Raleigh Malaysia Summer Expedition 08

Final night - venturer's party!

2008-08-31T22:07:00.000-07:00

After 5 weeks of longs at 6pm, 3 bowling, deet, and lots and lots of hard work and even more fun, Borneo 08G drew to a close last night with the venturer's final party at Borneo Paradise.

After a barbeque dinner on the lawn, a farewell speech from Jim and the premier of the official 08G slideshow, DJ Gerrard banged out those tunes for all to party the night away into the small hours of the night.

This morning, all the venturer's boarded the buses to KK for a final mornings souvenir shopping before being transported back to the airports or making their own way for those who are staying on for further travel.

There have been lots of smiles, hugs and a few tears for everyone at this farewell. Many new friends made and experiences shared. But most of all, lots of new memories made.

Thanks to all the venturers for making 08G such an amazing experience for every single person involved.

Be sure to keep in touch through the Raleigh alumni and to pass on your experiences to others so that more people can benefit from the work that Raleigh does.

Its been emotional! Terima Kasih

Dee

The Head Hunters Borneo 08G Adventure Challenge

2008-08-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

Once project groups had been assigned and the new alpha groups formed, everyone boarded the buses from Likas to the location for the Borneo 08G Head Hunters Challenge....based somewhere in the jungle in a clearing by a river. A really beautiful spot.

Ed briefing the venturers on the headhunters challenge

The adventure challenge involved a 3 day journey and reflected the history of headhunting in times past in Borneo. This included 2 days trekking and camping through the jungle with blowpipes and catapults tasks on route.

The journey culminated in a river crossing, bamboo rafting and mountain biking route back to base camp. There was also a further day at base camp for further team activities including navigating the team over a mud pit using only 5 tyres, stilt walking over a silt bar and cooking up a lunchtime jungle feast using certain set ingredients from the jungle. First though, the teams had to set up their own camps using tarps, bamboo poles and rope.

Marc - half man, half German, err, half machine?

Lauren and Louise displaying their shoe rack of bamboo

During this phase, the Alpha groups had the opportunity to win heads by successfully completing their tasks although heads were deducted for misdeamors including not wearing longs correctly at night and setting fire to the heads (yes Alpha 1, that really was stupid!)

Lots of focus for the trek ahead

And they're off!

And 3 days later, they're back!

Naomi and Mehnaz on Mehnaz's 21st birthday

At the end of the adventure phase there was a final trek to TAC which to everyone great surprise and relief lasted about 1 hour along a road to a site for white water rafting. All through the adventure phase there were further opportunities to win heads through head frenzies. No one will ever forget the site of Max running for his life while being chased by a herd of venturers through the pouring rain after his heads! The head frenzies in the Kiulu river by Jim in his canoe were also a sight to behold!

Once the white water rafting was completed and everyone safely docked at TAC, everyone had a relaxing afternoon after a sumptuous barbeque feast.

In the evening after dinner, the Alpha groups performed their skits for the adventure phase and final heads were awarded. Congratulations Alpha 3 on a grand total of 89 heads and overall winners of the 08G Head Hunters Challenge. Well done to all the venturers on an amazing display of jungle skills during the phase.

After the ceremony, the heads were ceremonious burned by Joe - this time legitimately!
The venturers now have one final day here at Raleigh Borneo before they all sign off from the project. The final entry for this expedition will follow tonights venturers party and tomorrows departures.

Changeover

2008-08-27T01:54:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 23rd, all Alpha groups safely arrived back at the Likas hostel in KK.

After showers and changes into clean clothes, everyone gathered in the main hall for the evening's entertainment - skits performed by each Alpha group of their time on project.

Alpha 1 - Joe bares nearly all

Alpha 5 and their numerous adventures to and at Togudon

Alpha 4 - Chloe up her neck in the project

Alpha 3 and the story of the perfect project team foiling all obstacles

Alpha 2 and romance at the eco lodge, blind date style

After the skits, everyone went over to the Olympic swimming pool where the Ministry of Youth and Sports very kindly laid on a feast of barbequed food and dancing.

Who has the best jungle beard?

Alpha 5's Emma, Jenny and Nicki

The next morning, all the new Alpha groups for the adventure phase were communicated.

Here are the new Alpha groups for the adventure challenge phase:

Alpha 1 - Rachel Jackson & Stuart Bardsley (PMs)
Lauren Ferguson, Tamsin Chowdry, Louise Alexander, Naomi Browne, Mehnaz Bhatti, Sarah Van Praag, Claire Smyth, Joe Smith, Ant Lewis, David Mccretton, Ali Mackintosh

Alpha 2 - Alex Cameron & Vicki Vyse (PMs)
Li Vyen Tham, Ros Crompton, Shanel Hassan, Sarah Lane, Victoria Anthony, Bex Coxon, Victoria Estruch, Emma Boyd, Lisa Turner, Ed Gilmore, Michael Toffolo, James Johnson

Alpha 3 - Andy Cottrill & Jenna Coull (PMs)
Eleanor Davey, Chloe Mercer, Kate Morgan, Tilly Morgan, Lauren Watson, Haslina Ali, Nicola Forecast, Marc Bohnes, Ben Lumb, Ross Maguire, Brad Foster, Nicole Thong

Alpha 4 - Katie Wookey & Dan Twort (PMs)
Sarah Dawson, Alys Stevens, Lizzie Bloxham, Freya Proudlock, Eleanor Stewart, Ju Vern See, Lucy Burton, Jenny Cook, Patrick Trahair, Peter Matthews, Will Handley, Spy Couppis

Running things from base camp are Jim Clement, Ed Dimmock, Sarah French, Vicki Nutbrown, Adeeba Siddiqui, Max Rees and Sara Alfons. Also joining 08G for the adventure phase is the newest recruit to fieldbase - Mark Macarthy (known as Mac) who has joined Raleigh Borneo as the Country Programme Manager. Welcome to the jungle Mac!

Former Army Sergeant and new CPM, Mac

Going on an adventure!

2008-08-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

As the first phase of the 08G expedition draws to a close, the second phase begins.

The adventure challenge begins with the Alpha groups returning to KK on Saturday. After a day of reuniting with friends and sharing stories and skits, the groups will be assigned for the adventure challenge which begins on Sunday and will last a week. The adventure challenge promises to be very challenging and very adventurous!

As all of fieldbase will also be joining the PMs and venturers "somewhere in the jungle" for this phase, there will be no blog entries for the duration of the adventure challenge.

Rest assured, we are all looking forward to returning to many many blog comments on our return!

Opening ceremonies

2008-08-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

This week the alpha groups have been finishing off their projects before moving on to the adventure phase of their expeditions. Alpha 3, 4 and 1 had opening ceremonies for their projects before they left this phase.

On Wednesday, representatives from Coca Cola - sponsors of the gravity water feed projects completed by Alpha 3 and 4 - journeyed to the two project sites along with the press, and ministerial representatives from the Ministery of Environment, Culture and Tourism.

On Thursday, Nestle representatives - sponsors of the kindergarten, travelled to Keranaan, together with the press and Ministry to open the kindergarten.

Alpha 4

The local community of Tudan and Alpha 4 welcomed their VIPs with tradional Malay music and dancing.

At Alpha 4, Chloe precided over the speeches with Ju Vern on hand as a translator. Tilly also joined PM Andy, Country director Jim and the JKK (village head) on stage to give a speech.

The appreciative community presented the Raleigh team with gifts and Coca Cola' s representative Kadri Taib spoke about the value of the project in providing a water supply to a remote community. Also Mr James, the English teacher in Tudan spoke on behalf of the community.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony by Datuk Amisah Yassin, the Secretary Political to Sabah Minister of Enviroment, Culture and Tourism, the tap was turned on. After the successful ceremony, the VIPs joined Raleigh for a hearty feast laid on by the community.

A fantastic job by Alpha 4.

Alpha 3

Later on the same day, the delegation moved on to Alpha 3 to celebrate the opening of their restored water system.

After Malay music welcoming the delegation to Tungou, Ali precided over the ceremony. Ali surprised the VIPs with a speech in Malay which was warmly received by all. Other speeches followed including the JKK Mr Wasley, Kadri Taib from Coca Cola, Wabah Rashman, the Developer of Area Number 30 Keranaan, PM Dan and Jim.

The community made traditional baskets and hats and presented them to Raleigh and Coca Cola as tokens of their appreciation.

The ribbon cutting ceremony at the water tanks was followed on by the turning on of a hose of water and more food and entertainment Malay style.

Another great achievement to be proud of Alpha 3!

Alpha 1

On Thursday, a delegation of representatives from Nestle (the sponsors of the project) including Tengku Marina, the Group Corporate Affairs and Wellness Director Nestle (Malaysia), Datuk Amisah Yassin, the Political Secretary to Sabah Minister of Environment, Culture and Tourism, and the press arrived in Keranaan to officially open the kindergarten.

KEMAS, the semi government organisation that provides teachers to kindergartens presented certificates of appreciation to Nestle and Jim. Nestle presented gift packs to the JKK, Jim, the Ministry, the local children and to Raleigh PMs and venturers.

After speeches by all including Michael and Peter, the party moved up to the kindergarten to open the doors and invite in the local children.

