I realise I have not been updating my blog regularly for some time now and I probably should provide an explanation. The gap between February and April is explained by my 5-week impromptu trip to Australia to spend some time with my Mum and make her birthday this year all the more special. I probably won't really write about that, though you will eventually get to see some photos.
The gap between my return on April 9th and today is due to my concentrating on getting constructive projects off the ground and a considerable amount of work done.
I am currently working on the finishing touches of my new-look personal website so hopefully that will be up within the next few days. Part of those finishing touches involves getting all the photo galleries up to date and that is a huge task since the presence in my life of a great digital camera!
This morning I was looking up how to say "parapente" in English (I found it: paragliding) and as it turns out this sport qualifies as an adventure sport, though it doesn't seem it to me. Is adventure sport the same as extreme sport? Anyhow, trusty old Google led me to an A to Z guide of adventure sports, a couple of which triggered a raised eyebrow or a quiet "What the...?!". Check this out:
Extreme Ironing: the list description is "The world’s newest adrenalin sport. Combines the thrills and spills of your favourite extreme activity - be it rock climbing, surfing, snowboarding or whatever - with the rosy glow and sense of self-satisfaction that only a razor-sharp crease in your slacks and neatly-pressed lapels can provide." I mean is the world really that short on thrills?? I still don't really understand the concept, but if you're game to find out more you can visit their
website.
Fly by wire: "Oh my god! James Bond eat your heart out. Imagine being strapped to a rocket pack and propelled around a mountain. I shall repeat that... Imagine being strapped to a rocket pack and propelled around a mountain. I cannot do it justice, you should visit the
site and watch the videos." So H, there's something for you to try out on your next ski trip to NZ.
Free fall: "Falling out of an aeroplane is not always an accident, you can actually pay to do it. From the moment you jump your body will accelerate at about 10 metres per second until you are approximately travelling at 120mph. This speed is dependant on how long you are in free fall. Then hopefully your parachute opens and you can slow down a little before hitting the ground." Sounds great! I've always wanted to fall out of an airplane, where do I
sign up?
Rap jumping: "This is basically abseiling, except with a little more adrenalin. You launch yourself off a cliff, facing downwards but attached to a rope. When you start to get close to the floor you use the rope to decelerate your self, hopefully with enough time to spare." Facing downwards, Geezus! Apparently you can learn more about it
here.
Or you can go for Tank Driving, some particularly strange activity they call Vindaloo which I believe is just the morning after a very hot curry but I can't confirm that because the site link leads nowhere, or you could even try Wadi Bashing - it sounds like you go around bashing Pakistanis or Middle Easterns, but that's not it , or Zorbing!
Well there you have it... choose your adventure. I think I'll just stick to learning to ride a bike and drive a car for the time being, both of which I am doing at the moment :)
BTW... the above quotes were pulled from the A-Z list located
here.
