Coverstory
Wicked Wild
Story by Jessicha Valentina & Andra Wisnu
Illustration by Eko Bintang
From skyscraper jumping to giant fish wrestling, there is no shortage of ways to spend your weekend. Here are our top picks to how you can spice up your leisure time.
NOODLING
Illegal in some of states due to possible threats to the catfish population, the US is nevertheless the only country in which this sport is currently being offered as a tourist attraction. Noodling is an unconventional way of fishing that involves using one’s bare hands as bait. The most common targets are large catfish, some of which can weigh up to 45kg! Noodling enthusiasts first dive in search of promising catfish holes, some of which lie 20 feet down on the bottom of rivers. They then place their hand inside the hole and pray!
WHAT YOU NEED
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Hands |
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Shorts |
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Guts |
WHERE TO LOCATE
- KY Hand Grabbin
4560 Witty Lane, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, 42240
t. + 1 270 887 8945 or +1 270 498 2435
www.kyhandgrabbin.com - Big Fish Adventures, LLC Temple,
Oklahoma, 73568
www.wecatchbigfish.net - Big Tennessee Cat Fish
711 New Hwy 68 Sweetwater, Tennessee, 37874 t. +1 865 258 9514
www.bigtncats.com
BASE JUMPING
If you ever want to know how a flying squirrel feels, then this is the sport for you. BASE jumping is the act of jumping off buildings, antennas, spans (bridges), or earth (cliffs), hence the acronym BASE. The sport is somewhat similar to skydiving, except the altitudes are much lower, making the jumps considerably more difficult. A more exhilarating version of BASE jumping employs a wingsuit, which allows you to glide through the air before you have to deploy your parachute.
WHAT YOU NEED
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Helmet |
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Wingsuit |
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Parachute |
WHERE TO LOCATE
- KL Tower BASE Jump
Managed by Australian BASE association
GaryC71@gmail.com - Manado Adventure
Jl. Stadion Klabat, Manado
Contact Person: Franky t. +62 813 4000 8185 www.manadoadventure.org - Molde & Romsdal
Tourist Office Torget 4, 6413 Molde t. + 47 71 20 10 00 www.visitmolde.com
SANDBOARDING
Sandboarding is said to have originated in Egypt at the time of the Pharaohs, and apparently the Egyptians would slide down dunes on pieces of wood. Origins aside, this is a perfect replacement boarding activity for those who can’t or don’t feel like travelling to a snowy landscape. So if you don’t like bundling up for the cold and yet don’t mind getting a little sand in your shorts, then prepare for some serious thrills, as you can reach speeds of up to 82km/h on a sandboard.
WHAT YOU NEED
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Helmet |
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Sandboard |
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Sand Dune |
WHERE TO LOCATE
- Adventure Tours
Kangaroo Island, Australia t. 1800 068 886 or +61 8 8132 8230
www.adventuretours.com.au - Rayna Tours & Travel
205, 206 Old Labor Office Buidling, Abu Hail, Deira, Dubai
t. +971 4 2699900 www.raynatours.com - Yogyakarta
Open to public, bring your own board
SNUBA DIVING
Snuba diving is basically a combination of snorkeling and scuba diving. All you need is a diving mask and you’re ready to explore the beauty of some of the deeper parts of the ocean. Breathing is facilitated by a long hose that is attached to an oxygen tank placed on a raft up on the surface of the water. This is a perfect introductory sport for those who want see what scuba diving is like, as no license or certification is required. Basic swimming skills are all that one needs.
WHAT YOU NEED
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Oxygen tank |
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Diving Mask |
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Fins or Flippers |
WHERE TO LOCATE
- Maui Classic Charters
1279 S Kihei Rd. # 110 Kihei, HI 96753-5222 www.mauicharters.com - Aloha Ocean Adventures
Royal Phuket Marina, Thepkasattri Rd., Koh Kaew, Phuket 83200
t. +66 81 91 76822 www.snubathailand.com - Islands Snuba Excursions, LLC
Po Box 831, St. John, VI 00831
t. 888 294 1083 or +1 340 693 8063 www.visnuba.com
CAVE TUBING
This sport combines body rafting with caving and can be a relaxing yet challenging activity. There is a sense of adventure as you wade further into the darkest parts of caves and as you attempt to control your balance so as not to fall off your tube. Moreover, a plethora of caving wonders, such as stalactites, bats and waterfalls, add an educational element to cave tubing.
WHAT YOU NEED
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Life vest |
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Float Tube |
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Helmet & Headlights |
WHERE TO LOCATE
- Legendary Black Water Rafting Co.
585 Waitomo Caves Road Otorohanga 3977 t. +64 800 228 464 - Gunung Kidul
Managed by Karang Taruna Dusun Gelaran I Contact Person: Haris
+62 859 5965 6561 - Kalisuci Cave Tubing
Contact Person: Muslam +62 877 387 94513 www.kalisucicavetubing.blogspot.com
KITE-BUGGYING
Similar to many power-kite activities, kite-buggying involves a three-wheeled buggy with a steerable front wheel and two fixed rear wheels. The two bars on the front wheel let you steer the buggy with your legs, while your speed depends on the wind and how skillfully you use your power kite. Some of the crazier setups involve strapping yourself to the buggy and waiting for a big wind to pull you up into the air, which allows for some awesome acrobatics.
WHAT YOU NEED
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Padding |
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Kite Buggy |
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Traction/ Power Kite |
WHERE TO LOCATE
- Bali Kitesurfing
Jl. Cemara No. 72 Sanur 80280 – Denpasar t. +62 81 33 823 5082
www.bali-kitesurfing.org - No. 28 G/F. Sha Po Kong Tsuen
Lung Kun Tan, Tuen Mun, HK. t. +852 2424 1010
www.kiteboard.activity.hk - Mobius Kite School
Perranporth, England t. +44 1637 831 383 www.mobiusonline.co.uk