An update on the boys' for those who are asking. So far, they have been to America (plane, car), Mexico (car, bus) and New Zealand (plane, car) in the space of 5 weeks. By now they have learnt the ettiquette of security clearances at airports, the "hold the crotch" joke at scanning, the importance of smiling when meeting air-stewardesses (or older, can't find a decent job,air- stewards) for extra freebies/food, critical seating by the window to alleviate boredom and how to wind parents up whilst driving long distances in the car.
Sebastian is learning that stubborness is something that will get him through even the toughest SAS initiation tests and Oscar knows that a simple physical slump to the ground will make even the hardest parent in the world concede.
Seba has complemented his obstinate stubborness with a foppish, dismissive wave of the hand and a cannot-care-less look around his shoulder. He generally knows that to use this in public (queing up, restaurants, etc) will generate the desired effect. Oscar, sensing that Seba is on to something, can't quite grasp the full routine so just slumps down on his arse with an ear-splitting "No!".
To be honest, this is relatively rare. They have been both good as gold. But they have superb timing when they fancy doing this stuff. Surreally, we have invented various parental diversion tactics. These are posted here for you to use - so feel free. One, a version of I-Spy which Seba has turned into a ragga-toasting version, "I an' I, with my litt'l spy". It is hilariously funny and one which I will torment him with for life. Second, with Oscar, I tell him a policeman or fierce dog is coming and this shifts him faster than the threat of a haircut. Marie informs me to try and not to do this in public as social services may see this as psychological abuse.
(Note - I realise that both may constitute some mild form of abuse but it's better than leaving them there and driving off which has crossed both our minds in quieter moments).
All in all though, the decision to take them on this trip was correct. Oscar has learnt to swim and his coversational skills are higher, Seba is more independent (umm,?), both have been up several mountains, eaten different foods and enjoyed them (made that one up), mined for gold, understand some of the differences between countries and language, can both talk about how honey is made in fine detail, have seen various regional variations of Hi-5 and Dora.
It has been easy taking them though. Only a few times has the 24-7 been too much but then we find a public park and they go wild for 30mins and then we're all re-charged.
Next stop in the next 4 days is to leave NZ and head for Oz and warmer climates.
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Queenstown and the AJ Hackett Nevis Bunji Jump
Please read this to the theme-tune of Rocky!
Arrived in Queenstown on 29th and after finding some (rather expensive but nice) accommodation we headed into the "adventure centre of the world" (TM Queenstown tourist council). The place is really 3 streets with the main action centred on one street where all the adventure offices are. To sum up, they all offer the same core attraction - thrills based on near death experience. Jet boats up the rapids (fast boat driven by very drunk man up a river), heli-skiing (skiing with the use of helicopters attached to your feet), guided mountain tours (failed mountaineers take you up a mountain with no guarantee you'll return) and bungy jumps.
Bungy jumping was initially a form of rite of passage for some crazy Indonesian tribes high on guava. Then, some crazy New Zealander high on crack, decided to try it off a bridge and then the Eiffel Tower. Now, no self-respecting New Zealander starts the day without a coffee, a croissant and a jump off something high.
Queenstown is also another example of a town which is owned by two or three very wealthy people who bought land up in the 70s and then have sold it on. Its' strange to hear the workers in the bars, shops, etc all refer to the existence of the town based upon these landowners. Almost like Boss Hogg and Hazzard County.
AJ Hackett is the original instigator of the modern bungy. So, after forking out $NZ400 (it ain't cheap dicing with death) we were taken up a hellish high mountain (Nevis) with about 10 typical visitors to Queenstown (this becomes more apparent). Once up, the 10 sec (jokey) safety chat and then into the harness room. They keep it moving at a pace so you're not allowed to look out into the canyon or think about it. The Nevis jump is into a 300m canyon from a suspended platform. You get to jump 134m in total.
My fellow jumpers were all early to mid 20s and on atick-box tour of the world. All of them were hungover, wearing the latest snow-boarding fashion, carrying mobiles and ipods and happily talking in some bizzare youthfull tounge ("rad", "awesome", etc). My preperation?...early to bed and strong coffee to clear the bowels.
The other disadvantage apart from age, was weight. This meant that I had to be first to jump as they had to unpack the extra thick / extra strong / extra long bungy. I made some feeble joke about having to unpack that kind of gear every time I went to the toilet but it seemed like gallow humour.
So once harnessed up, they take you onto a platform which slides over the centre of the canyon (think shaky, flimsy ski-lift, very high up) and then you join the main platform to get ready. Thoughts at this stage are...don't look down, have they checked things properly after the weekend, are the "Crew" members hungover, am I stupid or what....
Another check, a jokey chat (this is wearing thin) and then they ask you to complete a near impossible and unnatural feat - "Please pop your feet on the edge of the ledge". I can hardly stand up for fear and they casually ask me to pop my feet on the edge of a 300m drop.
I shuffle over, and then face the most thrilling/nervous site of my life (bar any signed Asda contracts)...a canyon so high that looking down you feel utter vertigo. I look dead ahead. I can think that I would fancy pulling out but the 10yr old behind me is saying "rad" and "awesome" and I don't want to hear snow-board slang for "chicken".
