Welcome to the official blog for Raleigh India 12I | July - August 2012



Welcome to the Official Blog for Raleigh India 12J September - December 2012.



Wednesday 12 December 2012

Venturers' travel update

All the Venturers left Fieldbase yesterday afternoon safe and well if a little emotional.

The HCVs and those travelling on within India were dropped in Mysore. Those flying from Bangalore spent the night in Bangalore and all were seen safely into the airport terminal by PMs this morning.



Monday 10 December 2012

Expedition 12J Draws To A Close With The Golden Mess Tin Awards

Today (Monday) - the last day of Expedition 12J before the Venturers depart - culminated in a slap-up dinner for all, followed by presentation of the end-of-expedition Golden Mess Tin Awards. This highly prestigious event was held in the glittering splendour of the Fieldbase dining hall.

Nominations had been submitted and voted on by the PMs yesterday evening.

The nominations and winners of the four major awards were:

Hardest Worker

Nominations: Jenny K, Kavya, Raja, Rory
Winner:         KAVYA

Kavya - A paragon of hard work and cheerfulness


Biggest Journey of Personal Development

Nominations: Crystal, Fabian, Joris, Sam
Winner:         CRYSTAL

Crystal rising to the challenge - Performing well as day leader


Best Male

Nominations: Ali, Dan, Raja, Stalin
Winner:         RAJA

Raja - A popular all-rounder


Best Female

Nominations: Alice, Amber-Elisa, Frederique, Jocelyn
Winner:         ALICE

Alice - A caring, considerate high performer


Hearty congratulations and commiserations to all concerned!

Even if you don’t see the name of your loved one or friend here, you can rest assured that they too performed very well and you can be proud of them.


By way of a final few words, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this blog over the past three months as much as I’ve enjoyed writing and editing it. I’d like to express my thanks to all the Venturers and PMs who’ve contributed.

And thanks very much to you, dear friends and relatives, for the comments you’ve posted. I know how much the Venturers and PMs have looked forward to, and enjoyed, reading your comments and words of encouragement.

So, other than brief travel updates over the next few days, to quote the words of not Shakespeare nor Winston Churchill, but Bugs Bunny:


That’s all, folks!


Best wishes for the festive season and 2013.

Graham Wilson

Expedition 12J Communications Officer



Sunday 9 December 2012

All Teams Back at Fieldbase For Final R&R


Just to let you know that everyone has arrived safely back at Fieldbase.

Echo Three even told me that the Gandathur villagers came round to their campsite at 6.30 this morning and served them chai before they set off!

I took these pictures as each team arrived back this morning.

Echo Three - Alex choosing to adopt a low profile
Tango Six - Carrot inevitably dressed in orange
Charlie Two - still raving about Uluvadu
Tango Five - distinctly alive

So, having almost completed their expedition, how do your loved ones look? Happy, certainly. But more mature? Hardened? Wiser? Or just dirtier?

They’re off into Mysore for a few hours, for which Domino’s will doubtless be duly grateful! Then back for a final two days' relaxation and merriment. Tomorrow evening sees the Golden Mess Tin Awards ceremony, described recently by Simon as ‘like the Oscars, only bigger.’

More on that anon …