Bungee Day

Today was the most Sweet As day ever!! I woke up this morning and James and Dr. Jacobs drove 16 of us to the Kawarau Bridge to go Bungee jumping! The Kawarau Bridge is where the world’s first bungy took place in 1988 by AJ Hackett. The bungee is 43 meters above the river, that’s 141 feet.

On the day we went, it was a little rainy which made bungee jumping even better. I was so excited to go bungee jumping. It has always been at the top of my bucket list. I was part of the first group to jump, so I got all strapped up while the other half of the group took video and pictures. I was so excited, but a little nervous, but right before I jumped I saw a double rainbow so that must be a good sign. It was gorgeous. I went out to the edge of the ledge on the bridge, one of the trainers counted 3 2 1 and I did a Pocahontas dive down towards the water. I’ve always wanted to do one of those. I swung back up straight a couple of times, which doesn’t usually happen but was way fun, then at the bottom of the bungee I spinned on my cord and did a little dance before they brought me down.  During the bungee I was screaming I love New Zealand and Sweet As. I was having the time of my life. A raft brought me down from the bungee by having me grab onto a pole and once I was unstrapped; I ran back up the hill to where everyone was. I was so excited, that had been the most epic thing I had ever done!!

I watched the other girls jump and I was on such I high from jumping, I wanted to go again and hit the water.  I wasn’t able to the first time because I was one of the first jumpers and the cords are never right for the first jumpers. I went back up to the bridge and got strapped up all over again. I was so excited, I was singing and dancing on the bridge. I was pulled out onto the ledge again and this time I was told I was going to get very wet. Sweet As! I waved and dive a better Pocahontas dive off and went straight into the crystal blue 30 degrees water at the bottom. It was so awesome!! I loved every minute and it was so sweet as to get wet. Next time I am going backwards though.  Bungee jumping is most definitely one of the best things in the world.

After bungee, Kara, Whitney, Anna, and I went to the world’s highest swing. The Nevis Arc is the world’s highest swing, with a 70 meter (229 ft) free fall. The swing is 140 meters (459 ft) above a gorge in the mountains with a river at the bottom. We walked over a suspended bridge to a platform in the middle of the gorge. I have to admit I was scared. Anna and Whitney went on the swing first, and Kara and I followed.  We were strapped in together and then brought up into the air and released. I screamed as we did the free fall and then went across the valley in a 300m arc. I lost my bandana in the process, a pretty epic way to lose one if you ask me. It was the best swing I have ever been on. If I would have gone twice, I would have gone backwards on that too. Riding with Kara was so much fun we had a conversation and we continued to swing and were brought back up. One of the best things about the swing was the free fall and how long the jump lasted.  It was so much fun!!

We got a pretty cool free hat for doing the swing, and then headed back to Queenstown. In the afternoon, I met up with the rest of the group and the 16 girls, Dr Jacobs, his wife Linda, and James all went to the luge. We went up the gondola on Queenstown hill/ mountain. To a lower summit where we then took a chair lift to the top. At the top was the skyline luge where we got to ride and race luge carts down the mountain. It was so much fun. Kinda like the Alpine slide in UT but way better. James loved the luge he raced down like 10 times and was always trying to get all the girls to race him and then whipping us. I am pretty sure it is his favorite thing on the south island.  I rode 5 times and then rode back up the chair lift and walked down with some of the girls. The view was absolutely spectacular. We walked back down to the city and I mailed some of my postcards and had Thai food for dinner. Thai food here is better than in the states. I just love it. Sabb. I walked around Queenstown for a while along the lake and in some of the shops. There were street vendors and performers around that were pretty cool climbing trees and playing tunes. I was pretty tired at the end of the day. I was one of the most amazing days ever!! I loved all the crazy things I did and am so a daredevil! So sweet as!!

 1st bungee jump
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRmSwWFQd8s
2nd bungee jump
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvsJhJCclyY&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL