Conquering my fear: Acrophobia at Skytrex with Nuffnang

Do you know the ultimate answer to finally put an end to he questions why the sky is so blue but people are still having monday blues and why would a pigeon launches its dump right on your head and it stinks?

Nah, neither do I. Ain't got no time for that!

Weeyyyhhh... I have done something unbelievable on last week Saturday. It was like tearing my heart out and threw it into the sea; yet I check my heartbeat every single day and... it's still there, beating.

There was a policy in U.S. army that was taken down years ago, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. However, for my post, I change it into 'Don't Ask but I'll Tell.' (right... *sarcastically*) 

This time, I'll not tell my story straight to point. Like a circling tornado that spins a confused cow from bottom to the top, that is how I'm going to bring front this story and the cow.

Now, about the thing that I have done last week... I was a little bit anxious to take part in it, mainly because I have a major problem that really demotivated me. Now, won't you be wondering why, at the end, I took the challenge and make myself a part of it? Wait for it, I'll get to that part SOON.

I talked to a friend of mine, someone who has been a great listener to me all this time (not to mention a good counsellor too). The respond that the person gave me was "Nak mati kah? Dahlah ko takut tinggi, p wat benda-benda bahaya pula" (In English, 'Do you want to die? You have the fear of height yet you intend to do something dangerous). I knew that she would say something that was really 'helpful', just didn't know that it would be that harsh and an ice to the shoulders. Haha... still, it was very funny. So, part of the mystery has been solved, that the major problem is my fear of height, or acrophobia.

So I have this fear of height, then why did I join the act last Saturday? Well, there should be two reasons that serve as solid support for my argument *if there is any*.

Firstly, there was this competition on a particular website, organised by a company that I'm sure some bloggers would know, nuffnang. They would only choose 30 best commenters to join the Saturday activity at Shah Alam there. They offered two choices and I chose the path that may be left trodden, untouched. (I guess). However, my comment did not stand among the best, I did not win... at first. 

Below was the comment that I submitted, I know it is kind of 'minta puji', but I won't lose anything if I tried right?

<Hi. I want to take on the Extreme Challenge at Skypark Adventure because as what the name has implied, I want to challenge myself on taking that because I am sort of afraid of height and I am intending to conquer the fear. Before this I have tried to downsize my acrophobia and it works, and now I need something that is extreme and challenging enough to act as a booster and platform to deplete the fear that I have. thanks.>

One cannot see where the future goes. Three days before the Saturday, I received a call from Nuffnang. Looks like there was empty spot left and they were looking for someone to fill it up. At first I was very reluctant and unsure, so I made up an excuse that I have to check my schedule first and would get back to them later. Actually, right after the call, I quickly met up with a friend of mine and discussed the matter with him. He was the one that shared with me about the Nuffnang and also the competition. Moreover, before I received the call from Nuffnang, he also had received the call and told me about it. However, at that time, he seemed to have a hard time for putting himself together for the activity even though he had confirmed his presence on the Saturday. Now we back to the second reason why I joined the activity, it was because of him. He forced insisted that we should go together and have fun, expanding social circle and most of all, it was free. (Those was the persuasive facts that my friend used on me) Well, all was complimentary from Nuffnang. *Thanks Nuffnang* After that, I texted the person from Nuffnang (Daren) that called me and confirmed my availability for that Saturday. *I would like to thanks Nuffnang for the opportunities, but most of all, thanks God for His plan to prosper those who believeth* [ I texted him three times, the first one was to confirm my availability which happened when I was on the way to jog, the second one was an enquiry for further info about the Saturday and sent right after the first, and the third one was sent when I was jogging at UM because suddenly it came to my thought that I forgot to put my name. Haha... by the way, something funny had happened while I was jogging and texting at that moment.]

Each of us got a free Skytrex Adventure Extreme Challenge ticket... and we made a pact, a pact of preventing shyness brotherhood, to stick together was the only law.

picture taken from Nuffnang

So there were we, took Extreme Challenge course that almost made me puked my heart out. The real pressure was when I had to climb the ladders to the top. It was so high that looking down was a no no for me. Grabbing on the grey pipes tightly, yet my mind kept on reminding me of the consequence of losing the grip and falling down. I just either looked up or looked straight into the emptiness but just a blue blue sky. In my heart, I kept  praying to be strengthened throughout the course. At that time, I finally set my goal for 2013, that was to finish the challenge alive. I was scared as hell during that time!! 

