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Published: October 22nd 2008
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Hi everyone,
This is a mini-update for you as we only had enough time to upload a few pictures...However, we thought you might like to see them!!! Yes, we quickly got into crazy Kiwi mode and went skydiving.... over Lake Taupo.... It was the most insane, exhilerating, petrifying and incredible experience of our lives and we cannot even begin to explain the feeling you get from falling through the air, after dropping from a plane from 12,000ft....
We will update you on the rest of our activities in New Zealand's North Island when we get to a better internet cafe, however.... What made the skydiving all the more surreal was the way it came about. We had travelled in our trusty campervan from Rotorua on Sunday and arrived at a beautiful camp-site and hot springs park, called DeBretts. We parked up and started looking at the activities that were on offer. We had very briefly discussed the possibility of doing a sky-dive before we even left, and had decided that it was an essential NZ highlight, although had not given when and where we were going to do it, much thought. We picked up a leaflet in Taupo, although
were really only half-serious about actually doing it. I (Amy) gave the Taupo Tandem Skydiving company a call at 4pm to find out availability. When the lady on the other end of the phone said "How about we pick you up in ten minutes," it all suddenly became very real. I turned to Albert and told him we had only 10 minutes to psyche ourselves up to jump out of a plane...
They picked us up and we were driven a very short way to the airstrip and had to write down our next of kin details.. We were then herded into the dressing area and handed a red suit to put on. We were harnessed and walking to the plane within 5 minutes from being in the car, (and we hadn't spoken one word to each other by the time we boarded our plane). We will now tell you in our own words...
Amy - There were 4 other divers waiting for us in the plane, and Albert got in first, taking up the last seat available. It didn't take long to realise I was going to be sitting on the floor next to the plastic sliding
door - it took even less time to realise 'last in, first out...' I was first and petrified and couldn't talk. Albert seemed to be doing ok, he was chatting to his instructor as the place took off and started heading towards the clouds. My instructor, comfortingly also called Albert (!), kept asking me questions but I couldn't seem to form a response. He just kept counting down how many thousands of feet we had left until the time to jump. The following 15 mintues of the plane journey I cannot remember at all, the last thing I do remember was the plastic door next to me sliding open and Albert (instructor, not fiance) telling me to swing my legs around and I thought to myself, 'you have to enjoy every second of this because it will be over before you know it'. So I did, i was dangling from the plane for 15 seconds while my instructor did all the checks and then he pushed.....
Albert - My instructor was from Brazil, lived in New York, and was a sky diving instructor in Point Pleasant, new Jersey. I dont remember what else he said because I was terrified
and still trying to get over the take off of this small single engine plane! The only other thing I remember is asking him when he was going to attach himself to me. i could just barely see Amy sitting way up front, and when the door swung open the only thing I could think of was how glad I was that wasn't me. Because she was first, I saw her dangling for ages while they flew over the right spot and then, a second later she was gone and I couldnt believe it. It soon became my turn - I hung my legs out and a few seconds later we just fell out of the plane. I kept telling myself it was just a regular amusement park ride....
We were both in freefall for 45 seconds before our instructors pulled on the parachute cord and we swung from horizontal to vertical as we starting floating toward the gound beneath. It was so peaceful and beautiful as we finally stopped screaming for long enough to enjoy the scenery around us. Albert's instructor decided he hadn't put Albert through enough and added some more turns during the journey down, but
mine was serene although the adrenalin was still pumping madly around my body.
We finally got to earth and both landed effortlessly. I (Amy) landed first and looked back to see Albert coming towards me with a huge grin on his face. We looked at each other but couldn't say anything. It was awesome. As you can see, we got some great pictures, and also had the whole thing filmed on DVD for us - we cant wait to show you all when we return!!
We will update you very soon on all of the other highlights of the North Island, just as soon as we can upload some pictures. We are having an incredible time, and skydiving has only been one of many incredible highlights of the last week.
So much love to one and all
A and A xxxxx
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adriana biberaj
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omg!!!
AHHhhh i can't believe you guys went skydiving!!! I definately didn't see this coming... the pictures are AMAZING!!!