Nevis Bungy jump and Canyon swing - Queenstown/ New Zealand
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Friday 21st November 2008 - got up this morning and booked in for the bungy at 9.45am. This is the highest bungy in NZ, and the worlds 3rd highest jump at 134 meters. I have always sworn on my life that I would never do a bungy as the thought scared the living daylights out of me, I would have rather cuddled a tarantula - and I am an arachnophobic, so I though hell why not, and if I’m going to do it, lets just jump in and do the highest one possible. Smart move. We drove out there, and then me and Shelley were the last ones to take the cable car as we weighed less than everyone else, so we watched people do it, and I can not describe the pure terror and fear I felt. I felt like I was in a goldfish bowl, my heart was pounding, I was almost hyperventilating, and I felt weak all over. Shelley was really good and made me feel better, and we got to the jumping point in the middle of the canyon, they were playing some pumping tunes, so it totally took my mind of it and I was just dancing around the hut, watching the others jump. When it got to my turn, the heart palpations started. I was 2nd to last - NOT the good moment for being the smallest, and they got me in a chair and strapped up my ankles and waist. The guys were really nice and said the more scared you are, the better the after feeling. I had to shuffle to the platform where the cold air hit my face, and I did not look down. They are not allowed to push you, you have to jump yourself. This was one of the biggest fears of my life, and they counted down to 3, and I just for a second thought that I could not do it, but when they got to the count of 1, I just launched myself of the platform, and plummeted headfirst 134 metres down. My god, it was terrifying, but truly amazing. I was so proud of myself for conquering that fear, and as I bounced back up, all I could do was whoop and scream with joy and elation. You have to pull a chord to pull yourself back into a sitting position before they hoist you back up. Now I already knew I would fail at this. I pulled the chord several times and it would not work, so they had to hoist me back upside down. I managed to lift my head up and clung onto that rope for dear life. Even if I had wanted to let go I could not have, my hand was clenched round it for dear life, it was NOT moving. When I got back up the guy said I could let go and I was like “no way”, and I was just trying to catch my breath the whole way up my body was so pumped full of adrenaline. Awesome, truly awesome beyond words. Me and Shelley managed to have a few hours to calm down, then we went back into town and met Vicky as we were all doing the Shotover Canyon swing. Nothing like scaring the crap out of yourself twice in one day. This is the swing that Jack Osbourne did on his TV show ’Adrenaline Junkie’. We got there and the heart palpitations started again. There are several ways you can throw yourself off, and I chose the chair. Basically its 109 metres up, you have a 60 metres freefall, then you go into a 200m swing at 150km/hour speed. The guys found out I had done the Nevis bungy that morning, so they wound me up and terrorised me. They told me to look over the edge then pretended to throw me off, and caught me at the last minute, so I’m screaming like a little girl. They then strap me to a chair which is facing backwards, and its like when you swing backwards on your chair at school and loose balance. Again I was terrified beyond words - why do we find torturing ourselves so much fun???? They leant me over and told me to slowly overbalance - this is after winding me up saying my straps were too loose and I was not harnessed in properly - Kiwi sense of humour (warped). I was trying to catch my breath, psyching myself up and counting to 3. I leant back to let myself go, and the bastards caught me an pulled me back to make me do it all over again. The second time I just leant back and that was it - off I went. I spun over in the chair and went swinging towards the floor screaming my head off, but again it was the most amazing feeling, and when your left swinging you just end up laughing your head off, on such the ultimate high. They then hoisted me back up and it was so cool - loved it!! Jack Osbourne eat your heart out!!!! To celebrate after we went for the famous Queenstown Ferg burger (granted I had never actually heard of it before, but our drivers highly recommended it - good choice), then went for a few vodkas. I say a few, but I’ve just got back, its 3.30am now and our bus leaves at 6.30am Oooops!!!
Attention all, the italy ski bookings for our annual trip have been sorted out. I need part of the downpayment by this Friday.