Zero - Changeover is Over - Over

Venturers have all completed phase one and have returned to Kota Kinabalu for changeover! Almost as fast as they arrived, they have all transported through a conveyor belt of round robin sessions and packed off onto buses again for phase two.

The changeover period is as hectic as it is fun, with groups spending two days in a hotel preparing for the next phase and meeting up with the expedition as a whole to share stories of their first three weeks in Borneo. On day one, washing (themselves and their clothes) were high on the agenda, as was buying some much missed chocolate from the Raleigh shop, set up by Jill. Teams spent time as a group de-briefing and discussing their project with Country Programme Manager Mac, which helps expedition teams gain insights into how the projects can move forward in the next phase with even greater success.

A lot can happen during three weeks on project, so in time honoured Raleigh tradition, the groups performed skits to let everyone else see what they've been up to out on phase. I haven't seen skits as good as this since, well since the last time I saw some skits. The evening saw alpha 1 performing a parody of a commercial break, rounded off with a very enthusiastic rap and 'sister act' musical mix.

 Alpha 5 demonstrated some live voice over with James and Katie, whilst the rest of the team improvised along to their dialogue. Alpha 3 showed dedication with a mix of live performance and their own video of a wildlife documentary featuring the venturers as water habitating animals, that hunt crackers and Tom Scarr as the nature fanatic with a cardboard moustache. Proving that isolation in the jungle can send you a bit barmy, the skits were all suitably bizarre and very very funny! Fieldbase judges Elda, Nicky, Anna and Jill had a guest appearance from Country Director Jim and proclaimed alpha 1 and alpha 3 joint winners.

After a luxurious nights sleep with the air-con on and the pillows fluffed, teams started the day with a full expedition meeting and launched straight into their new allocations. Waving farewell to their companions of the last three weeks, everyone waiting nervously to find out where they would go next and who with. The allocations for the next phase are as follows.........

Alpha 1 who will be continuing the amazing progress on the kindergarten in Minusoh are, Sam Morris, Heidi Owen, Abigail Forsyth, Thijs Klinkhamer, Kenji Nicholas, Megan Hinks, Sally Tyldesey, Angus Hannah and James Dicks. They will be working alongside PM's Chi and Julia.

Alpha 2 is Alastair Parry, Jack Pikia, Ron Monigot, Nick Oldroyd, Mick Ford, Floris De Vos, Lottie Humber, Tessa Rushton, Vicky Murphy, Amy Stirk, Libby Hadrill with PM's Nicki, Stan and Ced will all be completing the work started on Tampasak's gravity water feed.

Alpha 3 who are heading up to Imbak Canyon Conservation Area to work on the suspension bridge will comprise of, Floris Verleisdonk, Julian Aronowitz, Laura Peck, Matthew Mitchell, Joshua Sykes, Katie Sharman, Nicola Moran, Sharon Moyo and James McGovern with PM's Bruno and Nat.

Alpha 4 will be taken to Sepilok to support work on the new Sunbear Conservation Centre with PM's Leon, Jessie, Nicky and Gill. The team are Celine Chin, Daniel O'Neill, Taylor Dodds, Joel Silvester, Andrew Thomson, Sabine Hamer, Tom Eaton, Cat Andrade, Lloyd Southam-Sebire and Adam Watts.

Alpha 5 are the dive followed by trek group. Gordon Brown, Richard Teh Swee Aun, Sam Richardson, Maartje Min, Gupreet Virk, Leonora Neale, Alexia Austin, Christina Meikle, Jess Canbas, Alex Dennis, Jamie Moore, Gavin Doig and Emily Branson will be led by PM's Emma and Andy.

Alpha 6 will be trekking then diving afterwards. PM's Craig and  Vicky will be taking Folkert Van Der Linden, Shari Venter, Richard Shuttleworth, Roenol Raymond, Mike Adey, Bryony Crutcher, Aydan Al-Saad, James Pellatt, Emma Godden, Lisa Hoong, Charlie De La Haye, Boqian Du and Andrea Laverick into the jungle for 12 days.

Last but no means least we have Alpha 7 taking the team into Kampung Nibang for the first time to reconstruct an ailing community hall are Ruthie, Sophia and Zara. The group are Courtney Wayne, Tim Van Der Hoek Eklund, Bethanie Ayerst, Rolien Van den Hoek, Ali Jaini, Rebecca Clare, James Whelan, Aman Rakkar, Tom Scarr and Andrew Mcphaden.

The new teams then had some time to get to know each other and start sorting all their new kit with another busy morning for the logs team. It was time for everyone to relax and catch up that afternoon though with some scheduled fun otherwise know as Raleigh game time and a few hours in the pool! The games kicked off with a relay swim race, teams nominated 4 swimmers who had to complete a lap but not until the rest of the team had dressed them in full safety swimwear consisting of, swim cap, Mr Splashy arm bands and pink goggles resulting in a serious amount of cheating and shredded swimcaps.

Next was the passing of water balloons between knees and under chins but the high point for me had to be the 'three bowl your face' game. After spending the last month dipping all plates and cutlery in a series of three washing up bowls full of bleach, water and detergent solution, in place of a washing up sink, it was time to take it to a new level. Teams three bowled their faces in green water, porridge and flour in a messy attempt to fish out sweets for their team.

After the respite that is changeover we waved goodbye to our teams this morning with 6 am buses and lots of sleepy faces as they headed out into the field - stay tuned for updates of their new projects!

The Loop Goes On Tour!

Working as Communications Officer with Raleigh definitely has its perks - in the first phase I get to pay a visit to all the projects sites, spend a night at each camp, meet up with all the venturers and catch up with all the gossip across the expedition.


After spending 10 days in the spectacular Imbak Canyon, I was collected by the loop vehicle full of field base staff and continued on with them to Minesoh, Tampasak and Sepilok. It's hard to convey in a short blog the kind of experiences that 110 Raleigh participants, across 7 projects sites are having in Sabah right now. Day to day life on expedition is varied! You might spend one day digging a 10 foot hole in the rainforest next to a huge waterfall, the next baking bread for the first time over an open fire. Maybe you've got a 2 hour trek ahead of you each morning just to get to your work site but in the evening you'll be washing off the dirt and sweat in a river whilst playing with the local children. A day off might include a trek to a hollow tree you can climb inside or a 'painful on the ears' talent show organised by your Alpha group.


For venturers and staff, an hour stringing up antennas and shouting into a crackly radio has replaced a quick chat on the mobile phone. A route card and a compass now replace a car sat nav system. A six by two foot section on a wooden floor is now called 'a bed'. Cheese and crackers on tinfoil are considered to be 'canapes on a silver platter.' A tarp and a bucket of cold water are named 'the shower'. A hole in the ground with a plastic bag next to it is 'the toilet'. It is no longer considered uncool to tuck your trousers into your socks.


Sometimes day to day routines out here are similar to back home just with a few new challenges. Often life is a thousand times removed from anything people have experienced before. Here is a round up of the Alpha groups and what they've been up to.


Alpha 1 are the crack team working on the new kindergarten, the photos speak for themselves - the progress has been amazing. This team live in a community hall which is a vision in pink, although a little cosy it is one of the most organised camps I have seen, so a big gold star for them! They have a short walk round the back to the work site with the villagers who are working alongside them. They have a fantastic relationship with the community there and have a great time down at the river together at the end of a hard days work. The loop were treated to a 3 course dinner and an eventful night of "Borneo's Got Talent' with some amazing performances by Emma Godden, Charlie and Drew as "Crackers for Porridge," Gordon and Folkert as "The flying Dutchman and The Evil Scotsman" and Christina, Celine and Laura as, well basically 3 girls giggling on a stage! Other activities at Alpha 1 include a night of Blind Date and some ankle whipping bamboo dancing with the villagers.

