Note: The embedded video contains flashing effects, which may affect some people, particularly those with photosensitive epilepsy. If you have photosensitive epilepsy, or are sensitive to flashing effects otherwise, please scroll past the video and do not watch it.
2023 was a hit and miss. Well, most times, miss. I am glad to see the back of 2023, with no going back. Having said that, there are some memorable moments of 2023, like finally being able to skydive, checking more things off the bucket list, visiting new places and doing different things. So I will be highlighting some of the good memories as well as reflecting on the bad events that have happened during the year.
With all COVID restrictions finally ending, a new challenge emerged: friendship issues that had arisen with some of what were once my good friends, including one I had been friends with since intermediate school. There was a personal conflict that caused her and me to become ex-friends, and although I will never forget that, I will move on from it. There was also minor conflict on my dad's side, which has since been resolved a long time ago, and an incident at a music festival which resulted in me being kicked out of a chat group on what was once Twitter - now known as "X". Personal conflicts with friends and family ensued. At the end of the year, my best friend stopped talking to me after my mother called the doctor on me when I was supposed to meet up with a guy I came across on Badoo, a dating site. The date never happened, as I was so upset about the conflict that ensued with my mum that I wasn't up for it. There was also a conflict over a nude bungee jump that I wanted to do, but fortunately, in the end, I got to do it anyway. It also didn't help when it was confirmed I did have PCOS - and the readings are pretty high.
If all of that wasn't bad enough, we experienced the Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle hitting Auckland. The Anniversary floods were so severe that our tenant's flat was badly damaged, necessitating major repair work and renovation. Just a few hours after I completed the 5-hour Black Abyss tour in Waitomo, torrential rains in Auckland caused flash flooding. The floods reached our tenant's flat while we were in Waitomo. The cyclone also made it nearly impossible for us to sleep at night due to the intense wind and rain, forcing the entire household to sleep upstairs and, beforehand, move things to higher ground. It also prevented anyone, including myself, from going to West Auckland beaches such as Muriwai and Piha, as well as other affected beaches. The storm impacted businesses, some of which had to shut down for months, affecting the economy and the tourism sector in the North Island. We had an exceptionally wet summer, with the wet weather persisting throughout much of the year. Consequently, I wasn’t able to snorkel or take surfing lessons. Parts of the North Island were totally off-limits to everyone except residents. Adding to this mix were the cost of living crisis, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the recent events in Palestine, along with a still ongoing pandemic, and other global issues.
There were also positives to 2023. I checked off some items from my bucket list, which I had never done before—like skydiving, paragliding, hanggliding, going down the Kaituna Rapids, and visiting Yosemite National Park in California. Other good things that came out of the year were Christopher Luxon becoming Prime Minister, Kiri Allan getting arrested after crashing her car and later resisting arrest, Jacinda Ardern resigning as Prime Minister and going on a long-haul trip to San Francisco—the first time I had been to the United States since 2015 and also the first long-haul trip of this decade and since the pandemic began. Additionally, I have been traveling around the country and to Australia multiple times, in addition to going to San Francisco. I also took up horse riding lessons, which is a new experience for me as well.
In conclusion, 2023 is a year that I'd rather not repeat, marked by friendship issues, both mental and physical health challenges, personal conflicts, and even freak weather events, including a cyclone. The aftermath required major repair work, disrupting our daily routine, proving to be costly and time-consuming.
Starting 2024, with me likely having contracted COVID while in Australia, doesn't make matters any better. Furthermore, conflicts in both Gaza and Ukraine persist, along with the ongoing pandemic. However, let's hope that in 2024, things will settle down, and it will be a much better year than the previous ones.
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NOTE: This blog contains a movie spoiler reference.
When the barbie movie came out, everyone was excited. This movie created a "barbiecore" trend, which swept the globe by storm. Instagram posts were flooded with everything pink: Pink shoes, pink fashion, pink toys and everything else you name it. There are even holidays, events and competitions dedicated to Barbie and Ken. The movie, which I have seen now, is not only a really enjoyable film, but also an important one. It touches on the importance of feminism, women's rights and also on women's health. As some of you may not have seen the movie, I won't be revealing the exact line here, but here is a hint: The movie is trying to send an important message to women and girls that it's important to get medical check ups for any issues relating to their reproductive system, and also to see a gynecologist for these issues.
