Us with our canyoning geer on!
We were joined by a couple from Germany as we learned how to abseil. Right handers had to stand on the left of the rope with their right hand behind their hip and their left hand wasn't really needed but could hold the rope in front. You have to lean your whole body so you're at a 90 degree angle and ease the rope lose before taking steps back.
Us with our instructor learning how it's done
Once we're got to grips with the basics, we went through the jungle, down hill to the first lot of rapids. I was somehow in front so the guy instructed me to sit down, then lie on my back and put my arms crossed across my chest, and before I knew it he had pushed me down!
(I don't think this pic is me- but this is the first waterfall)
Once we had managed to swim to the side, we were led through the jungle to the first abseil- 15 (or 18meters!) When it was my turn, the instructor attached me to the ropes and I had to walk over the side and keep walking back until I reached a slight ledge that I had to 'jump.' I didn't pull the rope back enough and fell. I managed to pull myself up and successfully made it to the bottom.
Pics of me abseiling
After trekking through the jungle again, floating along the river and climbing over slippery rocks, we reached another waterfall. This time we had to go feet first. I enjoyed sliding down but I felt like I was underwater for ages before coming up!
Me sliding down the second waterfall
Next, after more jungle trekking, we reached the 25meter waterfall! We had to abseil down it. I was pretty nervous about this one. After watching 3 of the others, it was my turn. We had to take our shoes off for this one as socks have a better grip on the slippery rocks. Once I'd been attached to the ropes, I had to slide my feet down at the top, and keep going down this way until the waterfall started to splash in my face, and then look at the instructor at the bottom.
My sock half came off and I slipped and fell. I manges to pull myself up but then fell again! I pulled myself up again and carried on down. About 4m from the bottom, the instructor made an x with his hands, which meant you had to push off from the waterfall and let go on the ropes!
On my way down
Me when I fell
Trying to get back up again
After that we had the option of free jumping from 10m or from 6m. When I got there it looked pretty high so I left that one!
Where I could have jumped from
For the final challenge we had to abseil 4 meters and then drop our body so that we would lower ourselves into the waterfall. The more down I went the more into the waterfall I went. I somehow managed to get down without going underwater!
After that we had to hike up over 300meters up a very steep hill(!) for lunch.
I'd met a girl from Israel and a guy from Amsterdam in Mui Ne so we went for dinner with them. We thought we'd try and have a 3 course meal- starter: corn soup, next door for the main course of sweet and sour beef, and finally to the bakery for desert for cake!
First course: soup
I think you are very brave Daisy. You wouldn't get me doing that. I'd be too scared.
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