 

 

Alpha 2 in Tampasak are soldiering through their epic trek to the work site. Unfortunately a gravity water feed does need gravity so much of this is uphill. Originally a 2 hour walk in, laden with tools, they have improved the trails by cutting in steps and as I arrived two days ago they had shaved an hour of their commute time and were feeling pretty impressed with themselves. They are currently building a dam and transporting huge pipes up to the site. Tampasak is hours from a main road through labyrinthian palm oil plantations and up roller coaster dirt tracks. They have been keeping themselves looking fresh and lovely with Bryony and Taylor's Spa - with the girls subjecting all the males of the team to dubious oatmeal face masks and facial plucking. They have built a sturdy table for al fresco dining and have a great noticeboard to record all the humorous going's on but also to leave anonymous compliments and thanks to other team mates.

 

Alpha 3 in Imbak take the top spot for the 'room with a view award', with the most stunning location on expedition. This team drive up a gravel track through the jungle for 2 hours then arrive at rangers camp, where a 2 hour trek awaits them until they reach BBC camp - you may have seen this in the 'Expedition Borneo' series shown a few years back. Working alongside Imbak Canyon rangers these guys are a work hungry bunch. Two 6ft square holes, 10 foot deep have been completed forming the foundations of a new suspension bridge.The group are hoping for a few dry days so they can cross the river to start the foundations on the other side. Digging a hole may sound a little monotonous but when the air is filled with faux french accents, the irrepressible celebrity name game and shouts of "baku-uuuul!" as buckets are heaved up and down full of clay, the work day passes pretty quickly. Alpha 3 are responsible for some inventive cooking. When Lakshmi isn't throwing her own Diwali meal on the floor and Nick and Jess aren't chargrilling the calzone there are some tasty dishes on the offer. Waterfall swimming, daily proverbs and games round the table are all part of the Imbak experience.

 

Alpha 4 are very enthusiastic about their project, working on the fencing for the new sunbear sanctuary, which is currently underway. Living in a jungle camp built by Raleigh's last expedition consisting of a hammock basher and kitchen / dining platform, the group have a long walk to work but have exceeded expectations by completing twice their expected workload and are now planning more projects. The work is sited next to the famous Sepliok Orangutan feeding centre and they have had visits from "Edna " the orangutan and several cheeky macaques at camp. Don't leave your stuff lying around too long here or the primates might whisk it away from you. This is also a top spot for a leeching or two.

Alpha 5 and 6 are the trek and dive groups and although I don't get to visit these teams we do get daily reports over the radio. Alpha 6 are now on the dive island after completing their trek and Alpha 5 have completed their week of diving, gaining a PADI and are currently nearing the end of their trek. Both groups have made it to Maga Falls during their trek, spending the night camped in this fantastic location in Long Pasia. At the end of trek they spend a night in a homestay, sleeping in the homes of one of the villagers and eating traditional Malay food often with their hands and served kneeling on the floor. By now they'll all no doubtedly be ready for a shower and some clean clothes after trekking for 12 days, setting up camp every night and sleeping in their beach basha for 5 days.


Alpha 8 are in the North of Sabah. Already on their reforestation project they have drained off the land they are using, created a sapling nursery for indigenous trees and set up netting to catch coconuts, to prevent damage to their new saplings.They are also working on a beach clean up. Venturers are religiously watering their saplings at 4 o'clock before swim time and are keen to observe the progress of their fledgling trees. The project is idyllically located adjacent to two beaches and they have set up camp in tents along one stretch of sand. Evenings are spent dining on the beach, and playing football and volleyball, often with passing fisherman who pull into say hello. 

 

So in a flash, the first phase of Raleigh 09K is nearly complete! Groups will soon be preparing for their return journey back to KK for what we call 'Changeover'. Which basically is what it says on the tin - everyone arrives back, gets mixed up and changed in to new groups. During this time there will be lots more logistics, kit dished out, new allocations, skits about the first phase, debriefing and feedback sessions as well as plenty of swim time at Sabah's very own hotel of Eden -  'Borneo Paradise.'

