Expedition 11A is go!

Hello hello from India and welcome to the blog for the 11A expedition. This first post is pretty hefty as there’s so much to say, so keep reading as it gets really good towards the end, honest…

After an amazing five hour journey from Banagalore with the Raleigh drivers Prashanth and Manju, the bleary eyed advance team arrived at field base to a lovely welcoming ceremony with Manglamma and her daughters who we’ll be living alongside.

Bravo 1 and 2

There's so much to see on the way from Bangalore and it's a quick introduction into the Indian style of driving!

The  very tired field base team with our lovely jasmine garlands from Manglamma.

So now we’re settling in and getting everything ready for the arrival of the rest of the gang. We’re getting through lots of coffee and many, many ‘to do’ list are being written. We've also learnt to eat curry with one hand and no cutlery (messy!) and been getting to know the local wildlife pretty well. Being joined in the shower by two toads was definitely a first.

Ok so before I introduce the field base team and our new home, I just wanted to explain a bit about this blog and how it works for those out in here on expedition in India as well as you guys reading about your family and friends who will be coming to join us very soon.

The blog will be updated 2-3 times a week with news and photos of what everyone is up to, who’s working on what, how the projects are going, plus gossip on who’s got the best tan and who’s the most glam after not washing for five days – you know, the really important stuff!

This blog is also how you can send messages to people out here on expedition to let them know you’re thinking about them and reading about what they’re up to. The venturers and project managers will have no access to phones or the internet whilst out on project sites for a few weeks at a time, so coming back to field base to messages from friends and family really does create some huge smiles and possibly a few tears, but good tears. All messages for individuals will be printed, cut out and handed to them when they return back to field base between phases so it’s like getting their own letters through the post from you guys back home, just without having to wait a few weeks for the post!

While they’re out on project sites, venturers and the project managers will also have a blogbook that they can write messages in for friends and family and we’ll post these on the blog so you can see their responses to your comments. So use this blog to keep us posted on all the gossip from wherever you are and we’ll be doing the same in return.

Right, now onto the 11A field base team. Joining the permanent staff of Mark (country director), Julia (country expedition manager) Deepak (facilities manager) and Big Manju, Prashanth and Little Manju (the drivers) we also have…

  

We’re also going to be joined by Kathryn our photographer when the project managers arrive on Saturday so we’ll get her mug shot on here as soon as she arrives.

And here’s a quick tour of field base for you...

View as you come in the gates.

The main building and offices.

The field base staff and project manager dorm.

It's a large bamboo and grass hut open at the front and on the sides.

There are triple layer bunk beds with wooden boards to sleep on, so a good sleeping mat that works is a must, believe me! We were relieved to discover that the toilets are western and there are showers in the form of a tap, a bucket and a jug. There's also a few mirrors hung up and we've installed an amazing travel hairdryer for fringe emergencies. We've put in a request for a hot-tub but haven't heard anything back as yet...

The venturers dorm is right next door and in the same style just with a LOT more beds.

Next door to the venturer dorm is the dining hall where many a feast shall be had.

The new classroom building where we'll all be training together.

The logistics shed where all the expedition supplies are kept and the view back down the track past the dorms, the field base main building and out the gates.

Directly opposite the field base office is where the bravos are kept and to the left is the all important generator building for when power deserts us.

An incredible sunset that we witnessed last night.

Wow, that was a whopper, and there's so much more to come! Right, better go and decide what to name those toads, back soon...