42nd Episode. AAPNEY BETE KO KYA KHEGA. PHAT GAYI
Macau other than the grand Venetian, casino’s, lobby shows, Cabarets has the famous Macau Tower. This tower has the world’s highest Jump platform, a Guinnes World Record for the Highest Commercial Bungee Jump* at 233 Meters (some 764 Ft). You slow down and stop some 30-meter above ground while rebounding. Jumping from there is in my ‘To-Do’ list. One day I will jump. That is another story.
It was Feb and few of us decided to extend our stay at Macau after the ZEE CINE AWARDS. As usual, one wanted to explore the city and enjoy the biting cold. It was also the Chinese new Year time, so the festivities of a different nature were in display including the fireworks at the central ground** Though I have no fear of heights and keep on imagining my jump, Bungee Jump was out of question this time. Unfortunately, I had shared my plan with my family at Mumbai and they had done all sorts of threats to prevent me from attempting it.
However, still there was SKY JUMP at the tower but that would be cheating. So, one was being satisfied with the walk on the 63rd floor Glass Floor when suddenly we realized that the tower had SKYWALK too. Something was better than nothing was.
SKYWALK,: Talking a stroll on the outer open perimeter of a tall tower at 233 meters ( 764 feet). The walkway is just 1.8 meter wide. Its outsdie te tower and in open. THERE’S NO HANDRAIL!. A hair-raising fun.Now there were six of us. Five boys and one girl. Atul Talegaonkar and Susheel Gaikward from Bhopal. Rakesh from Ahmedabad. Kankana from Indore.
Kankana was the first to raise her hand to join me for the skywalk. In fact, she was even ready for the Bungee with me, until my jump was called off. (Learning- want to jump –Jump, do not call home). Rakesh followed. Susheel Gaikward flatly declined and with him, we let Rishi go. It was in their face- they would never walk.
Time to introduce the hero of the episode: Mr. Atul Talegainkar, my dear friend who was all excited after conquering walk over reinforced glass floor. look down, and you realise the height you are at. ( see picture). Even there he needed to be pushed.
Before you laugh, let me tell you, Atul has Acrophobia – irrational fear of heights even when you are not high enough. He could not look down from third floor terrace, 63rd Floor was big- for him. What if that was just a walk on reinforced glass.
Now on the Skywalk platform, we were getting into our protective clothing. It was like 8 degree outside. With wind, it was like freezing cold. I was at leading, followed by Kankana. We were strapped up in our safety harness. Rajesh was getting in his gear and it then I noticed Atul. He was clearly in two minds and rethinking. He was not sure what he was getting into.
It was time for me to get into action. We were in the secure area. I moved next to Atul. Then I went all guns blazing. I compliment myself on a great performance. What I said and I said in many ways. All without MC/BC. Here is what I said. It may sound logical as I had time to think and write. There it was extempore.
You are scared that is a good sign. It happens. We all have our own fear.
You were scared to get on the glass floor and you did. Nothing happened.
More than us, these guys are safety conscious. For us this is an adventurous walk. For them it is their life and job. If anything happens, they will shutdown. Macau will not allow it. It is their pride.
Then came the clincher delivered in style.
So Atul, Your son Chinmay looks up to you. When you will go home and he will ask you what you did, go ahead and tell him I was at this tower with a skywalk just 233 meter and I was shit scared. There were kids of 7-8 years doing it but meri phat gayi (I was shit scared)
He will understand. He is your son. He knows you problem. However, yes, he would be happier if you did take this walk.
But, is that what you want to tell him. Is that what you are.
It is your call but I suggest you walk.
Something clicked in his mind and he joined. He was tentative and very afraid he did not step to on the edges like us. (He is with Brown jacket in the pictures). He walked without raising his feet. He shuffled one step at a time. What counts is that he completed it. He was proud of the act. I was proud of the fact that I at least helped someone overcome his fear. I was not to know that I would do such things many many more times in my life. 
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SKYWALK,: Talking a stroll on the outer open perimeter of a tall tower at 233 meters ( 764 feet). The walkway is just 1.8 meter wide. Its outsdie te tower and in open. THERE’S NO HANDRAIL!. A hair-raising fun.
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SKYJUMP: Want something less challenging than Bunjee jump. Skyjump is the answer. It is a a controlled decent experience at 233m/764ft. Its like Base Jumping, while attached to a wire cable ( A stuntman way) , It takes all of 17 second before you come to a very smooth landing (on your feet) at the ground floor . Oh, you don’t free fall or rebound and you jump in a standing position and stay that way all the way to the ground
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‘* It used a specially devloped Bungee chort for the jump. It is lighter and thinner at the top than at the bottom to allow even transmission of the weight while jumping.
‘** In Macau, to burst cracers people step out and reach a central point, the central ground and collectively do the fireworks. A great idea if that can be adapted in smaller scale in Indian Conditions.
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