Alpha 1 have still got plenty to do on the construction site of the new Kindergarten at Tampasak, and are putting a huge effort into getting that finished by the end of the expedition. They're now working on the walls and are busily painting everything in sight as fast as it is put up.
Alpha 2, meanwhile, have moved out of the goat shed and back to their usual riverside campsite, from where they continue to assist the community of Batu Puteh with the Eco Lodge, as well as with other projects including digging drainage trenches for villagers' houses, and cutting and stripping logs to make a boat. They inform us they recently held a fancy dress party themed 'over the bridge'. We're not sure what that means either; you'll have to ask Alpha 2...
In beautiful Imbak Canyon, Alpha 3 are putting the finishing touches to the foundations for the new suspension bridge and slowly moving the (extremely heavy) wooden support posts for the cables. There are four posts and it takes 20 people to lift one of them! Mike's birthday was celebrated in style last weekend with yet more fancy dress - a jungle theme this time.
At Alpha 4 in Danum Valley, the group is working with the rangers to clear trails and plant seeds, as well as doing some painting work at the field centre. Continuing the fancy dress trend, Alpha 4 had an animal-themed party on Wednesday. Sadly no photos of that yet, but we'll see what we can do...
Meanwhile among the Adventure groups, Alpha 5 are going great guns on their trek and are well over halfway through already, looking forward to finishing with a relaxing stint on the gorgeous tropical island of Mamutik. Alpha 6 have already finished their diving and just commenced their trek - leaving the ultimate expedition challenge 'til last!
It's a busy phase too for Field Base: Gill is still at Alpha 3 until the weekend, and was joined for a couple of days earlier this week by roving reporters Mark and Anna on their way from visiting Alpha 4. Bob has been out to Alpha 2, and the Loop (Ed, Nic and Bob again) has been to Alphas 1 and 4, heading on to Alpha 3 tomorrow but minus Ed who is now back in Field Base. Carolyn heads out on Sunday to join Alpha 6 on their trek, swapping with Antonia who will be the Field Base Medic for the final week. Then on Tuesday, Mark and Anna set out again to the Dive Island with Alpha 5, and on to the Opening Ceremony at Tampasak with Jim, if Alpha 1 achieve their goal of completing the construction work on the new Kindergarten. Phew.
The end is in sight, with just over a week still to go. As always, please keep your messages coming - we'll be printing them all out to stick up on the notice board at the end of expedition when we return to the very lovely Borneo Paradise...
20 comments:
Dear Anna of Alpha 1,
I hope you are having a great time, finishing the kindergarten. I can't believe that so much of the expedition has been finished already, and that your travelling is coming closer. I asked about changing your flights, and they can't do anything over here. you would have to ring Malaysian Airlines from Malaysia. I was given a freephone number by the girl who booked your tickets in the first place. She remembered you. The number is 13008003000. I think any chance of changes will depend on flight availability.
If you do make any changes, please let me know. At the moment I am expecting to see you at Heathrow on April 30th. If you have to stick to your original plans, don't be too disappointed. You can always travel again.
Sheri got your card, and was very pleased. jane was going to show me, but Sheri must have taken it into work.
I'm very proud that you have managed to do so much with Raleigh. Lots of love,
Mum.
JiaLoon [Alpha 3],
I can see it's hot there. Take care and cheers...
hey helen(armstrong)
hows it going?
the weather started to cheer up here but now is gonna get a little colder over the weekend.typical ay?
just had injections for my trip
hope all is well
love you babe
dean:D
xxxx
hi jenny (sheardown)
no idea how this works but seeing as i have been so rubbish in writing to you properly, i thought i'd make an attempt at this after your dad said you would get the messages passed on. don't want you feeling like a norma no-mates!
as i said i intended to send you a letter with some pics, but life has conspired against me - well, 2 gorgeous daughters have prevented me, more like. all well here, bethany is 6 weeks old here and lovely, lots more awake and alert now, making little noises, still feeding every 3 hours day and night! izzy has coped well on the whole, quite afew episodes of whacking/pinching beth but also lots of kisses, shes very pleased now beth is smiling at her. we're just planning her 2nd birthday party in april. andy is currently here with us, been lovely to see him, and your granny and grandad have just been over for tea, and been entertained by the izzy show!
i hope life is amazing with you, and that your time in borneo has been a great experience. loads of love and keep in touch on your next phase...
jo (and steve, izzy and bethany)
Hi Jack
Sorry, realised I left my last blog in totally the wrong place. I left it in 'more photos from Phase 1'. That's not going to do my computer credibility much good!
Much love
Mum xxxxx
Mozzaaaaaaaa
How are ya girl?
Trekking your little soscks off?
Hope its been a fitting end to the Raleigh experience.
