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2010 World Cup / World Cup / South Africa Travel / Moses Mabhida Stadium / Durban Travel / Funiculars / Bungee Jumping / → All Tags

2010 World Cup Travel Guide: Inside Moses Mabhida Stadium

All this week, we'll be giving you the low-down on the many venues of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This five-part guide is designed to inform and ease the logistics of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see all the action, should you decide to get on the ball and go for it! First up, The Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Dedicated soccer...er, excuse us...football fans still have time to plan a trip to South Africa for the World Cup if it's done quickly. The 30-day event, starting June 11 and continuing a month until July 11, gives those who take both sport and travel seriously the opportunity to knock out two birds with one stone: Witness a legendary event and make a dream trip to the Continent.

Football already receives beaucoup global love, and the USA is finally catching the fever too, especially for a home team that’s performed well enough to generate excitement about beating the formidable England team on June 12.

Now let's go inside the main venue, Moses Mabhida Stadium...

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Celeb Travel / Zac Efron / Extreme Travel / Whistler Travel / Bungee Jumping / → All Tags

Zac Efron Bungee Jumps Like a Pro in Whistler

What is up with celebrities and extreme activities? Yesterday, we had Cindy Crawford doing some indoor skydiving and today, we learn that Zac Efron spent the weekend bungee jumping in Whistler, during a break from the filming of his new movie, The Life and Death of Charlie St. Cloud. People magazine has the pertinent details:

With a broad smile and no hesitation, the light-footed crooner lept off a bridge over a raging river – and he did it gracefully, of course. He even managed an acrobatic back flip as he went down. "Zac really loved his jump, he seemed to be having a really good time and was excited to make his jump, but he only jumped once," an employee of Whistler Bungee said.

Perhaps he only jumped once because it's rather expensive? Whistler Bungee charges $120CAD for the first jump and $50 for any additional jumps. Any of your friends who want to come along and watch will have to pay $10. The company does offer shuttle service from Whistler Village to the bungee site at Cheakamus Canyon and first-time jumpers get a free t-shirt.

Looking for more adventure in Whistler without having to jump off a bridge high above running water? Consider snowmobiling or ziplining. PS. We kinda hate how good Zac looks even while bungee jumping. Damn, young kids!

Related Stories:
· Whistler Bungee [Official Site]
· Zac Efron Takes Death-Defying Leap [People]
· Zefron Exclusive: Zac Efron Bungee Jumping [YouTube]

Movie Set Travel / Adventure Travel / Bungee Jumping / → All Tags

Yes Man

The elastic faced Jim Carey is back for another ridiculous series of comic shenanigans with "Yes Man," out in theaters today. Carey plays an ordinary guy stuck in a rut--until he starts saying yes to everything on the advice of a self-help guru.

While reviews have been mixed, we wouldn't expect a fine piece of high art from the director of such cinematic classics as "The Break-up" and "Bring It On," Peyton Reed. But we'd rather escape the snow and cold by spending a few hours with Jim Carey than a hand-wringing Will Smith in "Seven Pounds."

"Yes Man" was shot around Los Angeles, and in the spirit of going for it, we've picked out some adventurous once-in-a-lifetime activities there.

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Bungee Jumping / Celeb Travel / David Beckham / → All Tags

Jump It Like Beckham

David Beckham should check out our World's Wildest Bungee Jumps next time he's on the road! The L.A. Galaxy player completed the 134-foot jump off Auckland's Harbour Bridge yesterday with some teammates, like the Mr. Badass he considers himself to be.

But not 100 percent badass: Sources on the bridge say Beckham paused before jumping to text his wife Victoria and the kids, just in case. Next stop, SkyJump?

