Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Facing Fears...


I have a fear....one which I think I share with quite a few other people.

A fear of heights.

I remember when I was young I'd be on the top level of a multi storey shopping centre and I would peak down to the bottom levels - and I'd get freaked out. Or I would go on a ferris wheel and look down to the ground, at the people who seemed like specks on the ground. Or I might be at someone's apartment who is way up, and I'd walk onto the balcony and peer over the edge - scaring the hell out of myself.

Recently I went on the Vomitron in HK - that was probably the most hectic ride I've been on - pretty high up and incredibly fun. The Vomitron was made famous over here when the boys from the 'Footy Show' went on it. Check out the clip - it's damn funny.

In one weeks time, I'll be jumping off
Kawarau Bridge, the original bungy jumping site in Queenstown, New Zealand. I'm going there for a one week holiday with some high school mates, mainly to snowboard. But the thing that's been pumping us up and getting us most excited is the anticipation of bungy jumping. I've decided I'll be going first - get it out of the way and let the others feel the fear in anticipation. Yes, it isn't the world's biggest bungy jump, in fact it seems quite small (43 metres). But the thought of a bit of rope tied around your feet keeping you from certain death is quite scary.

Funny thing is, snowboarding, white water rafting and whatever else we are going to end up doing there all have a higher risk of injury - but there's something about diving off bridge 43 metres above ground level which makes my heart beat faster.

I've also watched this video (maybe foolishly) on YouTube to prepare myself (or just make me more scared). Check it out. I think I might be like that Asian chick at the end, have about 4 or 5 false starts.

Bring it on!

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Brisbane Trip

Just came back from a short trip to Brisbane to attend a friend's wedding. Was a fun trip with good company and good food. Made a few observations about Brisbane from this trip:
  • They love their teams (Broncos, Cowboys, QLD Reds and of course the Maroons).
  • They love rugby. On Saturday night was the rugby union test between the Wallabies and Wales. It seemed like an unusually busy night in the CBD, turned out most of them came out for the rugby. You won't see that happening in Sydney.
  • More Asians than I expected. The ones I met at Andrew's wedding are heaps ocker (got mad Aussie accents).
  • Nice, wide roads. Less cars. No traffic jams. Friendlier drivers. Less hoons. 我喜欢!
  • Didn't seem like there was much to do in the CBD (Queen St mall, etc). We got bored after about 1 hour (probably because I'm a arrogant Sydneysider).
Congrats Andrew and Karen! Was great to catch up with you guys at the wedding.

Some nice scenery shots:











On the last day we were there (today - Sunday) saw this on the road....couldn't resist taking some photos with Susie's camera.











Thought to myself...that's where all the Ferraris in Australia are. Mind you, this was just a road in Brisbane (similar to Norton St in Sydney). There were alot more Ferraris - yellow ones, black ones, retro ones and just a whole stack of red ones (I just call them ones because I don't know the model names).

Ah well, back to the daily grind of work tomorrow!! Yay for the long weekend....the Queen is useful for Australia in that way!