Travel

008 | Lessons from My Zipline Experience

Last December 2019, we had a field trip to a resort (Pugad Adventure, Philippines) that has a lot of fun activities that you can do and that includes ziplines. Knowing me, I will not leave the resort without trying it. They have 5 ziplines and we chose the highest and the longest one which is called the Superman Zipline. If I remember it correctly, it’s 250-300 feet above the ground and 400-450 meters long. It’s from one mountain to another.

This will be my second time doing this so I thought I will be able to go through this ride smoothly, but…

“You will stay stuck here if you don’t let go of that bar,” said the staff. Just like my first time last December 2017, I held on to that bar for too long. It’s as if it’s my first time doing this. I was so scared, my heart is beating fast and I’m sweating. Maybe the added intensity is also because I was the first one. If you may ask, my brother and cousins pushed me to be the first one because I’m the only girl. “Ladies first,” they said. Hahahaha amazing, right? Well, I can’t complain because I’m the one who encouraged (or more like nagged) them to try this. Haha I don’t have before photos for 2019 because this time, no one wants to bring their phone. No need for that though because my reaction is still the same or much more than that. So I guess, it’s a good thing haha

After I don’t know how long, I released the bar and the staff let go of the rope, the one that is attached to me, so I flew to the other mountain in superman form. I screamed at the top of my lungs that my family heard it loud and clear at the cottage. While up there, I realized my eyes were closed. I thought, what’s the point of this adventure if I can’t see it? So I opened my eyes and saw how beautiful the resort is. It is surrounded by nature. I loved it! At that moment, I feel the cool breeze and slowly felt at ease.

2017 Zipline Experience

When I arrived at the other mountain, I feel so happy and I want to go back and do it all over again. It’s scary but it was an amazing experience.

2019 Zipline Experience

Here’s what I learned:

After much thought, I think the reason why the fear got stronger before I started this ride is that I have control over when to start. Unlike the rollercoasters and other thriller rides that I have experienced in the past, they are automatic. You just sit and hold on to the lap bars or to other forms of restraints and wait for the ride to start. Add the fact that my friends or my family and so many more people are with me in the ride at the same time. So there’s no room for fear to hold me back from going for it.

“You will stay stuck here if you don’t let go of that bar.”

What the staff said got me thinking and he’s right. I’m just prolonging it, making myself more afraid. It’s like the more I delay, the more I’m allowing myself to have room for that fear.

The fear will always be there.

To be honest, even though I’m a fan of rollercoasters and thriller rides, I still get scared. I realized that fear will always be there. Just like in life, some fears can’t be conquered one time. Others will still come back but the only difference is that you have experience so you know what it feels like to be out there and you know that you made it alive the first time.

Open your eyes on the journey.

While I’m up there, opening my eyes is probably one of the best decisions I’ve made. I know I’m exaggerating this too much, but I’m really into nature so I enjoyed being up there and getting the bird’s eye view of the resort and its surroundings. Same with life. Oftentimes, we are too fixated on the destination or the final product that we don’t take the time to pause, zoom out, and open our eyes to appreciate the journey. I really think that the journey to get to where we want to be is as important and as beautiful as the destination no matter how hard and frightening it is.

After reflecting on these, I realized that part of the reason why I’m so into these adventures is that it made me feel like I can conquer my fears. I really hope that I can apply these in all areas of my life because most of the time, I allow fear to eat up the courage left in me so I end up losing opportunities and chances. I want to remind myself that if it’s something that I really want to do and something that will help me improve and grow, then girl, it’s time to get out of your comfort zone! I know it’s easy to say but hard to do, but just think about all the things you might gain from that experience whether you fail or succeed. At the end of the day, you will regret all the things that you didn’t do.

Do you have a similar experience? Or a different one? What did you learn from it?

