NEWS # 037
Hi everyone!
When I get back to the hostel, I am buzzing. There is a message from Jon, a
buddy from the Cook Islands, to say that he is also in town and that he will
be watching the England-Argentina game in Finn's, the local Irish bar! Well,
I suppose I could go and have a pint or two .....
The match starts late and the pub is heaving with English supporters by the
time Anja and I arrive. We find a good spot and meet Jon. Several hours
later, we leave the pub very merry due in part to the football result and
probably also due to the odd alcoholic beverage consumed! Jon suggests going
to the Holy Cow, a bar around the corner and we say that we'll just go for a
pint as we've had a long day. It is a crazy place, where it seems obligatory
to dance on the tables and it is filled with crazy people.
We eventually
leave at three thirty in the morning!
rather like the moon, except for the guy on the bike!
Saturday, my birthday, dawns bright and dry and we decide to go to the
Craters of the Moon, another thermal park, this time free and located close
to Taupo. It's about ten minutes out of town. You can get a free map from
the carpark and then walk around the park which is filled with more boiling
mud pools and steam vents. In some areas, the steam flow is very fierce and
I can only imagine the sorts of pressures it is subjected to underground.
The walk takes us about an hour and then we head back to the hostel. We
decide to visit some thermal baths and set off along the banks of the
Waitomo river in search of the natural pools.
On the way, we come across the Taupo bungey jumping site and decide to have
a look. Several people have just done a jump and we watch their videos at
the jump centre. I then walk over to the jump platform which is a cantilever
affair, reaching out over the river gorge. The drop is 47 metres or about
150 feet. As I am not too keen on heights, I find the drop rather
challenging. I say to Anja that I'll have to think about it and that we can
come back another day. The next minute, a couple in their mid fifties appear
and say that they'd like to do a Tandem jump. Well, I think, if they can do
it.......!
The next moment, I'm giving Anja all my valuables and committing myself to a
jump. I am weighed at 83kg and this is written on my hand so that the jump
masters can calculate how much bungey rope I'll need. After paying, I am
pointed in the direction of the platform, where I arrive feeling rather
nervous. The older couple have already jumped and I'm on my own. The video
shows that I'm a little nervous.
The jumpmaster beckons me to sit down and then the bungey is attached to my
ankles so tightly that I can feel the restricted blood flow to my feet. At
least it won't come off. The jumpmaster then guides me to the edge of the
platform and I look over the edge. At this point, I am thinking that this
was one of my crazier decisions. I smile for the camera and then shuffle
forward, so my toes are hanging over the edge and admire the river 150 feet
below. The jumpmaster goes through the 3-2-1 procedure and I raise my arms and
lean forward over the edge.
big smile for Mum!
here we go ....!
here we go ....!
Next second, I'm doing my best impression of Superman and am in freefall with
the river rushing towards me. It's not half as crazy as the skydiving but
great fun all the same. As I bounce up and down, a boat comes out from the
side of the river and a guy in the boat holds up a pole for me to hold onto.
Eventually, I am able to grab the pole and am lowered down into the boat
where the bungey harness is undone. I'm ferried back to the bank and then
climb back up to the launch platform to collect my video and t-shirt. My
legs are a little wobbly but I'm buzzing one again. We then head back to
Taupo.
We spend the evening in Finn's and the Holy Cow again and I'm rather late
home again!
We are up around ten on Sunday and not too bad considering last night's
antics. I have decided to complete my crazy weekend by going jetboating
today and get confirmed on the 12.30pm boat. The weather isn't wonderful but
they supply large waterproof jackets which should just about keep us dry.
The boat has a massive 6 litre inboard engine which fires water out of the
back of the boat providing propulsion. This means that it can operate in
four inches of water, a bonus as the river is only six inches deep in
places.
There are several groups, an older lady from California and me. We buddy up
for the photos. We are then loaded into the boat, which has metal rails to
hang onto. To stop people from getting cold hands, warm water is pumped
around the rail.
Our guide and driver for the day, introduced himself, explained the boat
specifications and safety procedures and we were off. The ride lasts thirty
minutes and involves racing up and down the river almost colliding with the
gorge's rocky walls and overhanging foliage. It also involves some high
speed spins and lots of flying water! We race up to the Huka Falls for some
photos and get very wet in the process. After much high speed fun we head
back to the jetty and I return to Taupo.
The afternoon is to be filled with another visit to Finn's, this time to
support Lennox Lewis in his world title defence against Mike Tyson.
Tyson takes a beating, as does my liver and we arrive home early the next
morning after our final table dancing visit to the Holy Cow!
Seeya,
Halesy