5-4-3-2-1...and I jump. I hear "Oh, shit" as I free fall and I just about grasp that I'm heading to the ground. I am fairly sure it was quiet. In the rain and minus temps, I think it was warm. I am pretty sure that with the downward speed, the rush, etc my mind blanked out for a second. Then, I sensed the first pull of the bungy and realised I was upside down. I then had the adrenalin realisation. On the second bounce, I yanked a cord to release the harness so I was then up-right. Immediately, I was in ecstasy. It is the most amazing sensation you can put yourself through. Nothing touches it. A few nervous waves to Marie and the boys on the way up and it was safely back onto the platform to cheers and whoops from my newly found best friends. "Awesome" I said as there was nothing else I could say.
Immediately, I said to Marie never again. 24hrs later - I can't wait to do another, more thrilling, more exciting. She just tutted, "Well I've given birth to two kids so that looked like a walk in the park!". "Rad", I replied.
Seriously, for getting out of your comfort zone there is nothing more that can beat this. I can't wait for the next one.
Arrived in Queenstown on 29th and after finding some (rather expensive but nice) accommodation we headed into the "adventure centre of the world" (TM Queenstown tourist council). The place is really 3 streets with the main action centred on one street where all the adventure offices are. To sum up, they all offer the same core attraction - thrills based on near death experience. Jet boats up the rapids (fast boat driven by very drunk man up a river), heli-skiing (skiing with the use of helicopters attached to your feet), guided mountain tours (failed mountaineers take you up a mountain with no guarantee you'll return) and bungy jumps.
Bungy jumping was initially a form of rite of passage for some crazy Indonesian tribes high on guava. Then, some crazy New Zealander high on crack, decided to try it off a bridge and then the Eiffel Tower. Now, no self-respecting New Zealander starts the day without a coffee, a croissant and a jump off something high.
Queenstown is also another example of a town which is owned by two or three very wealthy people who bought land up in the 70s and then have sold it on. Its' strange to hear the workers in the bars, shops, etc all refer to the existence of the town based upon these landowners. Almost like Boss Hogg and Hazzard County.
AJ Hackett is the original instigator of the modern bungy. So, after forking out $NZ400 (it ain't cheap dicing with death) we were taken up a hellish high mountain (Nevis) with about 10 typical visitors to Queenstown (this becomes more apparent). Once up, the 10 sec (jokey) safety chat and then into the harness room. They keep it moving at a pace so you're not allowed to look out into the canyon or think about it. The Nevis jump is into a 300m canyon from a suspended platform. You get to jump 134m in total.
My fellow jumpers were all early to mid 20s and on atick-box tour of the world. All of them were hungover, wearing the latest snow-boarding fashion, carrying mobiles and ipods and happily talking in some bizzare youthfull tounge ("rad", "awesome", etc). My preperation?...early to bed and strong coffee to clear the bowels.
The other disadvantage apart from age, was weight. This meant that I had to be first to jump as they had to unpack the extra thick / extra strong / extra long bungy. I made some feeble joke about having to unpack that kind of gear every time I went to the toilet but it seemed like gallow humour.
So once harnessed up, they take you onto a platform which slides over the centre of the canyon (think shaky, flimsy ski-lift, very high up) and then you join the main platform to get ready. Thoughts at this stage are...don't look down, have they checked things properly after the weekend, are the "Crew" members hungover, am I stupid or what....
Another check, a jokey chat (this is wearing thin) and then they ask you to complete a near impossible and unnatural feat - "Please pop your feet on the edge of the ledge". I can hardly stand up for fear and they casually ask me to pop my feet on the edge of a 300m drop.
I shuffle over, and then face the most thrilling/nervous site of my life (bar any signed Asda contracts)...a canyon so high that looking down you feel utter vertigo. I look dead ahead. I can think that I would fancy pulling out but the 10yr old behind me is saying "rad" and "awesome" and I don't want to hear snow-board slang for "chicken".
5-4-3-2-1...and I jump. I hear "Oh, shit" as I free fall and I just about grasp that I'm heading to the ground. I am fairly sure it was quiet. In the rain and minus temps, I think it was warm. I am pretty sure that with the downward speed, the rush, etc my mind blanked out for a second. Then, I sensed the first pull of the bungy and realised I was upside down. I then had the adrenalin realisation. On the second bounce, I yanked a cord to release the harness so I was then up-right. Immediately, I was in ecstasy. It is the most amazing sensation you can put yourself through. Nothing touches it. A few nervous waves to Marie and the boys on the way up and it was safely back onto the platform to cheers and whoops from my newly found best friends. "Awesome" I said as there was nothing else I could say.
Immediately, I said to Marie never again. 24hrs later - I can't wait to do another, more thrilling, more exciting. She just tutted, "Well I've given birth to two kids so that looked like a walk in the park!". "Rad", I replied.
Seriously, for getting out of your comfort zone there is nothing more that can beat this. I can't wait for the next one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
