MACAU
THE ASIAN SERIES PT2
If you think a bungee or a skydive is the biggest challenge to your fear of heights, neither of them come close to the world’s highest tower climb. I just hope its worth the wait as it has been cancelled twice before now but it appears 3rd time lucky as even the Asian smog has decided to call it a day!
IT’S THE MOMENTS THAT YOU ARE CLOSEST TO DEATH THAT YOU FEEL MOST ALIVE.
Macau is an autonomous region off the coast of China and believe it or not was a Portuguese territory until only 1999. Since then it has been an administrative region of China, has seen its typical low-key colonial character from its Portuguese heritage give way to huge commercial and tourist development.
WHERE IS MACAU?
The world’s highest tower climb
PASSPORT PROBLEM
Getting ready for my day trip to Macau I notice my passport is with the Chinese embassy for the visa approval. Thank god for dual citizenship! Fortunately, the immigration let me go without the need to see the entry stamp, who needs bureaucracy!
After I explained the problem she just changed something on my form and waved me through, this kind of thing is unheard of! Coming up to the port (you have to get a boat) I can see the sky tower in the distance and I know it’s an illusion but it doesn’t look so bad! Watch this space but I can’t get up there quick enough, I’m over 2 hours early!
GAMBLING
Walking from the port to the Sky Tower its hard not to notice the absolute lack of soul this place holds. They have built their own version of the colosseum and Eiffel Tower to name but a few. From my short walk I seen next to no one outside and considering it is the most densely populated country in the world it’s hard to believe. I guess everyone is in the casinos!
The world’s highest tower climb
THE WORLD’S TALLEST TOWER CLIMB
At this stage I was only aware of the Bungy until I notice the boards for the tower climb and as its something I am yet to true it immediately got my interest! Yes it’s the world’s highest but how much more difficult could it be.
Once you are up to the reception (243m, the same height as the bungy) you have to climb on the outside of the mast, another 100m! I think it’s 1 thing being in a harness and jumping but when you are actually climbing it’s a whole different story.
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EVERY STEP GETS SMALLER
After every step you feel your grip getting tighter and tighter! The Rock Climbing we done in Vietnam was hard times hard enough and that was maybe only 10m from the ground, Phil couldn’t even finish it! This was almost 350m!
It was just myself and the guides which was even better so they were happy to stop and go as and when I wanted. Between every mast we had a chance to stop, breath and actually let the surroundings actually sink in, which was close to impossible!
The world’s highest tower climb
AT THE TOP
As you climb each mast gets smaller and smaller, the last mast didn’t have a ladder and only had room for 1 foot at a time. You are holding on for your life at this moment!
Then at the top you have to switch all your hooks and clips but it’s hard not to be paranoid you are doing it all wrong but credit to the guides, they are well trained! Once at the top and buckled in they tell you to lean off the edge and let go. They were swinging about like it was completely normal, it too me a second or 2 longer!
FINAL THOUGHTS
The feeling at the top is just incredible and takes a while to relax but was worth every minute of it! Bungy jumping challenges vertigo for as long as you stand on the edge, the tower climb challenges you the duration of the climb! What a crazy feeling and for sure to become the next big adrenaline activity.
NEXT UP
No rest as it was now time for the world’s highest bungy jump!! Click to read.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
29/229
This episode is part of The Asian Series. Click to view episode1.
