Bungee Jumping

I'll start by declaring that I'm massively scared of heights. Always have been, and I probably always will be. So you can imagine my joy when my friends decided that bungee jumping was a good idea.

We were in Taupo (New Zealand), which conveniently has a bungee jump company near the town. After watching a number of people - young and old alike - throw themselves of the edge, we decided it was about time we joined them, so it was with great trepidation that I agreed to face one of my greatest fears.

Before we could jump, we had to wait about 20 minutes in the cue on a narrow platform sticking out from the top off the cliff above the water below. For me, this was torture. I couldn't bare to look anywhere below the horizon in fear of what lay below.

Narrow Waiting Platform Towering over the River below

(Source: http://www.taupobungy.co.nz)

Eventually, it was my turn to jump. I remember psyching myself up to stand on the edge and gracefully jump off the platform into the air below. In reality, it was anything but graceful. In fact, it was barely even a jump. More of a person crumbling over the edge in fear of what lay below.

Bungee Jumping in Taupo (a jump similar to what I had envisioned for myself)

(Source: http://www.taupobungy.co.nz)

Before I knew it, I was lying on a boat on the water, and I WAS ALIVE! Adrenaline pumping through my body like never before.

Looking back on it, I can safely say it was the most alive I've ever felt in my life. It is a rare feeling to confront your fears head-on, and to this day I still don't know what convinced me to do it, but I'm very happy to have crossed something off my Bucket List.

- Phillip