Originally posted October 8,2009 from Christchurch, New Zealand:
The Spanish was beginning to grow louder now as the bus climbed the final incline of the long, dirt road. The bus began to kick until it finally reached the top, revealing a very dry, remote landscape with a large ravine running through the middle.
I was alone on a bus full of teenage Spanish exchange students sitting quietly enjoying the feeling of my stomach turning, contemplating whether or not I made the right decision. This is something that I had so effortless discussed my entire trip, and never second-guessed, but today, right now, it was about to happen. . . . potentially.
"Alright, Everyone. Listen up! And Welcome! Do any of you have to use the bathroom?"
"Yes/Ci."
Laughing, already knowing the answer "Alright, when you go inside the bathrooms are on your right. Once you are finished grab a locker and make sure you dont have any loose items in your pockets. Make sure to keep a jumper though, because it is really windy and cold out there on the platform. Once you are done with that, then head over to Cindy at the front desk and she will sort you out with a harness, OK?"
I head to the bathroom. Use it; then head towards the lockers. Maybe a second use is in order? Use it again and then stuff my wallet and a handful of lint into my locker.
Cindy sorts me out with a harness.
"OK, give these a pull for me." I do. She stops me, before I cut off the circulation in my legs. "No, they dont need to be that tight."
"Are you sure?" I loosen them only slightly.
"Have you ever done this before?"
HA! "No." As if she cant tell.
I head through another door and am now outback, standing before the viewing platform. In front of me, suspended by three steal cables, is the Nevis Bungy Jump jumping platform. The Nevis Bungy Jump is the 2nd highest bungy jump in the world sitting 134 metres, 442 feet over this rocky ravine. And in my eyes, it looks twice that and I have already bought my ticket.
A small figure can be seen ambling towards the edge and then silently being thrown from the platform.
I should have used the toilet three times.
By now the rest of the bus has caught up with me. They all stand next to me trying to take it in. Everyone's face either registers fear, excitement, or nothing.
That jump you paid for 20 miles away in that comfortable booking office with the smiling travel agent just became a reality. A very sweaty reality.
Our driver comes up behind us unnoticed. Everyone is focused on the jump.
"OK, the order for the jump has been predetermined based on weight. So Matthias is first, then Felipe is second,
ha, You poor Amigos! I think that ideal spot would be to go somewhere in the middle. You know, once you know the cord isnt made of tissue paper, but still well before the cord snaps. There are about 20 of us so . . . . about 10th . . yeah, 10th would be good.
", third is Doug, . . ."
Oh, Shit! I shouldnt have eaten that pie!
"OK, so the first six head onto the cart and the rest of you will be over shortly."
We pile into the cart with the metal, see through bottom and a waist bar that barely reaches my groin, and make our way towards the platform.
"Make sure to spread out or the cart will start to swing and you will get stuck!"
The Spanish guys ignore him, begin singing and dancing in the cart.
Toilet, por favor!
As, I stare past my feet through the grated floor, you can clearly see the ground level moving further and further away, until it reaches the full 442 feet, where it meets the water. Believe me, 442 feet is a long way!
The cart clinks and we are at the platform. The platform is a room maybe 15 foot by 15 foot with big windows and two doors. We came in the side door and will jumping out the front. Half of it is the blocked off jumping area and the other half is the waiting bit. There are 3 staff members already in it with four customers who've already gone.
"It's awesome man! You'll love it!" His teeth chattering.
I just sit down and try and calm myself.
"OK, Matthias come on buddy, you're up!" Already!
Everyone in the pod watches him get the leg straps tied around his ankles and sat in what looks like a dentist chair as they begin to attach the cord to his feet. Once, they are done they help him up, lead him towards the edge. Count. He jumps. Everyone rushes to the transparent tile in the middle of the platform floor.
Oh, shit that is a long way!!
Everyone laughs at what he just did, but stops short when they realize they arent far behind.
He is reeled back in upside down.
"Felipe, let's go!"
Geez, this is going quick!
I try and take some photos of the drop and the others on the platform but my hand is shaking to much, blurring each shot.
Phil rises out of the chair. And then is gone. Holy shit, this is happening!
Phil reappears in front of the platform, also upside down.
"Doug, you're next!"
(swallow) Without thinking I move forward. The waist high gate opens, and I am sat down in the dentist chair. The introductions are short. He begins giving me directions as he stands face down over my legs, already attaching the giant cord.
"Alright, So we are going to count down from three, then you are going to jump away from the platform. Once you have finished your second bounce you will pull the cord on your left leg."
OMG! Was he just saying something to me. "Which cord?"
"That one."
He shows me, again, but I am still too focused on the edge to have it register.
He helps me out of the chair and I shuffle to the plank, just two foot wide and jutting out a good two feet away from the rest of the platform.
"Further." He yells.
I take another small step.
"Further."
One more.
"Good."
Now, when I decided to do this. I knew there is no chance I would back out. In my mind, there is just no way I could see that happening. A) I thought I had the balls to do it. B) Even if I didnt, I am too stubborn and prideful, to go back and tell everyone I had to come down code 'P.' But once, I got out there on that plank and you see the huge gap in front of you. And you feel the emptiness between you and the rest of the Earth. All that confidence and certainty is gone.
"Alright, 3."
My stomach is completely upside down.
"2."
Am I really about to do this?
"1."
OMG! Did I tie my shoes tight enough?
"Go!"
I clench my bladder, jut my arms out, and scream like a girl as I jump. My heart skips a beat. Holy Shit!
Even though, I made sure to keep my eyes open the entire time, to the point of where my eyes were tearing (from the wind you jerk!), so much of the jump was a blur and still escapes me. But I do remember being terrified and amazed at the same time.
The ground rushes towards you as the cord begins to straighten.
At the bottom, I was expecting an extreme jerk, but that really wasnt the case. I think I was more relieved to know something was holding me to the platform as I neared the water.
I begin to go back up. I know I have to pull a cord on my left leg, but trying to find the right cord when you are upside down and disoriented proved to be difficult. Not knowing what would happen if I didnt pull it and assuming the worst if I pulled the wrong one I began to panic, gently pulling all cords I could reach, until I found the right one. My feet drop down and I am now right side up. I was the only person of the first three to go that were pulled back up head first, not upside down like a fish.
When I got back onto the platform the staff had to stop me from walking off with the cord still attached to my legs. Dazed and shaking, I grope my way to the back of the room, past the next joker about to go suck wind, and sat next to a Spanish girl crying, who just realized her expensive mistake. I began to collect my thoughts.
"That was AWESOME!"