Before the loop sets off we print out the blog and its comments and take them to the Alpha groups and read them to the team over dinner or round the fire. Whether it was an embarassing note from the parents, a girlfriends message to one of the lads or the Dutch messages we read out very badly, everyone loved hearing the comments and even more so, loved recieving one of them. It means alot to get your messages in the middle of the jungle and so far from home.So click the box below and send a message to your friends and loved ones out in Borneo!

Phase 1 well on its way...

All the Alpha groups are having a whale of a time in Borneo, making excellent progress on all their projects!

Alpha 1 has already put up posts and laid the floor of the kindergarten they are building for Kampung Minusoh and have already started on the walls.

Alpha 2 cleaned the dam that will be the source for the gravity water feed system they are fixing for the community of Kampung Tampasak. They've also cleared the route for the piping and now they are trekking 4 hours every day to carry materials to their worksite. They are also teaching English to the local schoolchildren on days they are not at the worksite.

Alpha 3 are digging massive foundation holes for the suspension bridge they are helping to build in Imbak Canyon. They've also built steps for the path that takes them to the river.

Alpha 4 is hard at work building a perimeter fence for the sunbear sanctuary. Inbetween working, they also find time to visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre for interesting educational talks.

Alpha 5 has finished their PADI qualifications on Mamutik Island and are now trekking in the jungle at Long Pa Sia.

Alpha 6 is still trekking in Long Pa Sia and will return to Kota Kinabalu on 28 October to go diving off Mamutik Island.

Alpha 8 has not only drained and made liveable their camp site in Kudat, but also installed water tanks, rigged netting in coconut trees to catch falling coconuts and they are helping in the process to nurture saplings for the reforestation project. In their free time they even manage to squeeze in a football match or two with the local village.


The Loop is going out tomorrow to visit all the project sites and see for ourselves how they are doing. More news (and pictures!!) will follow after the Loop's return on Friday 30 October.

However, before Alpha 5 left for Long Pa Sia, we met up with them at Sutera Harbour to hand them all their necessary kit. Here are a few pictures:

First unload the Bravo...

Now how do we fit all of this into our backpacks?

Maybe we need to sit down for this... (look at PM Andy scratching his head in the background)

Now we are ready for the jungle!!

TAC and Alpha Group Allocations

During three days of intense training at TAC, the venturers learnt a variety of useful skills.

The first demonstration by the project managers was to teach venturers how to act convincingly like an amoeba. It was only for purposes of a fun ice-breaker game, but who knows when this skill may be useful in future?

More useful skills followed, like being taught by the professional guides at TAC how to safely wield a parang...

...and how to make (and use) a loo in the jungle...

...and how to string up a personal basher between two trees...

...and how to operate a HF90 radio.

The venturers listened attentively, despite the adverse effects of their jetlag, to first-aid lessons skillfully delivered by our volunteer medics.

It was all-round excitement on the second-to-last day of training when the project group allocations were announced by country programme manager, Mac McCarthy.

In Alpha 1, building a kindergarten in Kampung Minusoh, we have clockwise from top left: Ced (PM), Emma, Laura, Charlie, Andrew T, Aydan, Folkert, Celine, Christina, Chi (PM), Gordon, Nat (medic) and Leonora.

In Alpha 2, building a gravity water feed system in Kampung Tampasak, are from left to right: Nicola, Nicky (PM), Sabine, Bryony, Joel, Sophia (PM), Sam, James P, Floris V, Taylor, Joshua, Stan (PM) and Julian.

In Alpha 3, building a suspension bridge in Imbak Canyon, are clockwise from top left: Kenji, James D, Sam, Thomas, Nicolas, Bruno (PM), Tessa, Rolien, Jessica, Heidi, Lakshmi (medic).

In Alpha 4, working on infrastructure for the Bornean Sunbear Conservation Centre, are from left to right:  Richard T, Richard S, Craig (PM), Ronald, Jamie, Lisa, Courtney, Elizabeth, Megan, Aman and Jessie (PM).