Taking the barbiecore challenge a step further, opting to do two bungy jumps in Queenstown, while embracing the Barbie theme. For one of them, I decided to attempt a topless jump. Before my Queenstown trip, I had dressed up according to the theme multiple times - once for attending a Beauty EQ Long Lunch event, another time for watching the Barbie film Barbie itself. I chose to bungy jump topless from the Kawarau Bridge, located about 25 minutes north of Queenstown. My aunt wasn't pleased with the decision, and became upset. (I'm 25 years old, a fully grown adult, why does my aunt think she can control my choices and be upset about my decision to go topless?). This kind of situation is one of the reasons I will never convert to Christianity, or become a Catholic. Another reason is that many Nazis associate themselves with these religions. In the end, I chose to keep my jumper on to appease my aunt. Fortunately, my jumper was oversized, just like the top I was wearing underneath. A positive aspect about this site was that it was a waist harness, rather than a full body harness, allowing me to place the jumper over the it. The experience was incredibly enjoyable, with a genuine adrenaline rush, and to my surprise the top actually actually slipped down, exposing my breasts!
A video of the bungy jump captures the moment when my jumper slips down, exposing my breasts. This can be seen towards the end of the video, especially when zoomed in.
Two days later, I visited the Nevis to experience all the activities there - bungy jumping (which was even more intense and thrilling), the swing and also the catapult (finally got to go on it this time, was supposed to try it last year at first, but the ride malfunctioned and we got a refund as a result). This time, my outfit was a bit different. I arrived at the Nevis, dressed entirely in pink - except for my shoes. Additionally, it was snowing creating a truly beautiful scene. Both the bungy and swing were incredibly enjoyable, but the catapult, despite its claim of intensity, fell a bit short for me in terms of the thrill level (although it was entertaining). It's interesting to note that just last December, I experienced the slingshot ride in Surfers Paradise, which subjected me to forces equivalent to 6G (twice that of the Nevis Catapult), propelled me to a height of 90 meters, and reached speeds of 160-180 km/h. Furthermore, considering that the Nevis Catapult falls short in terms of both thrill and duration (the Nevis Catapult ride only lasts around three seconds and is only 100 kms worth of speed) compared to the one in Surfers Paradise, its price seems a bit excessive. The Slingshot ride, in contrast, is notably more affordable. The Slingshot ride costs A$40 (NZ$65), although our expenses were higher due to purchasing the video. On the other hand, the Nevis Catapult is priced at $230 NZD ($212 AUD); however, the activity's duration is significantly shorter, the speed is also less impressive, and it doesn't truly involve substantial heights (unless you consider being suspended in the middle of the valley). Moreover, access to the Nevis Playground (where the Nevis Catapult is located) is restricted to the AJ Hackett shuttle service, whereas the Surfers Paradise slingshot can be reached using various modes of transportation, including walking.
The jumps were not only incredibly enjoyable and memorable, but they also carried a significant intention, considering that I had dressed up for the occasion. Moreover, the intention was to convey an important message to everyone, particularly to girls and women. One message I aim to convey to girls and women is that it's perfectly acceptable to go topless when engaged in activities that naturally require it, as well as to breastfeed your baby in public without feeling the need to cover up. Another message is to be authentic, pursue your individual hobbies and goals, and refuse to let obstacles hinder your progress. An additional message emphasizes the importance of prioritizing health - both mental and physical, which was exemplified by Barbie (whom I dressed up as), who visited a gynecologist at the very end of the movie, portraying her as a relatable human character.
Bungy jumping isn't commonly viewed as a feminist activity or even a contemporary women's extreme sport, despite its origins in the traditional practice of land diving, which is a custom originating from a group of indigenous tribal women in Vanuatu. Before AJ Hackett and co-founder Henry Van Asch commercialized the sport, they made bungy jumps accessible to the public for the first time, marking a historic turning point.
