1st photo from www.abseilen.nl.Rest of the photos from MK
By this time, I have already exploited everything the famed Euromast Tower in Rotterdam has to offer. I have eaten in its Brasserie, rode the Euroscoop, its rotating cabin and rappelled down from its observation tower, 100M above ground. I will share it with all of it but first the most daring, the abseilen.
I am becoming an adrenaline junkie later, owing it to something that is called boredom. After the bungee jump in Scheveningen, I wanted to try another scary adventure and I am willing to pay hard-earned money for it. While dining at the Euromast Brasserie a month ago, when Her Excellency treated me there as my dinner gift and mentioned the rappelling, it didn't leave my mind. A month after, I am back.
Reservation was easy and done in the Internet through www.heightspecialists.nl. I got a good time, 7PM which is the latest for the day. September is the last month that abseilen is allowed and mostly done during the weekends unless there are special reasons for exceptions. The fee is EUR45,0 including the entrance to the Euromast which is EUR7,50, cheaper than the bungee jumping and as I found out later, more thrilling.
I arrived 10 minutes to 7PM and waited a little bit for another person who reserved for the same time. The sun is just setting and quite the opposite of the last time I was there, the horizon was cloudy and it seems like there is an impending rain. Fortunately, the weather yesterday was great and it wasn't that cold either. As usual, I was giddy and excited, not at all scary while being instructed by the friendly Timon, once of the crew, about the procedure of sliding down.
I don't think I got half of what he was saying, the most significant instruction that my mind retained was keep your eyes on the figure 8, by which he meant was the knot. He showed me some technique on how to do it easier but I was too worried about my own fears that I couldn't recall most of it.
MK was patiently taking pictures with his new Tamron 17-50 2.8 although he wasn't allowed inside the restricted area *because the crew wants to take exclusive photos which they will sell later at EUR5 a piece.
After a no-show from the other person, it was decided that I will be the only one rappelling at that hour. Well not entirely alone because Timon will go down with me, which he said is precautionary so whatever happens, there's a professional who can help. That lessened the fear.
After the other guy, *cute one, quite fresh, made sure that I am all geared up, he told me to step in his legs so I can go over the edge of the viewing deck. Now it's there where the real fear started.
Is it fear of heights or knees automatically shakes when you look down below 100 meters high and see the pavement and the tiny cars all waiting for your fall? I felt the same when I was 60 meters above the North Sea for my bungee jump.
The crew tried everything to assure me that it is safe, that the two sets of ropes fastened to my belt is strong enough to hold my 43 kilos of height, and that if ever I let go of the ropes, the guy below can easily halt my fall by just stepping on the end of the rope lying on the pavement below.
"its safer than using the elevator, it's even safer than high school", said Timon when I asked him twice if the thing is, well, safe. It's comforting to know that he will be rappelling down with me and I will have somebody there to talk my fears out.
The cute.fresh guy, Asian looking actually, told me to grab the ropes and lean back, like if I am falling. I couldn't do it at first so Timon held out his hand and told me to put my weight on his hands then straighten my legs.
Then the next thing to do is start the rappelling by stepping on the glasses of the brasserie. It was difficult and my knees and my whole legs are still shaking but I managed to lower myself down.
I weigh only 43 kilos and the rope that I have to feed on the knot is estimated at 50 kilos. Timon said that their minimum limit is actually 50kls because it requires more effort for the rappeller to lower himself down. In my case, that is very true because it took all the effort that I can squeezed out of my tiny body to lift the rope.
It was about 50 meters down when I found out that I could have done it in an easier way. By letting the rope just slide through my right hands and feed itself to the knot. But I was holding on to dear life, and the rope was my saviour. I didn't want to let go.
Timon and I talked for the rest of slide. I told him of my recent adventures as well as MK and I swimming with the sharks in Palawan. I told him that I can do this again and the next time, I will be less agitated. For several times, I paused a little bit, just rested my hands on the rope and scan the port of Rotterdam stretching to the horizon. From above I can see Hotel New York, the Erasmus Bridge, the Maas River where you can take a taxi ferry to take you around, the Maasvlakte and parts of Schiedam. It was so still from that height, quite romantic with the setting sun, the gray clouds and the little flickers of light from the buildings. Too bad I couldn't stay there that long.
The rest of the slide was surprisingly easier, with the rope being lighter to pull. At first Timon was holding my rope but he let go after a while he let go and allowed me to enjoy the rappelling all by myself. It lasted for about 8-10 minutes, some of the best minutes of my life.
I was able to look down without being scared shit and in fact enjoyed the view. For a moment, I uttered a prayer of gratitude that I can do all these things. I had been so lucky in my life and my stay in the Netherlands is paving the road for all my dreams to come true. All of it,... love, career, new found happiness and a man who I love so much.
When I finally touched the ground again, MK was there still capturing these moments of my life. He had been there during these adventures. We had shared a lot of good times together and I am so lucky that I found him.
I was exhausted but happy. After they untie me, we rushed back to the viewing deck and wait for the Euroscoop to come down and bring us to the heighest point of the Euromast.
That is for the next post. Enjoy the photos everyone and toast to the new season!
I am becoming an adrenaline junkie later, owing it to something that is called boredom. After the bungee jump in Scheveningen, I wanted to try another scary adventure and I am willing to pay hard-earned money for it. While dining at the Euromast Brasserie a month ago, when Her Excellency treated me there as my dinner gift and mentioned the rappelling, it didn't leave my mind. A month after, I am back.