 

In Alpha 5, who goes diving off Mamutik Island first and then go trekking in Long Pasia, are from left to right: Thijs, Julia (medic), Katie, Amy, Sally, Ali, Andrew M, Angus, James M, Bethanie, Lloyd and Andy (PM).

In Alpha 6, who first go trekking and then diving, are from left to right: Vicky (medic), Leon (PM), Alistair, Sharon, Floris d V, Abigail, Daniel, Adam, James W, Catherine, Jack, Victoria.

And finally, in Alpha 8, who will work on a reforestation project in the district of Kudat, are clockwise from top left: Zara (PM), Tim, Boquin, Maartje, Andrea, Shari, Ruthie (PM), Oren, Alexia, Michael, Alexander, Gavin.

After returning from TAC, venturers had to sort and pack all their food and equipment for the phase ahead. A long day of scurrying around was rewarded with an opening ceremony sponsored by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Sabah. The evening's events included traditional Malay cuisine and a display of traditional Malay tribal dancing.

Some of which the venturers also participated in.

The evening's events was closed and the expedition officially declared open by Encik Yang Berhormat Datuk Jahid Jahim, Assistant Minister of Youth and Sport Sabah.

We trust all the volunteers on this expedition will have a great time in Phase 1.

Please continue to post comments, we love to hear from you. And watch this space for news from the different Alpha groups as they progress with their projects.

The Venturers Arrive!

This week 76 venturers have been herded into Sabah to the Traverse Activity Training Centre from The Netherlands, America, Canada, Australia, the U.K and Malaysia. Expedition 09K Borneo has officially kicked off!

 

 

Their first night in country was spent in hammocks in communal bashers as most people tried to shake off their jet lag to the sound of some very noisy wildlife. Here they are trying set up home with their mosquito nets.

As we speak,  these intrepid venturers are in the midst of learning jungle skills, radio communication, first aid, GPS use, navigation and  tool safety, at a beautiful site along the river, overlooked by dense jungle and the peaks of Mount Kinabalu.

In the midst of all this they are being loaded with information about the projects on offer, how Raleigh operates, cultural awareness, internal communications and health and safety regulations.Then for a jaunt into the jungle trekking with all their kit for a night at 'Jungle Camp' with their new Delta group teams and their project managers showing them the ropes.If that isn't enough, a few new games, Raleigh olympics and crab football all get squeezed into the schedule too.

Final Week of Staff Induction

If pushing a Landrover up a hill or wheelbarrow races were recognised as sports then the staff of 09K woud be Olympians. Proving that it isn't all work and no play on Raleigh, fieldbase welcomed home the project managers from their 5 day project planning visit adventures with 'The Raleigh Olympics.' More in keeping with 'The Banana Splits' than Daley Thompson's decatholon, the events were all undertaken in fancy dress. The theme of the evening was London tube stations, take a look.......

Queen Victoria and Holland Park

Baker Street!

 

Woolwich Arsenal

Marble Arch

We also managed to squeeze in a bit of Karaoke ...........

...............and celebrate Chi's birthday with some of Loli's famous cake!

But before all this took place everyone got busy writing up project planning reports. Fieldbase was a hive of activity as project managers returned full of excitement about their new projects and then performed skits to illustrate what they got up to. Today the host country venturers arrived and have headed off to TAC and await the arrival of the full expedition tommorow.The next blog will be up soon full of pictures of what this expedition is all about - the venturers!

Project Allocations and Projects Planning Visits

It is the moment they've all been waiting for ....... project allocation day! After 5 days in country and a head full of anticipation all their questions have been answered. Will I be on a community, environmental or adventure project? How many hours will I have to spend on a bus to get to my site? What will the next 3 months of my life involve? Or more importantly, will I be stuck with a  project manager who snores for 10 weeks? Well in good time all this will become clear as the project managers have been allocated their exciting projects, joined forces with their new PM buddies and headed out for 5 days of investigative work in the field.

