Bungy Jump!!!

OH MY GOSH! The bungy jump is the BEST thing I have EVER done. I may have said that about sky diving but bungy jumping is completely different. I have never been so terrified in my life. Honestly. I have no idea how I got myself to jump. I did the Nevis which is a highwire bungy. You go over in a rail car to this little hub that has a glass floor and everyone just gets amped up to jump. There was about 18 of us. Me and two other boys were by far the most scared. I considered not doing it. Some of the pics I have from it are hilarious. My face is priceless. I freaked out twice and wouldn't jump. I had my arms out and the guy counted down but when it was time to go I freaked out and kept going no no no no no no... I can't!!! Finally, I took a deep breathe, made the sign of the cross, pointed to the sky and jumped. It was sick! I screamed my head off! I was hoarse for nearly the rest of the day! The jump guy said I put shame on all of my students back home screaming like I did. I don't know how some other people just walked to the edge and jumped. My friend, Helena, that I met on the bus, walked right up and just bounced on off. It's absolutely terrifying though. One of my other friends, Andrew, had to sit with me and talk me down because I was wigging out so bad. I'm so happy I did it though. There is nothing like it. It really is a personal accomplishment. The bungy is very gentle and doesn't hurt at all. It's surprising how you get down to the end and when you bounce you can barely feel it. I couldn't pull my zip chord to turn myself up right so I had to be pulled back up hanging upside down. Now, that I've done it I would do it all over again. If you ever get the chance you just have to do it. It's more of a mental challenge than anything else. I'm so proud of myself for doing the bungy. All of yesterday I was grinning like a fool! :)

The Nevis is the second highest jump in the world. There are three other jumps in Queenstown but the one I did was three times higher than any of those. I thought, well, If I'm going to do this, then I might as well do it right. The only other jump that is higher is in Hong Kong. There was one in South Africa but it was closed down due to faulty equipment! Aj Hackett, the company I jumped with, has a 100% accident free record. They are also the longest standing bungy company in the world. AJ Hackett created the commercial bungy jump. My jump was 134 Meters or 440 Feet! It really is just crazy high. The staff will not push you. You have to jump on your own accord. They count down and try to encourage you but will NOT physically make you jump. That's what makes doing a bungy so different than a sky dive. During a sky dive, you are not in control. You're literally strapped to someone else so you have no choice in the matter. Sky diving is more enjoyable and last longer. There is time to look around and enjoy the scenery. A bungy is more of a personal accomplishment. The Nevis has a 8.5 second free fall. That doesn't seem long but 8.5 seconds is plently long enough to think about how you could potentially be plummiting to your death. During the sky dive free fall, there isn't so much falling, it's more like you are floating and there's incredible pressure from the wind. Bungy, you fall straight to the ground and you're staring at it the whole time. I swear, I about peed myself at the bottom. After the intial fall though there is nothing but elation and the best adrenaline rush you will ever feel in your life. I was bouncing around down there screaming, clapping my hands, and laughing. I had so many emotions I didn't know if I should cry, pee myself, laugh, or just scream in terror. I'll never never forget it. I'm so glad I did it and grateful for the people that were around me at the time. Our group was incredible and the whole experience was well worth the fear.

I'll post some other pictures when I have more time.