Day 148 Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Johno says

This morning we had a bus taking us South to Taupo. First of all we headed a little west to Waitomo to visit the glow worm caves - this is where they also offer black water rafting but I decided I wouldn't take part remembering how claustrophobic I was in the Vietnamese Cu Chi tunnels. Prior to our arrival we stopped at a random rabbit shearing place which save white German angora rabbits from death by shearing off their fur which incidentally also makes great wool type material for clothing - this was pretty funny to see, the rabbits were calm and sheared like a sheep whilst being held in a machine that stretches them out to avoid cuts over their wrinkles - we quite happily left some donations for the cause. Then once in Waitomo, Stace and I thought we would take one of the walks through the forest and to the look out point over Waitomo which was pretty scenic and a nice break from the bus. By the early afternoon we departed Waitomo to head for Taupo stopping off at Huka (meaning foam) Falls, this place was ridiculously crazy - basically, this waterfall throws 200,000 litres of water each second, it was easily the most ferocious rivers that I have ever seen. Then we arrived in Taupo with its lake bigger than the whole of Singapore. Taupo didn't smell like Rotorua so that was an instant bonus, and appeared to be a bit more lively with a string of bars and restaurants located in town and all kinds of sports on offer. Once we had settled into our hostel we wondered off for a walk about town with the sun out we decided to have a cheeky shandy we turned into a few beers as quite stangely, whilst I was in the bar getting the drinks a rain cloud appeared so we had to stay in the bar for a bit longer. The drinking continued back at the hostel chatting to a few other guests, one of which was from Crayford. Oh and we did feel a tremor in the morning thinking it was volcanic activity, but we later found out it was just the dryer in the laundry room below us!!

Day 149 Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Johno says

What a day - by 2pm I was sitting on the floor of a plane with my legs daggling over the side of the open door 15,000 ft up in the sky!! It was easily the most terrifying experience of my life but well worth it, I couldn't explain the emotion and adrenalin streaming through my body but hopefully the DVD and running commentary through the event will show you some of the emotion on my return to London. I was booked in for a jump at midday but when it came to 11.30am it was considered by the sky diving company too cloudy to jump but at 1.30pm it was clearer and they confirmed all was going ahead as planned. Arrrgggh. Stace and I went to the airport where the sky diving company were based as she was in two minds to join me in the madness, but she later decided it wasn't for her this time. I climbed into my jump suit and before I knew it I was in the light aircraft ascending to 15,000 ft, oxygen was needed for the last couple of thousand ft which just added to the fear element… I was high in the sky and well above the clouds. Then the plane roller shutter door opened. There was only two of us in the plane jumping so there wasn't much chatting or things to take your mind off the event, I was first up out of the door and my dive buddy said 'here goes, shuffle along…' I was by this point strapped very closely to him in a pretty unfamiliar way but at the same time pleased for the snug fit!! I was then on the edge of the plane floor near enough on his lap, with my head back saying my last prayer… oh my goodness what was to come in the next 5 minutes… then I was face down to earth and aaaaaarrrrrgggghhh it was the most craziest feeling I have ever experienced, there wasn't anything to hang on to, no bars, no handles, just a freefall at over 200 kph!! I can best describe it as that rollercoaster moment at its peak but this feeling lasts for the entire freefall of over 60 seconds (or until 5,000 ft) … my glasses were pressed up to my face and the cold air was hitting my cheeks - probably not the prettiest day of my life but damn it was worth it!! Then the parachute opened and all was good, we are in a floating motion down to earth - phew! I was allowed to steer the parachute to the dive centre and my buddy landed it safely down to the ground .. Hallelujah!! Just watching the DVD back to myself, I cannot believe I actually did it and writing this emotional blog post just makes me think the whole event was a dream!! I am so glad I did it but I can safely say possibly not again for a fair few years haha. Afterwards for around ten minutes I was absolutely pumped full of adrenalin and pretty hyperactive so Stacey kindly bought me a shot and a pint to steedy the nerves!!

Day 150 Thursday 4th February 2010
Stacey says
We took a walk around Lake Taupo today, since I didn't jump out of a plane and see the whole lake!! There were thermal sand pools around the edge of the lake but they were too hot to sit in, so we just picked a quiet spot and laid in the sun for a bit reading my book. Not a very strenuous day, we headed back to the hostel and laid in the garden, and finished the evening up watching a movie in the TV lounge.