Minister Yami does bungee jumping

KATHMANDU, April 15: Taking the plunge is nothing new in life for Hisila Yami but this time it was different. Yami, the Maoist minister for tourism, bungee jumped from the 160 metre high suspension bridge over the Bhotekoshi River. She was promoting Nepal as an exotic adventure destination as part of the Tourism Year 2011 campaign.[break]



"It was exciting and thrilling experience for me, but I was not scared as I have jumped many times in the forest during the decade-long armed conflict,” said Yami after participating in the bungee jumping event on Tuesday at The Last Resort, a spectacular natural bungee site situated near Tatopani border area along the Kodari Highway.

She was accompanied by over a dozen other jumpers including first Nepali woman sky-diver Maya Gurung and women Everest summiteers Pujan Acharya, Asha Singh and Ngawang Phuti Sherpa.



The Last Resort established in 1998 is Nepal´s only bungee jumping venue, which is also the world´s third highest bungee site with a record 8 seconds free fall in the swing and 4 seconds free fall in the regular jump. The site also boasts magnificent canyonying and white water opportunities.



Yami, wife of Finance Minister and senior Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai, said she has been involved in sports since her college years in Delhi School of Architecture in 1980s where she was honored as the best sportswoman.