I went skydiving today! I sort of never thought it was going to happen. I had waited awhile and then it was going to happen last week, and then it didn't so I figured today wasn't going to happen either. I was scheduled to be picked up at 1pm so I helped Dani clean rooms this morning and then went to the front desk to work until 1230, and then hang out for a bit before the pickup. The bus came at 12 so I had to rush to get my stuff together and get going. That was probably a good thing because it distracted me for a bit. The bus ride from the hostel to the airport was about 20 minutes, most of which I spent chatting with Des and filling out paperwork. Des is one of the owners of the hostel and he also jumps with one of the skydiving companies here, hence the free skydive. He and I have gotten along really well and did that trip to Cairns a few weeks back, so we're buddies. Anyway, I had been trying really hard not to think about what was about to happen. Last night I started picturing me leaping to my death and I had to stop myself so I wouldn't get nervous. Des had taken me to the airport before so that wasn't anything new. When I say airport, I mean a small little building and a tiny little slab of pavement for one little airplane. Anyway, I did my paperwork, but I wasn't scheduled to jump until the next load, so they sent me back on the bus to watch the first load land, and then I'd go back to the shop and get all hooked up. That was fine, but that gave me more time in a bus to think about what I was about to do.
Anyway, I got all strapped in and ready to go, did the 5 minute instructions saying how to jump out and how to land, and then we found out that there was a storm cloud brewing over the jump site so we had to wait about 30 minutes to jump... another 30 min to think about what I was doing. I think I was a little bit in lala land. I was forcing myself to NOT think about what was ahead of me, so I was in a daze a bit. There were about 13 of us in the plane, all super squished together. I just watched out the window at the beautiful coast as we kept getting higher and higher and higher. We went ABOVE the clouds... OMG! Eventually Des said I needed to adjust a little to get strapped in a little tighter. The girl next to me and I started panicking a tiny bit. I still wasn't THAT scared, probably because I was still trying not to think about it. Then they opened the door. My heart started pounding a little and then people started jumping. It was so fast. You'd think that you'd have time to freak out and panic, but you really don't. They just roll out of the plane one after another like it's no big deal. No turning back! We were the second to last out of 5 jumpers so I saw a few people ahead of me. After each jumper we scooted closer and closer to the door. Finally it was my turn, he said to get to the door, and all of a sudden, BAM, we were out the door. I had been told before to keep my eyes open for the flip, so I closed them in panic for second, then opened them up right away. The initial flip out the door felt like the stomach drop from a rollercoaster and I HATE that feeling so I was terrified that the whole free fall was going to be like that, but it wasn't. After a second of that, it was just a huge gust of air like sticking your head out a window but your whole body. I was a little panicked, but I felt okay. Somehow I ended up screaming for the entire free fall. I don't really know why because I wasn't scared but I think it was like the rush and excitement, like a whoo hoo scream. The photos are all of me with my mouth wide open and looking terrifiedhaha. With the air rushing in my wide open mouth I had to re-wet my mouth a few times but I kept reopening it and screaming again hahaha. The wind was so loud that I could barely hear me screaming, but I most definitely was. I can feel it in my throat now haha.
From what I've been told about skydiving in Mission Beach, this is one of the best places to do it because of the view. Dunk Island and the other 10-11 islands around it are right there and they are all awesome to see. The photo attached is of Dunk from the sky... pretty much what I saw as I was plummeting to the earth. They are covered in rainforest and all small and close with beaches and trees, so it's so cool. The coast itself is beautiful with beaches and palm trees. There are rainforest covered mountains inland a little ways too so it's just nothing but an amazing view no matter where you look. I wish I had more photos of the view and not just of me screaming, but it was so amazing to see. It's like seeing it from an airplane, but you have a much better view. After 60 seconds of the freefall, the chute opened and all was good. I stopped screaming and Des and I started chatting about how beautiful everything was and he pointed out a few things to me. We wizzed around a little and I just took in the amazing site. I couldn't imagine doing that multiple times a day. It's sad because I think he must be sick of it by now but I'd love to go again just to be able to appreciate the view. Landing was interesting. We were going parallel to the water along the beach and then somehow turned a bit to head INTO the water. We were heading INTO the ocean instead of the sand. I was excited when we ended up with our feet in the water but apparently that's the wrong way to do it because we had a few guys rushing over to us rushing us backwards out of the water. Then the other divers were giving him shit about it the rest of the afternoon. I kept saying that I thought that was a perfect ending so I was thrilled. I think all dives should end that way! The whole thing happened so fast that it's still sort of weird to think that I just jumped out of a plane! I think because I wasn't panicking or anything, that the 5 minutes of me in the air was the only rush I felt so it really was pretty quick. Amazing, but quick.
Tomorrow Dani, Rob, and Annika are leaving. I'm completely sad. It was a sudden decision too, which makes it harder. All of them just got a call last night for a new job so they spent all day packing and they will be gone tomorrow. We've already found a new bus driver, but not a new cleaner. We drank a little at the hostel, then went out to the Shrub for one last night together. The bar is pretty dead on Wednesday nights, which was perfect for us. We got free food and drinks from lovely Christian and just sat around chatting and reminiscing. I'm going to be so sad when they leave. Now it'll be just Vinny, Engin, and I. Vinny's looking for a new job too so he might not be here much longer either. I'm looking forward to new people, but it will be different.
Oh, this morning a guy ran down to the front desk screaming that there were Cassowaries out his window. Cassowaries are very rare birds, like 1500 left in the world so seeing one is a huge treat. I saw my first on my way rafting, took a photo, and figured I'd be lucky to see one again. This one had three babies with it! I got pics but I haven't uploaded yet. Very cool to see even though they are super ugly and I hear they are mean as well. On the way to the diving this afternoon we saw another too. BAM, that's 6 cassowaries in 4 weeks. Rob's leaving tomorrow after 2.5 months here and he hasn't seen one haha.
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