The time had come for me to do the craziest thing I’ve ever done. Climbing Mount Fuji comes a close second to being hurled out of a plane at 15,000 feet. It’s a damn good job there is someone there to do that for me as, if I had anything to do with it, I’d be clawing at the sides begging for mercy.
My dive was hours away yet my stomach was already flipping in anticipation. Nervous but excitable butterflies brewed as I waited for my bus to arrive.
I stood out like a sore thumb with my mountain of stuff. One guy asked if I was waiting for the bus to go rafting. We had a brief chat and left it there. I’m bowled over by the friendliness of those travelling in New Zealand as well as the locals. Jovial greetings are handed out generously on the streets of each town I visit.
Moments later I was asked by someone if I was waiting for the Stray bus. I couldn’t tell if he was a passenger or the guide. As he offered to help me with my mountain of crap, we introduced ourselves. Ben was also on the Stray bus and I soon followed after him as the bus was nearby.
Mambo, our driver, greeted me and helped me heave my suitcase into the trailer, I boarded the bus and received a collective, “Hi!” Again, I was surprised at how friendly everyone was. I’m not saying those on the last bus weren’t, but it took me a while getting to know people. I also found that everyone had their own agenda as to who they spoke to and whether or not they’d make friends. I was still on the dizzying notion that you can make friends for life on trips like these.
It didn’t take long at all for me to learn everyone’s names as there was only around ten of us all together.
We did the usual – how long have you been in New Zealand for? Where else have you been? What do you do back home? But one passenger surprised me by asking me if I wanted to do the cube test. I instantly thought it was some crazy bus version of the UK game show hosted by Phillip Scofield. Unfortunately it wasn’t, but it was still pretty fun. Cash (named after a book, not Johnny Cash) from America asked me a series of questions. From my answers, Cash interpreted what that means as each element represents a part of who I am and my outlook on life. It was scarily accurate. I won’t go into it too much as it will spoil the game for those who play it in the future.
Our flowing conversations were interrupted here and there with stops to take photos and hop in a hot stream on the way out of Rotorua. There are numerous thermal areas which hold hot springs, mud pools or, in this case, streams.
Toasty
Time passed by swiftly as it always does when a moment that scares you is looming. The difference between the sky dive and all the other scary feats that I have conquered is that I didn’t think they’d be scary or difficult to do beforehand. I just rocked up and unwittingly tackled each activity and the sense of the unknown excited me. The thing is I knew EXACTLY what was going to happen. I was about to jump out of a plane at 15,000 feet. There’s no way around that. I just wanted to get out there and do it.
We checked into a backpacker hostel for the night. With Stray, we had our own floor with four bed dorms at a discounted rate. I shared a room with three girls - Rowena, Sapphire and Viktoria.
A short while later I and four others were picked up by Taupo Skydive…in a white stretch limousine! We were getting the royal treatment.
Even though I wanted to just get up there and do it already, there were a few things that needed straightening out first. I wanted video footage and photos from the dive and there were two options to choose from. The first option was to have your own personal photographer who would rest just outside of the plane. This guy will then take photos and video footage of you when you first come out and the time when you freefall. Once the parachute opens the other guy stops to ensure their own safe landing. The second option is a bit more dramatic. Your diving partner has a handycam which means you get interviews and photos from the beginning all the way up to the landing.
I didn’t really like the idea of me prancing around on film waffling on about how scared I was but the other option would mean that my dive wouldn’t be fully documented. It was a tricky decision. The others were choosing to dive at 12,000 feet with no photos or video footage. I was willing to blow a hole in my budget to make sure that I’d have proof that I’d done this!
In the end I decided on the handycam as the photos were a lot better. The others gave me the idea of writing something on my hands. I wanted to write carpe diem. Another girl wrote “In ya face.” It was only as she was half way through writing it when her boyfriend questioned the purpose of it as they weren’t being filmed or photographed.
Once I’d chosen my package and the music to accompany the video, it was time to suit up. Naturally, I looked like an idiot and I did end up prancing around and waffling to the camera. Deary me.
