The original bungee jumping!

Part of being a Peace Corps Volunteer is travelling around Vanuatu to experience some of its unique and powerful cultural customs and traditions. Last week I went to the island of Pentecost with some fellow PCVs to see the island version of bungee jumping. It is called "land diving" or "Nangol."

It is believed that bungee jumping actually originated from this idea. Every year between April and June the men in the southern part of Pentecost island wrap vines around their ankles and jump off of handmade tall wooden towers (around 20 to 30 meters).

The N'gol ceremony began centuries ago when a beaten woman ran away from her husband Tamale. He found her hiding in a tall tree and called to her saying if she came down he might beat her...but only a little. However, if he had to get her she would be sorry. She refused. He climbed the tree and as he made his final grab, she leaped. In anguish at her death (or anger that he had missed her) Tamale jumped after her, not realising his wife had tied vines around her ankles and survived the fall.

Now, this ritual is meant to ensure a good yam harvest. It is also used as a rite of passage ceremony for young boys into manhood.

The vines are tied around their ankles usually by an older man who I assume has done many jumps over the years.

As the vines are prepared, another group of men and children sing in their local language. Women also sing and dance at some ceremonies but the one I saw was only men. Women are not allowed to come close to the tower or touch the vines.

The men are wearing "nambas" which are made from leaves to cover their "tabu" parts. And, in these current modern days they like baseball caps too to keep the sun off their heads :)
After the vines are tied the boys and men prepare to jump one by one. The singing continues and the men on the tower sway along. They throw the end pieces of their vines on the ground. Then, they open their hands wide and balance on the ledge. Before they dive they join their hands together and arch their backs while their faces point up to the sky.

Then they jump!

The ground in front of the tower has been dug up a bit so that it is softer. They actually do hit the ground but the key is for the vines to be just long enough so that they barely hit the ground.

There have been very few deaths related to land diving. However, in 1974 Queen Elizabeth II, from the United Kingdom, visited Pentecost. It is said that she had them perform this ceremony on a day they normally wouldn't have jumped. It was too early in the year and the vines were not ready because they were not as elastic as needed. On this unfortunate day one of the islanders died from his jump.

Now tourists come from all over to witness this unique ceremony. The price can range from 5000 vatu up to 10,000 vatu (about $50-$100 American). As Peace Corps Volunteers we got a special rate because there were so many of us coming at one time.

Here is a link to some You Tube videos that show land diving. I took clips as well but those will have to be posted when I get back to America. The internet here is good but not that good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8-4wMoLaIU&feature=related