In collaboration with High Life: Living the Good Life, VOICE OF ASIA is proud to present timeless articles from the archives, reproduced digitally for your reading pleasure. Originally published in High Life Volume 1 in 2015, we explore some of life’s greatest thrills.
For those who seek to get the most out of life, it is absolutely essential to step outside the comfort zone from time to time, giving yourself the opportunity to embark on truly exhilarating excursions that get your pulse racing and your adrenaline pumping. Not only do these experiences provide awe-inspiring stories to tell for years to come, but they are also pivotal to ensuring that your innate spirit of adventure remains alive and well.
Lapland, Sweden
A Sledding Paradise
Admittedly, freefalling from a hovering chopper may prove disconcerting to even the most adventurous traveller. Thankfully, there are numerous other ways to explore the world’s frigid and untamed frontiers. One of the most enduring ways to do this is by commanding your own personal team of Siberian Husky sled dogs on an expedition in the arctic circle.
Comprising 25% of Sweden’s land mass and occupied by just 1% of the country’s population, the Swedish Lapland region remains one of the most remote and pristine sanctuaries remaining. The excursion comprises an eight-day sledding tour through the wilderness, with daily trips ranging between 25 km and 50 km, and ending at a simple yet comfortable cabin each night – some of which have sauna facilities to soothe sore muscles after a long day’s mushing.
Apart from placing you at the heart of Scandinavia’s wide frozen plateaus, the sledding tour takes place far from sources of light pollution, while the ‘midwinter’ months of December to February provide some of the longest hours of darkness and lower temperatures. Together, this results in ideal conditions for viewing the region’s captivating natural light show – the aurora borealis, which is visible until mid-April.
Six Flags Great Adventure, USA
Conquering the Kingda Ka
No thrill-seeker’s quest is complete without the requisite white-knuckle ride aboard a quintessential steel-tracked roller coaster. But the Kingda Ka is no ordinary amusement ride; it is the tallest and second fastest roller coaster in the world, having held the top spot from its May 2005 opening until November 2010. Even so, the ‘King’ remains a formidable prospect for many, inspiring wonder and excitement in even the most seasoned coaster fanatic.
As the over-the-shoulders restraints lock in and the train rolls out of the station and into the launching bay, you feel your pulse quicken and your vision locks straight ahead. The final warnings sound and in an instant the 21,000 horsepower hydraulic launch mechanism kicks in, catapulting the train to an eye-watering 206 km/h within a mere 3.5 seconds.
The meteoric power combines with gravity to force you deep into your seat as you climb a 456 ft incline at a 90-degree angle, before plummeting right back down 418 ft, through an exhilarating 270̊ right-hand spiral. Then, the sharp 129 ft ‘camel hump’, which produces a brief moment of weightlessness, before the ride rolls to a full halt – and all of this within a blistering 28 seconds.
Border of Zimbabwe and Zambia
Leap of Faith
Located atop the stunningly beautiful Victoria Falls Bridge – which straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and offers magnificent sweeping views of one of the world’s most iconic and majestic waterfalls – the team at Victoria Falls Bungee offers a safe and fun way to absorb the sights while upside down.
Take the plunge as the waterfall that the locals refer to as “the smoke that thunders” rumbles in the distance, plummeting a breath-taking 111 metres above the Zambezi river as crocodiles circle beneath, causing the blood to rush to your head and the adrenaline to flow. For the more experienced who seek to push the envelope even further, expert Jump Masters are on hand and able to rig an ankle-tied backflip or a star elevator jump, ramping the excitement up another few notches.
Of course, the experience comes complete with ample ways to immortalise your daring drop as well – including a free certificate testifying to your bravery, as well as optional pictures and a DVD of your bungee experience – which are professionally shot and edited by the operator’s on-site media team.
Icy Strait Point, Alaska, USA
Flying High
Enjoy nature but don’t like taking the down-and-dirty approach? Why not soar above it all on the largest and perhaps also the most breathtakingly scenic zipline ride in the world? Accessible via the numerous shipping cruises that tour the region, the zipline adventure begins with a tour guide taking you 1,300 ft above the forest canopies that surround the town of Hoonah, before strapping you into your own personal harness seat at the zipline launch deck.
Apart from offering a stunning vantage point to view the southern Alaskan region, the zipline also provides one of the world’s longest suspended rides of its kind, spanning an incredible distance of 5,330 ft. Traversing this stretch at an average speed of nearly 100 km/h – and sometimes up to a maximum of over 130 km/h – the area’s picturesque beauty streaks by beneath, including sweeping views of Port Frederick and the Icy Strait beyond it, as well as your cruise ship in the distance.
Not for the faint of heart, this exhilarating experience – which transports you from the launch deck to the landing point near the beach within a dizzying 90 seconds – is perhaps best suited to those who are comfortable with great heights.
The Grand Canyon, USA
Riding the Rapids
If you’re the type who prefers having more control over the experience, consider seizing the opportunity to see one of the world’s most iconic natural marvels from a fresh perspective. Get wet and wild and reconnect with Mother Earth, as your guide shows how to navigate even the most treacherous rapids, all while bonding with loved ones and learning how to work better together.
Aside from being a fun group adventure, this at times extreme experience also provides a great workout for a variety of muscles, as playing one’s part to properly manoeuvre the raft requires coordination from almost the entire body. Between the rapids, take the time to absorb the tranquil and idyllic setting, as you observe various species of birds, reptiles and other animals that are specifically adapted to the unique conditions of these parts.
Besides this, the raft also happens to provide the most convenient means to explore the Grand Canyon’s untold secrets, including hidden waterfalls and adjoining canyons, as well as archaeological evidence about some of the earliest human inhabitants on the canyon floor. It turns out that the low road may be the best, as there is so much more to see and experience on the water, as compared to sticking with the all-too-orthodox hiking trail.
Harris Mountains, New Zealand
Taming the Mountaintop
Why not up the ante on the windswept slopes atop some of the most far-flung and breathtaking alpine terrain in the world? Located in the heart of the Southern Alps are an incredible 19 snow-capped peaks, which cater to skiers and snow boarders at all levels of skill and ability. But this is no ordinary skiing experience. Besides an unparalleled level of accessibility throughout the region surrounding the town of Wanaka, there are fine four-season alpine and lake resorts characterised by a laidback vibe, with towering backcountry terrain and captivating mountain vistas, inviting the most intrepid adventure junkie.
Just picture the layers of pearl white, unspoiled powder waiting as the local expert guides you to the day’s best uncut runs, all of which can be conveniently reached via a helicopter ride of one hour or less. The excitement builds as you make the final approach and steel yourself, before taking the plunge without a second thought. The roar of rotor blades diminishes as you are swallowed by the deafening silence of the enormous frozen world beneath. You stick the perfect landing, before beginning the descent down an untouched hillside and eventually reaching the bottom, where the chopper is already waiting to take you to the next handpicked location after a gourmet buffet picnic on the slopes.
