Bungy MADNESS! - Blogabond

Crazy weekend. I'll make this as quick as possible. I feel like I say that in every post - but I am a busy girl.
A weekend of Queenstown, Glenorchy, and Lake Wanaka/Hawea. Friday night was Queenstown. Exciting night life - slept in a hostel because they next day we had a busy day planned - BUNGY JUMPING! Nevis Bungy - the third highest jump in the world reaching a height of 134m, 440 ft, a free fall of 8.5 seconds. Go big or go home, aye? Saturday morning I was a nervous wreck. I didn't want to jump, I did not want any part of it. I woke up with pulse all over the place - I was anxious beyond belief. I have a terrible fear of heights, and a terrible fear of lack control in situations, so bungy jumping wasn't the easiest thing in the world. Plus, all I could picture was myself falling for 8 seconds hoping that the rope tied around my ankles would save my life. Driving up to the actual bungy location was terrifying. On the car ride there they played all these songs about jumping, diving, and dying - it was great, just wonderful that they did that. Then as the bus drove higher and higher up the mountain everyone became crazy as we came closer and closer to our dive. We got all harnessed up and gazed upon our challenge: a metal hut suspended in between two mountains by wire. It wasn't even a bridge. We had to have a gondola take us over the hut - that alone made my legs shake. So inside this hut was a crew of men who held my life in their hands - literally, some techno music, and a group of twenty scared individuals thinking about the dive they were about to take. Each person jumped one by one and each time it was unbelievable. I just could not get it through my head that that was about to happen to me. Then I heard "Sarah - you're up." And my heart started pounding and my pulse went insane and my palms started to sweat. I had neon yellow cuffs velcro-ed around my ankles, then I was placed in a chair as I got all hooked up and was explained what it was I needed to do. The directions were simple: When he counted to three, I was to jump, then on my second or third bounce I was to pull a cord to right myself up so I was sitting like I was in a swing. "Got it," I squeaked - I barely had a voice. I waddled over the ledge, did not allow myself to look down, then listened as he began counting to three. All of a sudden I was overcome by a powerful calm as he counted. I accepted that this was happening, and that I probably would never do it again, so I should just jump and embrace it. "3....2....1!" And at "1" I swan dove over the edge without even thinking about it. At first your stomach leaps into your throat and my split second thought was "WHY DID I DO THIS?!" But then I started falling and the air rushed past my face and I could see the rocks and water down below coming closer and closer but I knew I was safe. I just free fell - it was so liberating. Then I bounced back up and before I fell down again, I experienced a moment of zero gravity - I felt like I was flying! A third bounce and I flew down again and pulled the cord to right myself up. At first I was scared, I looked down and got nervous. Then I thought "Wait - I just BUNGY JUMPED and fell for 8 seconds. No worries. I let go and let myself lean back, enjoying the mountain view.

FOOD TIME! More later.

written by

Kiwi-Travels on April 13, 2008 from Dunedin, New Zealand

from the travel blog: I'm going to live as a New Zealand Kiwi for six months!

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In words stolen from a previous comment from Auntie Annie: WOWZA! That was some description. Good for you for jumping. So glad you posted more photos. Everything looks so amazing.

Will you be putting together a photo slideshow like Cousin did for the next family get-together?

written by Molly on April 14, 2008

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