Love, English, and the Wolf at Raleigh India

(Above: Shenola, Mani and Liz with the children at Jagankorte school in Kalaianahalla)


Country Programme Manager Mark Ashby, Administrator Lucy and photographer Anni have just returned from Alpha 2 where the eco-sanitation gang are cracking along with their 15 units.


Yesterday the team had the day off and headed to the Golden Temple which Hamish described as an "awesome" experience.


Mark said the Alpha 2 troops had also been painting the English alphabet on the walls of the school where they are staying during their down time, to help the class learn the alphabet. The team have also been to a high-school in a nearby village to help students who are due to undergo English exams shortly.


But that's not all from "team toilet", they have also been fixing up the school playground. The picture below is of a climbing frame which, when Raleigh first arrived in Kalaianahalla was on its side and covered in rust.

Now the green 8ft tall construction is loved by the school's 30 pupils!


(above: Mark, Lucy and some of the pupils at the Jagankorte school)


As for the other Alpha groups...

Out at Alpha 4 it's been pelting rain a fair bit, resulting in Will Jaggard asking Fieldbase to use the endless power of Google to look up the words to "mud, mud, glorious mud", presumably to sing while they're digging irrigation trenches.

So for the benefit of our readers, here is the chorus from not-the-Disney-version of the hippopotamus song, with a link to the full lyrics if you really want them (thanks Zoe's Wrinklies for sorting me out on that one):

“Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
And there let me wallow in glorious mud”


(Above: Sopha gets a quick pash from Tom D and Chris in Alpha 4's now-notorious swinging "love chair")

The gang out at basha city have also been getting a bit amorous, with the creation of a “love chair.”

The chair, built entirely from bamboo, string, a stretcher and creative genius, is the latest construction from the troops at Anaikatty and it can even swing, although reports are it sounds a bit tenuous when in motion.

Tom De Wilton also nicked Anni's camera and came up with a few rather creative photographs...

Thank you kindly to Zoe's Wrinklies for tracking down the link of the picture the lads were replicating here. apart from being the other way around, I thought it was a pretty good effort!

Meanwhile Alpha 4 has taken a trip to an elephant sancturary today and are expected to take a hike tomorrow to check out the region surrounding their campsite.

(A4's strongmen from left: PMs Neil and Peter with CPM Mark, Parthi, Tjebbe, Sophia, Ed K, Chris and Sreejith)

On to Alpha 3, where the Fieldbase informants have told us that the Wolf of the Werewolf game (a very popular card game) made a guest appearance at their dress-up party, cleverly disguised as Emma Wood.

Frankie went as Little Red Riding Hood, Roo dressed up as Eve and Becca donned a turban to go as Aladdin.

But the best dressed had to go to Flash-dance’s own Jo Davies, a self-confessed child of the 80s.

(Holy disguises, Batman! Frankie, Jo, Roo, Sarah, Becca, Alex and Ed dressed up for a party)


Tomorrow a loop vehicle will leave Fieldbase to do a circuit around Alpha 4 and 3, arriving in time for an inauguration ceremony of Alpha 3's 14 houses for the members of Kappikadu village.

Rumour has it they're also planning a bin-bag party (not for the inauguration though!) so expect some photos of funky creations early next week.

And finally, on to our trekkers who are in their final days of transport upon Shanks's pony. Last night they caught up with Ivan and Anni on the loop at the spectacular campsite at Vagamon, so again, there will be some photographs coming back.

The bad news is they got absolutely drenched yesterday, but the good news is Anni and Ivan took pity on them and cooked them dinner, so they will be well-fed for their second-last day of trekking today.


And finally, at Fieldbase:


Andrew spent this week digging a hole as part of a fire-pit upgrade.


After 10 hours toiling in the blistering sun, Andrew was advised that the fire pit location was
undesirable as it upset the Vastu (kind of like Indian feng shui) of Fieldbase quad.


So yesterday, Andrew filled in the hole… then dug another hole, precisely two metres from the first hole, which was fine according to the Vastu. He’s since filled it with concrete. Andrew has become a one-man Alpha group.

Re-reading this blog, it looks like it's all just been fun, games and parties out at the Alpha groups. Let me assure you, they have been working incredibly hard!


The groups have been working to ensure the Kappikadu houses are finished on time for the opening ceremony this week, the elephant-proof fence is up and functioning to protect both elephants and crops around Anaikatty, that the 15 eco-sanitation units for this phase get done on time to make sure each family in Kalaianahalla has access to appropriate sanitation, and they have been trekking up and down the mountains of Kerala in sometimes very tough conditions.


As Phase Two nears it's end, the venturers are now staring down the barrel of their last phase with Raleigh India. Let the adventure continue!


Oh, and finally: birthday wishes!

To explorer Fiona Applewhite, happy birthday from everyone at Raleigh, especially all the recovering Phase One Alpha 1s! We hope you have a brilliant day.

To Andrea, from Peta...
Happy birthday, I miss you heaps. xxx