During my time in the US of A, I had the chance to try firebreathing, something I had never even remotely considered doing before, and something that, had I thought about it, it would probably have made me a little nervous.
In fact, the first time, the opportunity arose to try it, I decided not to. A group of around 20 guys were camping out. We were sitting around a campfire in the middle of a forest, a huge fire providing warmth and light. It was the early hours of the morning. Chat was relaxed and light-humoured. The night was still, a cloudless night-sky dotted with a million stars. I had been in the States only a few days and everything and everyone still seemed new. Someone decided to start fire-breathing. It was the first time I witnessed it and it seemed pretty dangerous. Maybe it was the lack of safety precautions such as water, maybe it was the newness of it, maybe it was the fact someone nearly burnt their head off, but for whatever reason, I didn’t attempt it. Instead, I watched several other people have a load of fun doing it themselves.
Don’t get me wrong, I did want to try it, and the next morning, I wished I had tried it.
So, when the occasion to try it came about around 4 weeks later, I jumped at it. I did my practice attempts with water first, to learn about to spray it out into fine particles, and then I was ready for the real thing.
My heart was pumping, adrenaline rushing through my body. I glanced up to the bright full moon and bent down, picking up the beaker of Tiki oil in my sweaty palm, raised it to my mouth and took a big slurp. I then brought the fiery stick to my mouth, and sprayed the Tiki oil out. The moon disappeared, replaced with bright orange inferno. I felt it’s heat on my face. The experience lasted only a few seconds, before the still night coldness hit me again, the moon reappeared, but it was enough to take my breath away. Below is the video of me firebreathing for the first time.
It was an experience I’m sure I won’t forget any time soon. It still makes me deliriously excited thinking about it, and I’m positive it is something I’d like to try again at some point. Hopefully, I can make a better video of it! But, it also taught me an important lesson. Try things, even if they scare you. You will be all the better for it, and will have an epic time!