The kindergarten build was a fantastic joint effort by the local community and Raleigh in just three weeks.

Very well done everyone involved - especially Alpha 1

More messages home

2008-08-22T02:48:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of blog messages from Alpha 4.

Hello everyone! Are you OK?!
We've now completed the community project and start the adventure challenge on Sunday. Only 1 week until I am home!!
Thank you for all the letters and messages and all the amazing pictures from Josie.
Missing you all! See you soon.
Claire (Smyth)
PS Chris I love you loads and think about you always

Hi Annie & Tony
Thank you for your messages. I have just finished the community phase. I'm getting ready for the adventure phase which starts on Sunday for a week.
I'm missing you lots.
Speak to you soon.
Love Tilly

Blog messages from A5

2008-08-20T06:13:00.001-07:00

The following messages home were radioed in to fieldbase today from Alpha 5

Happy birthday mum!
Love Lisa (A5)

Mum & Dad
Do you know which ski resort site I will be working on this winter?
Nicky (A5)

Lunar eclipse and another birthday at Raleigh

2008-08-18T00:29:00.000-07:00

Borneo 08G had another birthday within their midst on Sunday. Dee at fieldbase had a birthday - made extra special by a partial lunar eclipse visible in Sabah in the early hours of the morning and followed by pizza and an amazing mango cheesecake made by Loli, Yvette and Alex in the evening.

Messages

2008-08-18T00:22:00.000-07:00

The venturers and staff love receiving the comments on the blog. As most projects are in remote communities, it is sometimes difficult to be able to send messages back home to loved ones regularly. Please rest assured that all 70 venturers and staff alike are all safe and well and having some great experiences in their projects. It is not possible unfortunately to have mug shots of everyone published regularly on the blog but rest assured, everyone here in Malaysia will have some fantastic stories to tell and photos to share when they can.

The loop, the loop!

2008-08-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

'King Edward'

Fieldbase and medic set off on Wednesday 15th on the loop – a chance for fieldbase staff to get out of the office and to visit the project sites to see the venturers in action.

The loop is long awaited by the Alpha groups as we bring post, blog messages and the Raleigh shop of chocolate, crisps and other goodies.

This loop was led by King Edward (Ed) along with Demon Off roader – Nutta (Vicki) , Expert navigator – Y Fronts (Yvette), Music by MC Snaphead (Dee), and Medic Judy who was glad to be swapping fieldbase madness for jungle fever.

Demon off-roader - Nutta

Expert navigator - Y Fronts (and Ed)

MC Snaphead - Dee

Fieldbase arrived at A2 Raleigh Pally following a 7 hour road trip to drop off our ever alert medic Judy.

Dr Parsons on call 24-7

We were greeted by Ross and Lauren who were on camp duty for the day. Although our first sighting of the pair was while they were sunbathing on the pontoon at the river. A well earned rest of course!

Lauren and Ross in the kitchen looking remarkably tanned

First stop was a trip to the eco lodge via the boat on the Kinabatanga River to see progress made and be met by two unfriendly Pigtail monkeys. After this, back to camp to set up our hammocks for the night. This was followed by an amazing river cruise, tourist style, where we were fortunate to see Pygmy Elephants, silver monkeys, long tail monkeys, proboscis monkeys, hornbills, eagles and Egrets.

Back to camp for a slap up meal of dhal, chickpea and potato curry, rice, chapatti’s and omlette with fresh sweet pineapple to follow. A great team effort by the venturers.

After dinner the shop was opened, dodgy dealing style from the back of a Landover by torchlight. After 10 days in the humid jungle (the mighty jungle) the PM’s and venturers were very grateful to receive clean dry t-shirts kindly donated by A3 and A4 sponsors Coca Cola.

While deeting up for the night in hammocks, to fend off our hungry mosquito’s Nutta took the application too far and managed to insert 100% deet into her eye – not recommended.

The night in hammocks didn’t pass without incident! Whilst Snaphead was shaking her hammock to remove the imaginary monkey in her tree, she managed to kill her fieldbase mobile by leaving it on the ground, under her hammock during a jungle shower, as she didn’t want to get wet feet!!

Later that night a morse code message was sent by Nutta and Snaphead to arrange a visit to the long drop. King Edward and Y Fronts amazingly managed to sleep throughout.

Dr Judy however, after 10 nights in a bed at fieldbase, struggled to get the hang of her basher and managed to eject herself, commando style, onto her backside before daylight – good luck for the next 10 days Judy.

After an early cuppa fieldbase set off for A4 leaving A2 in good spirits for their hardest day yet - carrying ironwood timber to the lodge. Alpha 2 are continuing to develop muscles of steel carrying ironwood and palm kernels and building a boardwalk. They have seen an abundance of wildlife including monkeys, orangutans, elephants, crocs and snakes.

At the palatial Raleigh Pally, they have been letting off steam with a rave, attending Spy’s massage parlour and enjoying culinary delights of welsh cakes and chapattis.

Alpha 2 have happily received their mail and blog messages and would like to tell family and friends that they are having a ball in the jungle.

Good work A2.

Next on the loop was a trip to Alpha 4 at Kampong Tudan near Ranau. Fieldbase were greeted by the team and the newest venturers – the adopted local dogs.

After a tea break, Alpha 4 took us to site 2, which involved walking up the side of a hill where they had been busy building the dam around a water source and laying a pipe and storage tank for the water. With the help of the community a pathway to the source has also been created. This will enable easier access to the source in the future. We are still trying to work out how they have managed to manoeuvre this tank into position along a pathway approximately a foot wide.

PM Andy all tanked up

On the way back down, firewood was collected for an evening campfire (including live guitar music) later on that evening after an excellent Pakistani themed evening meal cooked by Ben and Sara. Alpha 4 thankfully decided against making their version of a Thai Green Curry. This concoction made earlier in the week by Ed, Ben and Dave included milk powder, coconut milk, tomato puree and sweetcorn. Less Thai Green Curry and more Throw up Tangerine Compound….good effort boys but please don’t try that at home.

Live gigs in Tundan

The evenings pass by with lots of games of mafia, lots of guitar playing and campfires once the evening mist has passed by. As well as being busy with the water feed, two venturers a day go to the local school teaching English to the local children in the community.

Relight my fire

Another impressive project and demonstration of great team spirit by the venturers. Well done Alpha 4.

The loop then moved on to A1 at Kampong Keranaan, for a flying visit to drop off paint supplies so they could crack on with completing the Kindergarten.

We were met by A1 outside their very clean and tidy community hall, apparently it hadn’t looked like that earlier in the day, they must have been expecting visitors?! What a lovely Kampong, with a stunning view of the top of Mt Kinabalu. The venturers have fitted in to the community well and regularly enjoy ice cream with various exotic flavours including sweetcorn and Yam. They play with the local children on the field which is right outside their community hall.

Hokey Cokey?

The JKK (head of the village) has even kindly offered use of his shower or an alternative to this, is to take a short walk down the hill to the mountain stream for a refreshing dip – lucky A1.

Again the Raleigh shop and post office was opened and again clean paint free t-shirts for all.

Open all hours!!

The venturers then led the way up a very steep hill to visit their Kindergarten. What an impressive achievement, they have worked with the community and in just 2 weeks have just about completed this project with time to spare. To ensure they will look their best for the opening ceremony, Brad with his hair straighteners has been on hand to help – thanks Brad!

Another good hair day Brad??

Here's looking at you A1

Well done A1 on the fastest kindergarten ever built! What an achievement to be proud of!

The loop moved on to its final Alpha group – A3 at Kampong Tungou.

Nutta’s expert driving ensured we arrive just in time for lunch! Noodles, crackers and a cup of tea were swiftly provided by the venturers and gratefully received – thanks guys.

After lunch, off we went for another site visit. This time A3 led us first to see the water source and dam they have built, then the 3 water storage tank sites which again we are still trying to get to grips with how they navigated these huge tanks into position – again an astounding team achievement by all of A3.

So this is how its done!

Cementing good friendships

Not a pipe dream

After a hard days work Alpha 3 unwind by playing football with the local children, then take a well earned waterfall shower before heading off for karaoke with the locals.

A totally organic experience?

The walk back from the work sites was steep and far, especially in the heat of the midday Borneo sun and Y Fronts realised the benefits of sun cream – sadly too late. Next minute Ali arrived with ice cold drinks and lollies for us all – Ali we love you!

One of the three spades might be helpful Ali...

The daily commute

Their hard work will now provide 13 houses in the village with constant supply of water directly to their homes. Another worthy project and expertly carried out by the team. Congratulations A3.

Everyone received their mail and blog posts. While postcards were written, fieldbase took advantage of the A3 hospitality and took a shower in the expertly built, open air, deluxe rainforest shower, all that is except Nutta who declined their kind offer and subsequently was made to sit in the front of Bravo 2 for the return journey. But unfortunately the open windows meant that the rest of fieldbase had to experience her ‘natural aroma’ for the 3 hours journey home (only kidding – we love ya Nutta)

King Edward decided to take us home the scenic way via the Crocker Range. What an amazing view – not!

