My visit to the town of Dalat in the Central Highlands of Vietnam finally gave me an opportunity for a little outdoor adventure.

Here, and it seems everywhere else in the world, they call it abseiling. Americans call it rappeling. There was also a bit of canyoning thrown in as well.

I opted for the advanced route and was excited if not a bit nervous. because I am afraid of heights and I would be dropping myself off a cliff.

Last summer I did a high ropes course. I had always thought I was afraid of falling and not heights and that as long as I was harnassed I would have not fear.

I was wrong.

The tension that built in me while I did the course was intense. I had no sense of accomplishment or relief when I was finished. I was just distressed and still full of fear.

I did yoga afterwards to release the tension and much to my embarrassment just started to cry. I felt rather foolish and annoyed that the experience made me so anxious.

I don't even know if I could do it again. Last time I did it with a bunch of people who I had just met. Certainly, I would need supportive friends around if I were to ever do it again.

But here I was signing up for abseiling.

The day was beautiful. The air smelled of pine, which I was surprised to find in Vietnam and the sun was shining.

We began with a 20 meter drop at a 90 degree angle. I was very nervous to begin, but I just tried not to think about it and just do it. The initial leaning back over the cliff to put yourself perpindicular to the wall was the scariest part. Once that was over it felt good.

I got to the ground. I did it!

Next up was a 14m wall into a pool of water. I did well though I am not very good at jumping which is pushing off the wall and releasing your rope so you go a farther distance. I just never released enough. So mostly, I just walked down the wall.

I think I was more comfortable with this then with the high ropes course because my feet were solidly on land even if it was at an angle.

Next up was a delicious lunch and a rest after which the water sliding began. We hopped into the water and let the current take us. The water was cold.

We got to a small but swirling and rushing waterfall and learned that we would be sliding down it.

What?! Are you crazy?! No Way!

If there hadn't been a group in front of us that seemed to all be in one piece and if the guide hadn't demonstrated, there is no way I would've done it.

First up was a straight shot down the waterfall. Next up was a bit of a curve like at a water park and then it was down the curvy one on your back head first!

I discovered after doing it that a helmet wasn't necessary but I wouldn't have done it without a helmet.

The group ahead of us did not have helmets. There were 7 of them and 3 guides. In my group there were 4 of us and 3 guides. Our guides were named Hai , Thanh, and Hoan and I trusted them.

It was obvious that they were taking safety measures that the other company's guides were not. Small things like careing for the ropes at the edge of the cliff so that they did not rub directly at the corner and making sure that they were harnassed to something stable as they controlled our safety ropes. (We were attached to them in case we lost control)

Not only did our guides pay attention to safety measures, but they also understood that it was important that their guests feel comfortable and not embarrassed about being a bit fearful. They were truly great.

I paid $5 more to go with Dalat Holidays which is run by an American and trains all of the guides in first aid and has gear with names I recognize. I always think $5 is worth safety and piece of mind.

It is insurance that you won't be going home early due to injury.

When we got to the next bit of abseiling I was especially grateful for the safety measures.

We would be going down a very wide 25 foot waterfall. The top was at about a 60 degree angle but very slippery. I watched as person after person slipped. One guy slammed his chin on the rock. One woman got freaked and climbed back up. The next certainly ended up with a bruised tail bone. Everyone slipped.

Except me.

I went last in my group. Take your time, Hai said and I did.

The water was at about ankle height. The rock underneath was very slippery.

Baby steps.

Sit back into the harness.

If my foot slipped a bit I remembered to widen my stance and find my footing before taking another step.

Finally I had sucessfully completed the first part of the waterfall!

Next it was on to the more vertical part of the waterfall. This part wasn't as slippery but the water was rushing over your whole body.

The pressure was intense. It was more about not getting swept away. It was about keeping your grip on your release rope while withstanding the pressure of the water. It was about taking baby steps and moving slowly as your head got pelted with water.

Baby steps.

Water. Water. Water.

Feet shoulder width apart.

Water. Water. Water.

Legs straight with a slight bend at the knee.

Water. Water. Water.

Sit back into the harness. Lean away from the wall.

Water. Water. Water.

The water kept going directly into my ear and pounding my ear drum.

I finally got to the part where the wall starts to go at an inverse angle.

And I released.

I dropped into the water. Release the rope and swim to the shore they said.

I did it!!!!!

What a rush!

Every muscle in my body was engaged and there was one more rappel.

But first, we jumped from a 10 meter cliff. I didn't think. I didn't prepare. As soon as they counted to three I just jumped.

As I dropped, I definitely had the high ropes course fear.

The elevated heart rate. The tight stomach.

But then I was safely at the bottom and the adreneline was pumping and the excitement was high.

The last rappel is aptly named "The Washing Machine". First you walk down a vertical wall that requires not a straight decent but a bit of maneuvering with instruction from the guide.

It was tough to hear because right beside me was a waterfall and right below me was the crashing bottom. I couldn't really see him either. I had taken my glasses off to go into "The Washing Machine".

I did well. I reached the point where I just hang for a photo op before I release into the churning water.

It is hard to believe that I would purposely lower myself into the bottom of a water fall that only had about 1 meter of space between the walls, but there wasn't really a choice so down I went.

This is the point where you discover why it is called "The Washing Machine", it spins and churns you all over the place before it spits you out to safety.

It was a great day. It was the kind of day that makes me greateful to not be in an office. It was the kind of day that makes me feel good because I challenged myself and accomplished something.

It was the kind of day that justifies the "Amazing", the "Adventure", and the "Action" in the title of this blog!