Sunday 7 August 2022

Indoor Skydiving / Teppenyaki

Birthday celebrations continue. I had a few ideas for memorable experiences to mark my 40th, one of which was indoor skydiving, a virtual experience (not descending through a gutted skyscraper or anything). As a gift, the family got me a slot at iFly in Trafford Park. 

Instructor Kenny had sent me a video guide beforehand explaining how it all works, and what we’d need to do (posture, hand signals, etc.). On arrival a group of perhaps 10 of us were welcomed in, given more instructions, handed blue overalls and taken into the waiting room. 

Next to this was a narrow room with a high roof and a huge underfloor fan, and one at a time Kenny took us in, over the mesh flooring, and we were blasted upwards. The second rotation, we all chose to go high, so the operator blasted the fans and Kenny guided us by the cuffs and hems and we were blown skyward into the chamber. A great experience!



Before the evening meal, we took a look around a few city centre bars: 

 

 

For the evening meal: Sapporo Teppenyaki, Castlefield, for Japanese cuisine cooked at the table. The seats form a square shape around four cooking stations, one of which was dedicated to my booking. 

 

 

Scroll through this one for the videos. That’s the first time I’ve been serenaded by Japanese chefs in a restaurant! It’s also the first time I’ve had potato croquettes basketball-shotted into my mouth. A range of meats, veg, oriental spices and sauces, and raw heat from a fiery grill, all combine to make a unique restaurant experience. Great fun and great-tasting. With a little time to spare, we strolled down Deansgate and into Spinningfields, to the new Japanese-Brazilian fusion bar and restaurant, Sakku Samba

 

 

I must come back here peak time. The restaurant has taken over the old Artisan unit after it being redundant for a few years, and has been done up exceptionally. A new celeb haunt rises.

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