On their project planning visit, volunteer managers look at the sites, meet local project partners,discuss the work ahead, get to know the head of the village, assess equipment requirements and the new camps, draw up essential casevac plans for medical emergencies, create route cards for the drive in, check out water sources and risk assess all activities that will take place on phase. Phew! Well lets have a look at the allocations


First up are the community projects. We have three projects aimed at improving the facilites in smaller and often remote communities, venturers work alongside members of the community on these projects, learn about Malay culture, try out the language, eat some great local food and nine times out of ten get beaten at football.

Alpha 1 has been allocated to Ced and Chi and they will be accompanied by medics, Emma, Julia and Nat over the three phases. They will be working in Kampung Minusoh building a kindergarten in conjunction with project partners PACOS. The Malaysian Government provides educational facilities for those over six years of age, however, before entering school, children must be able to read and write to a basic standard. In a Kampung as remote as Minusoh, a kindergarten will provide generations of children with the chance to gain the early literacy skills required to enter into school. Watching a kindergarten go up in 10 weeks is going to be pretty impressive, so watch this space!

Alpha 2 in Kampung Tampasak will be managed by Nicky and Stan. This gravity water feed project will see the village have clean running water for the community. In 2007 Raleigh built a kindergarten in this fantastic community and are really pleased to be returning for this project. Although this Kampung has a nearby river, contamination from different industries and other village's mean that Tampasak cannot use this as a pure water source. After lots of digging and carrying of pipes this Raleigh group will create a dam, fit resevoir tanks and run pipes down to the village so the taps can be officially turned on!

Alpha 7 is based in Kampung Nibang and will be run by Ruthie and Zara. This is a gravity water feed system but Alpha 7 also intend to start reconstruction work on the local community hall which has fallen into disrepair. This houses the community's satellite phone - the village's only means of communication in this incredibly remote Kampung. The hall is now unsafe for use and needs to be repaired to keep the phone system in good order.

Next up are the environmental projects. As if they don't sound busy enough with managing Alpha 7, Ruthie and Zara will also be working for their first phase in Kampung Bawang Jamal as Alpha 8. This exciting pilot project aims to use land obtained through donation for reforestation. The beginnings of this project will see Raleigh groups build an accommodation camp for volunteers and establish a nursery to supply indigenous trees for the future of this project.

Alpha 3 is in Imbak Canyon. Bruno and the medical crew, Nat, Julia and Lakshmi, will all spend 8 hours in buses and Landrovers to reach this conservation area widely known as one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Home to elephants, orangutangs and hundreds of rare bird species, it is a huge privilege to work in this area. Raleigh have been working in Imbak since 2004 and have assisted with the construction of an infrastructure that gives rangers the ability to live and work there. This expeditions group will be working on the foundations of a bridge providing safe access across the river.

       

Alpha 4's work at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre at Sepilok is another new and very exciting project already gaining international recognition and a visit from Tony Blair. The plight of the Bornean Sun Bear stems from the loss of its habitat due to deforestation, driving the bears into plantations where they are at risk from human contact. The adult bears are often killed and the cubs taken as pets, following which they spend the majority of their adult lives in small cages.This project intends to rehabilitate and where possible release bears back into the wild. The opening of the centre to the public will raise awareness of the plight of the bear whilst also ensuring the centre is self sufficient and secure the future of the project. Craig, Jessie and Nicky will all get to live in the camp built by the last Raleigh expedition and work on the boardwalks and fencing for the bear enclosure. More information can be found at the BSBCC link at the side of this blog.

For the adventure phase there are two trekking groups. Alpha 5 is run by Andy and Craig, rotated in with medics Emma, Julia and Lakshmi. Alpha 6's project managers will be Leon and medic Vicky, joined by Ruthie and Nat in the later phases. Trekking for 12 days in beautiful Long Pasia, groups will be carrying all their kit and setting up camp every night. Part of the phase will be spent on idyllic Mamutik Island, camping on the beach and gaining a PADI after five days of dive training. They will then use their new qualification to help the environment by replanting coral or cleaning up underwater litter. 

There's the projects, we'll find out how they're project planning visits went upon their return in a few days.........