Fieldbase have had a fabulous 3 day trip. All the Alpha groups were very welcoming and rightly so, very proud to show their achievements off.

Everyone is in great spirits, have made many new friendships and have lots of stories and pictures to share. They are looking forward to putting the finishing touches to their projects before moving on to the ‘Adventure Challenge’ which we have been told nothing more than it will be very challenging and very adventurous – watch this space!

A3 requested the following blog messages were posted:-

Dear family and friends, I appreciate being inundated by messages. Having fun. Be back soon. Regards to Tok Mummy please. Love Haslina

Dear Mum, Dad and Ands, hope you are well and having a good summer. Dear friends hope you enjoyed Marbella and results went ok. Ally

Dear Mum, Dad, Paul, Katie, Figgy and Philip hope your all having a good summer. Its scorchio here. Having loads of fun but still haven’t got a tan! Lots of love Vicky

Hi everyone, I hope your all enjoying summer! Missing you all! Lots of love Ellie S

Mum, Dad, Kerry and my girls, what can I say, mum it’s too hot to sunbathe even for you. Dad I can cement! Kerry the food is AMAZING! Girls I miss you. I hope your behaving for Kerry! Connexions – miss ya’ll hope my kids are all ok?! See you all sooner than you’ll know it. Party on the Sat night! PS hope my kitchen is complete.............................?

To all the family, it’s great to hear from you. Thank you Sarah. Hope you had fun in Greece. I’m building a water feed system for a village and I’m not staying in the Shangri-La. Missing you all, plus the home comforts, really food, TV and the cats. James

While on the loop A level results were communicated by fieldbase to venturers over the radios. Congratulations to you all on fantastic results and best wishes for your future from everyone at Raleigh – well done.

By Yvette & Dee

A LEVEL RESULTS

2008-08-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

Sarah and Alex at Field Base with crossed fingers

We don't know who is more nervous about the impending A-Level results - the Field Base team or the ventures themselves.

We are waiting impatiently for the results to come through so that we can broadcast them over the airwaves at SitRep tomorrow morning.

This morning one eager beaver Alpha Group were asking if the results had come in yet - but it was not even 5 am in the UK.

What we can say is that the Alpha groups have gelled, bonded and already made great friends - which ever way the results go there will be plenty of people to celebrate or commiserate with.

So here's keepin' our fingers crossed.

A TRIFLING MATTER

2008-08-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

MORE FOOD - WILL IT NEVER END.

Everyone at Field Base had come to Borneo with the notion they would loose weight. A few bouts of D&V had been expected but none had anticipated the running banquet buffet produced by Loli from the Field Base kitchen. This weekend began with Loli stockpiling cakes, including coconut and pineapple, just so we didn't go hungry on her day off on Sunday.

Then on Monday, her birthday, we turned the tables. Judy drew on her roots and produced fantastic Welsh cakes and Yvette made the ultimate british pudding of Trifle.

If this carries on we'll need to book an extra seat a piece on our flights home.

Meanwhile, ...................... on project sites ........................................ We know where we'd rather be. Actually - Alpha 4 have also been making an "Everthing but the Kitchen Sink" trifle - they would probably have included the kitchen sink too - if they had one!

Who needs crackers when you've got freshly made Welsh cakes

Loli gets into the spirit of things

Could anything be more British and more post war than this. Yvette's fantastic birthday spread - umm you can really taste the kitchen sink!

A RIGHT REAL ROASTIN'

2008-08-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

Dee - even did the washing up

Sunday 10th August and Loli, the best cook in the world, had a day off. Adeeba volunteered to take on the culinary mantel and decided that the best thing tp produce in the 30 plus degree heat was a .............................. full Sunday English "roast" - of course. So, single-handedly, she presented us with roast shoulder of lamb, braised cabbage, carrots (both julienne and the common round-cut - favoured and complimented on by Medic Judy), roast potatoes, sweetcorn, peas and gravy ......................... followed by ice-cream donated by Judy. All in all it felt like a very English sunday - bar the lie-in, the newspaper and the trip to the local garden centre.

Thanks Dee.

Meanwhile - out on project site Alpha Groups 1 - 5 are subsisting on rations of; crackers, peanut butter, porridge, crackers, chocolate spread, tin beef curry, crackers and tinned fruit. We know where we'd rather be!!!!!
Meat and two veg

Logs 1 and 2 tuck in

Message for Laura Turner

2008-08-11T03:51:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA TURNER for Tuesday

From Lisa in Alpha 5 !

Raleigh Radio News Round Up

2008-08-08T19:51:00.000-07:00

Every sunday afternoon there is Raleigh Radio and the following update will be given out !

Alpha Group Updates

A1
Alpha 1 were initially a bit anxious about completing the build of their kindergarten in 3 weeks. Normally, Raleigh teams take 9 weeks to complete a task like this but – with a lot of help from the local community and their handy “idiots guide to building a kindergarten” plus a lot more help from the local community - and a pledge of help from Alpha 4, it looks as if they might get it finished with time to spare. It is said that Rome wasn’t built in a day – however if the Keranaan community had been on hand at the time it would probably have been achievable.

Project News :-

Floor boards down and completed and roofing has continued and they are way ahead of schedule .

A2
Alpha 2 are (being eaten) alive and well at Batu Puteh. Their first impressions were that the river, were they will be washing and bathing, was “not as brown” as they had expected. It would seem that they are easily pleased – which is fortunate really given the fact that their camp is in an area where the temperatures and humidity are particularly high, the mosquitoes particularly carnivorous, and the river particularly crocodile infested. Raleigh Pally was reinforced and made habitable on day one and I can report that they have a particularly nice and very long, long drop – any longer and Anthony would have never have resurfaced. PM Katie pushed for a pontoon to wash from and now an end of day shower, standing on the pontoon and pouring buckets of muddy brown river water over you has been the much longer for highlight of the day – except for Kate – who fell off the pontoon one day and had a lizard run up her sarong another! No one is allowed in the water and no one is allowed at the watersedge after dusk.We received a report at Thursday Sitrep to say that Ant had been the first person to have a leech – attached apparently to his back side.

Project update :- They have completed the Raleigh Pally campsite and even built a mud wrestling arena ! They are working on replacing the board walk at the Eco lodge .

A3

We are glad to report that Alpha 3, or more specifically Dan, hasn’t broken anything else yet – or, more importantly, hasn’t broken into song yet – although there was news of the Elephant song from Jungle Book being sung up and down the hill. Can somebody gag Dan please. Quote of the week at Alpha 3 came from Vicki – “am I indecisive”, she asked, “or not”. Meanwhile, Sarah Van Praag feels that her blow up ……… mattress is too comfortable and therefore ruining her full Raleigh experience – everyone at field base feels the same way.

News Flash – news just in from Alpha 3 at Wednesday SITREP - a dog has nicked Rachel’s pants - of all the pants in all the world they had to pinch hers.

Project Update :- Foundations laid and finished at for Pipes 1 and two !

A4

Chloe in A 4 is finding it hard to adjust to wild camp life. We have it on good authority that she is enjoying showering daily in the nearby stream – but when she is finished she keeps looking for the on/off switch. Ummm

Sarah Lane of Alpha 4 wanted to tell the world that Brad Foster of Alpha 1 was concerned about the lack of electricity in Kg Keranaan and surfed the net for a mini-generator to charged is hair straightening tongs.

If anyone has anything on Sarah Lane that they want to share we can arrange un-confidential comms
Project update :- Cemented source 1 , source two waiting on supplies of cement

A5 - report pending

Field base visit to Alpha 5

2008-08-07T22:35:00.000-07:00

Thursday afternoon arrived and four members of field base Jim ( county director) , Sarah and Vicky ( logs girls) and Judy ( medic) had a welcome outing to Alpha5 . This was dual purpose the logs girl got some hill driving practice in the land rover and we took urgent messages and supplies to Alpha 5 .We also obtained some update on their project and took some pics ! The other groups will get visited next week 'on the loop' for similar review and photos !

Jenny , Nicola, Emma ,Will,Nicole, Naomi ,Lisa Mark and Mehnaz having a break from work and doing a photo shoot !!!!!!!!!!!!

The road is very steep and winding to Alpha 5 , the logs girls managed the roads magnificently ! It had just rained so all members of Alpha 5 were having a break from the cementing and brick laying . They welcomed all their messages , Max especially pleased with his letters !
They were a little camera shy ( some more than others!) but in the end when they realized they were appearing on the blog became more animated !

The steps going down to the hostel !

They had had some bad luck with the project , piercing a water pipe , having their newly built wall knocked down as unsafe but hey all a steep learning curve and the steps are looking good .The girls were complaining of getting muscles ! They also have long steep walk to and from work every day but the views are amazing ! There were no complaints about the food and a day out to cultural show is planned for Saturday.

Nicola , Emma ,Nicole LIsa and Jenny 'working' on the steps !

Naomi , Mehnaz and Mark work silently on with the new wall !

Alpha 5 living accomodation ! all very clean and tidy !

Will have a well deserved water break and admiring the view ! Lisa ( known to rest of group as mum !) modelling her green ( well muddy brown T shirt !)

Mark and Nicole work hard at the wall .

