WHERE MY CUP RUNNETH OVER
Travel+Leisure India|January 2020
HORIZONTAL WATERFALLS, SEAPLANE FLIGHTS, SHARK CAGES, CAMEL RIDES, AND LIP-SMACKING FOOD. RISHAD SAAM MEHTA RELISHES A SLICE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA ON A UNIQUE ITINERARY.
RISHAD SAAM MEHTA
WHERE MY CUP RUNNETH OVER
I threw open the window of my room at the Mangrove Hotel, and the sky was a fiery red. So red that for a moment I thought that the town of Broome was on fire. But in reality, it was just the sun flirting with rain-laden clouds from just below the horizon. There had been a gusty storm playing out over the region through the night; now, it seemed to be abating.

Broome is a beach resort town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. My adventurous plan was to hop on a seaplane flight—with five friends—to the Horizontal Falls near Kimbolton, which is a 45-minute flight or a 10-hour drive away. Then the seaplane would drop us off at Kooljaman at Cape Leveque, nearly 210 kilometres to the north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula. Our luggage, in the meantime, would be transported to Kooljaman by road since the seaplane could not carry the burden of both, the people and their luggage. But Australia had other plans for us.

Sitting in the seaplane was like sitting in a van with stiff suspension. The single-engine Cessna rode all the gusts of wind—prevalent thanks to the recent storm—like bumps on a road, as we sat on bench seats amid the burble of the exhaust. As we neared the Horizontal Falls, our pilot dived down so that we’d get a clear view from the perspective of a soaring eagle.

‘ONE OF THE GREATEST’

Some of my co-flyers even screeched like excited birds of prey as the Cessna rapidly dumped altitude. From my window seat, I took a few pictures but then put my camera aside to soak in the natural phenomenon that David Attenborough once described as ‘one of the greatest wonders of the natural world’.

This story is from the January 2020 edition of Travel+Leisure India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2020 edition of Travel+Leisure India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TRAVEL+LEISURE INDIAView All
The Man Behind The Persona
Travel+Leisure India

The Man Behind The Persona

With a career spanning decades and a repertoire that crosses languages and genres, R Madhavan is a beacon of cinematic excellence. In a candid conversation with the charismatic actor, BAYAR JAIN discovers the secrets behind his enduring relevance and success.

time-read
6 mins  |
March 2024
Innovation On The Go
Travel+Leisure India

Innovation On The Go

Travel + Leisure India & South Asia in collaboration with Hyundai brings India Stories, a five-part series showcasing Hyundai IONIQ 5 users and their daily experiences with the car. In part four, Naveen Murugan, head of product for an agricultural trading network, decides to road-test the vehicle's ultra-comfortable interiors and cutting-edge exteriors.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
THE COAST IS CLEAR
Travel+Leisure India

THE COAST IS CLEAR

Ingrid Rojas Contreras dives deep to uncover the raw, unspoiled beauty of Costalegre, Mexico. Photographs by Anne Menke

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2024
Treasures of the Tide
Travel+Leisure India

Treasures of the Tide

In the tidal pools and coastal forests of Canada's Vancouver Island, Jen Murphy discovers a marine environment that's both minuscule and magical.

time-read
7 mins  |
March 2024
The North Remembers
Travel+Leisure India

The North Remembers

The Pohjola Route in Finland is a blend of the country's finest landscapes, from reindeer farms to riverine islands and majestic alpine forests and fells. Lakshmi Sharath embarks on a journey that feels straight out of a fairy tale.

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
Through Time and Tide
Travel+Leisure India

Through Time and Tide

From the historic trails of Muharraq to the fleeting sands of Jarada Island, Bahrain echoes with the resilience of its erstwhile pearl divers, discovers Adila Matra.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
Dancing To Her Tunes
Travel+Leisure India

Dancing To Her Tunes

A celebrated classical Indian dancer and a fervent activist, Mallika Sarabhai utilises her art form to address societal issues and advocate for change. In a conversation with Bayar Jain at the Kerala Literature Festival 2024, the Padma Bhushan awardwinning artist talks about using the creative field for starting thought-provoking conversations.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
To The Moon And Beyond
Travel+Leisure India

To The Moon And Beyond

Associate project director and second-in-command for Chandrayaan-3 mission, K Kalpana played a pivotal role in India's successful and historic soft-landing on the moon. The scientist speaks to Shibani Bawa about the project, gender insignificance at ISRO, and more.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Sky Is The Limit
Travel+Leisure India

Sky Is The Limit

Flight lieutenant Shivangi Singh is India's first female Rafale fighter pilot. Hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, Singh joined the Indian Air Force in 2017. Her journeyfrom the rigorous training grounds to the skies-is a testament to her determination and resilience. In a conversation with Bayar Jain, she reveals the challenges and rewards of being a fighter pilot.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
Wheels Of Change
Travel+Leisure India

Wheels Of Change

Virali Modi's advocacy journey began when she survived a life-threatening illness that left her paralysed from the chest down. The activist speaks to Adila Matra about the challenges she faces as a wheelchair user and her efforts to drive meaningful change through initiatives like the #MyTrain Too campaign.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024