Related Stories:
· Beckham's Harbour Bridge Bungee Plunge [Stuff.co.nz]
· It's Summer Somewhere: SkyJump and SkyWalk in Auckland [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Superficial]

World's Wildest Bungee Jumps / Bungee Jumping / Bungee-Jumps-Map / → All Tags

Bungee Jumping When Safety Seems To Matter

Let's be honest: We're pretty scared about bungee jumping. But there are a few reassuring facts about the Jungle Bungy in Phuket: It's over water, so we figure we've still got half a chance if our bungee cord breaks; it's cheap--first jump of the day is 2000 Baht ($55) and it gets heaps cheaper if you do multiple jumps; and it's safe because the boss jump master is a guy from New Zealand who totally knows his stuff.

So what can go wrong? Nothing apart from us losing our nerve, perhaps. Maybe the tandem bungee is for us, but they also offer a catapult bungee, backwards bungee and a water touch bungee.

For nervy jumpers like us the website is very reassuring about safety, and then they say that if we have any troubles, "We can give you a nudge if you like!" If you make it (if you jump, that is, not if you survive) you get a "Certificate of Courage." We'd display that proudly on our most prominent wall, we think.

Related Stories:
· Jungle Bungy Jump Phuket [Official Site]
· Phuket Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ciao-chow]

World's Wildest Bungee Jumps / Bungee Jumping / South Africa Travel / Bridges / → All Tags

Tall Bridge Plus Bungee Equals Terrifying in South Africa

Record-breaking bridges seem like an obviously attractive spot to start a bungee jump, and that's no doubt why the Bloukrans Bridge near Nature's Valley along the southern coast of South Africa is a mecca for bungee fans. The bridge itself is the highest single span arch bridge in the world and you can bungee 216 meters (709 feet) off it towards the Bloukrans River.

Although the jump length is a bit shorter than Macau Tower, the Bloukrans gang like to boast that their jump is the highest and in a way, they're right--it's higher above the ground, but you don't jump all the way down.

Getting to the platform is a feat in itself for anyone shaky about heights. For the braver, there's now a flying fox ride--a cable slide, to be precise--to get you out to the platform faster and with the adrenalin already running.

Related Stories:
· Bloukrans Bridge Bungee [Official Site]
· The Highest Bungee Jump On Record is All Concrete [Jaunted]
· South Africa Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: peve.de]

World's Wildest Bungee Jumps / Bungee Jumping / Celeb Travel / Africa Travel / Bungee-Jumps-Map / → All Tags

A Royally Good Jump In Uganda

Choosing a scenic spot like the Nile River in Uganda sounds like a good way to combine a death-defying plunge with some camera-happy moments.

The Nile High Bungee (five out of ten for the pun) has a platform about 140 feet above the river, and jumpers can choose to use a bungee cord long enough to dip them in water or just to dangle above it.

Perhaps the most famous tourist to ever jump here is Prince William who did a tandem bungee jump with a mate here a couple of years back. Wills only jumped once, but if you do two jumps ($75) then you get a third jump within the same 24 hours for free--just in case you haven't got the whole jumping thing out of your system by then.

Related Stories:
· Nile High Bungee [Official Site]
· Wills Takes a 140-Foot Bungee Jump [Daily Mail]
· Uganda Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: kscshearon]

World's Wildest Bungee Jumps / Bungee Jumping / Nude Travel / Nudity / Canada Travel / Bungee-Jumps-Map / → All Tags

And For Our Next Trick: Bungee Jumping Without Our Clothes On

The last weekend in February every year is the best time to head to Wild Play near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, BC. Well, we think it's certainly the most interesting time.

That's the weekend when the annual charity fundraiser gets going and you can bungee jump naked off a 150-foot bridge. If you'll take off your clothes pre-jump, you'll get a hugely discounted rate of just C$25 ($20)--it's normally C$99.

In the past this nude bungee day has raised money for organizations like the BC Schizophrenia Society, so you can jump for a good cause--it's definitely rare that stripping off in public could lead to a tax deduction.

Related Stories:
· Bungy Jump Wild Play Nanaimo [Official Site]
· Naked Jumpers Take the Plunge [Jaunted]
· BC Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of naked bungee in Norway: sabadabado]

World's Wildest Bungee Jumps / Bungee Jumping / Volcano Travel / Bungee-Jumps-Map / → All Tags

Two For One: Most Expensive And Most Dangerous Bungee Jump. Ever.

