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



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



Monday 26 March 2012

Turtles echo back to Zero

It's Changeover and everyone from Charlie 1 to Tango 6 has paid a short visit to Fieldbase just to drop their rucksacks and head straight off to Mysore for swimming pools and train tickets. In the morning, I found an email from the incredibly efficient Echo 3 in my inbox, who took some time during their stop in Mangalore to report back on their Phase 2 experience. Teenage Ninja Turtle Helen Smith has the following to say:
Author and birthday girl Helen
Echo 3 Explorers Monument
Echo 3 are currently winging their way back to Fieldbase with a lot of sombre looks and wistful expressions after a fantastic phase on Velas beach. We're all heartbroken to leave but had the best possible send-off on our last morning by seeing 60 turtle hatchlings make their slow, unsteady way down the sand to the beach when we woke up. 
No, wait... Not a turtle...
Here we go... Hatchlings released...
Our work has fairly consistently involved levelling, carrying and more carrying - we've been improving the path to the beach from the road so it's easier for tourists to walk down, and we're pretty happy with the chunk we've completed, cementing our names in the step on the bridge being a massive highight. 
They also taught the local kids some English, beach and turtle-related, of course.
By far a better highlight though came one unsuspecting evening just before sunset when Thejas came sprinting into camp yelling "COME, COME, 400kgs" and led us onto the sand to see a huge, full size turtle laying its eggs. A couple of the guys from SNM were there already but otherwise it was just Echo 3, the turtle and the setting sun (this Hollywood worthy scene only slightly marred by Tom and Flora convincing Martha the turtle was actually a fake for demonstration purposes and had 'Made in China' written on its back...) 
Other than this, our days have been spent building ever more elaborate bamboo stuctures for camp, exploring the caves and sink holes on the south side of the beach, and warding off the herds of cows that frequently held our camp under siege trying to sneak in and eat the slops. Overall, I'd say the experience was even better than our last pudding of pancakes, Nutella and condensed milk - and that's saying something. 
Las Velas Camp
Las Velas Jester
Synchronising diaries
Fishing for dinner

This has been Helen Smith for Echo 3, over and out.

No no no, dear reader! As you may know, Zero ALWAYS ends communications and it's not over until WE listen out. Which we will definitely not do until this little comedy jewel and winner of the Changeover Skits Oscars has been presented to a larger audience:


Raleigh India 12C | Phase 2 Echo 3 | Raleigh Health and Safety Tutorial


Rules matter! This is Zero, and only Zero, listening out :o)

15 comments:

  1. Marjolein - Echo 3

    Kleine Marini!!
    Wat leuk om jullie verhaal te lezen en de foto's te zien!!
    Hahaha en dat filmpje.
    Heb je mijn brief al gekregen? Hoop echt dat die aangekomen is!
    Love you, xxxx Dorini

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  2. Dear Helen (ex Echo 2)
    Glad you had a happy birthday. It looks like your group did a lot of good work saving the turtles. Keep washing those hands!
    love Mum and Dad xx
    PS TO change the return flight home would cost £120 GBP.

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  3. Catherine Perry26 March 2012 at 14:38

    For Rhian Tango 5

    Hi Rhian! Thanks for the enail, it was lovely to get your news. I did text your UK sim as you suggested but don't know if you have been able to get any charge. I presume that is the one, not the Australian one? It is lovely weather again here today. Working at home so if you can ring that would be great. Hope you are having a slightly more restful time these couple of days! Speak to you soon, love Mum xoxoxoxoxxoxoxo

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  4. Message for Becky Massey, Charlie 2:
    Yo Becs!!!
    How's things? Heard you're due back in fieldbase soon so we will get a phonecall off you, I'm home now too so we can speak for the first time in aaages!
    Hope you're still having a fantastic time, you must've really settled into the rhythm of life out there. I remember having been gone a while just becoming really settled and comfortable with the pace of things, and so independent Becky! So yeah I'm home for the hols, its really sunny and hot here, for england... in march...
    Got exams starting in a month though... not so cool.
    Really looking forward to hearing from you soon!
    Lots of love, Ben xxx

