The most thrilling ride in the world is in the Philippines?

In a country with more than 7,000 islands and influenced by at least 5 colonialists, there is no reason to doubt that almost every day, a fiesta is happening somewhere in this archipelago. Maybe it’s our way of rejoicing over colonialism, I think. Anyway, any of these fiestas isn’t complete without the carnival. Yes, the crowded, unsanitary carnival which is heaven for mediocre gamblers. But would you believe that you can find the most thrilling ride in the world in of one these?

            Aah, it’s fiesta time again in our town. As our tricycle approaches the carnival, we can’t help but notice the hypnotizing lights of the Ferris wheel. It feels like I’m Hansel and the gingerbread house with a witch is persuading me to enter in. It’s very chaotic at the entrance. Too many people want to get in and out on a portal about 2 feet wide. After finally getting in, the hypnotizing lights of the Ferris wheel are still, well, hypnotizing me, so we decided to ride it once and for all.

            As we approached the ride, the gingerbread house suddenly turned into witch’s house. The sight of rusty parts and the old smoky engine suddenly gave me the feeling that I am going ride into my death. But a group of fellow students who looks like they’re enjoying the ride gave me little sigh of relief. Then, the moment of truth came. As we slowly marched into the gingerbread house, I got a sight of the witch, or should I say the wizard operating the machine. Then the wizard started stirring the pot. He started slowly then he suddenly made it very fast like dolls are riding the ride and there aren’t any people in there. About 5 revolutions later, I felt a tug, no, many tugs on the rusty cables that hold the whole thing. Suddenly I saw flashbacks and then my dreams about the future telling me that I still have many things to do in this world.

            As swiftly as it revolved, the ride ended, thankfully. The feeling of weightlessness combined with the awareness that it was undoubtedly 100% unsafe sure gave me the most adrenaline I ever felt in my life. As Filipino carnivals continue to neglect maintenance proper repair over their rides, they continue to make more and more thrilling rides that totally scare a person and inspire him to write an article about his experience. It might sound absurd but the sensation I felt in the ride was thrillingly good. In fact, you might see me again next year riding in one again. I’m a Filipino anyway. Filipinos love to take risks, right?

 I think that experience proves that the most thrilling ride in the world is in the Philippines, well at least for me.

~ lVl u + ~