Looking forward to hearing from you and specifically to getting some photos. Hope some of your Raleigh mates have got loads to pass on - cant imagine your disposable cameras will yield many masterpieces!
All's well here. First triathlon of the season on 13th April (help!) so will have to do a bit of panic training this week.
Si (Price) is coming round next week to help with the decorating at Crouch Street. Have spent the last few days scrubbing soot out of everything. (Loads came down whilst having the chimney lined for the new stove.) Am feeling in need of a bit of assistance.
Gran's doing well and hopes to come down to help me pack etc in the middle of April.
Will expect to hear from you via facebook one of these days. Sad to think Raleigh will soon be over - the time has flown - but hope the next phase of your travels is even more fun.
Catch up soon, love ya xxx
Dear Jon [Alpha 4]
Last phase already - is the bearded pig bacon yet? Know how you are partial to a bacon butty! Could actually make you out in the last blog picture although Heather thought you were a girl! Hair has obviously grown then?
Had a great time in Mexico - thought of you when we saw your favourite plant - cactus - and also when we downed a tequila!
Dad worried about you needing more Malerone if you stay in the vicinity - please advise.
Can't believe we saw you off two months ago - sounds like the best fun [and hard work] ever.
Love hearing from you.
All our Love
The 'Rents!' xxxxx
PS Digs had a nose bleed yesterday!
Jessie Greenwood Alpha 5
Dear Jess,
Hope you have recovered from your long trek - Oh how I would have loved to be a monkey swinging in the trees listening to all the moaning! I trust the diving was the ultimate reward for the final Phase! Your UCAS is completed (dad witnessed for me!) I have suspended your TROT membership until July and made you an Associate member of B.C.S.Both have been chasing you for money!
All well at home - Tom has been good company - albeit a little stressed rushing to complete his assignment! He goes back to Uni today. Sophie has a second interview this week (fingers crossed!)Well done - post cards have arrived.(Angela T rang) Thank you for finding the time to write all your letters too,they have been great - keeping us up to date.(hope you have recovered from the tum - not a lot of fun!) Look forward to hearing from you when you return to Base Camp for the Grand Finale
Much love
mum x
Hi Steph (Alpha 4)
Another fancy dress party! are you actually doing any work?... we want evidence! Received your PADI validation card yesterday - great photo of you and the beads on the card... do you ever take them off? Let us know if you need the card posting on for your diving in Oz. We're going round to T&M's this afternoon for cake as it's M's b'day tomorrow. Dad has started painting your room - and I'll put the finishing touches to it - we're hoping this will be enough to entice you back home at the end of July! G&P have just returned from Sabah and had a really great time - the sun shone all the time and they visited an orangutan sanctuary- maybe the same one as you!
Dan says Hi (from his usual spot in front of the playstation) and says he misses the banter. Try to phone on the 28th if you can (you'll be in Oz by then - i can't believe it!) Hope you received the last letter with the goodies - did the chewing gum travel well? Take care and enjoy your last days with Raleigh. Love MD&Dxxxxx PS everyone in the fam sends their love
hi tamara,alpha 5, you probably not get this message until after your jungle trek, hope it went well?! its not april showers here, more april snows! still i had a visit from mr sunshine! Told me about something he has sent you, not sure if you have received yet so i will not say more, sure you will like, great idea! have emailed you just incase you get near internet sometime. take care, miss you, love mumxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello Jenny (Alpha 2)
Hope you are keeping well, still having fun and the Crock’ Watch was successful so you came back with a full team.
It’s Sunday 6th and we got up to find the garden and roads covered in a dusting of snow again. It was great to talk to you the other week and to get your two letters. Granny and Nanny were both delighted to get theirs too.
Your PADI certification card has arrived. It has a great picture of you on it.
You have been offered your first choice for accommodation at Uni’. The first night in hall is the 23rd September.
Andy came to stay last weekend and the three of us took him on a cultural trip to London. We went around the Tate Modern and the National! It was a fun day and we avoided falling into the crack in the floor at the T Modern. Not a lot else happening here, but we are all well.
Last night I collected Alex and two friends from a party. As they swayed towards the car I thought there may be trouble. We just made it into our road before I had to pull over and open the door for Alex! Apparently it was a cream egg that didn’t go with some beer. Learning can be a wonderful experience.
If you can, you had best ring us next Monday 14th as we will have been to see the tulips just before then. Let us know what your plans are if you can.
This Raleigh project seems to have just flown by. Hope the rest of your time travelling is as much fun, but perhaps a little more relaxing and comfortable. Looking forward to hearing from you again and missing you.