PROJECT MANAGERS RIGHT TO REPLY

2008-08-05T01:20:00.003-07:00

In response to a comment posted on the blog whilst we were all away at Likas for the venturers induction we (the PM'S and FB Staff) would just like to say that ........

........... YES, ABSOLUTELY - we are all having way toooooo much fun to actually be being paid for working out here!!!!!! On a serious note all the Project Managers and expedition Field Base staff are volunteers who have raised funds, just like the venturers, to take part on the expedition. Now that everyone has been deployed the PM's have a lot of hard work ahead of them (as have Field Base) and a great deal of responsibility too - but it's imperative that everyone has some fun out on project site - so it was necessary for staff to undertake some basic training in a) how to have and b) how to "facilitate" - fun!

We wouldn't want anyone thinking we were just on one long jolly!

We hope that's cleared that up.

:)

A FEW PICTURES OF EMMA BOYD .........

2008-08-05T01:06:00.001-07:00

...... just to prove that she is alive and well - apologies for not putting any images of her up before - we will try and make sure that we post enough images of everyone in the future.

Emma - playing some name games with her Alpha Group during induction

This is the official photo we took of Emma for the Radio Room

Alpha 2 are {being eaten} alive and well at Batu Puteh

2008-08-04T22:21:00.000-07:00

**A FEW MESSAGES FROM A2 ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST **

After roughly a 7 hour drive across Sabah, and after dropping Alpha 4 off at Kundasan, A2 arrived at the MESCOT (Model Ecologically Sustainable Community Based Conservation and Tourism) office in Mengaris at about 1 pm – shadowed by Au Wing and Cheng, reporter and photographer from Hong Kong’s Next Magazine. We were welcomed into the Mescot Office - an open sided, stilted decked area on the edge of the sluggish brown Kinabatangan (home to local crocodiles) – and were welcomed by Rosli, the elected head of the village, with some kind words and delicious deep fried banana cakes and mango juice. The ventures, each and everyone, in turn thanked the MESCOT members for such a lovely welcome and said how pleased they were to be there and how much they wanted to get on with the work – not only brilliant ambassadors for Raleigh – but for Britain too – they were very impressive. After that – mee goreng (fried noodles) and chilled coke at Rosli’s sisters’ café by the river. After lunch we were taken down river to the jungle camp. As we approached we saw a skeletal looking Raleigh Pally – in much need of work. “It’s not so brown”, said Ant, looking wistfully at the river that would be their water for washing and bathing over the next 3 weeks, “it’s more of a lighter brown than I expected” – it would seem that A2 are easily pleased – which is fortunate really given the fact that their camp is in an area where the temperatures and humidity are particularly high, the mosquitoes particularly carnivorous, and the river particularly crocodile infested (writers license). After the sleeping quarters were sorted Ant headed off to dig the long-drop assisted by Spy and Ross - whilst the girls sorted out all the food supplies and organised the cooking and eating area. They are a good team – all willing and helpful and keen to get involved. Hammocks and tarps were slung up around the camp area as a temporary measure whilst RP is being renovated. Within an hour of being in camp – everyone was wet and grimy (Ant was covered from head to toe in mud from digging a hole just under 5’11” deep – any deeper and he wouldn’t have been able to get out) – and will remain in that state pretty much until the day they leave. Katie (PM) was pushing for a pontoon – so that they can get on and off the boat (that will take them to work and back daily) more easily (Victoria stepped off on arrival into thigh height mud) and to wash from – no one is allowed in the water and no one is allowed down by the river after dusk!!!!! Dinner was the same as lunch – crackers, peanut butter, cheese, chocolate spread and Milo – everyone too tired and too hot to cook. Everyone went to bed early – but not everyone slept well – Ross was keep awake by a lot of disconcerting rustling under his hammock and a drip dripping sound which he thought was probably a bird imitating the sound of water – Ross has been O-D-ing on Planet Earth. Ant had left his head torch on whilst getting into his hammock and mossy net so a few mossy’s got in with him - and Stuart (PM) was a little less than comfy as he is a lot longer than his hammock. The following morning everyone got up in a cherry mood – whether they had slept or not – and breakfasted on instant porridge. Immediately breakfast was over attention was turned to Raleigh Pally. It was a case of all hands on deck, chopping down trees with a parang, sawing, hammering etc etc until the structure was solid enough and the tarp could be fitted. I left at this point to take our visitors form Hong Kong to stay with a local family in the village – as we walked along the path towards the village a “troop” of monkeys passed overhead in direction of camp – maybe Alys might get her wish. We returned the following morning by boat just in time to join the team for a visit to the Eco Camp – their place of work for the next 3 weeks. It’s a 20 minute boat ride away and en route we saw a rather docile looking 4-foot long monitor lizard as well as lots of suspicious looking logs – or maybe……….. The Eco Camp is on the edge of a clear water ox bow lake – once a meander of the great Kinabatangan - very beautiful bright water surrounded by dense bright green jungle – and covered on the edges with the fast growing Salvinia weed – the clearing of which is one of the jobs for the A2 team. The Eco Camp is set to open in September so there’s a lot of work finishing off the wooden A-frame stilted chalets, laying paths of palm kernels and generally getting the place ship shape for visitors. After a briefing by MESCOT we returned by boat to camp – Au Wing spotted a real croc this time. The afternoon was taken up with a camp snagging list and one to ones with the PM’s – to discuss expedition aims and objectives. That evening I saw Lizzie sitting very contentedly on the pontoon (that Katie had pushed for) doing her washing in a bucket of brown river water. She is, by her own admission, a “girly girl” but to look at her that evening you would have thought that she’s never has a washing machine her entire life. Victoria came down to write her journal – there was a breeze and it was lovely peaceful place to be. As all jungle creatures do just before dusk the team made their way down to the waters edge for a shower – you’d think that they’d been abandoned by parents and brought up by apes or something – ducks to water really. During the day the landscape is harsh and bleached in the hot sun but at dusk it becomes cooler, softer and more hospitable – the daily trip to the river to wash will become a ritual. Dinner that night was cooked by the girls (Lauren, Kate, Bex, Victoria and Lizzie) and was mushroom Bolognese (of a sort) and pasta followed by chunks of water melon Katie and Alex brought back from the village earlier. Sarah and Dee from Field Base joined us that evening ready to take our visitors back to KK the following morning. That night Sarah dreamt of being on a boat – induced from the motion of the hammock.

Alpha 2 appear to be a good team already, everyone getting on, everyone completely up for the challenge of it, everyone taking the lead and getting involved in all the daily duties. We will bring you an update of how A2 are getting on next week. The logs team plan to make a visit late next week so we will also try and upload some images from that trip as well.

We've got our bags packed baby and we're ready to go ......

- SOMETIME LATER -

Chain gang - Off loading the equipment

Arriving in camp

Raleigh Pally - not yet looking like a "home from home"

Proudly flying the flag

Short straw - long drop! Ant digs himself a hole

After digging the long drop Ant heads off to wash himself in the muddy river!!

The girls dig the slops pits - and surprisingly look very happy about it!

Spy, Ant and Ross prepare the daily SitRep (Situation Report for the Radio)

..... and stop calling me Roger. Over.

A natural with a knife - medical student Vicky is cut out to be a surgeon

The last photo you'll see of Lizzie wearing masquara for 4 weeks

Lauren takes charge of the kitchen area

Ross adds the finishing touches to the long drop. Civil engineers can be useful to have around ...

... as can Economists - if you shove a spade in their hands - Spy working on the LD earlier on

Raleigh Pally - sort of fit for royality - ish

The Eco Camp on the edge of the Oxbow lake

Learning a bit about what needs to be done

A crocodiles view - Raleigh Pally from the water

Enough said! Sign made by Alys.

Brilliant whites every wash - I don't think so

Bex washing her hair in brown, croc infested water - because she's worth it

The highlight of the day

Showering down on the pontoon

Not a firefly - but Logs 1 having a sneaky fag in the jungle after dark

Finally, we have a few messages home from some of the team members:-

To: Mum
From: Kate Morgan

Happy birthday Mum, sorry I couldn’t be there! I’m having a great time though, and my hammock is comfy, love Kate. (An article about Raleigh, focusing on A2 will appear in Hong Kong’s Next magazine in September – Kate hopes that her dad might be able to pick up a copy – Joanna).

To: Mum
From: Rebecca Coxon

Happy Birthday Mum!! I love you all lots. Hope Meg isn’t too big. Having a fantastic time in the jungle! Lots of love Bex xxxxx

To: All
From: Alys

Well hello chappies! Hope all’s well at home, we’ve managed to make a home from home in the middle of the jungle next to a croc infested river! Lovely! Got to go as we are off to have a mud fight, lots of love Alys xxxx

Alpha Groups Deploy

2008-07-31T02:57:00.000-07:00

This morning the Alpha groups deployed from Likas.

A2 and A4 (see previous blog post for Alpha team members) left on a private coach together at 6 am. The plan is for A4 to disembark at Kundasan from where they will make there way to Kampong (village) Tudan – spades, saws, gerry can, tarpaulins etc etc in tow. Alpha 2 won’t reach their destination of Batu Puteh until 1 pm – however, they will see a great deal of the country and will take in some spectacular scenery including the area around Mount Kinabalu.

