I am excited to write this post because this is the most recent example of how I fought with my fears and took the plunge. Traveling makes one fearless. Doesn’t it? This is going to be about my paragliding experience at Kuala Kubu Baru in Selangor, Malaysia. I was on a press trip with Selangor Tourism + Malindo Airlines and this adventure sport was part of the itinerary. To be honest, I was not very comfortable to go for it initially. But now I am glad that I did it despite all mixed thoughts in my mind. As I am writing this article, I am already missing the fun and the adrenaline rush. I am chuckling as I see my video because it all looks so easy now. To add on, the aerial views of Kuala Kubu Baru were one of the best for this activity. Everything looked amazing from high up in the sky.
The first thing we did in Selangor was paragliding
Selangor is known for its river rafting activity but it is picking up for paragliding too. I am glad I got to do the latter. I did have a past experience of paragliding in Manali in India but what I got to experience in Kuala Kubu Baru in Selangor was nowhere close to what I had done before. This was far more real and surreal for sure. Hanging up high in the air, looking down at the beauty of the natural environment, feeling the winds against the body, enjoying the kick of the moment and swinging in the air is absolutely thrilling, exciting, nerve-wracking (initially) and a lot of emotions of joy and ecstasy.
Right from the beginning!!
In Kuala Kubu Bharu, the take-off point is from Bukit Batu Pahat which is 1400-foot above sea level. To reach to the hills, one has to reach the main ground of the Kuala Kubu Baru Paragliding Club. We drove into one of the most peaceful parts of the city and were taken in by the serenity of the place almost immediately. As soon as we stepped out of our vehicle, we were met by the trained instructors of the paragliding club who not only welcomed us but also took us through a small learning session about the shoes, headgear, body behavior, accessories and factors that affected the flight. After hearing it all, it was easy to conclude that while a lot of things depend on the instructor, there is a bigger part that depends on the moods of the weather, especially the winds. To our joy, it wasn’t a cloudy day and we were really looking forward to an exhilarating experience.
The Winds Decide the Way and the Sway….
The ride to the top looked exciting but it turned out to be adventurous. There were many jerky and goosebump moments on the way. Thank God, 4X4 vehicles were invented to overcome such terrains. Once we reached the starting point, there was no looking back. While my instructor got busy in setting up the equipment, I had butterflies in my stomach. When you look things from the height, everything looks beautiful but when you are told to jump off from that height, you really feel scared. The only thing that works is the belief in your instructor. Thankfully, my pilot was an experienced person and he was very good at making me comfortable. He buckled me with the gears and asked me to run and I did.
Run and have the heart to jump off the edge!
So the first run and the final jump is something that one has to be careful about, rest everything is amazing. The moment I jumped, we sailed comfortably. The moment I had settled myself comfortably, my eyes popped out looking out to the farthest off buildings, forests, lakes and more. I was lost in soaking the beauty of the place while my pilot aimed at sailing higher. He said that the winds were favorable and were helping us to soar higher. The whole concept of being able to move from one place to another, to fly above the water bodies, dense forests and mountains, to look at the landscapes with a different perspective makes one feel nothing less than a bird. It’s difficult to put it in words. Thus, you must do paragliding whenever you get a chance. I was feeling a little heavy in the head by the end but thankfully I had been in the air for good fifteen minutes. By the time I landed on the plains, I was a confident girl who could sail through any winds. So next time, whenever you get a chance to paraglide, don’t let it pass.
Why should you go for paragliding in Kuala Kubu Baru?
- 1. You are in safe hands of trained instructors.
- 2. It offers some of the best views.
- 3. Three major paragliding competitions have been hosted there: Malaysia Accuracy Open, Paragliding Accuracy World Cup and Malaysia Open Cross-Country.
- 4.In fact some of the top paragliders in the world vouch that this place is just perfect for this adventure sport.
For more on Malaysia, click on the below!
Thank you, Selangor Tourism and Malindo Air was making this trip possible.
P.S. – Do share your paragliding experiences with me.
I’m so glad that you took the plunge and went paragliding! I’ve never done paragliding, but I’ve done parasailing before in Lake Tahoe. It’s so magical to be up in the air and looking at everything!
Ooh you are very brave to do this! I’d definitely go tandem, probably with my boyfriend as he loves this kind of stuff! I’m sure the views were amazing, and the company sounds really professional.
You are very brave to do paragliding and I am sure you would have seen the most beautiful views of Kuala Kubu. Really sailing with winds is a very memorable experience. You have given helpful tips about taking care during first run and landing. Thanks for sharing and hopefully I will also gather enough strength to do this adventurous activity.
Yay we DID it. This was SO much fun 🙂 Love our pics too.
aaaw, i;m so glad you faced your fears. it turned out to be an awesome experience in the end and i’m so keen to do paragliding on my travels too. cool, post and the view looks totally worth it.
That looks so exhilarating and terrifying at the same time, lol, how did you keep so relaxed during all those photos is what I want to know! But the photos up in the air look like it was the most serene experience. Kuala Kubu Baru looks like an off the beaten path adventure I hope I get to experience one day.
Ahhh this looks SO FUN! I would love to do this; I tried parasailing in Florida once and this looks like next level fun! I wonder how many times you have to do it before you can do it without an instructor? This has motivated me to definitely take the next chance I can to go paragliding!
Whoa! This is so exciting. I have never tried paragliding. I am sure it was a once in a lifetime experience. Doing it in Selangor must be even more exciting. For an adventure enthusiast like me, it is very appealing.
Woah! Manjulika how? I would be scared to death – given I am scared of heights. But you are so brave…I can hardly imagine that moment when you have to make that right jump. Hopefully one day I will be brave enough to do it and not let a chance of paragliding pass 😀
We remember our paragliding experience for the first time in Kamshet near Mumbai and we had a similar feeling of fear and joy. But once we were in the air with wonderful views beneath it we just overcome all the fears. It was an amazing experience indeed. You seemed to have a lot of fun paragliding in Selangor.