Orlando Bloom lied. On the “Behind the Scenes” disc of the extended DVD set for the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, he told his co-star Dominic Monaghan that bungee jumping would cure his fear of heights. They were in New Zealand where A.J. Hackett created the extreme sport of bungee jumping.
I went to New Zealand on a working holiday visa and was really excited to see the filming locations for the Lord of the Rings movies. When I first arrived in Auckland - because I am afraid of heights - I was quite positive that I would not be bungee jumping, despite the fact that I was in the country where it all began.
Everyone who suffers from acrophobia has a different experience with heights. I have trouble getting down from chairs, bunk beds, ladders etc. However, I have been in a hot air balloon, on ski lifts, gondolas, the London Eye, and to the top of the Eiffel Tower. No problem with those because I was either strapped in or it didn’t seem like I was really high.
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| About to leap! Photo by Sigrid Markert |
So when I went to the A.J. Hackett Bungy Jump site just outside of Queenstown and watched my fellow travelers take the plunge, I started thinking: “That might not be too bad.” I didn’t have enough money at the time though, so decided that when I went back to Taupo in the New Year, I would bungee jump there.
Three and a half months later, I arrived in Taupo on New Years Day. My goal was to bungee jump on January 2, 2011. All of a sudden, with the date looming, I got cold feet. Taupo Bungy offers another ride called the “Cliffhanger Swing”. It was less money and seemed like a safer option, so I bought that instead.
I arrived back at my hostel where I met Sigrid, a German girl who really wanted to bungee jump. We decided to go together the following morning.
The next morning at 8:45 am we arrived at the Taupo Bungy site. Sigrid was the first bungee jump of the day; I was the first swing on the “Cliffhanger Swing.” The staff takes safety very seriously and we had to be weighed and sign waver forms before we would go out to the platform. Since I had already done the swing, I could get a discount off my bungee jump if I wanted. I really wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it though. Sigrid suggested that we have a tea and think about it. I decided that since I was at the Taupo Bungy location anyway and would not likely be coming back, I would regret it if I just walked away.
So at 10:30 am I paid for my bungee jump. More paperwork and another weigh-in followed. For some reason, in the last hour I had gained a kilogram! Now with two different weights on both my hands, a ticket around my neck, and my heart thumping, I joined the queue that had now formed on the bridge to the platform. As the line crept along, I found myself getting more and more excited for my jump.
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| Waiting in the queue to take the plunge. Photo by Sigrid Markert |
It took forever for the line to move along. Plenty of time to reconsider, but I was stuck because I had paid for the jump already. I was really nervous, but excited too. The line crept along and suddenly I was third in the queue. I was strapped into a harness and then told to sit on a bench. As I sat the bungee cord was tied to my ankles, and I put my glasses into a baggie that was tied to my wrist. Then, it was my turn.
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| Photo courtesy of Taupo Bungy |
I stepped to the edge of the platform and was told to look up and to the right. I couldn’t see so I looked in that general direction. My photo was taken and it was time to jump. I knew I had to go on three or else I wouldn’t jump, so after the countdown, 1-2-3, I jumped!
I don’t know what exactly I was expecting to happen, but it wasn’t what happened next. I was not expecting the free fall! I had jumped and was falling, when I suddenly realized that I was plummeting toward the Waikato River. Then I started screaming: “OH MY GOD!”
What had I gotten myself into? I fell for 48 metres (158 feet) before my bungee cord yanked me up again. It was scary, but at the same time it was such a huge adrenaline rush! It was awesome! I was on such an adrenaline high after my jump that it took about ten minutes for my heartbeat to return to normal.
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| Photo courtesy of Taupo Bungy |
My acrophobia has not been cured by bungee jumping. Orlando Bloom may have lied, but I am glad I took the plunge anyway. I faced my fear of heights in the ultimate way, and for that I am very proud!
More information about Taupo Bungy can be found at: http://www.taupobungy.co.nz/
~Angie