Alphas 1 and 3 left an hour later on a coach to Ranau – where they will change for their Kampongs of Keranaan and Tungou.

Finally, A5 left at 9 am (lie in!) for Kampong Togudon

An early start for most!

Looking ready!

and they are off!

All of them will now get the chance to see a bit more of the countryside having spent the last few days confined to the hostel and all of them are itching to get to the Kampongs which will be home to them for the next 3 weeks.

– and the aim is to include an update report on Alpha 2 at Batu Puteh.

Finally for this post some good news - Jenny Cook arrived safe and well today and is now with her project group Alpha 5 in Kg Togudon.

Raleigh Olympics and Alpha Group Annoucements

2008-07-30T19:43:00.000-07:00

This morning kicked off with more training sessions including a practical radio session. Alpha groups will be radio-ing in twice daily whilst out on project sites so it’s imperative that each Venturer becomes acquainted with the equipment …… and the speak …… Roger ……. OUT!

I didn’t mention that the Likas Hostel is owned by the Sabah Ministry of Youth and Sport (and is, incidentally, home to a killer ping-pong team) and the national sports stadium is just across the road. This, therefore, was the venue for the Raleigh Delta Group Olympic Challenge held at 11 am today.

Venturers have been desperate to know which project groups they will be in almost the minute since they arrived - it was the same with the PM's. Well the waiting is now over and we can announce the Alpha Groups. If you want to read more about a particular project - please see earlier blog entitled "Introducing our Project Teams and Sites"

Alpha 1 – Kampong Keranaan Kindergarten

Tamsin Chowdry

Lauren Watson
Li Vyen Tham
Rosamond Crompton
Freya Proudlock
Louise Alexander
Brad Foster
Joseph Smith
Michael Toffolo
Peter Matthews

Alpha 2 – Batu Puteh Eco Lodge

Rebecca Coxon
Alys Stevens
Lauren Ferguson
Victoria Anthony
Kate Morgan
Lizzie Bloxham
Ross Maguire
Spyross Couppis
Anthony Lewis

Alpha 3 – Gravity Water Feed System Kampong Tungau

Eleanor Stewart
Victoria Estruch
Helen Mahoney
Sarah Van Praag
Eleanor Davey
Sarah Dawson
Haslina Ali
James Johnson
Patrick Trahair
Alasdair Mackintosh

Alpha 4 - Gravity Water Feed System Kampong Tudan

Tilly Morgan
Lucy Burton
Shanel Hassan
Chloe Mercer
Ju Vern See
Sarah Lane
Claire Smyth
Edward Gilmore
David McCretton
Benjamin Lumb

Alpha 5 – Kampong Togudon School Hostel Completion

Emma Boyd
Nicole Thong
Jennifer Cook (when she arrives)
Naomi Browne
Lisa Turner
Nicola Forecast
Mehnaz Bhatti
Marc Bohnes
William Handley

They will all deploy first thing Friday morning.

Day One

2008-07-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

This morning all Venturers congregated for breakfast at 8 am. There was a flurry of activity with people filling, and then purifying gerry cans, others boiling water, making porridge and pre-washing their mess tins in the “expedition three bowl system” which, from yesterday lunchtime, became an important fixture of daily exped life. They all seemed much brighter than last night even though most had had very little sleep due to time difference - by tomorrow evening they should be turning a corner.

Best to keep busy – so as soon as breakfast was over 2 ½ hours of training sessions began, covering first aid, health & hygiene and radio theory – all the things they will need to have an understanding of out on their project sites.

Before lunch I came across Delta 1 chatting and getting to know one another in a shady spot between sessions. “What’s your first impression?” I asked Lauren (Ferguson). “Unbelievably hot”, she said and the others immediately agreed. Everyone is being reminded to drink plenty of water – the heat is a bit of a shock. I wondered what they were all looking forward to most. “The jungle landscape”, said Lauren. “I know what I’m not looking forward to”, said Tilly – “the long drop”. “I think the long drop will be a bit of a laugh”, chipped in Jo (Joseph Smith) who is actually Delta 5 but was hanging out with Delta 1. “So what is the thing you are least looking forward to”, I asked – “the flight home”, said Chloe. By the time she’s done here the flight home will be a breeze – and she seemed to nod in agreement.

Delta 2 were sprawled out playing cards on the path that crosses the central lawn. “So, first impressions”, I said. “Hot fun”, offered Spyross. Well, it will be hot, there’s no doubt abut that – and as for the fun, well the PM’s have already decided on their own induction jungle trek that the fun bit will more than likely be of the Type 2 variety but more of that later. Bex (Rebecca Coxon) said that she’d thought it would be scary (Anthony agreed) but it was much better than she thought, lots of lovely people and a lot of fun already. “I thought I would be homesick”, said Alys, “but I settled into my group almost immediately and I’m not a bit homesick” she concluded looking a bit quilty. Katie said she was most worried about the bugs, they all nodded, but Alys said she couldn’t “wait to hear the orang-utans” – so we’ll have to see. Peter gave a smiling text book reply – “I want to be challenged – pushed to the limits”, he said laughing. Friend ands family of Peter – keep logging on to the blog over the next four weeks to hear all about Peter’s challenges!!!! – of which there are bound to be many. Ed (Gilmore) of Delta 3 who I bumped into in the corridor echoed Peter’s thoughts, “I want to be challenged, learn new things”, he said – “even teach a few things”, he added – keen on working on a community project.

The other Delta groups were busy playing Frisbee so I didn’t get a chance to talk to them. A PM’s v. Venturers football match (yes,in this heat and humidity) followed. To even out numbers Ali (Mackintosh) sided with the PM’s – and they won 5 to 4.

Right now, as I write, they are at the swimming pool doing their swim tests. Tonight after dinner two members of the local Raleigh Support Group are coming by to meet the Venturers and to enlighten everyone on the culture and customs of Sabah, and to discuss behaviour and matters of etiquette.

Delta 2 won the Olympic Relay Swim Challenge – Judy Parsons, Delta 2 PM and Medic, has just come by to tell me - with pride. Just for the record Delta 2 team members are: Rebecca Coxon, Alys Stevens, Eleanor Davey, Victoria Anthony, Kate Morgan, Lizzie Bloxham, Ross Maguire, Spyross Couppis and last, but by no means least, Anthony Lewis.

Apparently, after the swim, Delta 4’s Sarah Lane, complained, “this hostel towel is the roughest, worst towel I’ve ever used”, to which Andy, D4 PM, informed her that the ‘hostel towel’ was actually a ‘hostel blanket’ – makes sense I suppose. Let’s hope that the hostel management don’t read our blog.

During the afternoon Venturers discussed their Personal Development Reports and Development Journals with their Delta Group PM’s.

Tomorrow at 14.30 hrs the Alpha Groups will be announced and project sites will be allocated – so hold your breath.

THE VENTURERS HAVE LANDED

2008-07-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, 29th July, Ed (Dimmock, Deputy Expedition Leader) and the Project Managers went to KK airport to meet the Venturers - most of whom arrived just before midday. Unfortunately, Patrick Trahair was not among them – his luggage had gone astray at Kuala Lumpar which meant he missed his connecting flight and was picked up by Jim (Clements, Country Director) later on in the afternoon. He arrived very travel weary – but at least he arrived – unlike Jennifer Cook who sadly lost her passport at the last minute. Everyone was very concerned for her and are now relieved that she will be joining the expedition on Friday afternoon - a close call.

Ed, Naomi and Helen - looking a little weary

More troops arrive

First base was Likas Hostel in a suburb of Kota Kinabalu. The entire expedition party will be based here now for induction and training until deployment on Friday morning.

Likas Hostel

Venturers arrive at Likas - Eleanor, Naomi, Sarah, Louise and - just in picture Ross

Sudden celebrity - Brad, Nicola and Victoria

Spyross and Victoria - looking happy even tough tired

Moment of truth - Peter and Jo

Celeb gossip drought over! PM Rachel is as happy as a pig in muck

Freya with PM Sara in background

The Venturers looked slightly dazed and disoriented out of sheer tiredness but the mood was good and everyone looked amazingly upbeat and were busy enjoying getting to know one another. After a lunch of roti and dahl Jim gave a welcome talk – going over the non-negotiables (no drinking, no drugs, no fighting and no relationships with staff) etc before everyone was divided up into Delta Groups for an afternoon of name games, introductions and medical one-to-ones.

Our 3 Host Country Participants from Peninsula Malaysia - Hasalina, Ju Vern and Li Vyen

Delta 1 - gettting to know each other

A bit of bonding in Delta 3
Delta 4 - you can learn alot from someones shoe

Michael, William, Spyross get to grip with the 3 bowls system

Delta 5 - wondering what to make of PM Max (in headscarf)

Delta 2 - a bit of team bonding

Delta 1 - getting into the Raleigh spirit of things - already
Delta 4's - great name game - Hasalina meets Ben

Everyone was instructed to be in “longs” by 6 pm (fully covered up for protection against mosquito and other bites). Everyone looked sleepy over dinner and by 9.30 pm pretty much everyone had turned in – no doubt to dream of long drops and leeches.

