Monday, January 05, 2009

Tree Zipping

On December 31st we went Tree Zipping in Chiang Mai Jair Son National Park, about 45 minutes driving from Chiang Mai. This tropical rainforest adventure called “Flight of the Gibbon”. The price was 2,300 Baht per person including pick up and drop, lunch and activity. It’s a bit expensive considering the lunch was very much standard, but still, it’s worth doing. First thing that we did was a waterfall hiking to Kompong falls, after that the group had lunch together. Soon, the whole group of 9 people was called to the office to get ready and gear up for the zipping. Each group was accompanied by 2 leaders from the organizer. The leader explained the whole process of the activity and the DOs and DON’Ts. It’s basically flying fox through the trees.

We started from the top all the way down to the bottom of the valley, swinging through 18 platforms. One leader stayed with us and the other one was waiting on the destination platform. There are several short zips and a couple of long zips. There are a couple of sky bridging and a couple of vertical zip. I, personally, enjoyed this activity so much. Before this trip, I told my friends that I need to go back to the nature. I need to see mountains, river, trees and forest. I need to get out of the big city atmosphere. And this activity was exactly what I was looking for. Being in the tropical rainforest with its cool air, refreshing views of nature and swinging from tree to tree was just perfect for me. I couldn’t ask for a better idea than this! There was one time when I stopped about 3 meters before the platform, because my brake was “too good”. I tried to slide myself but instead of getting closer to the platform, I was moving backward and getting further from the platform. So, I stopped and just [literally] hang in there, waiting for the group leader to rescue me. It was fun, even though when I looked down I realized it was VERY high! Still… I enjoyed myself sooo much! And 3 hours of zipping was too short for me.

The last zip was a vertical one. I told Pascal that I’m not fond of vertical zip, I like horizontal better. But…. It was before I realize that the tree must be over 200 feet high! It was REALLY high… it was REALLY fun! As much fun as the horizontal ones!

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