Completing bucket list item is the height of adventure

One item off my bucket list, but many more to go.

For the first time, I did something I had never attempted before: zip lining across a gorge. For adventure enthusiasts, this is no big deal. To me, it was a giant leap, having to overcome my fear of heights.

I managed to slay the so-called inner demons at the picturesque Longqing Gorge, at the Gucheng village of Beijing's Yanqing district, located some 80 kilometers from the capital.

A two-hour drive led us, a group of 11, to the gorge, as the mercury levels touched 40 C. Surprisingly, we didn't feel the heat, thanks to the thick vegetation and green cover all around.

The verdant mountain peaks and the olive green river flowing between them presented a picture that was straight out of the movie Lord of the Rings. Mist was the only thing missing.

The challenge, for me, began after we bought our tickets and "entered the dragon" that led up to the jetty, from where we would take a boat and journey through the gorge.

I was all pumped up to go zip lining. As I neared the ticket counter, nervousness almost got the better of me. I scanned the QR code and paid a ticket fee of 60 yuan ($8.36), which meant there was no turning back.

I trudged up the stairs toward the zip line deck along with my co-traveler, and she was the first to get ready. The cordial staff prepared her by fitting her with the proper gear, which involved attaching harness to the zip line through a rope attachment.

She was secured with lanyards and carabiners that were attached to the pulleys and trolleys, which would carry her down the zip line.

As she got ready to go, I got ready to film her descent. She raced off, reaching the other end in about 3 minutes.

My turn next. My heart began to pound. The staff, however, tried to reassure me, which seemed to have the desired, calming effect. I donned the gear as instructed, while allowing the staff to secure me to the line, and stood at the edge of the launchpad. I avoided looking down as that would've made my head spin.

It was time to go. As instructed, I began the descent while turning my head both ways, trying to soak in the breathtaking view. I was just beginning to enjoy the ride when I realized the landing deck had arrived.

I wished I could have stayed up there longer.

My biggest regret was not carrying my mobile phone, which I handed to the staff. They kindly snapped some pictures of me, and I was glad they came out well.

With my fears having been conquered, I guess I need to raise the bar and take on a bigger challenge.

The gorge had other adventure activities available for tourists, including bungee jumping and jet skiing. It was bungee jumping that first caught my eye, another gravity-defying experience I want to tick off my bucket list.

As I strode up to the ticket counter, I was asked to go through some safety questions first. The information preached caution to those suffering from heart-related ailments and those with problems, such as dizziness. A weight range was also prescribed for those daring to attempt the jump.

While I conformed to all the physical conditions and suffer no health complications, what I lacked was the right mental condition needed to undertake the challenge. Therefore, I abandoned the thought of taking the plunge this time. I'll leave that challenge for my next visit.