Made my way down to the beach for another day of surf sand sun and excitement. The day started slower and got up to speed just it does most another day. All of a sudden the noise of the day just hums away as I almost did not notice the change in sound that is like symphony all around.
The early start to the day consists of laying out the kites and lines so that when the time comes the launch is ready to go. Making sure there is no crosses and that others will not disrupt the set up. The easiest way to make sure the kite is not bothered is to set up in an area that is not populated and not in the way of the general public.
Considering this area is private to the resort school restaurant lounge....set up is not to worry but necessary to make sure it is done properly every day.
Taking the kites down and packing it away is just as important but that is for later when the day of flight is through.
All set up and ready to let the flight begin.
Here they go. Ill share some photos with you and then go fly....
Like a bird in the sky the kits spin and sing and make all types of lines in the sky. A beautiful sight to see.
Coming closer and another kite is up and crossing the shore.
This kite has some more aggressive turns to it. Looks like the operator is used to this kind of conditions.
Now here we go two kites close together and moving the same direction. Lets see how this plays out.
The in unison flight formation is important to make sure that lines are not crossed.
Just like snowboarding skiing and other sports that require a line to be held and rode along in order for the pack to know what is going on.
Kiteboarding requires lines along the water to be maintained and in the air.
After some time of flying around it is time to come back down. Lets look at the catching of a kite.
As the operator takes the kite out of the power some to the area where the kite will fallout of the sky at the low angle pictured above. The helper will catch the leading, thick, edge of the kite and flip it upside down as to eliminate and lift from the wind. That could be bad as the kite boarder is taking off gear.
Upside down kite, gains no flight.
Lets watch a few more kites fly.
It is coming time for me to get ready and gliding.
I suite up and get going. Kite aloft and in the water, The gusty winds are blowing, making it quite difficult to control the kite. All of a sudden the kite is filled and jerked as it pops me into the air. It does a few times and I have to scramble to get my feet.
The winds gust to onshore winds.
Basically that is when the winds blow towards the Shore, blowing what is out at sea onto the beach. In that case, me at gusty alarming rate.
I see the instructors yelling and waving running towards me on the beach
The other kites come in fest and quick....it is only me out here right now. Very fast it all happens, as I try to ride in and gain control of the kite, myself and the overpowering winds...I can only react to the now white cap waves toppling me. Not able to prepare, I can try to anticipate them. It is futile as the kite goes south into the water. I hear yelling.
I rise, carve my way up the beach against the wind (beading) that toss me, and then they do. I get slung out of the water, that is only three feet deep, enough to stand, yet I am sideways trying to land the kite.
The winds gust and throw me up, I see myself flying over sand, wishing for three feet of water now... This landing wont be good.
Crash bam I am down in the sand. I cannot see and something hurts but I must get the lines clear from me before I get caught up again and am in the air again....my feet are not under me my arm is.....oh no this is not good.
The tide break on the beach catches my attention as it comes closer to my view. Not something I would like to see coming at me...or me at it.
The levy, the concrete barrier, the hard angled sharp on my skin concrete cement comes closer...I do not, cannot hit that with my body. I know this instinctually that I will not last against that levy. It will hold me back from living life.
I have to sand dog it. Bail into the berm before the sand. If I can just get the kite detached and take the vertical drop to sand rather then being pulled toward the finally of concert pilings.
I drop to the sand.
I hear my heart beat in my minds eye. I know there is somethings wrong. Unsure, but hurt. The kits flaps now not under tension. I guess I got the release and activated it. Something hurts. a lot of hurts.
I hear some people run over to me and gasp.
This is not the first time I walk away from crazy accident.....I walk and collapse after a bit. Find myself on the way somewhere. movement.
They bring me to a doctor....he is not home. There is a child. she says she knows how to stitch and not afraid to do so. I smile and shake my head yes.
I lay there as a child stitches the tore flesh back onto me. The man who brought me here is picking rock and shells out of my body as he cleans the blood off my body. I smile at him, mentally saying thank you, and I hope he knows my gratitude. I catch the eye of the child stitching away. I stare at her in the eyes. See looks at me with eyes not of a child and smiles. A bead of tears struggle to cut a clean line through the blood sand and sweat off of my face. The washed line now running down my chest showing me the stark reality of the mess I am in.
My eyes and perhaps psyche did not allow me to see the full picture of what happened after the impact. Everything became focused on getting my body to a safe place where full trust could be let go of. In this case a man and a child both actively keeping me together.
At that point I was out. I woke up on the move again, no point of looking. Shuffled my way to the resort and into a a dark room as everything went fuzzy.
I wake up the next day stuck to the sheets dry blood and puss I lay there hurting. Alone. Happy to be alive. In pain. But happy, grateful. Glad at my body to not be done...to feel like I want to be done but know that there is more fun that I will have in times to come.
- Thanks for having a look. If you read down this far and could fallow along then good on you for that. I don't think I am easy to read and the bleeding does not help. On the med for a bit of time that is for sure but nothing is damaged beyond repair.....and my body become a greater map of pain pleasure and experiences that when I am done with this shell it wont be worth reusing.
--> The pictures were taken on a rounded southern point in the town of Phan Rang, Ninh Thuận, Vietnam. A nice place where they make fish souse close by so you know when you are there. But don't worry it is a nice smell.
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