THANK YOU FOR BLOG COMMENTS

2008-07-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for the comments - we will pass them on today. Yes this is the place to get hold of Andy - last seen making porridge for a journalist from Hong Kong. Please keep them coming.

CALLING VENTURER’S FRIENDS AND FAMILY

2008-07-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

At long last after months of preparation the day has finally arrived and Venturers will be heading off to the airport later on today to catch their flights.

There has been a lot of preparation on our side too and over the last 2-3 weeks both Project Managers and Field Base staff have been trained to within inches of their lives to be ready and prepared for the Venturers arrival.

We will all be going to Kota Kinabalu Airport to meet them – a welcoming party of team members all in Raleigh T-shirts so that no one will miss us. The Host Country Venturers arrive today and will join us tomorrow. Everyone is really looking forward to the Venturers arriving; especially the PM’s who are keen to get to know the Venturers who will be in their Delta groups.

From the airport we will be heading to a hostel in a suburb of KK for 3 days of training before everyone is deployed to their various project sites on Friday 1st August.

NEXT BLOG UPDATE

There is no internet facility at the hostel so it is unlikely that the blog will be updated until the Field Base staff return to base on Friday 1st – but we will endeavour to have something up by the evening – our time.

A CALL FOR ACTION FROM YOU

On Sunday 3rd Field Base will be broadcasting the first of the Sunday afternoon Raleigh Radio Shows. It would be great if we could send out some messages from home so can you please leave some comments on the blog for you family members or friends out here. Once Venturers are deployed they will have no mobile phones or email access – so the only way for them to hear from home is via the blog – so please please please leave a message and we will be broadcast them on the show.

Thank you

SING IF YOU'RE WINNING

2008-07-27T18:12:00.000-07:00

So... the training is over and to mark the end of a challenging and demanding two weeks Jim and Ed arranged an evening of Karaoke at the nearby Damai Club. Pictures say a thousand words - so here's a photographic record of the event - which was full of challenges for those who are vocally challenged.

Dan - starting as he meant to go on ...... and on..... and on

Bonny Tyler

Bonny and Clyde

The Clyde Tunnel

Bon ..... et not so bon!

Robson and Jerome

Won't you help me doctor beat

The 3 degrees

The two degrees

Sub Zero (sorry Dan but it's just tooooo easy!)

The X Factor

The Y-front Factor

...... and on

Fast mover Max - all a bit of a blur

Pop Idle

Bone Idle

Tango 2 do Queen

Summer Lovin' from Tango 3

The girls do Britney

Field Base Groupies

COUNTDOWN

2008-07-26T20:57:00.001-07:00

The training has stepped up now that the PM’s are back – the final furlong before the Venturers arrive. Yesterday, Saturday 26th July, started off with “soft skills” training, followed by a skit, followed by a traffic light review, followed by a review of the review, followed by another skit (all very good – see photos below), followed by a Raleigh-Olympics, followed by an assault course – surely we must nearly be ready?

Skit - demonstration of a sickeningly perfect project site

Stuck at the lights - Traffic Light Review
Ed looking a little sceptical

Field Base did a spoof of The Office. Jim did a seamless impression of David Brent – Rory Bremner could not have done better. Jim says he has never seen The Office before – which is hard to believe - so he’s either telling porkies or else he’s naturally more like Brent than anyone would care to imagine.

David Brent with Yvette (that's Y-fronts to Ed)

A little bit of M C Hammer Fusion

Jim - shakin' his booty

Max and Jenna's Puppet Show - move over Harry Corbett

Judy as Cameron Dias, Katie as Keira Knightly and Stu as David Frost - Alpha 2 do Through the Keyhole

Alex B - as an excellent Lloyd Grossman

Vicky as fellow jungle bunny newsreader Jan Leeming

Alex as Tony Blair (really very good) and Dan does a convincing Paxman

Well they thought it was funny

The Olympics begin - Rachel strikes a pose

Shot!

Preparing for the two-legged race

Tango 2 take the lead with Tango 3 coming in a respectable second

Vicky, Dan and Max - doing the hockey dribble

Logs 1 tries her hand at skittles

Logs 2 pushing rather than driving for a change

The rise in fuel prices takes its toll

How many 'logs' does it take to shift a landrover - just one it would seem! Take your foot off the brake please Jim.

A rear view! No more of Loli's great baking from now on

You can keep your hat on - if it helps

Alex B on the assault course

You can come out now - the Karaoke's over

Alex sees a gap in the Field Base perimeter fence and makes a run for it

AND.... finally a random, accidental (I imagine) image of Ed looking a lot like Rasputin - rah rah

31 TODAY

2008-07-26T20:39:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL
Like the Queen Rachel has had two birthdays this year – a “biological” one and an “official” one.

Surprise Surprise

You don't see monkeys like these on any "canape walk"

Her real birthday was spent at Keranaan - Vicky organised a cake, they feasted on rice and dairy lea cheese and Field Base sang Happy Birthday over Channel 1 during the morning radio check. Within hours of being thirty-one Rachel’s legs had swelled up – that’s aging for you – she’s now waiting patiently for the liver spots to appear.

Later on Friday night, when everyone was back, we shared a fantastic chocolate brownie birthday cake complete with candles which Loli had made and Flic had iced - plus homemade chocolate cookies.

THE RETURN OF THE PM’S

2008-07-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

Jenna and Max (Alpha 5) returned to the fold on Thursday afternoon – they would have been back earlier but had an extended 3 hour “bonding” session on the roadside having been forgotten by their lift.

The School Hostel - Togadon

School's out - Togadon
The boys dorm - Max's first job is to reinforce the floor before someone falls through it
Jungle views

Alpha’s 1, 3 and 4 turned up around teatime having, it would seem, created chaos everywhere they went. Whilst at Tungau Dan, now notoriously, broke the very water system they are supposed to be improving. Water spurted everywhere and the local villagers looked on with some confusion – as, apparently, did Dan, whilst action hero Andy jumped in waist high water to stem the flow – a bit like the little Dutch boy. Then during a radio check A5 broke the goal post on the village football pitch. We thought Raleigh came to help us – not destroy all the village amenities – the villagers were thinking. If word gets around - Kampongs will be fleeing at the very mention of the “R” word! Alpha 4 were surprised to find at Tudan a “Stepfordly” perfect village with fantastic views of Mount Kinabalu. This reminded Vicky of the Lake District – bar the cream teas and romantic poets.

Meeting the community at Tungau

Keranaan

View of Scarfell Pike, sorry Mount Kinabalu, from Tudan

This town ain't big enough for all of us - bad attitude and ice cream in Keranaan

Limbo dancing on Rachel's birthday. Dan wondering what he can break next

Relaxing at the Poring Springs - Keep away from the pipes Dan

Field Base had not heard from Alpha 2 for 24 hours (they had good reasons for this but it still left us on tenter hooks) so it was anybodies guess when they would appear. Eventually, though, like children, they turned up hungry and in time for tea - with stories of monstrously sized mosquitoes and a dilapidated Raleigh Pally - which needs rebuilding immediately after having been badly damaged by severe floods during the last expedition. They made time to visit the Organ-utan sanctuary – leaving Rachel very jealous – “I wanted to do a canapé walk’, she sort of wailed – and we all had visions of her wiggling away, Marilyn Monroe style, whilst popping dainty savory nibbles.

Alex - this is the boat that will ferry the team to their workplace every day

The crocodile infested Kinabatangan River - watch where you wash folks

Stuart - tangoed for real in his orange life-vest

Raleigh Pally - ready to received guests!

Judy, Katie and Alex
At Sepilok

The children of A2's homestay family

PM's leave for PPV's

2008-07-22T04:48:00.001-07:00

The PM's left first thing this morning for their PPV's (Project Planning Visits). Ed was up to see them off.

Stu and Katie with medics Judy and Alex leaving at 7 am for a 7 hour journey to Batu Puteh

Alpha's 1, 3 and 4 teaming up to head off to the Ranau district. A bit early for many smiles

The last to leave - Jenna and Max (Alpha 5) cadge a lift with Ed

PM's will return on Fri (Thur for Alpha 5) and until then FB team can once again enjoy a bit of peace and quiet.

STRICTLY BIN BAG BLACK TIE

2008-07-21T23:34:00.000-07:00

Last evening everyone at Field Base was "cordially" invited by James Clements, Country Director, to attend a mocktail reception at FB - dress code: strictly bin bag black tie.

Logs 1 & 2 organised supplies before everyone was issued with two bin bags plus a roll of gaffa tape. Gaffa tape was on the original Kit List issued before departure - now I know what it was required for.

Guests gathered at 7.30 pm in their black plastic finery and enjoyed orange juice and vimto punch and some fantastic party food supplied by Loli.

Here's a photo round up of the evening:-

The Team in party spirit The girls get ready together

Alex and Max - we think. Apparently he always dresses like this at cocktail parties!

