The charge is fixed at Rs. 250 per person for a three to four minute ride. The charge is fixed at Rs. 250 per person for a single three to four minute ride and yet there is considerable demand to the jet skies.

These days, visitors are greeted by the spectacular scenes of one or two persons riding aquatic motorbikes at the Mypadu beach in Nellore district.

The general public is being held spell-bound as this fun sport was introduced by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC). Now a joy ride on these aquatic motorbikes has become a must at this boating point.

Located nearly 24 km. from Nellore town, the Mypadu beach point has been allotted two jet ski aquatic bikes. The APTDC started offering this service keeping in mind the huge potential for attracting the fun-loving urban enthusiasts.

For the rural folks, the aquatic bikes are indeed a feast to the eyes. The visitors who come to bathe in the sea just stand watching in wonder as the AP tourism’s drivers take tourists on the bike ride against the lapping waves of the sea.

The charge is fixed at Rs. 250 per person for a single three to four minute ride and yet there is considerable demand to the jet skies.

The recreational water sport with these aquatic bikes has become commercially successful. The visitors, who stay at the AP Tourism’s Haritha hotel nearby, are making it a must to enjoy a ride on the jet ski bike.

Seeing the big scope for this, the AP Tourism officials picked up local youths and arranged specialised training. “I got training at Goa beach. There the sea is more or less smooth. Visitors drive the jet ski by themselves with expert swimmers kept available for emergencies,” said Ch. Srinu, who is hired as an aquatic bike driver by the APTDC.

As the sea is not smooth here, the riding enthusiasts are not being given a chance to ride the water bikes on their own. One has to sit and gently hold the handle while the AP Tourism’s driver rides the bike.

Officials of the AP Tourism intend to allow a few select individuals to rides these jet ski bikes once they get used to this riding habit.

The jet skies bikes are fitted with petrol engines and they have to be operated with extra care. The officials are hopeful of a greater patronage from the public going by the welcoming initial response to this recreational activity at Mypadu beach.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Nellore – January 11th, 2014

Fun lovers yet to get the green signal to indulge in adventure sports on the island. A number of adventure games were introduced in the island to add to the fun element for the younger lot.

Fun-loving children, who can’t wait to chill out in the series of exotic and adventure games introduced on Bhavani Island on the river Krishna, eagerly look forward to the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister-designate N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Yes, there is a connection between the two. Children who throng the picturesque island with the fond hope of freaking out in the adventure zone that promises loads of fun, especially after installation of a number of fun games like ‘Jungle Gym’, wall-climbing and most importantly, the water-roller that allows fun-lovers to walk, float and roll on water in a 12-feet-long cylindrical PVC structure, are crest-fallen when they are asked to wait for some more days.

A number of adventure games were introduced in the island to add to the fun element for the younger lot. But elections, followed by the bifurcation, marred the smooth sail. The local AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) authorities are now waiting for the green signal from the government (which does not exist) to bring the new equipment into use.

“The fun-starved kids in this region have never had their share of entertainment. The island somehow has never delivered the promised fun and frolic. It has always disappointed visitors in some way or the other. It took years for the APTDC authorities to wake up to the tourism potential of this place and bring in games that could attract large crowds. When it was done finally, the elections and bifurcation played spoilsport,” rues Soumya, a young mother. “Driven by the exciting idea of riding a water-roller sporting a life jacket, I visited the island only to be told that the new sports have not yet been made operational,” says a disappointed Chanakya.

Besides taking up repairs to the damaged play equipment like Burma Bridge and other adventure sports, completion of the long-awaited amphitheatre and renovation of the restaurant and tree-top cottages, the Tourism Corporation authorities have introduced high rope activities, a climbing wall, a Tarzan swing and much more. Funds to the tune of Rs. 1 crore have been spent to spruce up the island but it will take some time before young fun-lovers can actually reap the benefits.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – June 03rd, 2014