Newbie Chronicles #2: Cliff Diving--- A good fall for the best high!

This, perhaps, is one of the best and unforgettable things I've done in my entire 30 year life--- jumping off a cliff for 1,500 pesos. Ha!

8 meter jumping board

Ariel's Point cliff diving thing is a fairly new activity when visiting Boracay. It sounds really simple and childish to go up somewhere high and jump. But no, it is not that simple and that is not just the point of Ariel's Point (o maipasok lang haha) It's all about summoning your bravest self, inner devils and all the Gods every religion has to offer. Labasan na ng pananampalataya ito pati na last will and testament. Char!  

a man contemplates at the far end of the 5 meter jump point 

The experience is so surreal. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya ide-describe nang hindi nire-relive ang panic, fear, pressure, excitement and the "just fuckin do it" attitude na pumaloob sa akin. You have all these in your head and more pag nandun  ka sa safer dulo ng 5 meter jumping board just before you walk towards the other dulo where there's only the vast sea to greet you and calmly telling you all things will be alright. The view before you jump is just great. Something to smile about before everything else down there.

Take note that 5 meters lang ang taas ng kinaya ko and that's 16 feet high. It's not the highest since it's only the 3rd level. Paano na ang 8 meter at ang makatanggal kaluluwa na 15 meters or almost 50 feet high? Pucha. Damn the numbers. I always hated numbers and this was no exception. Good thing they converted the feet into meters para bawas kaba/computation sa mga tatalon.   

There's a first level, mga 2 meters lang ata? Plus the second level which is around 3 meters? At ang iba, including me ay kabado pa tumalon from there. Ako, nagpraktis muna ako ng twice for the first two levels just to get the hang of it. At masakit siya sa pwet lalo na't naka-one piece bathing suit ako. Masakit na tumama sa tubig ang pwet mo dahil hahampasin ka ng tubig talaga at lalong masakit pag plumakda ka pa. So the safest is feet first and don't even try a head on if you don't really dive on a daily basis. Aksidente lang talaga ang sasalubong sa'yo sa baba kahit pa malalim na tubig yan.

Sa baba ay may nakahintay na kuya with a life vest sa mga hindi marunong lumangoy gaya ko. They don't advise na tumalon with a life vest dahil mas masakit siya sa katawan pag bulusok pababa. Anyways, people have this natural thing to float up once na pumaimbulog tayo ng malalim. 

15 meter jump point--hoohaaa!

So ayun. Sinubukan ko mag 5 meter jump. Nag-inarte ako dahil kinabahan talaga ako. Nanguluntoy ang mga demonyo ko sa katawan. And i hate myself dahil inatake ako ng bibihirang pag-iinarte. But I had to condition myself. Ano bang mga iniisip ko that time? I have to do this for the sake of my children? Hahaha. For world peace. Pucha hindi!!  Hindi nga ako tumayo sa may ledge dahil you can instantly feel the 5 meter air and that you're alone there on top and that you have to jump. But then, naisip ko, bakit ang arte arte ko? Nakapag bathing suit nga ako ng walang kabog-abog kahit kasing edad ko na ang waistline tapos eto lang na tatalon eh parang nag-kape ako ng ilang araw? Ano na?! To jump or not to jump? Talagang kinausap ko pa ang sarili ko and all that shiz.

a part of the view down there

Then sabi ni Kuya sa gilid ko na huwag daw ako tumingin sa baba. Just look on an eye level, decide to go towards the jump board, walk straight, release your body from the board and just wait for the big splash. Tama siya. Kalma is key. Heck, enjoy the view as you walk. And then patihulog in full straight firm body with a clipped nose.

the liberating 5 meter jump 

And it was the best fall I've made, surprisingly better than the first 2 levels, with pure adrenalin rushing in every part of my body. I'm not a screamer but i had to let it out my chest. The free fall was something i had to have to make it through at hindi siya ganun kasakit sa pwet. One has to do it to feel all the gush of endorphins in a span of  what--- 2-3 seconds that felt like a minute? Now i'm having fun and feelin giddy with numbers here. For 1,500 pesos, you get a boat ride, delicious meals, free flowing beer/drinks, the chance to be a kid again, meet new people and that sublime rush of a million highs. Ain't that a steal?  We'll see if i can conquer the highest point when i come back.   

--->  Some of the pics were from Ariel's Point facebook page. I didn't get to take as much pictures since i had so many things happening in my mind and body that day ya know. :-)