Dan - grateful now that he used to watch so much Blue Peter

Rachel had aimed for a Sarah-Jessica Parker look - but ended up looking, in her own words, like a bit of a 'chav' - but we don't think so Rachel

Katie in stylish black with red gaffa trimmings

Flying Doctors Flick, Alex and Judy (not to be mistaken for Angels of Death)

Jenna and Ed "Diddyman" Dimmock

Sara, Yvette and Joanna

Dan and Jenna. Jenna could have walked into a Harry's Bar anywhere in the world in this traffic stopping number and no one would have batted an eye-lid (apart, though, from the DANGER tape she had decorating her middle!)

Vicky in a unique little number that could have come straight off the Paris catwalk The men - who, interestingly enough, took longer than the ladies to get ready

Logs 2 - looking as though this was taken for the society pages

Logs do glam

Sadly no images of Jim yet - but we will try and find one asap - it wasn't quite Armani - but was close-ish. We don't have a close up of Andy either - but that's probably for the best!

INTRODUCING OUR PROJECT TEAMS & SITES

2008-07-20T01:23:00.002-07:00

TEAM: ALPHA 1

Alex Cameron (above)

Flick Werret - Medic (above)

Project: Kindergarten Construction, Kg Keranaan, Ranau District
Project Managers: Felicity Werret (Flick), Alex Cameron

Kg Keranaan is a small community consisting of about 60 households approximately 40 minutes drive from Ranau. The community have a very active primary school catering to over 60 pupils. Although the kampong already has a Kindergarten which has been running for over 20 years it isn’t adequate for the number of children who attend on a daily basis.

Our project is to construct a new building 30ft by 40ft for the community which will accommodate their growing numbers. The project is sponsored by Nestle and we will be working with the local community as well as a parliamentary representative. KEMAS, a semi government organisation, will then continue to ensure the facility is maintained, including providing trained teachers from the local community.

The community survive by subsistence farming mainly tobacco but also rubber tapping and other produce to earn a small income. The team will live in the community hall and will be fully immersed in the Kadazan Dusun way of life, having the opportunity to see and experience life in a rural village at first hand.

TEAM: ALPHA 2

Katie Wookey (above)

Stuart Bardsley (above)

Alex Bareham - Medic (above)

Judy Parsons - Medic (above)

Project Site: Eco Lodge, Batu Puteh
Project Managers: Stuart Bardsley, Katie Wookey & Medics Judy Parsons and Alex Bareham

Working with a small local community cooperative, the Raleigh team will assist in finishing off an ambitious eco lodge project. It is hoped that the eco lodge will be the key to; raising income in this poor and remote rural community; increasing the economic value of a depleted forest resource, and, in the process, raise funds to support the protection and restoration of the last remaining wetland forests in the area. Built on the edge of a large oxbow lake formed by the former course of the mighty Kinabatangan River, the lodge has been under construction for several years, having endured flooding and set backs with funding the project is nearing completion.

This is a very ambitious and exciting project which has taken many years meticulous planning and it is only now that the community are starting to realise their dream. The group will live in an environmentally sound jungle camp on the edge of this small community, just 10 minutes up river from the main lodge. It is hoped that the Lodge will actually be opened by the time the team arrives. Therefore, the team may assist local tradesmen with finishing off the lodge, but also to develop trails and plant trees in areas the community are trying to regenerate, as well as help the local community in its continual battle to rid the oxbow lake of an invasive weed called Salvinia. This is an exciting project, combining a unique environmental location with the interaction of a traditional community.

TEAM: ALPHA 3

Rachel Jackson (above)

Daniel Twort (above)

Project Site: Gravity Water Feed System – Kg Tungau, Ranau District
Project Managers: Daniel Twort, Rachel Jackson

TEAM: ALPHA 4

Sara Khan (above)

Vicky Vyse (above)

Andy Cottrill

Project Site: Gravity Water Feed System – Kg Tudan, Ranau District
Project Managers: Andy Cottrill, Vicky Vyse, Sara Khan

Ranau is a large district which takes in Mount Kinabalu and the market garden area of Kundasang. The local people come mainly from traditional Muslim backgrounds and survive on subsistence farming along with some rubber tapping. Many of the communities in the district lack any form of water supply and villages usually collect rainwater in large tanks or drums or carry it in from distant water courses. For the Raleigh Summer 08 Expedition it was decided to install a gravity water feed system in to two communities. After seeking advice from local representatives to ensure that we were targeting our resources where they were most needed the decision was made to work with the communities of Kg Tungau and Kg Tudan.

Construction of a gravity feed water system involves a detailed survey of the village and environs to locate a suitable source and ascertain where the piping and taps should be placed. Sources are generally in hard to reach areas several kilometres from the kampong. Once a source has been identified we will build a dam using wire cages filled with rocks or cement. We shall then lay piping to several reservoir tanks to enable the system to cope with periods of high demand and also to create the necessary pressure. Then we will be laying piping in shallow trenches from the tank into the kampong. Finally, connectors and taps will be installed as the system is established within the community. This will all be done within the 3 week period. During the whole process the local community assist with the work and will be educated on how to maintain their system in order to provide a sustainable solution to their water requirements. Raleigh will be working in partnership with the local parliamentary representative and the project is being sponsored by Coca Cola.

TEAM: ALPHA 5

Max Rees (above)

Jenna Coull (above)

Project Site: School Hostel Completion, Kg Togudon, Penampang District
Project Managers: Jenna Coull, Max Rees

Kg Togudon is a small kampong on the edge of the Crocker Range National Park. Due to the mountainous conditions the houses, and therefore the community, are widely dispersed. The community has a well established primary school which caters to approximately 70 young children. Many of the children come from distant houses and villages up to 8 hours walk away. The local community through the Parent and Teachers Association approached PACOS (a local grass roots charity who work with remote communities across Sabah) for assistance with building a school hostel to house up to 40 students. PACOS then approached Raleigh for assistance. During the summer expedition of 07 Raleigh volunteers built a hostel consisting of a male and female dormitory. However, additional facilities including a kitchen and eating area are still required - so this year’s volunteers will be tasked with completing the project – providing young children with safe accommodations to aid their studies. This whole project is being funded by the HSBC.

JUNGLE TRAINING AND TREK

2008-07-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

Off to TAC at 7 am

6 am and everyone was up and getting ready to leave for TAC, the Traverse Activity Centre, 45 minutes drive from Field Base which is used for jungle training. The centre is way up in the hills and en-route we saw scenes of mist covered valleys – like images you would see in a National Geographic magazine. The camp itself is situated in a wide clearing, interspersed with tall bamboo groves, on the banks of a narrow river and is surrounded by dense green hillsides. It was more civilized that most had expected with good showers and loos and rows of well covered “bashers” (covered structures where hammocks are slung). We were being lulled into a false sense of security!

TAC

We were divided up into three Tango groups and spent the rest of the day in various round-robin sessions led by Floyd and Zul (referred to by Ed as Zul the Cool) - two TAC trainers. They covered; how to erect a tarpaulin and hammock – everyone had a go at getting in to it without spinning around cartoon style; dry and wet slops pits (more of that later); radio training - but this time ditching the yogurt cartons in favour of the real thing, and finally a “theory” session on how to do a river crossing. Whilst we didn’t cross the river – we completed a swim test in it – swimming upstream and then back against the current.

Zul going through campcraft with Tango 2

Tango 1 training with real radios

Floyd teaching Tango 2 how to cut bamboo with a machete (parang). I wonder what they'll need to know that for?

Alex of Tango 1 trying out the hammock

Jim - making contact

Right across the river to the other side - river crossing training by Jim

Rachel, Sara and Katie demonstrating one way of crossing a river

There's more than one way to cross a river - but this is the best - as Daniel, Alex and Joanna demo

Judy and Rachel take a dip

Down time - cooling off

The cool and the wet were much welcomed. The day carried on with more sessions including how to make a good long-drop (one of those skills nobody should go through life without). Dinner was a Tango group affair cooked on trangia stoves - shortly after which most fell into their hammocks and tried to tune out to the cacophony of unidentifiable noises and rustles.

this, we thought, was intrepid!

OFF TO JUNGLE CAMP

We were all up early again. Most had experienced broken sleep due to the heat, the noise and the fear of falling out of the hammocks. In our Tango groups we packed up our gear, including food, cooking equipment, radio equipment (which weighs a ton), washing up bowls, jerry cans, a few other selected items - plus a machete. We were then issued with a 15m x 15m (at least) tarpaulin which was wrapped, and roped, around a length of bamboo - something else for us to carry! At this timely moment Jim took his leave and, waving to us from the Land Rover wearing Rachel’s Panama hat, shouted “have a great trip, wish I was coming with you”.

Tango 1 ready for the off

Tango 2 looking very upbeat

Tango 3 - otherwise known at Team Javelin

The whole team at the start - all fresh and unscaithed

“It’s an easy walk in – 2 ½ to 3 hours”, said Ed. Many of us will never trust him again. We left camp with Floyd leading Tango's 1 and 2 and Zul leading Tango 3. We made our way across a wobbly rope bridge and headed up into the jungle – with everyone taking it in turns to

carry the tarp.

