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Bucket List: Going to extremes

 

Part of enjoying life is living for the moment, so don’t wait until you’re on your deathbed before you make a list of what you should’ve done. Life is happening now, so start ticking things off that bucket list.

 

Over the last few months we have covered so many different activities that people like to take part in before they die. Some of them have been extreme, like skydiving, while others have been rather tame, such as making mince pies. This month’s list is for all those adrenaline junkies out there. If you get your jollies by jumping off things, then sit up and pay attention, because we have some great ideas for you to get pumped up. And we also give suggestions of the world’s best places to make it happen.

 

Bungee jumping

As far as obvious extreme bucket list items go, bungee jumping is right up there. If you’re not afraid of heights, chances are high (excuse the pun) that this one’s on your list. There are so many great places around the world that you can take part in this extreme sport, and if you’re too much of a baby to step off the ledge alone, you can always go tandem with a friend or partner. Just make sure that you do it at a safe location and their equipment meets safety regulations.

World’s best: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

 

Scuba diving

Colourful coral and fluorescent fish – that is what you can expect when you go scuba diving in the tropics. Unlike bungee jumping, this isn’t an activity you can just go out and do alone. You have to undergo a training course and go out with an instructor and get certified. You can do this in a tank before you go on holiday, but many popular holiday destinations have diving schools. Once again, make sure they meet health and safety requirements before you head out to sea.

World’s best: Rocktail Bay, South Africa

 

Skydiving

What would a list of extreme activities be without the mention of skydiving? You can do this pretty much anywhere in the world, and the feeling of flying will be amazing, but if you’re looking at gorgeous scenery on the way down, it just makes it that much better. Even though the distance to earth is much greater, skydiving is a lot less scary than bungee jumping. That’s because you are with your instructor so you don’t have to make the decision to step out of the plane. It’s out of your hands!

World’s best: Taupo, New Zealand

 

Abseiling

If jumping out of a plan or off a bridge isn’t your cup of tea, abseiling might be a good compromise. It has some of the thrill with a lot of safety equipment. And it’s a fun group activity as well. We suggest it as a fun day out if you are going on a group holiday to warmer climes. Or if you wait until summer, there are great places to go locally. It’s a great team-building exercise as it teaches teamwork and trust. And you will go with a guide, so there’s no need to be scared.

World’s best: Waterfalls in Egmont National Park, New Zealand

 

Shark cage diving

Ever dream about getting up close and personal with a Great White? Or perhaps it’s more of a Jaws-like nightmare. The basic idea is you get into a wetsuit, strap on an oxygen mask and jump into a cage. That is then lowered down into shark-infested waters where you can see these beautiful creatures up close. There’s nothing wrong with shark caging diving, but you must never feed them. This is also known as chumming, and is very bad for the environment as it messes with their natural eating habits.

World’s best: Tiger Beach, the Bahamas

 

Snowboarding

This sport is known as skiing’s rowdier cousin, and can result in some pretty fuelled altercations on the slopes between the boarders and the skiers. If you’re a first time boarder, it might take you some time to get to the “extreme” stage of your boarding experience as you’ll be stuck on the kiddie slopes with the instructor who specialises in teaching four to eight year olds. But if you go back for a few more seasons, you’ll doing somersaults and irritating skiers with the best of them.

World’s best: Tignes, France

 

Dirt biking

This, like snowboarding, isn’t something you can just jump into and do once like some of the other items on this list. It’s more of a lifestyle choice. Start out small, just going around a track. See if you like it before you go out and buy an expensive off-road bike. You can go to a track and rent one for an hour or two. If it really blows your hair back, literally and figuratively, do it a little more often. Don’t attempt tricks right away! You will break something, most likely yourself.

World’s best: Lake Havasu City, Arizona, United States

 

Glacier hiking

This activity is a little less popular than some of the others that we’ve mentioned, but that’s only because there aren’t very many places to do it. It’s exactly what you imagine it to be, but far more awesome and breath taking than your imagination could possibly comprehend. Best to go in a group and having a guide is imperative. The last place you want to get lost is in the arctic. You can rent the equipment as walking on glaciers with your Nike Airs just isn’t going to cut it.

World’s best: Langjokull Glacier, Iceland

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