It is not just at the Macao casinos that the stakes are high! The city is also home to the Macao Tower, the highest bungee-jumping site. Have you tried bungee-jumping from 233 metres? I did, and this is what you need to know if you plan to do the same. You can also skywalk, sky-jump or climb the Macao Tower.
The bungee jump is organised by AJ Hackett Bungy, a New Zealand-based company, started in 1988 by Alan John Hackett. Since then, Alan has expanded his business to Australia, France, Russia, Germany, the US, Mexico, Indonesia, and Macao.
My excitement took a slight hit while going up the Macao Tower’s elevator that travels at a speed of one-second-per-floor and my ears got blocked. On the 61st floor, there is an outer observation deck, where you get a 360-degree view, and you get to walk along a see-through pathway. The spiral staircase in the centre of the floor leads to AJ Hackett’s reception.
Macao Tower at night
The upbeat music and the presence of fellow jumpers restored my enthusiasm and I paid up and joined the queue to get my body harness. If you want to, you can also get a windcheater.
To the ramp
I am not sure if it was the harness or the anxiety that seemed like a load. A few minutes later (which felt like an eternity), three of us reached the jumping deck, where trainers Fredie and Ben welcomed me with a warm smile. The first person in the queue was seated on a steel chair and briefed on how to jump. The other two of us were ‘hooked’ to the railings safely. Only when I saw the first person jump, I got that ‘Oh my God!’ feeling.
In another five minutes, it was my turn. Fredie cautioned me not to bend my knees and gave me more instructions. With a go-pro camera attached to my right hand, I found myself two steps away from the jumping base.
On the edge of Macao Tower before the jump
Every cell in my body was telling me to not go ahead with the jump, but Fredie’s chatty and positive enforcements kept me going instead of calling off the jump. Ever so slowly, I inched forward.
A bit of humor works sparks up the courage
Just before the jump, Fredie pulled up a prop sign saying ‘I need new underwear’. I wondered if my expression prompted Fredie to hold up the sign. Amused and at the same time wondering ‘what if I actually need one’, I suppressed my second thoughts and to Fredie’s “Chalo, chalo jaldi karo! Jai Mata Di!!” I stepped off.
Jumping off
The six-second fall gave me a taste of Einstein’s theory of relativity. It felt like an eternity. How many times have we seen people scream while falling in a movie? But when my moment came, the silence was louder than the wind on my face. I just saw a grey blur, and my mind was empty. I think they call this ‘living in the moment’.
After the rebound, I released the harness, and everything returned into focus. I wasn’t free-falling any more. I could see the harbour and skyscrapers. Two minutes later, I touched ground. My first words after the jump? ‘Big oof!’
On my way back, strangers high-fived and congratulated me. I collected my souvenirs — a pen-drive with pictures and a video of the jump and a T-shirt. I can’t wait to rock that T-shirt while doing my next jump. This time I know what I will scream... “Jai Mata Di!”
(The writer was in Macao at the invitation of Macao Tourism)
Gone in six seconds from the Macao Towe