Jumping outof Airplanes
Trip Start
Sep 05, 2007
1
18
71
Trip End
May 01, 2008
Taupo,
New Zealand
Monday, November 5, 2007
"Getting drunk" is misleading I guess; I haven't really been getting drunk lately, just going out. It's better this way; I save money, get to drive home and still have fun. In a way I've regressed to how I was in high-school.
I went out Saturday night to celebrate Guy fox Day. A ritual I still think is odd. Guy Fox tried to blow up the British Parliament a long time ago, and was hung for it. British colonies have been celebrating this annually by lighting off fireworks. This tradition is huge in New Zealand, and overshadows Halloween, which is almost non-existant here.
Explosives
The most surprising part is that New Zealand only allows fireworks to be sold at guy Fox, and most municipalities have a public fireworks display. I like the idea of having an excuse to light stuff on fire, but I don't think we're supposed to celebrate Guy Fox in Canada (he being a terrorist and all), so I think we should all celebrate the burning of the Whitehouse in 1812.I took Monday off of work to go sky-diving with Dave and some of his friends.
Sky-diving is a real interesting experience, surprisingly different from bungee. I had to do a "tandem dive" which meant I was strapped to someone who knew what he was doing. Turns out that the guy's fiance is from Fraser Lake. Small world. Sickeningly so at times...
The trip was not cheap, and they try to take your money at every chance. Jumping is almost $300, but they talked most people into getting filmed, which is an extra $200. The filming only covers the 60 seconds while you are falling, which is really not flattering at all. I paid the $20 for the DVD, which had everyone's (including mine) take off and landing.
Apparently for $3000 I can take the course and become a certified diver. If I wind up here for some time, it may be worth considering; I've already spent the first $300 after all.
