I didn't really plan on dying on this trip. But when we saw there was $20 bungee jumping over a massive canyon in Baños, we couldn't pass it up. The second we knew it was a must, I kept having flashes of watching Kate fall to the bottom of the canyon because we stupidly paid only $20 to jump off a bridge. OF COURSE IT WOULD BREAK. Why wasn't it more expensive? Also, why is it that extreme things are so much more fun in other countries? Kate and I had both bungee jumped before in New Zealand and Africa. Testing our luck once apparently wasn't enough.
We walked out to the bridge. We saw two jimmy rigged rebar stools that were hanging over the side of the bridge. No one was in sight. So off we went to find people who would throw us to the canyon below. Twenty minutes later, we somehow returned to the place of pending death and found several guys standing around harnessing up another dumb traveler. PERFECT.
Kate was the first out of both of us to agree. Hell no was I about to strap up without seeing this done first (this is where the flashes of her at the bottom of the canyon became really intense). As I type this I'm realizing what a great sister I am. WHY DIDN'T I STOP HER? Instead I grabbed the camera and said, I'll document the whole thing!!
It needs to be noted that these guys made us pay them before we jumped. You know, just in case anything happened they would at least have their money.
She ascended the sketchy steps and was standing on that rebar ledge. I was afraid that would give way before she even had a chance to jump. It didn't matter though, my camera was ready to go.
We walked out to the bridge. We saw two jimmy rigged rebar stools that were hanging over the side of the bridge. No one was in sight. So off we went to find people who would throw us to the canyon below. Twenty minutes later, we somehow returned to the place of pending death and found several guys standing around harnessing up another dumb traveler. PERFECT.
Kate was the first out of both of us to agree. Hell no was I about to strap up without seeing this done first (this is where the flashes of her at the bottom of the canyon became really intense). As I type this I'm realizing what a great sister I am. WHY DIDN'T I STOP HER? Instead I grabbed the camera and said, I'll document the whole thing!!
It needs to be noted that these guys made us pay them before we jumped. You know, just in case anything happened they would at least have their money.
She ascended the sketchy steps and was standing on that rebar ledge. I was afraid that would give way before she even had a chance to jump. It didn't matter though, my camera was ready to go.
She posed and prayed (the two most important things in this life). Tonie (the sketchy man who claimed to know what he was doing) held her feet. And then in perfect form she dove into the canyon below. I wanted to curl up in a ball watching her jump. But as a good sister does, I stayed strong. I had a job to do.
Evidence:
Evidence:
After her jump, I knew I couldn't back down. I got strapped in. And climbed to the edge. I held Tonie's hands in a death grip. I was screaming at him that if he pushed me off I would be so mad (scary threat, right?) He didn't understand a word I said...which is why he pushed me off.
A lot of swear words came out of my mouth until I hit the whiplash at the bottom--at which point the whole world probably thought I was getting killed by an axe murderer. And not only that, my body was limp. As noted here...
Also, can we talk about how this was no bungee. This was a straight up rope. A rope. Aka, no give when you hit the end of the rope.
Also, can we talk about how this was no bungee. This was a straight up rope. A rope. Aka, no give when you hit the end of the rope.
I'm still not sure why I screamed bloody murder after the initial jump was over--for some reason I still thought I was going to die?
But I'm happy to report, I didn't die.
And for the record, it was the best $20 we ever spent.
But I'm happy to report, I didn't die.
And for the record, it was the best $20 we ever spent.