Unfortunately, in today's modern world and outside of Vanuatu, like most extreme sports, bungy jumping is dominated by men, and the fact remains that despite the fact that women came up with the original concept, bungy jumping is highly patriarchal, due to in part, the fact that men are more likely to jump, and also, the fact that men can jump topless in almost all locations, whereas women will have to get permission from the jumpmaster or the company itself to go topless. Furthermore, in certain places, such as Taupo, women aren't permitted to jump topless at all, whereas men can do so. Likewise, similar to any sport, including extreme ones, and even resembling gym visits, women often experience sexualization based on their attire for jumping. Videos of topless women can find their way onto adult websites (this isn't an issue if the women in the videos uploaded them voluntarily or provided consent for sharing), sometimes without proper consent. This situation occurs in certain instances due to the way the public perceives women's breasts. Furthermore, bungy jumping involving topless women might be considered a fetish by some, primarily because bungy jumping can carry a notably sexualized connotation for women. This is partly due to elements like adrenaline and arousal, as well as the attire women typically wear for jumping, including leggings, sports bras, and shorts.
I'll be highlighting instances of sexism and misogyny within bungy jumping. This is ironic, considering that the original concept was conceived by women from a small Pacific Island country. What's even more ironic is that, at one point, AJ Hackett Bungy used to offer free jumps to those who opted to go nude. To start with, women are restricted to going topless only on days when there are fewer children and families present, and this permission is granted at certain locations as well. In contrast, men have the freedom to go topless anytime in most countries (except, possibly, in some Middle Eastern countries with strict modesty laws where both women and men are required to be fully clothed for bungy jumping). This leads us to the issue of racism and sexism, all justified under the pretext of being "family-friendly." Another concern lies in the comments made on social media and even in public spaces. Women often face sexualization based on their attire, regardless of whether they are covered up. Women encounter significant amounts of sexual harassment simply for wearing leggings and a sports bra while jogging or working out at the gym.
Misogyny is not just an issue in bungy jumping. It is an issue across the entire sports industry, including the extreme sports industry - and indeed, also the tourism industry as well, especially that tourism and extreme sports collide with each other.
Another aspect to consider is the realm of social media platforms and their respective policies. One such platform is Facebook, which is renowned for its practice of removing content showcasing the female nipple, and this extends to the extent that artwork, food, and beverages portraying nipples are also subject to removal. This can also encompass individuals engaging in extreme sports, such as the scenario of bungy jumping. This situation becomes notably troublesome when the convergence of social media and extreme sports featuring topless women occurs. Entities like AJ Hackett must exercise utmost caution when uploading videos depicting topless women engaging in bungy jumping, to prevent triggering actions from Facebook, and other social media platforms like Facebook as well, such as Instagram. Numerous businesses have encountered instances where their posts featuring nudity were removed without adequate explanation or justification. In severe situations, business pages and even the accounts of the administrators and owners of these pages have faced account removal from Facebook and other social media platforms, all for the aforementioned reasons. However, this principle does not apply to male nipples. Nonetheless, in certain instances of close-up shots, Facebook and other platforms might also remove male nipples, owing to their resemblance to female nipples, which can lead to confusion among the platform's moderators.
The tourism and sports industries need to improve in terms of treating all genders equally. Individuals need to cease the practice of sexualizing women and individuals identifying as being part of the LGBTQA+ community simply because of their breasts and nipples, and that includes making inappropriate comments about what they wear, both on and offline, and engaging in other inappropriate behaviour, such as catcalling. The normalization of topless and nude bungy jumps (and similar extreme activities, contingent on the specific activity and local regulations) should extend to all genders. This principle is applicable to any activity involving nudity, not solely limited to extreme sports. Nudity is a natural state and is not harmful (unless indecent exposure is involved). Tourist and adventure operators should demonstrate respect for individuals' decisions to engage in nudity, unless safety requirements, or local laws of where the adventure site is, dictate that nudity is prohibited. Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms should discontinue the practice of removing images of women's breasts and nipples (except in cases of non-consensual sharing or involving children, naturally) and shift their attention towards removing genuinely harmful content, such as cryptocurrency and Nigerian scams, Neo-Nazi/white supremacist material, other forms of terrorist content, and fictitious or impersonation accounts.
