Witnessing the Ultimate New Zealand Experience
New Zealand is the infamous home of bungy jumping and outside
Queenstown is the bungy operation that claims to have started it all –
AJ Hackett’s at Kawarau Bridge. We decided to stop and watch some brave
folks leap off the 142 foot high bridge, which overlooks a particularly
picturesque river ravine. With bungy elastic strapped firmly around
their ankles, and loud heavy rock music pumping from the jump station,
individuals nervously hobbled to the edge of the platform and plunged
to the river below. A few were ‘helped’ with a gentle nudge if they
were taking too long.
Even watching people jump leaves a lump
in your throat. As perfect strangers stand on the platform, you feel
nervous for them: everyone can imagine the all-encompassing and
uncontrollable terror they’d feel standing in the jumper’s shoes. You’d
have to be crazy, right? I mean, of all the adventurous pursuits, bungy
is the one I said I’d never do.
I guess I lied.