It was then that my dive partner introduced himself. I was paired with Max who seemed nice enough. He had done this around 1800 times so I felt like I was in safe hands. Max adjusted the necessary straps and made sure everything was secure. Whilst he was doing that, I watched a quick safety video demonstrating what will happen on the plane, the position to take when exiting the plane and the landing position.
I felt sick with nerves and I wanted to run and hide but I knew this was going to be good so I forced myself onto the plane. A teeny tiny pink plane at that! It was all very cosy inside. I’m not claustrophobic in the slightest but it didn’t really help matters.
The flight up was awful. The view was nice and I felt that Max had captured some good footage and photos (I wish he got one of me with my oxygen mask on!). However I was not happy at all. I went through all five stages of grief (Kubler-Ross). I experienced sadness (the stage is depression but I wasn't that bad!) and anger off and on as I was so upset and panicky about what I was about to do whilst being angry at myself for feeling that way. Man the hell up you big pansy!
Half way up I was definitely in denial. Not that I thought there was any other way to get out of this, but I thought somehow everything was fine, it’ll be just like a roller coaster. I kept repeating that statement which led me to my bargaining stage. I went through my reasons why I’m doing this and negotiated a truce with myself. I accepted my fate, tilted back onto Max whilst tucking my legs under the plane and held on for dear life…
I am NOT happy!
With all this commotion and over-thinking, I completely forgot that Max was filming me. I didn’t smile when I fell out of the plane and I just had my mouth wide open in disbelief during the first part of the freefall. Max kept tapping me on my arm to let me know I could let go of the straps but I was still in a trance. It was incredible, amazing, fantastic, glorious, stupendous et cetera et cetera.
Sexy
There was no jolting feeling when I left the plane as there wasn’t much of a drop. It didn’t feel like we were moving at all. It was quite calming and blissful just floating in the air almost as if I was suspended in time. In a flash (well 60 seconds to be precise) the freefall was over and Max opened the parachute. Minutes later we came in for a graceful landing, skidding on our arses.
It was over all too quickly and I wanted to go and do it again, especially after the fuss I made in my mind beforehand. It was the kind of – is that it? – moment where the ability of hindsight would be a handy talent to have.
Because it was over in minutes, I felt a bit hazy about it all. Did I really just do that? Then I remembered I had it all on a disc to show everyone when I get back home.
Before we left, we watched mine and one other girl’s DVD. It was hilarious, not just because I was a complete loon in it, but the other girl was so calm and laid back about it all. It was her fifth dive and she didn’t really say much on camera. I looked like I was going out for an Oscar or something.
In true talent show style, I had music to accompany my drama. I had AC/DC Highway To Hell on the plane which I thought was very apt. It sounded awesome too! During the freefall I had Blur Song 2 (wooo hooo!) and Moby’s Porcelain for the landing. I have no regrets with my song choices. I almost wanted to go for LMFAO’s Sexy And You Know It for my freefall as I knew that my face would be wobbling in the wind.
It was still early in the evening when we arrived back at the hostel so there was plenty of time to catch up with the others and relax. I thought I’d be on more of an adrenalin high but it still didn’t feel real.
Everyone had eaten a communal meal and I was offered what was leftover which was very nice. All I had were a few snacks and some noodles.
We were all squashed up on a bench and chatted away into the night. Even Mambo was there which was great. He comes across as more of a friend to everyone and gets involved. It came as a welcome change.
As it was happy hour I treated myself to a cider. I was going to have an early night as I was tired but was convinced to stay out. There’s not a lot I could say to a massive group of people yelling protests when I was heading back to my room. It’s nice to feel wanted I guess!
I wasn’t sure how much time I had before people left so chucked on something reasonable. I decided to don my new Taupo Skydive t-shirt in honour of my daring challenge of the day.
Our first stop was Base hostel where I met Jonny who I tried to meet in Rotorua. It turns out he left a message for me at Base. I did go there to see if he was around but didn’t ask for him at reception. Damn. I was really annoyed that he went to the effort of leaving a message and I didn’t get it.
We all had a good boogie and moved on to an Irish bar before heading back to the hostel. It wasn’t a late night for me as we had an early morning the next day.
Our plans for the next day had changed. We were hoping to take on the eight hour trek along the Tongariro Crossing but unfortunately this had been cancelled as the weather was pants. I had no idea what we’d be doing the next day.
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