If throwing yourself off a platform with nothing but a bouncy cord tied to your feet is a bit too lame for you, then you're a candidate for the wildest bungee jump we've ever heard of: The Volcano Bungee near Pucon, Chile.

Basically you get flown up to an active volcano--yes, we mean a bubbly, smokin' volcano--and then you have to bungee jump off the helicopter into the caldera towards the molten lava. Are these people insane?

Anyone thinking that throwing themselves into a volcano sounds fun also needs to be fairly well off. You can do this bungee jump as part of a six-day package for $9,995, including accommodation and other (slightly less crazy) activities. And if you're asking the same question we are--Could you die doing this jump?--then the Volcano Bungee gang already has an answer for you:

Yes. You could. You'll be signing a waiver, so we're cool.

Related Stories:
· Volcano Bungee [Official Site]
· Bungee Turns 20: Happy Birthdaaaaaaaaaaaaay! [Jaunted]
· Volcano Travel: Chile's So Hot Right Now [Jaunted]

[Photo: willposh]

World's Wildest Bungee Jumps / Bungee-Jumps-Map / Bungee Jumping / World Records / → All Tags

The Highest Jump On Record Is All Concrete

If you're going to bungee jump, you might as well do it properly and launch yourself off the world's tallest. The Guinness World Record chaps say that Macau Tower is officially the world's highest commercial bungee jump at 233 meters (nearly 765 feet). OK, that's pretty high.

We first heard about this jump when the Amazing Race All-Stars stopped by Macau. They did the Sky-Jump though, which slows you down before you land and isn't quite as spine-jerking as the bungee.

Bored cubicle occupants can get their share of the thrills by switching on the Live Bungee Web Cam. It streams jumps in real time from Macau Tower--time zone dependent, of course.

Related Stories:
· Macau Tower [Official Site]
· Amazing Race All-Stars: The Tyrant Makes Charla Jump [Jaunted]
· Macau Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: creativechasm]

Extreme Travel / Bungee Jumping / New Zealand Travel / → All Tags

Bungee Turns 20: Happy Birthdaaaaaaaaaaaay!

We've been thinking lately that bungee jumping is becoming an adventure sport of yesterday--and we just figured out why. Tourists have been leaping off tall things for an elastic adrenaline rush for 20 years now!

This month is the anniversary of the first paying customers at the Kawarau Bridge bungee jump in Queenstown, New Zealand. The two Kiwis who started it are now multi-millionaires and have had two million customers throw themselves off bridges.

If bungee jumping has turned 20, and we clearly remember when it started, then that makes us older than we thought. Heck, feeling old is enough to make someone want to jump off a bridge. Queenstown, here we come.

Related Stories:
· The Bungee Jump is 20 Years Old [UK Times]
· Go Where Bond Has Gone Before [Jaunted]
· New Zealand Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Foraggio Fotographic]

Bungee Jumping / Switzerland Travel / James Bond / → All Tags

Go Where Bond Has Gone Before

We're suckers for a James Bond tourist attraction, even when it's a wet-your-pants-scary one like the Verzasca Dam bungee jump near Locarno, close to the Swiss border with Italy.

Coming second to one in Macau as the biggest permanent bungee jump in the world shouldn’t matter to these guys because they've got the Bond draw card--he did this 720 foot leap in "Goldeneye." That sequence looked more impressive than this video, which makes the jumper look like a tiny ant about to be smashed into a massive cliff.

If you’re kind of wimpy like us, then you can always cry poor to get out of throwing yourself off this dam wall, because one jump costs 255 Swiss Francs ($215); if you’re keen enough to do this twice in one day you'll pay half that for the second go, though we really think it's one of those jumps you should be smart enough to only risk once. But hey, don't listen to us, we even believe in travel insurance.

Related Stories:
· Verzasca Dam Bungee Jump [Official Site]
· Be James Bond: Bodyflight Vertigo Opening Soon [Jaunted]
· Switzerland Travel coverage [Jaunted]