Journey to Heaven

Zoom went up the gigantic mass of synthetic mixed cloth as hot air was pumped into it.

In that cold freezing weather of Cappadocia, it was the gust of hot air that gave relief to the body and fingers which were almost frost bitten due to the intense chill at dawn.

Big, Bigger and the Biggest size ever. A small rectangular box attached to it where sat ten people inclusive of the guide. I too belonged to one of them.

A blast of hot air and a temporary farewell to the land. Here began our journey up towards heaven. All set to compete with the wind that blew over our faces.

Precisely terrorized by the height factor, trying to conquer my alto phobia, I nodded on and on with others as they cheered.

High and low, we flew in rhythm of the wind. We were then engulfed by the atmosphere full of exclamations and clicks of the camera. Feets beneath us lay the once natural catastrophically hit volcano city of Cappadocia.

Sky was the limit. Our eyes could scan everything varying from the snow capped mountains to the rivers, cave houses to the ages old pigeon valleys, from the sun risen in the east to the beautifully lighten ranges in the west.

The resettling of the rocks layer by layer with a striking collection of red due to iron, yellow due to sulphur and white owing to the presence of quartz made me give this view its appropriate title, what it seemed to the rest also from our balloon -“Picture Perfect”.

The ecstasy ran everywhere in our body (Blending precisely with a little left fear for heights in me) and it showed how much we were feeling to be in paradise as our balloon reached 2,000 feet above the ground.

We were overlooking a huge mass of jigsaw puzzle.

We taped the entire panoramic view interrupted by studs (Those were other balloons flying with us) amidst the sky. Believe me, I absolutely avoided showing that alarmed expression over my face which slowly, and quite strangely was disappearing as we were ascending higher.

Swaying all the way, our guide landed us into the van awaiting our return. Bump into the box and fizz went up the champagne bottle. “Cheers” we said and celebrated.

Although I do not know what others drank for, I was indeed celebrating, secretly thanking the guide for getting me back!

And so I feel that the one and half hour bliss that I cherished then (accompanied with what has reduced to be a minute fraction of panic), even till today makes me feel closer to heaven.

Surabhi

Experience of the hot air balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey