Halsur holes and frisbee fun

Charlie 2 outside Halsur school

Ex-environmental project venturers who are now in Charlie 2 have been able to put their elephant proof trench digging skills to good use this week. We went out to see the group in Halsur and were surprised by how much they'd been able to do in just a few days. They've started on the vermi-compost unit, the holes for the water storage tanks are coming on well and soon they'll be starting on the bunds in the fields.

The vermi compost unit underway

Shyam shifts bricks for the vermi compost unit in a villager's back garden

They're currently sleeping in the school (the village children are using another building for the time being), which is looking very homely, and are being catered for with plenty of breaks for hot sweet chai! Which means the group also gets time to play with the many village children, help them with their English and take lots of photos.

The children are happy to pose for Christina

Alain has a break for frisbee

The loop vehicle is to set off to the environmental groups and Charlie 1 soon so on our return we'll be able to tell you how those groups are getting on.

The Sound of Silence

After two jam-packed days of stories, photos, laughter, energy, project allocations, fun and games, an air of sadness has fallen over Fieldbase as we waved off the last bus of venturers at around 9am this morning.

 Andrea and Charlie say goodbye

Second phase of the expedition will run until 23rd November, and during this period we will, as always, be updating you on the project developments and the progress of the trekkers.  The new groups were announced yesterday lunchtime and so without further ado here's the new Phase Two 09J line-up (add your own drum roll here):

Charlie 1 - Multilmoola Village Community Project
The venturers accompanying PMs Charlie and Amy to continue the building of the school are: Tor, Morten, Luke, Georgie (Page), James (Gurney), Boops, Anthony, Louis, John Paul and Philippa.  Mutley from the Logs Team at Fieldbase will also be joining them for the first half of the phase.

Charlie 2 - Halsur Sustainable Agriculture
Heading up this new project are PMs Helen and Mili together with the following venturers: Chris, Tina, Georgie (Webb), John (Springate), Nicola, Alain, Michael, Christina, Jamie (Green), Aravind and Shyam.

Vijay bids farewell to Shyam

Echo 4 - Bandipur Ranger's Station
PMs Katie, Neil and Jeff are being joined by the following group to finish renovating the Ranger's Station and improving the Elephant Proof Trench: Sam, Daniel, Colin, Baz, Adam, Emma, Pik, John (Emmerson), Vinay, India and Avaneesh.

Echo 4 load their food barrels onto the bus

Echo 5 - Anti-poaching Camp and Firelines
In new accommodation but continuing the excellent work from phase one are PMs Leti and Miriam joined by: Charles, Chloe, Maddy, Holly, Beth, Lee, Kit, Ben, Shamnad, Thomas and Tony.

Tango 7 - Adventure in Kerala - Trekking then Rafting
Leading the following group of venturers are PMs Frankie and David with new edition to the PM team, our very own Logistics Manager Andrea: Amy, Claire, Bill, Laura, Nanette, David, James (Eyles), Matt, Rahman, Toby and Prajeesh.

David, Rahman, Matt and Claire

New editions to the Fieldbase Team

As we wave Mili off to Charlie 2, we are more than excited to be joined by the lovely Davina as the new Fieldbase medic.  Fresh from trekking in Kerala with Tango 6, we're sure her energy and amazing selection of colourful 'Happy Pants' (trousers as opposed to underwear) will fuel us all into action again.

As Andrea and Mutley are both out on project this phase we are lucky enough to be joined by Kate who will be handling all the logistics in their absence.  We are slightly concerned that Kate's unhealthy obsession with Bourbon biscuits may lead to a food shortage situation in Phase Three if she is left alone in the food store for long periods of time.



Left: Kate caught on security camera entering the Logs Store.....nice try Kate!

New Fieldbase medic, Davina

Venturer Hellos and Goodbyes
For the past four days, the girls at fieldbase were joined by four new venturers who have joined us for Phases Two and Three of the expedition. Jamie Green from New York City, Thomas Cornelis from the Netherlands and Anthony Wilson and Toby Drax from the UK kept us entertained until the groups returned back on Tuesday.  We hope they have as much fun on their first phase as all the other venturers did.

Left to right: Jamie, Anthony, Toby and Thomas

Jamie, Anthony and Thomas are joined by Rahman at Mysore Palace

Sadly we said goodbye to one of our Explorer Venturers Charlie Elgy this morning.  Charlie spent his phase in Multimoola working on the school building and will be missed by us all but especially the other members of Charlie 1.  Keep in touch Charlie!

Finally, here are a last few messages from those who headed off today.

Message from Charlotte Ali
Mum I am alright, back on the bus to Multilmoola.  Keep watching the blog.  Family still doing you proud - love you all, hugs and kisses to everyone.  Gareth and Louise let me know the outcome, send me a scan photo. Twin sister of mine - How ya doing crazy horse?  Hope the new job's going well, bet you got all those fit doctors to look at.  You can tell me all about it when I am back.  Miss you loads sis!  Doing you proud!!  Love and miss you!  Charl xx  Dad pull your finger out and send me a message ;o)

Hi Guys, had an AMAZING phase - pretty sad about leaving my current group but one of the most fun guys is in my group again (yes I mean you Chris...).  I think I got lucky in my group again though, everyone seems cool.  Sent a slightly longer update to Darndy so get her to pass it on to you - it's an interesting tale involving tigers and cobra.  Tai - I've got someone sorting me out a sim, but he couldn't get it done in time - hope you're enjoying yourself.  Lots of love Mike x

Hey Holly Winslip.  I'm sorry that it has taken so long to reply, I didn't read your message on the blog until yesterday.  It was really great to hear from you.  I'm now part of Tango 7 so I'm about to do the trekking phase.  My bag weighs 26kg :o)  The letter hasn't arrived yet and it was fine for you to come over and stay on 17th.  Love you xxxx James Eyles (Jammy Dodger) p.s. I'm not too keen on the haircut either.
Hi Mum and Dad, I'm about to start the trekking phase so am now part of Tango 7.  I'm glad you like the Wii Fit so much - I wouldn't rely on the fitness age in it though.  It is a bit weird with charging the camera, it only charges for 4 seconds then stops so can't take many pictures.  Love James Eyles xx

Charlie 1 and the Echos

The school is coming on fast in Multimoola

My last loop trip involved a visit to Charlie 1 and the two environmental groups. I must have jinxed the weather at Multimoola as shortly after we arrived the heavens opened and work had to be stopped. Not that many of the group minded as they'd had a good night the night before at a different village taking part in some tribal dancing and most of the group were pretty exhausted! The school and the toilets are looking great though and it was great to see how much the work had progressed since Moycey did her loop trip out there earlier in the phase.

\

Nanette and Charles bust some Bollywood moves with the local children

I was lucky enough to spend my birthday there which was a real privilege. That evening we were invited in to a local family's house to watch the children entertain us with some fantastic Indian dancing and singing. Charles was a hit with the kids with his enthusiastic attempt at Bollywood moves and India took one of her CDs along so they could hear her music too.

Later on they treated me to a birthday cake that said 'Happy Birthday Alifoyn' (I think the phonetic alphabet got a bit confused on the phone!) and we all tucked into that as a treat.

Claire kneads the bread at Echo 4

I also visited the Echo groups as part of my loop trip. Echo 4 treated us to some freshly baked bread from the oven they had created themselves - most impressive!

They've also got on brilliantly with renovating the ranger's station, with all the tiles now cleaned and back on the roof and the elephant proof trench is almost fully elephant proof!

Mike, Jamie and Katie with some of the clean tiles

In their breaks they're managing to fit in some well-earned games of cricket and a bit of chilling out after so much physical work.

Boops and Chris take some time out to read the blog

Echo 5 in the meantime have moved out of the forest and are being brought onto the site by jeep each morning. All the more opportunity to try and catch a sighting of those elusive elephants! Their trench is looking fantastic, they've all worked really hard, and the group are all in good spirits with plenty of energisers to get them going before they start work.

Georgie, Frankie and Matt take part in an energiser

And we have some more messages from venturers... just a couple...

From Chris Braggs:

Hi Juliette Prodger, Got your letter, am very pleased, still got to read it though. Ranger station progression is coming along fast. Loads of hard work from whole group. Big caterpillars over here, lost a member of the group, Rehman, but he’s fine and chilling at field base. Speak soon. Is Summer nicking my girlfriend? LOL.
Crimbo x

To Libby, yah un, miss ya lots, it’s a jammy stain keeps making me laugh. Letters have been sent out. Lots of lovage love Crimbo xx RWARR :-)

Johnny-oh. Hey man, how’s Wilkos? Surprised still working LOL. Miss your stories.
SPIDER_MAN

To Laura Wren: Hey, how’s things going? Long time no hear. How’s Grace and Luke? Don’t worry, won’t mention Andrew and Ellie. You alright? Run out of money here, didn’t estimate what I still had to buy. Hopefully mother can help out. India is amazing. Crimbo xx

To Ben Prodger: How’s things? Haven’t forgot about you LOL. Hope things are well, write a message back. Haven’t seen any tigers yet. Crimbo

From Jamie: Hey you are going for more walks with cake at the end, I thought that you were both on a diet?! Hmmm, how did you manage to get in touch with the macqillions? That’s pretty cool with Andrew being at catering college, yeah deffo need some tips from him. I’m really touched by Steven’s interest. Tell her to write on the blog, there is nothing stopping her, she can be kept more up to date and I can talk to her. The sleepwalking isn’t dangerous, I tend to wake up sitting bolt upright. The human buckaroo generally involves me as the buckaroo as I am fast asleep and then the rest of Echo 4 balance objects on me and see if I wake up. I’m waiting to play buckaroo without being the buckaroo! The only real danger is the caterpillars that abseil down from the trees because you can have a serious reaction to them landing on you. I don’t know if I will have an allergic reaction but I don’t intend to find out. Cheers for trying to get in touch with Holly, her email may not work, she doesn’t check the email often. You could try sending her a letter and telling her about the blog that way. It could be quicker than email, failing that a call on her mobile, I can give you the number if you don’t know. I’m getting a lot stronger from all the digging and shifting rubble. So if dad needs help in the garden with clearing and cutting, you should be able to trust me with the garden stuff now. Hopefully mum will be more relaxed about it, now that I am doing Raleigh. Echo 4 is playing cricket with tennis balls as I’m writing this message so I’m having to dodge the balls or having very lucky escapes. Better not push my luck any further for now though so bye, Jammy Dodger xxxxx

Now then Neil! Great to hear from you! Bad times about the old swine flu. Hope you’re feeling better and definitely up for that birthday drink when I’m home. Big hello to everyone, let them know about the blog. Mam, got two letters, really nice to get them and the grand prix sounded spectacular. Hope you’re doing ok and you had a nice half term. Will try and write a letter back soon but hear there’s a bad postal strike going on. Love to you all, Luke. PS. Thank you Auntie Jean for her message and our kid. Marie – cheeky monkey – the beard’s awesome ;-)

To the Beveridges. Glad you approve of the socks. :-) Coming to the end of the environment phase here, it’s been amazing. Be in touch at changeover, lots of love Nicky xxx

Hey Sara, Mum and Dad. Thanks for the blog messages – the vehicle from fieldbase brought them round today! Celtic scores from Europa League and SPL will be greatly appreciated, also news on the England vs South Africa series – injuries etc! Power monkey is fab! Will Hilary be more afraid of elephants than cows?! So glad you got to Greece, hope you’re having a brilliant time! It’s amazing here – we’re blitzing the ranger’s station. I’ve been attacked by poisonous caterpillars and a hornet but my back and wrist are holding up well! Played cricket at lunch break today! Don’t want to write too much as someone at field base has to type this all up!!! Loads of love, Tor xxx

From Georgie P:
Hi Stacy and Charles. Thank you so much for blogging. Was great to see a message from you. Having such a great time, new experiences and adventures every day! Looking forward to telling you all about it and showing you the pictures, lots of love xxx

Dear M,D,C,A & J. I got all your letters this week, four on Weds and three today. Thank you so much for them all, great to hear from you. Having a great time, feeling really at home in the jungle! But today we got evicted, not all bad though, we just camp outside the forest and jeep it in each day. It was just a slight disagreement between forestry commissions! Oh well. Bashas were good while they lasted. Hope Rome was amazing, thinking of you all. James, I hope Monty was good for you, how was the bed!? Lots of love and hugs xxxxxx

Hey Alice TB. Thanks for the blog, I will write to you very soon! Missing you, hope you’re behaving at uni and working hard! Miss you lots xxx

Hey Mum, Dad and Max. Thanks for the message all is well here, stories to tell of course but having a great time. Sounds like Max is having a great time and I am ‘reight jealous’ about Rev and the Makers. Slightly worried he won’t be my LITTLE bro when I get back, not just height wise! You all seem to be coping great and hope you’re having half as good a time as me. More news will follow once I get back to FB. Much love, Louis, xxx

Hey Polly, loved your message from the Brazilian keyboard! Got it just when I needed it! Hope my letters reach you soon. Hope you are having a great time despite the lack of communications although I’m sure your Portugese is great. Enjoy Brazil, I wonder if it is as warm as it is here and as incredibly hectic (I love India). Enjoy yourself and hope you find a post office soon. Love Louis, xxxxx.

Hi Kate! Project is going well, just been turfed out of the forest for the last four days but it’s all part of the adventure! Have been filming today for the skit, it’s hilarious. Also making a totem pole and have made signs galore etc. Doubt I’ll get the chance online but can you send (email) your London address (and gran/grandpa/granddad etc)? Faustus will be awesome, take some pics and keep all the posters/banners! Have sent mum a birthday card so hope it arrives. Any news of Lindsey or Chris? Keep me posted on how you’re doing :-), lots of love Matt xxx

Hej Martin! Tak for din besked! Jeg far internet Paa mandag! Og har lige skrevet langt brev til alle! Fylder 19 om to dage! Elsker Indien! Haaber alle har det copt! Savner jer allesammen meget! Mange kaerlige hilsner fra Morten!

Hey Mum and Dad, Got your letters this week, was great to get something from home! Hope you had a good week with Paul, Shell and the kids and hope you gave Izzy a hug from me? Having a great time, still it’s going really quick! As you have probably read, our jungle camp is no more, but it all just adds to the experience! Missing you, love Christina xx

Hey G, Still not heard anything from you! I hope work is going well and you’re not overdoing it (like usual!). Missing you a lot, looking forward to New Years already! Love you, Christina xxx

Hi to Mum, Dad, Tom and the whole extended family. We are all having an Indian-style adventure over here after being evicted from our jungle camp. It’s not all bad though – we are now living in a village (civilisation) on the edge of the National Park which is brilliant insight into Indian culture (and further away from vicious wildlife!) and getting ‘jeeped’ in every day. Definitely an experience in itself! Sounds like you’re having a good half term – send my love to all the family and thank the Grahams for their message, and have a great party this weekend. Get Tom on internet-based instruction for Grandma and Val, I’m sure they’ll understand in the end. Lots of love, Amy xxx PS. Please may you send me a letter – I really want more detailed news (including SCD!).

Hey Max, didn’t realise you were off to Cornwall, sounds cool. So I take it you and Libby are going better then? Good! Am currently deciding on which leaf to bring back – so many huge ones! Did some tribal dancing last night, pretty good fun! Can you text nanny for me and say thanks for the card, loved it! Looking forward to seeing you, love you, India xxx.

Dad, Nat and Alice, Thank you for the letters and pictures, Alice looks more beautiful than ever, can’t wait to see her! Dad – you chat rubbish but the Shrek stuff did make me smile! Aus looks gorgeous. Have told the octopus joke a few times – actually got some laughs, shows how crazy the people I’m with are! Made some wonderful friends etc etc. Don’t really want to go home! Love you all, India xxx

Mother, just to say hi. Hope you’re well. Spent last night in a different village which was beautiful, pretty tribal so quite an adventure! I am having a truly amazing time, miss you though! Have you been in touch with Vicky? How is she? Can you ask her to write on the blog? Are all her flights booked? Love you loads, India xxx

Hey Papa! Me rejouis pr Marrakech. Derniere semaine dans la jungle. Je decouvre un tas d’insectes multicolores et je commence a m’habituer aux blattes. Je m’amuse vmt trop ici. Y a deux Hollandaise... suis la seule Belge, on m’a demande tieurs fois “is Belgium in Germany?” haha! Mille kiss a tous – tte phils, Mum, Alix, Joz... PS Joseph serais TMLT heureux entoure de tous les insectes!

Hi Mum, Dad & family & friends!! Sam here, currently sat in our leaking hut in Mutilmoola village! It’s been an incredible journey. We went to a different village for one night last night, stuning views and we got to do some funky tribal dancing with the villagers! Don’t think you got my other blog message?! But please write back. How was Tommy’s birthday?? Hope he’s doing brilliantly, & all’s well with everyone!! Missing you hugely ! I bet he is bouncing about everywhere now. Keep me posted!!! Matthew – thanks for the lovely letter & for helping me out with little man’s birthday. Google maps, haha!! Miss you loads, & hope pub quizzngs going well he he x Steven – thank you for the letter and photos – wonderful to hear from you. Got people laughing with the fancy dress hehehe. I miss you hugely, the P.P.S. was the cutest1, loads of love Sam (Flood) PS keep the letters coming!!!

Hi Mam, Pap, Daphne en Rogier (en Mango,) Nog 3 dagen en het ste project zit erop! Op de eerste mpaar dagen na, is de tijd voor bij geulogen! Net voor het eerst seen wacnzinnige bui gehad, ‘overdekte’ veranda lekt verschrikkelijh. Fantastische uitstapjes gehad, ih hoop dat je mijn uorige blogmessage ooh gelezen hebt en zend plz veel brieuen (al 3 weken hier en nog geen bericht ontvangen.. zijn jullie nog in leven? Nanette xxx PS stuur wat foto’s plz! Ipod altijd leeg xx

Hi Mum, Dad, Leanne, Jenny, Maria, Gareth and the rest of the Waltins – Missing you all like crazy, but have loads of stories to tell you over Christmas! I am back at Mutilmoola helping to build a school and toilets along with bathrooms. How’s me nephews and nieces doing – give them big hugs and kisses and can’t wait to see them when I get home for Christmas! Hope you’re all fit and healthy and its not too cold. Let me know if I am going to be an auntie to another niece or nephew when Gareth and Louise find out – I miss you all lots and lots but I am doing you all proud out here for the Ali family lol!! That’s enough for now Love me xxx Charlotte Ali xxx

Hello Women (and all the family!) Just coming to the end of the community phase. We have most of a school built (who needs a roof?!) and some toilets and washrooms are beginning to look recognisable. We’ve had some great trips out to visit other projects and be entertained by other villagers. I’ll try to put some pictures on the blog or youtube at changeover (we go back to Mysore on Monday) Then, who knows...? Lots of love David x (the group all call me Big Dave – something to do with the waistline I think)

Hello Emmerson family, Just saying India is fantastic lovin it loads. Staying near a place called Sulthan Bathery, look it up. Almost finished building the school. Also can you try and tell Douglas or Farran about the blog so they can send me a message? Big love, signing out. J Emmerson.

Hi Mum and Dad, Katherine, John and Sophie. Having a really good time. Tent broke so I‘ve moved out. We’ve been on a couple of trips including yesterday to another tribal village previously helped by Raleigh which was interesting and we got to do some native dancing, luckily we managed not to get eaten by elephants despite them being on our doorstep! Funny to hear about Grandma – sounds pretty major but rather funny. Still moving tonnes of bricks daily, had a shower in the rain. Loving dancing to Indian music with the very accommodating locals (I look like an ape!) Food is still brilliant, I had a pineapple yesterday. I should really wash my clothes. Looking forward to the next phase. Missing you all, but not too much! Love x Smiles :-) x PS John says whagwan. Charles Lockhart.

Important message!

This is a message to all at home who are using the blog to send messages to their friends and family on expedition. Thank you for keeping up to date with what we're doing, we hope you're enjoying reading it as much as we are enjoying putting it together.

As you know the comms team of myself and Ali are often out on loop trips to the project sites, which means we can't update the blog all the time and there is often a short delay from when messages are submitted to when they can be approved and posted.

Some recent messages have had inappropriate words in them which have to be edited (or deleted if we can't edit them) before they can be posted, and if they are not in English, this can be more time consuming. Messages with sexual content, swear words, references to drugs etc can not be published.

As a reassurance, if we can't post the messages on the blog, we will be printing them out and passing them on to the venturers when we see them. However, important messages will be passed on over the communications system.

We are aware the Danish messages have been taking longer to approve and unfortunately on this occasion they were submitted while we were on a loop visit. They will be passed on on Monday when the venturers return to Fieldbase.

With all that said, keep checking the blog, we have loads more to tell you as we gear up for changeover and loads more messages from the venturers which are being typed up as we speak!