March 5 2008: New Zealand: Part Two (!!11~)
Filed under Travel
For Part One of “My Trip To New Zealand, Exclamation Mark, Exclamation Mark, One, One, Tilde”, click here.
Nevis Bungy Jump
The 20th of February dawned with bright blue skies and warm temperatures. Booked in for an 12am jump, we showed up at The Station for check-in and weigh-in. For obvious reasons (the fact that my breasts must weigh at least a kilo each), I’m not going to disclose my weight…but let’s just say it was more than the three skinny male malnutritioned Asians I was travelling with. Funny that huh?
After a beautiful half-hour drive along the scenic route from Queenstown to the jump site, my stomach was churning. I was eager to jump, don’t get me wrong. But the sheer fact that I was going to be braving the highest bungy in Australasia was enough to make me want to bring up my breakfast. Anticipation is a powerful creature.
Apparently “an expletive is the most common first comment made upon arrival” (link) at the bungy site. They weren’t lying. I believe my exact words were something along the lines of “Fuuuuuuck, shiiiiit, ohhhhh myyyyy goooood….I’m gonna diiiiiiiie….”.
You see that little pod suspended on wires between two cliff tops? Yeah, that’s where I jumped from. It’s 134m above ground level. You look down through the glass floor, and you literally cannot see the river running below - the rocky banks and the river is literally indistinguishable from each other at that height. To say that you’re diving into nothing wouldn’t be a lie - it literally feels that way.
Despite the 100% safety record that the jump site boasts, when you’re strapped into a flimsy harness, you can’t help but think: is this it? Surely there’s something more - something stronger, less flimsy, something that will properly support your body weight when you’re dangling in space. Apparently not.
That single split second when you’re standing at the very edge of the jump pod is unique. You’re torn. You could jump, if you’re still inclined to after looking into metres of empty air. You could potentially still pull out of jumping. Sure, you’ll have wasted hundreds of dollars, but at least you’re not entrusting your life to a single rope, amirite?
I made the decision to jump. With eight and a half seconds of free fall, where you literally don’t feel the cables around your ankles and feel as though you’re going to splat face-first into the abyss below, your heart literally catches in your throat and you can’t breathe. The adrenaline rushes through your veins and you let out an almighty scream - and no one, not even yourself, can tell if it’s from fear or exhilaration. For a split second, you can almost imagine that you actually do see your life flash before your eyes.
When you’re back on firm land, you tremble. You can’t stop trembling either, not for several hours at least, until the adrenaline subsides and you can think clearly again. And when that happens - you remember that split second when you thought you were going to die. You start re-evaluating your priorities, your life, your routine. And if you’re brave enough, you might make a decision that goes against everything you’ve ever believed.
You can hear my screams during the jump on a video I’ve posted to my Facebook profile. The video reference number is 10508571878. Apologies for it being restricted to Facebook users only, but I don’t have a YouTube account, and can’t be bothered getting one, because I am a super-busy studious university student. Yes sirree.
Bingo At Skycity Casino
Returning from the jump that afternoon, we were hardly in any shape to do anything overtly energetic. Adrenaline has that funny effect on people - you feel great when it’s coursing through your veins, you feel crap when it’s over. Thus, we decided to do something tame and middle/old-agey: playing bingo at Queenstown’s Skycity Casino.
Believe it or not, it was actually my first time playing bingo. I’ve been surprisingly sheltered my whole life, I know. My bingo-virginity worked in my favour though - I had an excellent run of beginner’s luck and won $20NZD through playing. Combined with another member of my party’s $5NZD win, we ended up winning enough to buy two large meals and a snack from the Casino restaurant - thus ensuring us of a free dinner, always useful when you’re a backpacker short of money.
A largely quiet night following the free dinner and excitement of playing alongside grey-helmeted people. Some tequila for uninterrupted sleep, some Letterman. Excellent.
Shotover Jet Ride
The next morning (are you keeping track? We’re up to the 21st of February!) dawned with anticipation of what promised to be “the World’s most exciting Jet Boat ride” (inappropriate capitalisation and all).
It…wasn’t that great. I had been on something similar when I was in Sydney last year, and there really wasn’t much difference between the two rides. While the former had the added excitement of careening wildly through canyons, (barely) avoiding overhanging rocks and obstacles in the water, it really wasn’t anything stupendously exciting for someone who had just jumped 134m the day before.
Though, it amused me to read an article in the local paper the day after, which detailed an accident the Shotover Jet company had had the previous week, where they hadn’t quite managed to avoid the previously mentioned overhanging rocks and obstacles in the water. I almost wish I was on that particular ride - the excitement factor would have been much higher than that of the relative tameness of my ride.
In one sentence, I wouldn’t recommend that anyone pay full price for the Shotover Jet ride. If it comes included in a package deal…sure, go ahead. But full price? Forget it - use your money in enjoying some of Queenstown’s other attractions. But if you do decide to go through with it…it helps if you have Clay driving the boat. Phwoar baby!
