Singapore is a country that has been on my bucket list for some time. Seeing the towering Marina Bay Sands and otherworldly Gardens by the Bay showcased on the movie “Crazy Rich Asians” only elevated the experience. The trip had been a long time coming, so I was happy to be meeting my husband’s family in Singapore and to be visiting the Lion City.
I already had a full itinerary set for exploration and eating planned three weeks before my trip. During my research, I stumbled upon a video of someone bungee jumping in Singapore. For a while, I’d been saying that I wanted to try bungee jumping if the opportunity presented itself. The facility, Skypark by AJ Hackett, was located on Sentosa island, which I dedicated a whole day on the itinerary for. It felt like I had to do it.
There was only one question on my mind: could I really do it? I really wasn’t sure. While I love rollercoasters, it was a far cry from being safely strapped into a moving cart. I would be free-falling head first with only an elastic cord to stop me from crashing to my death, and the thought was exhilarating.
Three Weeks Before The Jump
I posted the video link in my family group chat and asked if anyone else wanted to do it. My brother-in-law signed up. It provided me with comfort. I figured watching him jump first and come out alive would help give me the courage to follow suit.
The decision was made. It was settled. I was doing it. I pictured the view from the ledge, and imagined myself jumping off. My heart pounded every time I thought of it.
I did a lot of research on bungee jumping with the hopes of diminishing my fears; however, I stumbled upon stories of the cord snapping. It was a very rare occurrence, but with my luck, I thought that I’d be the next rare case. It was only four months ago that I busted my face open in a zip lining accident in the Dominican Republic.
I took solace in the safety record of AJ Hackett’s Bungee Jumping Facilities, and found comfort in knowing how Singapore prioritizes safety, maintenance and regulations. I figured if I was going to do it, there was no better time or place.
The Day of The Jump
When the day came, my family and I spent the first half of it doing the other activities outlined in the itinerary. The Skyline Luge amped me up for the jump ahead. However, the sweltering heat and humidity threatened to put a damper on the event. By the time we made it to the Sentosa island Skypark, everyone was hot, sweaty and tired. We decided to go to the beach club to eat, swim and relax; however, the only thing on my mind was completely the jump ahead.
My husband planned on coming to support me from down below, but I didn’t want to pull our 15-month-old daughter from the pool. Her eyes lit up when she saw it, and I wanted her to enjoy it. I assumed that my brother-in-law and I would walk down to the Skypark together and take the plunge; however, when the time came, he said he didn’t want to do it anymore.
I was on my own, and that was alright with me. It would become one less person to witness me chicken out if I decided not to go through with it at the top.
Moments Before Taking The Jump
Walking down the road to Skypark, I could see the platform towering out over Sentosa island. I went up to the counter, paid and signed the liability waiver. The front desk attendant had me step onto a scale to be weighed, then wrote my weight on the back of my hand with a marker.
Next, I placed all of my belongings into a locker and took the elevator up to the top floor. When I stepped out, I could feel the wind blowing, and see the golden sand and blue water of Siloso Beach in the distance. My plan was to take in all the incredible views now and keep my eyes shut when I got to the ledge.
As I approached the counter, I was greeted by the two staff members working the bungee. They got down to business. One of them decided to make a lot of jokes along the way. I was instructed to step into the harness, pull it up around my waist and tighten the thigh straps. Then, they fastened the ankle straps and adjusted everything to make sure it was all secure.
I was only connected to the bungee cord by my lower body. I would have felt much more secure with some type of chest/back combo. However, that was all it was.
Minutes Before the Jump
Everything was in place, and it was go-time. However, I still wasn’t ready. I had some questions. For each of my ridiculous questions, the jokester who strapped me up had an equally ridiculous response.
“You adjusted everything correctly for my weight?” I asked.
“Hmmm, is that a 6 or a 9?” he responded, looking at the inscription on my hand.
“Are you sure these straps are secure?” I questioned.
“Wait, what’s this one hanging here?” he responded.
“My head won’t dunk in the pool, will it?” I asked.
“Do you want it to?” he asked.
“No!” I said. What if the cord breaks?”
“Well, it was nice knowing you,” he said.
I couldn’t help, but laugh. I can only assume that the comic relief is his way of calming people’s nerves.
Taking the Plunge
All harnessed up with my legs strapped together, I closed my eyes and waddled my way over to the ledge. I followed his instructions and kept inching forward until I felt my toes hanging off the edge of the platform. I cracked my eyes open a bit and peeked out, instantly realizing I should not have done that. However, it was too late. I opened them fully and looked down at the pool, the beach and the people enjoying Sentosa island below. From up so high, they looked like tiny ants. My heart was pounding out of my chest. I was shaking like a leaf.
“I don’t know if I can jump,” I said. “Can you just push me instead?”
Then, the jokester released one last joke from his arsenal.
“It’s not called a bungee push,” he said. “It’s called a bungee jump!”
After that, he coached me through everything.
“Calm down. Slow your breathing. Take deep breaths,” he said. “I’m gonna count down and you’re gonna jump, okay?”
I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. I told myself to stop thinking and just do it.
I leapt off the platform, screaming and feeling a rush of adrenaline, excitement and exhilaration. As expected, it was nothing like a rollercoaster. It was even better. The bungee cord yanked me back up, reassuring me that it was still intact. After a few more bounces, I heard someone calling out to me and telling me to grab onto the stick. Spinning around upside down, I was completely disoriented. Finally, I spotted the stick, grabbed it and was pulled down.
It was done. I had officially completed my first bungee jump and lived to tell about it. Was it scary? Extremely. Would I do it again? Yes. I would probably do a higher jump.
A friend of mine asked me why I wanted to try bungee jumping if it scared me so much. My answer was simple.
“To prove to myself that I can,” I said.
I achieved what I set out to do, and now, I feel like I can do anything.
