so many scratches that nothing photographs clearly. Still, the view is amazing. The mountain roads look like a river from above—meandering their way around the hills. Yes, the same roads that haunted us and broke our backs the last 3 days, look like beautiful rivers from a helicopter.
35 mins and we land in Bagdogra. What would usually take 3.5hours (7.5hours if we were travelling, given our luck). We are relieved. All the travel in this trip is finally over. Now, time to enjoy the wedding and head back home.
I am already missing Bangalore so much. I count my blessings and write a gratitude journal on how comfortable a life I have back in Bangalore. I am just waiting for tomorrow.
Endless thoughts 