MANILA, Philippines—I subscribe to the belief that since life is so short, one must live it to the fullest. This is why I make sure that my every day is packed with productive activities and that I don’t waste time by giving in to laziness.

I also make it a point to try anything at least once. Scuba diving, snorkeling in the middle of the sea, trying out boxing, going to Hong Kong all alone when I was a teenager, and joining a nationwide talent search: These are just some of the things I’ve managed to do so far in this lifetime. Definitely not bad for a painfully shy geek like me.

My try-everything principle has indeed enriched my life with various experiences. This is exactly why, a week before I was to fly to Macau for work and I discovered that I had the option to try Bungy jumping there, I signed up to do it without second thoughts.

In Macau, I was brought to the popular tourist destination known as the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Center. Apart from housing cinemas, Toys ’R Us and various restaurants, it also offers exhilarating things to do for the bold and the brave via the AJ Hackett Macau Tower adventure activities.

AJ Hackett is an entrepreneur from New Zealand who modernized and commercialized Bungy jumping, an activity inspired by the Vanuatu ritual and the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club experimental jumps during the ’70s. The extreme sport had since come a long way. Not only are there variations of the sport, it has also gained extensive media exposure on TV shows and even in movies.

Over at Macau Tower, Bungy jumping continues to draw in audacious tourists craving for some adrenalin rush. I was one of them.

However, when I got to the tower’s 61st floor, looked through the glass walls and had a bird’s eye view of Macau, my thighs melted like sticks of butter left under the heat of the noonday sun. I threw the idea of Bungy jumping out the window. I instantly knew I had a fear of heights and that it wouldn’t be going away any time soon.

Instead of jumping off the edge, I watched a more courageous tourist sign up for a Bungy jump, get ready for it and even do the actual jump—while I dreaded every second of it as if it was me doing the jump. Even with AJ Hackett’s flawless safety record, I couldn’t imagine myself finding the guts to experience the world’s highest commercial Bungy jump.

Never mind if I would earn bragging rights or get a souvenir photograph to prove my guts. Never mind if it was for free. The mere thought of falling at an astonishing 200 km/h and then rebounding at 30 m above the ground paralyzed me.

Heart-stopping options

Apart from Bungy jumping, height master AJ Hackett has also designed over 10 unique adventures in Macau Tower, giving both locals and tourists an alternative form of entertainment in the city. Among them are Mast Climb, a 2-hour ascent and descent of Macau’s highest summit at 338 meters, and SkyJump, Asia’s first and the world’s highest commercial decelerator descent. There is also Skywalk X, a breathtaking walk around the main outer rim of the tower, at 233 meters above the ground.

Our group of six was offered to do the Skywalk X, and since it did seem a little less intimidating than Bungy jumping, I considered doing it. But while the safety-ensuring overhead rail system gave me some confidence, I quickly had doubts about my capability when I learned that Skywalk X had no handrails and that its walkway was just 1.8 meters wide.

Half of our group was excited to do it, while the others were waiting for my decision. I tried convincing myself again and again, but every time I looked outside and below, an overwhelming sense of dread liquefied my body’s lower half. And so I chickened out.

Our braver buddies took their time strolling at the tower’s border, one of them even having his picture taken while sitting on the edge. Throughout their leisurely walk, all I could do was watch with clammy hands and a fast-beating heart.

When they finally finished, our companions all admitted that it definitely was a surreal and nerve-racking walk on the wild side. They even gave me a tip in case I changed my mind: Don’t look down.

Glass-paneled walkway

Our tour guide then signaled for us to proceed to the tower’s 58th level, which had some glass panels on the floor. When we got there, I took a peek through one of the glass panels and immediately looked away. I felt dizzy and queasy and I didn’t want to look back.

All my courageous companions playfully walked on the panels and even stayed there for quite a while, while I couldn’t even go near them.

And then a challenge: We had to pose for souvenir pictures near the glass walls, and that meant walking on several glass panels first to get there. I know I irked everyone by appearing like an impossibly uncooperative brat and taking forever trying to cross, but in all honesty, I really wanted to just do it, but my body was giving me a hard time.

Now I know how those contestants from “America’s Next Top Model” felt like when they had to face their fears of snakes and heights because it was needed in the shoot. Anyway, I ended up at the end of the line, meaning I didn’t have to panic further by stepping on more glass panels.

When it was time to go though, I noticed my hands were no longer clammy and my body temperature was back to normal. It was then when I felt a bit of disappointment in myself.

Whatever happened to my try-everything principle? Why couldn’t I bring myself to step on some harmless glass panels on the floor? So while everyone was busy heading to the elevator, I mustered all my strength once again, quickly walked on a strip of glass panels with shaking legs and then walked back.

All my companions were already waiting inside the elevator. I rushed to join them and I couldn’t wait to go down.

For rates, operating hours and more information, visit the Macau Tower website at http://macautower.com.mo/eng/main.asp

E-mail the author at ninomarksablan@yahoo.com