Lots of love Mum & Dad XoXoXo
Yo Mic, Alpha 5
Hope all is ok. I am posting this round about the time you finish your trek in the hope that the 'roving reporters' may bring it to Mamatik with them. if not, you won't see it till after your diving! Hope it all goes well and that you're still having a fantastic time. All is well here. Dom has gone back tonight for her final four weeks of term (before a week of revision then exams in May) so Heidi is sulking a bit. Still missing you - almost halfway through your trip now! Hope you manage to email when you get back to Borneo Paradise. Take care. Lots of love, Mum
P.S. Mic
Well done for posing at the front of Alpha 5 group photo. Now, finally, I know you're really there!!
Mumxxxx
Hi Sieb,ik blog nog even snel in de hoop dat je dit ziet voordat je gaat duiken. Was de track gaaf? Hoge bergen beklommen? Broek ok, schoenen overleefd? Heel veel succes bij het duiken. We zijn reuze benieuwd. Hier alles goed. Eergisteren naar Varekai, Cirque du Soleil. Gaaf! Vandaag de verjaardag van Nathalie. Het weer blijft koud. Claar net weer terug uit Schotland. Kortom, life as usual. Succes met de laatste ronde. xx mam, pluis, wortel en alle kleine tortelini's (er zijn er al drie vergeven)
Hi Malcolm!
Trying again. This blog doesn't always work. Three posts have not appeared. I have given the details to all your friends, but they might have difficulties with it too.
Sounds like your trek is going well and you'll finish at the diving island to round off. All well here. It has snowed a lot (global warming) and the cherry blossom forsythia and daffs are covered in white fluffy flakes - it's beautiful.
When you travel afterwards, consider Bali - it's highly recommended, but stay out of nightclubs.
Love,
Mum, dad and penny.
P.S. Jerome sends regards
hi charlie, cant believe its almost at an end - and now you want to torture yr mum with another 3 m'ths away. of course am happy to reclaim the den - full memship of lovefilm and Skysports SP14, HC and prem games. looks like wasps will make late charge for top 4 place&playoffs. u dont know what yr missin. laff has passed posty driving test and is now on delivery, sam has past ski exams and now in NZ. yrs dad
Dear Freddie(Jago)Alpha 2
Hope you are having a great time (and working hard!) and I can't believe that it is only a week and a half until you come home - we really can't wait to see you!Maddy has passed your messages on to Seb and John and I know they are looking forward to your return.
The last 2 mornings we have woken up to snow,so a bit different from the weather you've got! Missing you loads
Lots of love Mum,Dad and Mads xx
darling Putt Putt,
(Ariana Janjua, Alpha 1)
How sweet to the ear is your voice. We long even more then ever before to be hugging you...hopefully soon.Hope the school project is finishing.A meritorious service in deed. Enjoy your last few days with new found friends and leeches before you get back to the usual (boring )routine of college and studies.
You have taken the path less travelled and we are very proud of you.
At home nona asks after you every few minutes or so and she maybe going back by this wekend. Its a pity you will not be able to meet her. Shes now going on to 88 and lets pray you see her soon, in Toronto maybe.
Simon is better and getting to be his usual feline pest.
Bhai is getting into his exams and looking forward to coming inMay and then on to his expedition of three months to Madagascar.
Please convey our loves and best wishes to all Raleigh-ians and project managers.
Chalk out your return programme and let us know as soon as possible.
Love you as much as salt loves meat.
XXX mad
Hi Andrew Morton Alpha4- Wow only over a week to go carn't wait to see you at the Airport at that insaine time of the morning. Barnsley lost 1-0 to Cardiff in the semi-final of the FA CUP at Wembly proper gutted tut. Well atleast ive got something remember from it all, beating Liverpool n Chelsea were good enough. Don't be expecting to go any were that Thursday you get back cause you'll be jet-lagged n tired mr. The dog has started behaving himself cause there's only aweek to go the little sod! Well carn't wait to see you keep up the good work and enjoy the last week n bit sexyman x x x x x x x x x Love You Lots Love Simon XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
hey yan,
i heard you were getting to the end of your tour of doodie (duty). thats right i said doodie, deal with it. i bet its coming up to that time where everyone is getting all sentimental and no one wants to leave. but at least you have a couple of weeks of travel after you finish your expo. im sure that will be a lot of fun. say hello to our crackhead cousin if you see him.
well im mired in exam misery at the moment. but hey, at least i have 3 months of madagascan goodness to look forward to. im so excited. ill be diving with humpback whales! HUMPBACKS!!! btw do you want me to bring back a hissing roach for you? i think that'll make a nice present now that your confortable with them. anyway, i guess you can tell that uni has fried whatever little braincells i had. i just wanted to say enjoy your last weeks and ill be speaking to you soon. love ya!
hamza.
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