I could never understand how the clear blue skies and the white-fringed waves bore someone. But on my trip to Cox's Bazar with friends that spanned out for almost a week, my eyes got tired of staring at the endless blue. All of us agreed that having something fun to do would be nice. 

My friends had already decided on trying out parasailing and jet skiing. I had no intention to try those out myself but instead of rotting away at the hotel, I decided to follow them to the beach. We started off from our hotel near Laboni point towards Inani. Somewhere in the middle was Dariyanagar sea beach, where you could try out both of these activities. 

It's easy to confuse among paragliding, parasailing and parachuting. Essentially, these three are quite different. Parasailing, by definition, is gliding through the air wearing an open parachute while being towed by a motor boat. This sport has now become the fanciest thing you can try out at the world's longest sea beach. It is an amazing blend of the thrills of acceleration and altitude. Once you are up in the sky, all you have to do is relax and enjoy the view. An experienced crew will give you one or two instructions to follow but there is absolutely no training required. 

Looking at my friends having the time of their lives parasailing one by one, I decided to fly high too. Hundreds of feet above the ground on my own, I could only hear my heartbeat and the waves crashing on the shores and I don't at all regret paying Tk. 1500 for those six to seven minutes. One thing was off my bucket list, yay. However, it's important to negotiate with the crew because depending on the duration and weather conditions, the price may go down by even one-third or more. Make sure you dress comfortably, and avoid flowing clothes that may get tangled with the ropes. 

For jet skiing close to the shore, the price is around Tk. 500, but if you want to drive a little further away from the coast, it may cost you around Tk.1000. Unlike parasailing, a guide will accompany you this time throughout the ride. However, you will experience much autonomy regarding speed and direction. Surprisingly, my friends who tried out both loved jet skiing more than parasailing. Besides Dariyanagar, jet skiing is offered in Kolatoli beach in front of Sayeman Beach Resort. 

While a lot of you might be looking forward to throng the beaches of Cox's Bazar to spend the winter vacation or to welcome the next year, it helps to plan ahead, especially the saving up bit, if you have these cool things on your to-do list. Don't skip the basics though. Nothing beats the overwhelming feeling of sitting on the beach under a moonlit sky and contemplating life. You know the deal. 

Dyuty Auronee is an occasional fusspot who loves her tea and authori-tea. Reach her at dyuty.r@gmail.com.