Being an adrenaline junkie sometimes leads my life to be measured in a string of roller coasters. Yet, I'm not one of those daredevils who are all "rush all the time with no nervousness". The emotional roller coaster I go through while actually riding a real one is quite the experience, and it all starts with getting in line.

THE BEGINNING OF THE LINE

You've joined what seems like the endless line to your roller coaster. On the way to the line, you looked up at the highest dive the coaster goes through, tried to talk yourself out of this madness, and then trudged on through because you spot two 10-year olds in the line looking exceptionally nonchalant.

THE END OF THE LINE

You see people who just finished their ride hobbling off the car, some looking distinctly greener in the face than when they had gone on. Your heart starts picking up its pace, and you wonder if letting the people behind you go on before you might be a good idea. You suddenly hear the scream of terror from the direction of the car that just started its ride, signifying that those people have just experienced the 300-feet drop that you've also signed up for. The errant thoughts of bolting are becoming a real possibility now.

STRAPPING IN

You've battled your cowardice till this point, and are now seated on the car of doom. Is this harness secure enough? Should I have taken my glasses off? Or written a note to my loved ones perhaps? That's when the harness suddenly locks in place, signifying that any moment you're going to start moving. Oh no. What have I done?!

MOUNTING

You begin ascending right from the get go. As you look forward, all you can see is a seemingly infinite track, and the sky beyond that. You keep on ascending, and ascending, and ascending. The fact that every inch that you're covering now is one that you'll also have to descend is constantly running through your mind. There's no way this is STILL going up. Why am I doing this to myself again? Just, why?

THE DROP

The car has stopped ascending. In fact, it has stopped moving altogether. You can see a lot more when you look forward now compared to just a few seconds ago. Suspended nearly 100 metres above the ground, you can see people looking like ants scurrying below you. Some are joining the very line that you were in barely 20 minutes ago. That was a simpler life.

Suddenly the car moves, and then you feel the characteristic butterflies in your stomach. You yell for your life as two of the most thrilling minutes of your life begin.

THE RIDE

You're yelling at the top of your lungs. As you take wild turns at nearly 100 kmph, rise and drop and spin all around, all you can think is that this right here is the best feeling in the world.

END OF THE TRACK

Your eyes are watering, your hair is all over the place, and your body feels like you have been through a tornado, but the only thought in your head is "Woah! Let's go again!"