picture taken from Nuffnang

Moreover, when I reached the platform,
my legs were shaking and so as my arms. Shakily, I removed the carabiners one by one and placed them on the horizontal string that connected with the next platform. Believe me, I tried to look the surrounding while I was at the platform, which I had come to regret for doing that. There's nothing there, only trees that are shorter than you now... Also, as usual, my mind kept on playing with my insecurity. That moment, I was thinking, what if the string snapped when I was gliding over. Then, I looked down (which was a stupid act) and saw nothing that could reduce the impulsive force of my body on the ground. Oh yeah, guess my feeling at that moment. Reluctantly, after setting up the pulley and carabiner, tagging with the string, I squatted down, close my eyes and swoooosshhhhh~ and I was like, "yeah! I'm doing it, I'm doing it" , but with with my eyes closed -.-".

this was taken from Google image

Still, there was an enjoyment, a kind of feeling that I felt when I was flying fox-ing. That feeling was so light, that it ought to make me open my eyes as I was gliding over to the next platform. The whooshing of the wind and defying gravity really made me to relax. I was able to see the surrounding and I wasn't scared at all. You know what, at that time, I smiled. I SMILED :)








It was very inspirational to join the activity. Why? I learnt to appreciate life over there. Any moments there the strings might snap or we knocked our head on the trees, either way. To take the course means risking our life. Basically, we are taking risks ourselves in our life. As my great great great great ancestor said, "where's the fun if there were no risks?" Even so, there is nothing to be worried about as the management has done their best to make sure the safety of people. They always make maintenance, to check the sturdiness and durability of  the strings, platforms, tools and so on. Moreover, there will be an expert at each platforms, if not, the expert will facilitate at the nearby platforms. Even the facilitators are applying safety measures when they are on the platform. That shows us that the management really cares about the safety of all people that use the facilities. They even prepare an emergency path at most of the platforms if raining heavily or something came out.

Short briefing- Taken from Nuffnang

Before the commencing of either Extreme Challenge or Big Thrill, participants will be enlightened about the course that they will go through soon. The picture above was the moment where we received the briefing from Mr. Azlan. Behind the wall is where the lockers are located. However, the lockers aren't that big enough to fit a large size of beg. So it is recommended to minimize the size of the beg or the stuff. The rent for a locker is only RM 1, but you have to put RM 5 for deposit (better don't lose the key). In addition, you can rent a laced bottle sheath near the counter and easy for you to jump from a tree to another without having to hold drinking bottle with you hands. By the way, gloves are sold at RM 3 and it is recommended that you either prepare a pair of gloves on your own or buy one near the counter. If you love your hands, better wear it before starting the course. Before starting the real course, a facilitator will share and show to you the equipment and the right way to use them. 

Short demonstration- taken from Nuffang

It was Mr. Siva that demonstrated to us the correct and safe way in handling and setting up the parts of equipment such as pulley, carabiners and how to set/tag them onto the string, both horizontal and vertical. 

Below are few of the challenges that can be found in Skytrex. All of them are exciting, minus the fear, enjoyable, challenging and tiring.

Here, you have to grip the poles like monkey to reach the next platform. Both of my hands were starting to become weary after I went through that platform. By the way, I wasn't in the picture.  Actually, I could just glide to reach the platform because there is rope that I could use to pull myself forward. What an ------

I really don't like the part of the course at this point. I wasn't able to stabilize myself when I went through the net. I kept on falling and when I fell, you know where my eyes would look at. Down, way down down below.

Yet, I'm not the one in the picture.

Walk on one string only - taken from Nuffang

This is where we had to reach the next platform by walking just on one string. If you look closely, we had to climb even higher before taking this walk-on-one-string-only challenge. It was really exciting, but whatever you do, do not look down. Here is a little spoiler, right after this challenges is flying fox. haha

Believe me, the two challenges don't look that easy like in the pictures. They are way arduous.The 'connecting bridges' are shaky-shaky, very fun to step on them if you manage to. Think you have the capabilities? haha

Finally, inside the picture was my friend (the one that forced invited me- red shirt) and I. His name is Syed. Well, maybe there was something wrong with the lighting or something that caused us to be not-so-photogenic at that time. haha

So that was it guys. There are a lot more exciting and thrilling challenges that can be found in Skytrex. The ticket for one person if I'm not mistaken, RM 50++ for a person. It sure was fun. I met a few new friends even though I was very quiet over there, Thanks guys. Thanks Nuffnang. 

So there were Mr. Azlan and I. I really thanked God because I was able to receive the certificate alive. Frankly, I could never imagine myself doing that sort of things. Even when I am standing at level three in Midvalley, I would not dare to go near the middle of the floor and look down. Even if I would, most probably I will stand a bit farther that the fence.

p/s: I would like to thank CheSakinah for sending Syed and I back to hostel safe and sound even though it would be a burden to her.