ROLLER COASTERS†and other ‘scare rides’ give me a certain ‘high.’ †No I don’t consider myself fearless. †Truth is, I am always scared like s–t before each and every ride. †I guess that is what makes completing a ride so much fulfilling, which in turn makes me want more — higher, faster, scarier rides.
†
If you’ve been to Disneyland chances are you have tried the Space Mountain. †I did during my family weekend holiday in Hongkong in February.
†
†
Space Mountain is a roller coaster ride unlike anything I have tried before. †It is an ‘out of this world’ ride — literally. †Well, almost.
†
The ride, which by the way is indoor, †starts with the roller coaster slowly climbing a dark chamber. †Riders are leisurely treated to a wonderful display of lights. †And then comes the illusion of being in a space ship comfortably cruising in the vast nothingness of space. †It is pitch black except for the thousands of tiny lights that simulate stars. †There are holographic projections of planets and other heavenly bodies, too. †Awesome!
Soon enough the riders will realize that their ‘space stroll’ is but a deliberate deception. †The blissful and serene space travel will soon take a major ‘shift.’
††
The next five to 10 minutes (I couldn’t tell how long it took — it felt like forever) will be a dizzying sequence of seemingly unending twists and turns at warp speed. †Shortly after it starts the riders will lose all sense of direction. †Upside-down and right-side-up will seem the same (I distinctly felt being upside down several times). †And then just as when they are hoping it would come to an end, just when they feel that they are down to their last breath, it will come to a sudden jolting stop.
†
There are only two sentiments expressed by those who just finished their Space Mountain ride. †Most feel a great sense of elation, proudly proclaiming how they love the ride and that they would keep on coming back. †The remainder are those cursing and swearing and vowing not to try it again, ever.