The path was hard to negotiate, uneven, slippery, with hazardous protruding roots and creepers. After 2 ½ to 3 hours we were still hauling ourselves uphill - slipping, staggering and falling. With the heat, humidity and weight of our packs it wasn’t a lot of fun – in fact Tango 2 coined it “Type 2 Fun” i.e. the sort of fun that “isn’t” at the time but “is” once it's over. But this wasn’t over. “How much further Zul”, my own group kept asking – but he just grinned. We took a couple of breaks but few sat down fearing that, with the weight of their packs, they wouldn’t be able to get up again. Vicky’s (Vyse) pack went tumbling down the 10 meters or so that we had just climbed – many thinking at first that it was Vicky herself.

The other Vicky (Nutbrown – or Logs 2 as she is better known) lost her footing, slid down a bank and the only thing holding her was Jenna. The only thing holding Jenna – was a flimsy root. I’m sure I saw disbelief and wild amusement in Zul’s eyes (no doubt in Floyd’s too). Most of us, men and women, are twice his height, twice his weight, all wearing heavy duty walking boots, sweating, moaning and panting etc whilst they were virtually skipping up in a pair of plimsols. The women amongst us agreed that in contrast to the petite dainty Malaysian women we must appear to them like “men-women”. We kept on walking – not thinking, just walking – a leech could have dropped on us or a snake appeared on the path and I don’t think anyone would have had the energy to care. With sweat dripping into our eyes fewer photos were taken. In contrast, Zul “the Cool” was skipping ahead singing London Bridge is Falling Down – umm how cool is that? Well probably a fraction cooler than Alex C whose tune of the day was “I’m all out of love” by Air Supply! Eventually, after 6 ½ hours and just before the day was beginning to teeter on Type 3 Fun (nothing to do with Ed apparently – just an over eager Floyd) we crossed a stream and came to clearing.

This was camp – and with only 1 ½ hours of daylight left everyone had to ignore their burning thighs and get on with the job of setting up tarps, hammocks, digging slop holes and long-drops and hanging the outsized tarp over what was designated as the kitchen area. Most got a chance to bathe in the stream – washing off the day’s dirt and grime – only to feel dirty and grimy again within 10 minutes. Dinner was a quiet affair – most too tired and too uncomfortable for conversation. “You know when Jim said he wished he was coming with us, do you really think he meant it?”, was about the only comment I heard. The main concerns seemed to centre on the hammocks i.e. would we get in to them and would be stay in them. I think most did – although few got much uninterrupted sleep and were woken intermittently by heavy rain and “other objects” falling on the tarp. An ear-splitting, shrill, vibrating alarm sounded the break of day - resounding around the forest. We later found out that it emanated from a two-inch long insect. Most started the day (with a reluctant visit to the long-drop) as the previous one had ended – hot, sweaty, damp and exhausted. Rachel was the anomaly here looking fresh, fetching and a little bit "bling" in bright pink t-shirt and matching bandana. The general mood was positive though in the knowledge that the trek out was going to be a mere 45 minutes. Says who? The Tango groups were divided into two and as we departed camp I overheard Andy say, “are we there yet”. Of course not - 45 minutes in – and wham – Alex (medic with recently formed Tango 2/3) stumbled off a rock at the edge of a stream and fell head first into the scrub. A broken leg was suspected. Action stations. Andy raced off ahead towards Tango 1/2 to fetch an able bodied medic. Meanwhile, Jenna administered to the casualty and the two Vicky’s set about making a stretcher out of a hammock and two lengths of bamboo, whilst Katie wrote up the Casevac report.

Enter stage right – a panicked, breathless Max. “Rachel’s broken her leg we need a medic straightaway”. “It’s an emergency” he shouted, “she’s broken her leg” – as he stood on the path just one meter above our own medic with her own broken leg! Maybe he’s not the sharpest Parang in the tool box. Back in Tango 1/2 Yvette and Rachel (with polka-dot bruised legs) calmed the invalid in-between a bit of machete action - cutting down bamboo for the stretcher. Max, Sara and Stuart saw to the radio and Dee wrote up the Casevac report. With Tango 2/3 all efforts were required to keep Andy from administering rectal Diazapan (both he and Alex C have a slight injection obsession and are gun-ho about handling a case of anaphylaxis – if they ever offer you a peanut don’t be tempted). A vote of thanks must go to medics, Judy and Alex B, who gave Oscar winning performances and convinced most of us that it was a serious incident.

Our time in the jungle was punishing yet everyone arrived back at FB in one piece. The worse injury (real one) was Sarah French’s massive 5-inch black and red bruise – which she got falling off a bench before we even left.

The antidote to a night in the jungle was a night out in KK with some great seafood and some traditional dancing.

Max and Flick at dinner

Max and Andy are press-ganged to join in

Our group join the dancers on stage

It is now Sunday morning (20th July) and we have just sat through a review of the last few days – everyone with bruises, cuts and aching muscles. “So how was the trek”, said Ed. Ironically enough, “great”, “fantastic”, “a real achievement” were the replies. Oh how quickly we forget!

If your loved-one is not mentioned in this blog – it is not because they are still hanging on a tree root somewhere in the bush. Everyone is safe and well and they will be mentioned next time.

Please use the blog to send messages to your family and friends out here – everyone is keen to hear from home and once everyone is deployed to project sites it will be the only form of communication.

DAY 2 - IN AT THE DEEP END

2008-07-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

Jim and Ed don’t pussy-foot around – 9 am Wednesday morning everyone was up, washed, dressed, breakfasted and seated ready for the first meeting of the day. The agenda was full-on with an overview of Raleigh in Malaysia in the morning followed by a session about the projects. None of the PM’s knew anything about the projects at this point and were, therefore, very keen to learn more. They are all anxious to know which ones they will be allocated too; Batu Puteh, the Eco Lodge, remains a firm favourite followed by the Kindergarten; but they will have to wait until Sunday afternoon.

A quick mid-morning "energiser" - organised by Alex C and Max - who provided the music!

Stuart pre-energiser

Lunch break - The new arrivals sample Loli's cooking

Post lunch energiser - this time organised by Judy

Umm - get out of that one

The highlight of the afternoon was the radio session. Each PM will be taking a radio out on project site with them and will be required to radio into Field Base twice a day – so there’s a lot to learn. What is it with men and radios? Jim went through the “radio speak” with everyone after which there were plenty of “Roger, over and outs” and “loud and clears” flying around - especially when we got the chance to test it out on a pair of yogurt cartoons and a piece of string.

Is anyone out there?

Say again

After a few more sessions the recent arrivals went off for a “power snooze” before we left to have dinner at the Filipino market down on the waterfront in KK. There was a torrential downpour whilst we sat under partial covering eating noodle soup, chicken satay, grilled fish and meegoring.

ARRIVAL OF PROJECT MANAGERS

2008-07-15T01:13:00.000-07:00

All the Project Managers, bar one, have now arrived. They were all met at lunchtime at the airport by Field Base’s welcoming committee - all clad out in Raleigh t-shirts for ease of identification. We are now just waiting for Sara Khan to arrive in from Lahore at 4.00 pm this afternoon.

Rachel, Alex, Andy and Daniel arriving at Field Base

“Our porter will bring your bags to your room shortly” (yeah right!)

The new arrivals with Field Base team

Left – right, very back row: Jim, Ed Left – right, back row: Daniel, Yvette, Adeeba, Sarah, Katie, Flick (Medic), Rachel, Alex (Medic), Judy (Medic),Vicki, Joanna Left – right, front row: Andy, Alex, Stuart, Max, Vicky, Jenna

ARRIVAL OF ADVANCE STAFF TEAM

2008-07-10T02:30:00.000-07:00

The Advance Staff Team arrived at Field Base on Tuesday joining Jim Clements (Country Director) and Ed Dimmock (Deputy Programme Manager). Everyone was bleary eyed after long flights and over-heating in the 32 degree heat. First thing on the agenda was lunch on the verandah, cooked by Lolly - Field Base’s wonderful and happy cook. An induction was held during the afternoon followed by dinner out in a local café – more food! It was straight to business on Wednesday morning with each volunteer taking the day to get to grips with their particular remit. The team is now working hard in preparation for when the Project Managers arrive on the 15th and the Venturers arrive 2 weeks later on the 29th.

This is good time to introduce the whole Field Base team:-

Jim Clements – Country Director

Ed Dimmock – Deputy Programme Manager

Sarah French and Vicky Nutbrown – Logistics Officers

Both Sarah and Vicky are spending hours in the airless Logs Store doing inventories and preparing to ensure that all PM and Venturers have enough food and equipment out in the field. As they are responsible for distribution too they have been taking driving lessons in the Raleigh Defender around downtown Kota Kinabalu (locally referred to as KK.) They have also been learning about what’s under the bonnet and have learnt how to change a tyre! They have just arrived back, as I write, and look very happy with their achievement.

Yvette Parkin – Administrator

Yvette is working flat-out to ensure that all the pre-expedition preparations go smoothly.

Adeeba Siddiqui – Finance

Adeeba has had her head in a spreadsheet since she started and is doing all she can to make sure the expedition doesn’t overspend.

Joanna Whysall - Communications

I’m responsible for all internal and external communications – including writing this blog!

And let's not forget ...

Lolly - our Cook at the heart of Field Base

We're all looking forward to the arrival of the Project Managers and Venturers.

The next Blog will appear after the PM's arrive on Tuesday.

Over and out for now.