We’ve visited the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere twice: the first time was just Alex and I, during a short one-week first-time jaunt to the land of the long, white cloud. Our next visit to the Sky Tower Auckland was four years later, while we lived in New Zealand.
On both occasions, we bumped into therapy groups up there in the tower; small groups of people working to overcome their fear of heights – or possibly their fears in general. Part of the flooring of the observation deck is made of transparent glass. The material is just as safe and solid as concrete, yet standing on glass 300 metres above Auckland’s traffic does seem to be frightening for many.
Me? I wasn’t afraid to step out, but watching the ground far, far below was a slightly dizzying, stomach-tickling experience.
Kids have no qualms at all, of course. Both girls easily wandered about on the glass, sat down on it, lied stomach down on it, jumped up and down on it. The rest of us, well, perhaps we just grow up too fast…
How about you? Have you visited the Sky Tower Auckland or a similar place? And, even more interestingly, did you wander out on the glass?
World at a Glance is a series of short articles here on Sophie’s World, with a single photo (though not today) – portraying curious, evocative, happy, sad or wondrous, unexpected little encounters.
Wow! I can see why people have therapy sessions there! That’s one way to face their fears. Thanks for sharing!
Effective, I should think.
That’s really interesting about the therapy groups. It makes a lot of sense. I’m not particularly brave when it comes to things like this. At the CN Tower in Toronto, I took a step on the glass floor and quickly stepped off. I’d like a chance to try again at the Sky Tower in Auckland.
But then again, you’ve ziplined, Cathy.
I absolutely *could not* have done as your little one did. I had a difficult time taking the fourth photo here – the third photo shows me hanging on for dear life. You are right – kids have no qualms!
I’m enjoying your blog – especially the posts about the northern parts of Norway. I’m an American expat living in the Bergen area and haven’t been up there – yet!
Glad you said ‘yet’ 🙂
I try to do that in Tokyo Tower…
Ooh, I haven’t been in Tokyo Tower…
I’m not so sure about the glass floor… I think I might be one of the ones stepping off it very quickly! The view would have been fabulous though.
🙂
I’ve been up on the Tokyo Tower that has glass windows on the floor so that you can look straight down to the ground below. However, I think those windows weren’t quite a big. I think I may be able to handle standing on the Sky Tower glass floors but would probably freak out when my kids would inevitably start jumping up and down on them to see what happens.
That was a bit disconcerting. Had to pull myself together…
Oh gosh, as you say tummy tingling experience, and i’m not sure I would have been able to look down through the glass for more than an instant too! I’ve been up the Sky Tower on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, and that is pretty aweseom when you get to the 360 views at the toop.
Next time in Surfer’s, then…
Makes a lot of sense, but I never would have thought about it being a place for therapy session. I think the last time I was in a tower with a glass floor observation would have been in KL, and I loved it. As long as I am enclosed, no fear. Put me on a steep, narrow staircase, forget it! Thanks for linking up this week! (OH, I love your header!)
Thanks, Nancie.
I would be a little nervous too despite my brain trying to think logically.
The eternal mental conflict…