Reservation was easy and done in the Internet through www.heightspecialists.nl. I got a good time, 7PM which is the latest for the day. September is the last month that abseilen is allowed and mostly done during the weekends unless there are special reasons for exceptions. The fee is EUR45,0 including the entrance to the Euromast which is EUR7,50, cheaper than the bungee jumping and as I found out later, more thrilling.
I arrived 10 minutes to 7PM and waited a little bit for another person who reserved for the same time. The sun is just setting and quite the opposite of the last time I was there, the horizon was cloudy and it seems like there is an impending rain. Fortunately, the weather yesterday was great and it wasn't that cold either. As usual, I was giddy and excited, not at all scary while being instructed by the friendly Timon, once of the crew, about the procedure of sliding down.
I don't think I got half of what he was saying, the most significant instruction that my mind retained was keep your eyes on the figure 8, by which he meant was the knot. He showed me some technique on how to do it easier but I was too worried about my own fears that I couldn't recall most of it.
MK was patiently taking pictures with his new Tamron 17-50 2.8 although he wasn't allowed inside the restricted area *because the crew wants to take exclusive photos which they will sell later at EUR5 a piece.
After a no-show from the other person, it was decided that I will be the only one rappelling at that hour. Well not entirely alone because Timon will go down with me, which he said is precautionary so whatever happens, there's a professional who can help. That lessened the fear.
After the other guy, *cute one, quite fresh, made sure that I am all geared up, he told me to step in his legs so I can go over the edge of the viewing deck. Now it's there where the real fear started.
Is it fear of heights or knees automatically shakes when you look down below 100 meters high and see the pavement and the tiny cars all waiting for your fall? I felt the same when I was 60 meters above the North Sea for my bungee jump.
The crew tried everything to assure me that it is safe, that the two sets of ropes fastened to my belt is strong enough to hold my 43 kilos of height, and that if ever I let go of the ropes, the guy below can easily halt my fall by just stepping on the end of the rope lying on the pavement below.
"its safer than using the elevator, it's even safer than high school", said Timon when I asked him twice if the thing is, well, safe. It's comforting to know that he will be rappelling down with me and I will have somebody there to talk my fears out.
The cute.fresh guy, Asian looking actually, told me to grab the ropes and lean back, like if I am falling. I couldn't do it at first so Timon held out his hand and told me to put my weight on his hands then straighten my legs.
Then the next thing to do is start the rappelling by stepping on the glasses of the brasserie. It was difficult and my knees and my whole legs are still shaking but I managed to lower myself down.
I weigh only 43 kilos and the rope that I have to feed on the knot is estimated at 50 kilos. Timon said that their minimum limit is actually 50kls because it requires more effort for the rappeller to lower himself down. In my case, that is very true because it took all the effort that I can squeezed out of my tiny body to lift the rope.
It was about 50 meters down when I found out that I could have done it in an easier way. By letting the rope just slide through my right hands and feed itself to the knot. But I was holding on to dear life, and the rope was my saviour. I didn't want to let go.
Timon and I talked for the rest of slide. I told him of my recent adventures as well as MK and I swimming with the sharks in Palawan. I told him that I can do this again and the next time, I will be less agitated. For several times, I paused a little bit, just rested my hands on the rope and scan the port of Rotterdam stretching to the horizon. From above I can see Hotel New York, the Erasmus Bridge, the Maas River where you can take a taxi ferry to take you around, the Maasvlakte and parts of Schiedam. It was so still from that height, quite romantic with the setting sun, the gray clouds and the little flickers of light from the buildings. Too bad I couldn't stay there that long.
The rest of the slide was surprisingly easier, with the rope being lighter to pull. At first Timon was holding my rope but he let go after a while he let go and allowed me to enjoy the rappelling all by myself. It lasted for about 8-10 minutes, some of the best minutes of my life.
I was able to look down without being scared shit and in fact enjoyed the view. For a moment, I uttered a prayer of gratitude that I can do all these things. I had been so lucky in my life and my stay in the Netherlands is paving the road for all my dreams to come true. All of it,... love, career, new found happiness and a man who I love so much.
When I finally touched the ground again, MK was there still capturing these moments of my life. He had been there during these adventures. We had shared a lot of good times together and I am so lucky that I found him.
I was exhausted but happy. After they untie me, we rushed back to the viewing deck and wait for the Euroscoop to come down and bring us to the heighest point of the Euromast.
That is for the next post. Enjoy the photos everyone and toast to the new season!
5 comments:
Hello there! WOW!!!! As in, WOW!!!!!
This is impressive and EXCITING! You definitely know how to have a good time. Inggit ako kasi takot ako sa height eh. :)
girllll! look at you livin' life to the fullest! love it! and i' so jealous of all these thrills and adventures! i wish i had more time (and money) to do all this! hehe! take care!
i envy you. i always wanted to visit the netherlands. :)
wooooow! that is suppper extreme...and where is the next destination?
@ droomvla, thamarai, solo and kym. thank you guys. it was really a memorable experience. And I would do it again.
Next adventure would be the indoor skydiving in Roseendal. Still saving up though. Lately, all my money is going to adventures and shopping. Need to fill the bank again.
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