I'm extremely altophobic. I don't enjoy being on top of tall buildings. I get dizzy. My hands and feet get cold. Sometimes I throw up. Once I was in Kuala Lumpur, I met an executive working at the Petronas Towers (it was then the world's tallest building). He had access to the topmost level of the building so he invited me to go up with him. I declined. I made up lame excuses and darted out the door as soon as we finished lunching in one of the restaurants at Suria KLCC.
I don't remember being altophobic as a child. My sister has a theory. "Your altophobia started in 1991. You must have been traumatized by the earthquake a year earlier that flattened tall buildings in Baguio," she said.
"We were in Manila, remember?" I answered.
"But the television news always flashed images of the rubble," she explained. "You only fear heights in tall buildings, but not necessarily mountains."
"Well, I freaked out when we passed a narrow stretch of highway in Ifugao and Benguet. The thought of falling into the deep ravine was nauseating," I retorted.
I don't remember being altophobic as a child. My sister has a theory. "Your altophobia started in 1991. You must have been traumatized by the earthquake a year earlier that flattened tall buildings in Baguio," she said.
"We were in Manila, remember?" I answered.
"But the television news always flashed images of the rubble," she explained. "You only fear heights in tall buildings, but not necessarily mountains."
"Well, I freaked out when we passed a narrow stretch of highway in Ifugao and Benguet. The thought of falling into the deep ravine was nauseating," I retorted.
"Conquer your fear," my friends advised me. I tried not once but four times. At Cosmo Clock 21 and Landmark Tower in Yokohama. At the Empire State Building in New York. Even at the not so high Reichstag dome in Berlin. To no avail. In Cebu my friends surprised me with a ticket to the Sky Experience Adventure. They had to drag me to the edge coaster because I won't have any of it. I almost peed my pants. I sat there with my teeth clenched, my body stiffer than rigor mortis, my eyes shut the whole time. I managed to take a shot. This photo is the only "view" I have.
So far my fear of heights has not impeded my work. When I travel I always request that I be booked on the first five levels of the hotel. If that could not be arranged, I just lie down facing the wall. If it's room sharing I request my roommate that I occupy the bed farthest from the window. At times I jump out of bed if the building starts moving. I calm myself with the thought, "It's just the rollers." I go back to bed.
I'm extremely altophobic alright. So better deal with it.
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