35 thoughts on “008 | Lessons from My Zipline Experience”

  2. Wow so true Nath! I’ve done ropes courses, zip lines, and some other things like that and though you’re so freaked out in the moment, conquering your fear and just doing it is the best experience ever! And oh my goodness delaying something scary makes it SO much worse so I literally just make the jump and do it right away to get it over with 😂. And also enjoying the experience is an amazing point as well. When I went on a ropes course that was hundreds of feet in the air in trees, all I could do was focus on “not dying” but now that I look back on it, it would have been so much better if I just enjoyed it! Anyways, I loved reading this and thanks so much for sharing what you learned!

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    1. You’re right! Making the jump and doing it right away is the best option rather than delaying it. 😅 The next time I do this again, I’ll try to not hold on to that bar and let the staff be the one to decide when to let me fly. And omg! Ropes courses sound fun! I looked it up on google and it looks scary… and exciting. It would be hard not to focus on “not dying” 😂 I bet I’ll be screaming and laughing while up there which will take me longer to finish. 😅 Thank you for reading this and sharing your experience! 💖

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  3. I had a chance of doing a zipline with my family too in Ilocos, but because I’m the resident letter D (Duwag) in our family, I let it slip out. Hahaha and yes I know I totally missed the chance, but I get scared too. But with this post, I’m gonna do it if the second opportunity knocks. I want to change this aspect of my life too. Being afraid to take risks and hiding behind my comfort line. You are absolutely right. The next time I do a zipline you will surely know about it and we can have a chat on what it really feels like. Also, I fully agree that some people tend to look forward in those times, focusing on the end and telling themselves “let’s just get done with it.” But we lose the essence when we don;t see the journey. This post has been very insightful and I love it. Thanks for this, Nath. ❤

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    1. Go Elle! I’m excited for you and I can’t wait to hear about your experience!!! 💖 I’ve heard about the longest zipline over water in Ilocos. Is that the one you went to? And yes!!! I love how you explained it! 😄 What makes the end more memorable is because of the things we’ve gone through along the way. Thank you so much for sharing, Elle! 💖

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  4. That is an amazing zipling photo!! I’ve always wanted to try zipline but heard a terrifying story of it a while back so it stopped me from trying 😰 but will be giving it a shot once this lockdown is over! And that quote from the staff!! Absolute love!!! So true in every aspect of life.

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    2. So I went to volunteer abroad a while back in Peru, and apparently one of the volunteers fell while ziplining…and he had to be sent to the hospital right away. Ended up with broken bones everywhere 😰

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  7. I have always wanted to go zip-lining! These are all amazing lessons- especially the fear will always be there. It’s always scary when you try something but it’s worth going through that anxiety to reach your goal.

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  9. OMG if I try this .. I would die 😱.. you’re so strong .. actually I remember now that I tried before the fastest rollercoaster in the world it was in Ferrari world in Dubai. It was amazing 😱😱 and very scary I don’t think I would try it again ..

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    1. OMG! The fastest rollercoaster!!! I would love to try that as well! Haha yes, it’s super scary just by watching from the videos 😅

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  12. You’re photographed well despite the fear. You look great… no hints of sweating & increased heart rate 😀 I haven’t gone there! It’s in La Union, right? I have only tried zipline once, in Boracay 2011. I was not ready and the staff pushed me as he thought I wanted to be in sync with my husband…. My photo was catastrophic… It was a hybrid of weeping and laughing (but I was only crying a bit).

    I wish we can all make our zip line photos our blog headers hehehe, yours is so cool & hardcore!!!

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    1. Thank you, Janis! I wasn’t satisfied with how my photo turned out the first time I did it in 2017. So last year, I tried to calm down a bit, pose, and smile 😂😂😂 Omg! Yes, it’s in La Union. You’re a Filipino din pala. Nice to meet you! 💖 I saw a video of ziplines in Boracay. It looks longer and higher than this. I can’t wait to try it! Haha I feel you with laughing and crying a little. It was super scary and fun at the same time. Such an unforgettable experience! 😅

      Thank you so much for sharing your experience! 💖

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    2. Hahaha perhaps my second time wouldn’t be as awful lolz… yes I am a pinay blogger 😅 I became excited seeing fellow Filipinos here in WP because eversince Multiply and blogspot died down and FB rose to fame, blogging dwindled significantly in our country. I am so glad to have found you ❤️

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