The climb back was...exhausting! It's like a 60 degree incline for fucks sake! Oh and did I mention the cows going down? One slip from one of them and you've got yourself a pair of fresh horns sticking right through your GI system. On a side note, there was a case of this at hospital 2 days ago. Freak out much? I walked up with Lynny: one of Stina's friends: she was a cool chick and we just chatted about random shit. And how we we're glad that we're doing thing on an empty stomach...
We get to the top and behold! Lunch is served. Crap! Don't get me wrong, after such an adrenaline hit, Nepalese KFC (aka chicken in not-very-secret herbs and spices deep fried) would've just hit the spot. And I was starving! My main concern was, I had to do it all again! This time, going straight down. Fuck. On a full stomach. And possibly boucing around since it's an elastic cord. Fuckety Fuck!
Walking on to that cold, windy, swaying bridge is better the 2nd time around. But only just. Your faith is that incrementally higher that everything isn't going to collapse around you, resulting in everyone's death: more importantly your own. Who am I kidding? I was just as paranoid the 2nd time around!
This time, Jimbo was before me. Actually, this time was that tad bit better. We still forgot about our good friend Charlie the Unicorn the moment we stepped on the bridge, but the stomach twisting now just felt like an ache rather than the im-so-gonna-vomit-and-defecate-at-the-same-time thing that happened last time. Jimbo lined up and yelled...something, as he suddenly became the size of a grapefruit as he fell. Except this time, you could hear a "whooooooaaaaaaaaa" getting louder as he bounced back, nearly as high as the bridge.
Stina was next. Though I'd talked to the girl twice, apart from the hellos and the how are you parts, I was right: she was one of those ones that I instantly liked. As she jumped, I remember feeling a pang. I'm not sure what for, but there was definately a bang. Maybe it was for steak or something: no beef in such foreign realms after all!
Now it was my turn. I think I was more nervous this time since knowing that I should be partially headless except for the mercy of a certain greater deity. I remember asking how I should jump about....6 times- a stark contrast to the morning where I was about to snap peoples necks if they didn't shut up about falling. Falling safely, it seems, is very important. (ED note: I never thought I'd ever write the word "falling" by "safely". Ever. Does it even make any sense?!)
Wanky video man was back again. Asking me the same shit and calling me "friend". This time, I thought I'd be a smart alec - so I turned the video into a video will. If I did die, my brother was meant to get everything. Nice simple and... morbid.
So finally I dragged myself to the edge. It was scary. I could see Jimbo and Stina and everyone down there, looking like ants. I was a loooooong way up. Shit. Realising that there was no time like the present for a bit of masochistic fun, I leapt.
"Bunnnnnnnnnngggggyyyyyyyyyy" was my scream, but this was soon replaced with "Fuuuuuuuuucck!"
That was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. Your falling at terminal velocity (or close enough) then suddenly, the world goes into slow motion. It's like the Matrix bullet-time effect: You suddenly notice everything is slower. Partly, I think the elastic bungy cord had a lot to do with it and I think it's partly psychological as your brain, just cant think!
Next thing I know, I'm twisting around looking at the bridge and it's getting closer. I pick up speed. I can see the bungy cord, now without tension curl up like a massive serpent infront of me. I almost grab it before remember the "bungy master" had told me not to. It's almost as if the cord can read my mind and for even trying to grab it, it slams onto my shin. I don't care, I'm on adrenaline/disorientation/sensory/holy-shit overload!
I bounce a few more times, before I start to get lowered down. Now that, my dear readers, is shit: all the blood up in your head as your looking at a rampaging river and a giant rock (aka if you fall, both with kill you). The guys lower me on to a...table and I lie there so as to not get postural hypotension and walk over to the others to be greated like a hero. My innner narcissist rejoices: I am, indeed, the best.
Jimbo and I start talking to Stina and her friends. We invite them out as a friendly gesture, but turns out they had plans anyway and invite us to join them. I only just manage to wipe that stupid cheesy grin off my face before they leave to make that giant trek up the cliff again. We wait for Bong to jump, and my was it a jump! His jump clears the bridge, the you can see his silhouette like a giant Christian cross before he plummets head first. I found the "cross" part funny- he's an atheist.
He goes and lies at the same table (not that you have much choice: you're hanging upside down by your legs- you can't really choose where they put you) and seems to be on a bigger adrenaline high than me! We inform him of our plans for the night and he says it's getting more interesting by the minute... and what a night it was.
To Be Continued.
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