the joy and fear of falling-- the Malaysian bungee jump

i had waited long enough not to do this. my friend Mash who was supposed to fly with me to Kuala Lumpur didn’t come for some reason and my other friend Riz (of lamyerda.com), of all parts of the body, got her lower left leg burnt from a motorcycle mishap (thank God it wasn’t that serious) and it would have bled with the rope that had to be tied tightly through her legs even if there was a towel to cushion the grip. what was supposed to be an adventure i should be sharing with my two close friends was just about to become a solo flight. i was already there, at Sunway Lagoon, in another country. i just had to do my first bungee jump.

Riz and i had planned doing this last year. just the thought of it when i was just waiting for this trip to Malaysia to come made me laugh at myself and feel that enjoyable kind of fear. i could already feel it right there, it must be more thrilling actually doing it.

and i was not wrong. though it’s only 21m high above ground/water, standing there at the edge of the platform scared the hell out of me. i had to breathe in and breathe out so hard for three times to gather enough courage.

and when i told the crew i was ready, the countdown began. five. four. three. two. one. FALL!

with arms wide open, i embraced the fall wholeheartedly. i welcomed the fear and i devoured the joy of just letting gravity take all of my inhibitions away in those very few phenomenal seconds. i was oh so silent until i bounced back up so high it felt like i made a second jump and then i screamed my heart out to express how good that felt. and being the skinny fellow that i am, i kept oscillating up and down on air a couple more times i almost threw up as lunchtime had not passed long enough yet.

i thank Riz for accompanying me in Sunway Lagoon despite already having a clue even before we went there that the staff wouldn’t allow her to do it. i might have not done it if i was alone. your time will come, teh. and i’m excited for you. haha.

so what did i get for paying a hundred and thirty ringgits only to frighten my own self?

how crazy cool is this?

that… and adrenaline rush. and pleasure. and an unforgettable first.