~ A pleasant day (with a brief interruption of sheer terror)

The call goes out from the hotel room. Today will be the day. Everyone quietly contemplates. Bungee lies ahead.

After booking tomorrow’s activity (helicopter ride to an offshore volcano, stay tuned) and tonight’s lodging in Rotorua, we were free to enjoy the day. We started out driving past Tongariro National Park. The area around this place is reminiscent of the American West; very desert-like; which is surprising to see after leaving forested coastline in the morning. The park is famous for its volcanoes, one of which (Mt. Ngauruhoe) was used as Mt. Doom in the Lord of the Rings movies. The volcanoes are beautiful; they stand apart from other mountains, so you see them rise from plain to peak. They have quite a bit of snow on them, which contrasts starkly with the desert in front.

I’ve always said that bungee jumping is something I’d have no problem with, but that I didn’t “need” to do it. I’d play it cool and casual, “no big deal”. First, you go out on the jump platform and get a view of the river, 154 feet below, that you’ll be jumping into. It looks blue, beautiful, and very far away. Then, you get in line and hand over hard-earned NZ dollars, for a ticket and a mark on your hand with your weight. Then, you queue for the jump. Ahead of you, you watch people that seem quite calm and happy react with absolute terror as they shuffle towards the end of the platform and really see what they have to do. But you still think, “no big deal, everybody’s safe, so many people have done this.” And then, suddenly, you are standing up, feet tied tightly to a bungy cord, and your eyes open wide with fear as the immediacy of jumping off this platform rushes upon you. NO WAY says brain. Oh my goodness gracious. But you do it, on the jumpmaster’s count, and never again will you say you don’t “need” to do it.

Bungee jumping was just great. All hands in our group participated and survived. It was just a great feeling to jump off this insanely-high platform, free fall for what seemed like a long time, and then rebound up and down for a little while until finally settling onto a raft below. Ben, the instigator of the whole thing, had to take a second count at the top and screamed like a Minnesota loon the whole way down. Next time I think I will too.

After this high, we were pretty beat. We ended the day walking around the Governer’s Gardens in Rotorua. This was a pretty spot; combination croquet grounds, rose garden, bird sanctuary, and geothermal area. I actually enjoy all the rose gardens in this country; they definitely give the place a quaint, yet civilized feel. We found an amazing Thai restaurant, and then retired to our cabin, looking forward to a helicopter ride tomorrow.

Tom