The takeaway from all of this is: Be true to yourself, prioritize your well-being, and know that it's acceptable to be topless whenever the opportunity arises. Concentrate on your aspirations and interests, embracing life to the maximum. Meanwhile, social media platforms should prioritize the removal of genuinely harmful content like terrorism and Holocaust denial posts, alongside dangerous misinformation, including conspiracy theories. They should also initiate the prohibition of accounts participating in scams, fraud, and impersonation. In contrast, topless bungy jumping and other naturalist activities like skinny-dipping should be left undisturbed. Individuals should refrain from associating bungy jumping with sexual activity or viewing it as a fetish solely due to a woman's attire or her choice to go topless. Keep in mind that being topless doesn't imply consent, and it's imperative that no one uploads photos or videos of individuals bungy jumping nude onto adult websites without the explicit permission of the individuals featured in the media. When it comes to clothing for bungy jumping, there's a single guideline: Wear whatever you prefer, as long as the chosen attire isn't constructed from delicate material prone to tearing, doesn't have an excessive amount of beading that might detach (like beads, crystals, and sequins), and isn't emblazoned with offensive, hateful or other inappropriate content. Such content could include Nazi or other hateful symbols, cult ideologies and symbols, references to genocides, mentions of controversial ideologies like communism or anti-alcohol movements, or instances where a tragedy or natural disaster is made fun of. If you're free from any serious medical conditions or recent injuries that could affect the jump, meet the minimum age and weight requirements, and have the necessary funds, then go ahead, enjoy yourself, and welcome the adrenaline rush that accompanies the experience.
2023 has just started, with nearly a month into the year now - and things are looking much better this year than 2022! Especially with the certainty now - and with Jacinda Ardern stepping down, and that almost all covid restrictions are lifted. So now I should find it a whole lot easier trying to accomplish some goals, especially working towards what I really want to be - a fashion designer, a model, an artist and a photographer - and getting a job! Also the other good news is that I am now 5 years seizure free (I have epilepsy unfortunately), so if I have the time, I can move towards studying the road code and learning how to drive - although, given the environmental concerns we face today, if I get a driver's license, I will opt to drive in a more sustainable vehicle, like choosing a car or a motorbike that runs on electricity instead of petrol. This year, I aim to be a happier, healthier person and go on more adventures, and get a job. I also have goals for taking up new hobbies and meeting new people, and making friends with them. Just as with any other year, I aim to be kind and nice to people, be organized - especially around social media posting and content creation, plans for events and daily or weekly routines such as skin care. I will also partake in new experiences that I have never done before, and go to events that I've never been to before, and the same with new places and trying out different and new types of food and drinks to me - places that I've never been to before, and food and drinks that I've never had before. Unlike previous years, I also am going to put my health first - especially my mental and physical health, in addition to happiness, as usual. I will be cutting out toxicity from my life, including removing toxic people, try to consume less negative news* - especially news surrounding the Covid 19 pandemic! And I will be thinking about the positive things this year and will aim to be a positive person who can contribute to the community more. And when I mean health, I mean reducing stress, spending more time exercising (another bonus is that being fit means I can enjoy doing adventures and extreme activities), eating well, spending quality time with friends and family, and making sure I am in good health through checkups. Oh, and I will try to avoid getting sick as well. Covid isn't much of an issue for me, but isolation is not great, having done it last year. *Bearing all of this in mind, I will, of course continue to be concerned about any global event, including Covid, the economy, the war in Ukraine and other issues. But I will be trying not to be so anxious or stressed over it as much now that we are in more certain times, now that covid restrictions are almost gone. I have pursued extreme sports (including bungy jumping) and bodyboarding as a hobby, a new one that was born out of the pandemic and will be taking up more, which will be a mixture of good things. I have also been to high teas and have done luxury shopping, both of which are new hobbies that I have started in late 2021/start of 2022. This year, I will take up more hobbies, in addition to continuing on with the usual hobbies like gardening, painting, baking, blogging and photography etc. Some of the hobbies that I will likely take up this year includes:
New experiences that I can think of doing this year include:
There are many others, but there is too much to list, therefore this is not an exhaustive list. The most important thing though, is that I will strive to be stress free this year, although that will be a bit of a challenge given the unfortunate events of the past few years - given Covid and the passing of my father and the fallouts from those events. Even more importantly, I will enjoy doing what I do best, and live life to the fullest. And as with any other year, I will try to achieve my goals and resolutions, and work towards being a better, a happier, kinder and a healthier person.
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AuthorI am Natalie Dunn. I am a feminist who believes in gender equality and rights for everyone. I have many passions in life such as fashion, beauty, adventures and travelling. Archives
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