Gondola, Luge, Haka Dance
The tamest of all the activities done in Queenstown, though it allowed us some cheesy tourist-like photos…
…as well as stunning views of Lake Wakatipu.
I was disappointed by the Kiwi Haka, because it was simply over-commercialised. While I enjoyed the performance itself, as they ran through the ‘basics’ of Maori song and dance culture, the constant reminders that we could “get the full Maori cultural experience by purchasing the DVD at the end of the performance” were off-putting, to say the least. Call me idealistic, but I would have liked to see them perform because of their love for their culture, and desire to share it with others…not because of any materialistic reasons.
A performance in a truly natural setting too, would have been more ‘authentic’ than performing in an auditorium, with a backdrop that looked as though it was made of MDF. When we signed up for the performance (okay…the package deal), we thought we’d be camping around a campfire, roasting kiwi birds while watching a real haka between two tribes. Unfortunately…no. I really should have expected it to be commercialised, what with Queenstown being a tourist destination and all.
More To Come
Installment number three of my Kiwi adventures to come. It’ll cover possibly the funnest, though most tiring and exhausting, and dangerous thing I did through the whole holiday - canyoning.
I’d like to go bungeejumping someday.. even though I have a fear of heights xD
Emsz on March 5 2008 #
I would never be able to bungee jump. I would probably have a panic attack or faint before they even start talking about putting the harness on me.
I like how you went to play Bingo afterwards. A nice ending to quite a day. :P
Julie on March 6 2008 #
I felt nervous reading about your bungee jumping experience - I wonder how I would fare if I were ever to do it myself. Like Julie I’d probably have a panic attack XD Oh well. Boat rides are fun - I went on one a while back to see the rock formations on an island. Your boat ride seems like it was much more exciting though :P
Lil on March 6 2008 #
My heart caught in my throat just reading about you bungee-jumping. I put myself in your place and HOLY COW, I about freaked out. 134 METER DROP! Yikes. I’m glad you survived!
Erin on March 6 2008 #
Ah see? Normal people get wobbly-legged from bungee jumping. I got that from aerobic -.- … well it was the first session, so I expect it to get better. So no bungee jumping for me kthxbai.
I LOVE your outfit in that photo, yes I’m that shallow: the long blouse and shorter sweater…
Er right.. so looking forward to the next installment of stuff.
Vera on March 6 2008 #
Ah sounds incredibly exciting! I could never bungee jump though, not after seeing people do it in front of me… too scary!
And don’t you mean 12pm jump not 12am? I’m pretty sure you weren’t jumping at midnight!
The name Clay makes me imagine someone incredibly hot… I wish I could see this Clay person.
Matt on March 6 2008 #
Geeze Amanda, did those 2 hours lost make you get your time hemispheres mixed up?
As Matt said, it’s 12PM not am :P
The “the World’s most exciting Jet Boat ride” is in Taupo… where the jet boat was invented… right next to the Prawn Farm. *drools a little* They also have the highest bungee in the world too.
But you chose the South Island for most of your tourist experiences, so it’s your own silly fault. Hehe.
Also, the Maori are much like the aborigine people. They’d much rather do a haka for money than do a job for money. I’m stereotyping a little here but that’s the general gist of things. Waitangi would have been the best place to go for a Maori culture experience… which is again, in the North Island.
Woe.
Nellie on March 6 2008 #
bungee jumping sounds sooooo scary! but very exciting. I probably would have been super happy to have done it but then go to the sidelines and throw-up afterwards or something.
marilyn on March 6 2008 #
I loved reading this. Reading about your bungy jump literally had my heart in my throat, just the thought scares me. I am proud of you for taking that plunge as I never would have. You are brave. This was a really good post I enjoyed reading it, it makes me want to travel and go on a thrill seeking holiday.
Bobbi-lee on March 6 2008 #
Kudos to you for having the guts to bungee jump! I could never do it; I’m too afraid of heights.
Arwen on March 6 2008 #
You’re BRAVE! Bungee jumping sounds like so much fun, though! :D Scary, but amazing… I want to try. I only have to find a good place to do it.
Congrats on doing well with Bingo.
Chantelle on March 6 2008 #
HOW DID YOU SURVIVE?
:O
I don’t know, I’m a bit: JDFJGDFGJFKGJFKD whilst reading this because that looks damn scary.
Amber on March 6 2008 #
Here you can sometimes bungee jump at a summer fair but I don’t think they take your weight and all, which is a bit scary actually because that probably means they would let everyone and their mother jump.
Chans on March 9 2008 #
Shit man, that bungee video was so awesomely epic.
Maren on March 9 2008 #
[...] have been sadly neglecting the writing of Part Three of “My Trip To New Zealand, Exclamation Mark, Exclamation Mark, One, One, Tilde”. I’ve written about half of it, [...]
Jingwen » Blog Archive » Follow Up on April 6 2008 #