Fly like your favorite superhero with the Superman Ride.

For someone who has acrophobia, crossing a bridge, scaling heights or even climbing staircases would be difficult, even impossible. But in my case, my fear of heights is only triggered by “open air” height environment. I never had a problem traveling by air nor going up the top floor of the Macau Tower. Having a fear of heights seemed irrational but whenever I’m on a railing or a similar open-air environment, I would always think that I’d trip and fall.

I was recently invited to perform nature photography while riding a motorized treetop canopy system from almost 100 feet from the ground. The thought of nature photography got me so excited, but the thought of being up there by almost 100 feet made me feel uneasy.

They say you have to look fear in the face to overcome it and so I decided to confront it directly by accepting the invitation. And so with my packed clothes, good-grip rubber shoes and a lot of courage, I joined other writers from different publications and online blogs and drove to Subic which is 110 kilometers north of Manila for a new adventure.

Tough enough for a rough adventure

It was already sundown when we got to Subic. After dinner, we were given a short photography course and a product briefing on Olympus Tough8000, a camera with waterproof, shockproof and freeze proof design that assures reliable shooting under any condition.

Taking us to new heights

The next day I woke up, panic started building up inside me as I prepared to go to the Tree Top Adventure Park. Tree top type adventures are gaining remarkable popularity worldwide. Situated in a deeply-forested jungle-area of Subic, the Tree top Adventure Park is patterned after the canopy or zip-line tour developed in Costa Rica. Jumping off the cliff was never my idea of fun and neither was standing on a platform100 ft. above the ground. But the task of taking photographs under these circumstances might be a hard task. Or so I thought.

Putting your best foot forward

After the short briefing of what we’re suppose to do, my partner and I went to try the first ride. Wearing top-of-the-line safety gears, we waited patiently for our turn. As soon as I stepped on the suspension bridge, my world shifted. I was in my own world at that moment where being calm was losing an overwhelmingly one-sided battle to fear. The lush greeneries in front of me were no longer part of the park. Instead, they were blurry horizons that split the world around me. Still feeling tense, I walked my way to the next platform. After spending some time on the suspension bridge, I began to relax and realize that it wasn’t that bad. After all, the view from the top was overwhelming.

Zip it

For the next challenge, we were asked to take pictures while riding the Canopy Chair Lift. Unlike in the suspension bridge, we had to ride the Canopy Chair Lift above the treetops on lifts that glide on motorized cables. The only scary part of the ride was when we leapt on the chair and saw our feet dangling above the ground. While riding the canopy chair lift, I couldn’t help but to get engrossed with the environment around me. It was just so beautiful and peaceful. The verdant forest, the towering trees and the sunlight made me feel I was one with nature.

Up, up and away!

There are two things in this world that make me run for cover: One is heights and other one is speed.

When my partner and I tried the Superman ride, I wasn’t excited at all. Nope. Just the thought of standing 100 ft. above the ground made my head spin what more the unbelievable speed of soaring.

The Superman Ride allows you to experience what it feels like to fly. The cable and harness system suspends you horizontally perpendicular to the cable with your arms extended frontward.

Just as I thought, the moment the harness was fastened on me, I had a mind-numbing terror attack. It started in my stomach, then spiraled outwards to my fingers, then to my knees and finally to my eyes that stung every time I looked down.

When I was completely strapped on to the harness that was attached to the zip line, I opened my eyes and looked straight down. That’s when I knew it was too late to back out. As my pulse throbbed, I pressed one hand to my eyes and the other to the camera. A moment later, I was released. Feeling so thrilled about the abrupt discharge, I couldn’t help but open my mouth and started yelling at the top of my lungs! Gasping for air after each yell, surprisingly, an enormous excitement filled my whole system! Soaring through the treetops and seeing the flora and fauna at the ground level was awesome!

I must admit, the abrupt discharge scared the hell out of me, but the feeling of success after reaching the endpoint was indeed rewarding. Conquering one’s fears is indeed a great feeling!

Release the daredevil in you

The Superman Ride was just a warm-up. Tree Drop was the real deal. From the name itself you could already imagine what was going to happen. It’s not really a physical challenge but more of a mental one. Tree Drop is another thrill seeking experience that will definitely release the daredevil in you. The moment you hear the jump master shout “TENSION,” brace yourself for a terrifying drop.

Just to put an end to the bittersweet experience, I went first. When I perched on a tiny platform 60 feet above the forest floor, preparing to leap — sheer terror engulfed me. Plus, trying to smile in front of the camera was indeed awkward.

Saying “mind over matter” over and over again and convincing myself that I could do it didn’t help. Fear strangled any sense of logic that I have as the jump master shouted my countdown.

“Tension. One, two, three…DROP!”

Then, I was off the platform. The next two seconds were a blinding explosion of terror and speed. A long scream was ripped out of my chest! And when I finally reached the endpoint, I was trembling. It was the most terrifying feeling in the world, but the hasty drop created an exhilarating high that not anyone can experience — it was a good-terrifying - experience! 

Captured moments

After the “empowering activity,” my partner and I reviewed the pictures and videos we took. The awkward smiles before riding the Superman Ride, the smirks when reaching the endpoint of the rides and the videos with crazy screaming at the background left us both overwhelmed. It was indeed a new outlet for an adrenaline rush — and a better one. The pictures and videos we took made the whole day of physically and mentally exhausting ordeal worthwhile.