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  5. Victoria- Echo 3
    Hi Missy
    Well done to Pete and all participants in the video, I was nearly sick when the enviromentally friendly beast was eaten. Hollywood here you come. Steven Spielberg has 't seen nothing yet. Can't let all that talent go to waste.
    It was super to read your latest adventures and also to hear from Mum yesterday that you are having a fab. time and that the food is really enjoyable. Have you eaten any interesting chutneys with the curries? I am in cooking mood and thought we could experiment with some unusual fruits next time we make some.
    I hope you are able to bring back some spices so we can sample some of the Indian delights.
    Also I am interested to know what arts and crafts the locals are producing and if you have seen interesting fabrics etc. It had occurred to me that you might be able to find this long longed for ring for your small finger. Being away from the tourist area you might see some unusual jewelry.
    Anyway I will ask Mum to bring some empty luggage over to be filled by the delights found in India. I am thinking of house renovations with an Indian flavour.
    Time has flown and your adventure will be coming to an end with the next trip, so savour the moments.
    Hugs and xxx Oma and Gp

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  6. Amanda Echo 3
    Looks like you had a great time. I liked the video/skit but glad we had chatted on the phone this morning or I might have thought the eggg in the pan were turtles eggs! Dad will be well envioius as they! Fantastic to see eggs being laid. Beats sitting in a hide in Bulgaria for 2 nights waiting for bears. lol mum

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  7. Marjolein Bender - Echo 3

    Hey there, lieve Marjo!!! wat een geweldig verslag van jullie turtle phase en wat een ongelooflijk kleine mini turtles zijn dat daar op het strand. Mooi filmpje ook van jullie project en jij bent zo te zien een goeie toneelspeelster. Was gaaf om je gistern even te spreken en misschien kunnen we morgen stiekem ook nog even contact hebben. . . Je ziet er op de groepsfoto al lekker gebruind uit zeg. Is dat van de zon of van het vieze water, haha. Heb je onze brieven al ontvangen? En nu zeker voorbereiden op de trektocht. Hoelaat gaan jullie woensdag vertrekken? Nog maar even lekker relaxen dan in het base-camp.Heeeeele dikke knuffel en kusjes, mama

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  8. To Venetia - Tango 5
    Hi Venetia.
    We have sorted out phone credit so it should be working again now - but the call on Sunday was VERY expensive!!! Best to e-mail or text when you need to - I will be in office on tuesday (27th) if you want to reach me there. I will e-mail the other Venetia to see if she knows what to do ref sim card.
    Have a great phase 3 - we'll look forward to seeing photos/hearing about it over the next 2 or 3 weeks. Take care & loads of love. mum, Dad & Jamiexxxx

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  9. TOM MITCHELL ECHO 3 X TURTLES

    Will and I just back from Leeds ... fantastic to see olive ridleys !!! SO lucky to actually see them laid, hatched and down into the sea. A real privilege, Will and I so jealous. Really! Highlight, however, was the Health and Safety Video!!!!! BRILLIANT! Just replied to Jack's text re. Thai visas and told him to look. VERY VERY FUNNY ... Hope you call before next phase? xxxx

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  10. Jackie Lightfoot27 March 2012 at 15:26

    to Rory (ex Tango 5)

    Hi Rory, it was so great to hear your voice and get details of what you and T5 have been up to. Needless to say all the info has been passed on to grandparents and others. I know that Charlotte is watching the blog too.

    We look forward to hearing where you are going to be next. I will change the laptop weather settings to somewhere close to your location and find out just how hot it really is. Currently monitoring London, Brighton and Mysore. Its hotting up here with record temperatures set in Scotland yesterday. Hope there will be some summer weather left when you are home.

    Enjoy the next phase, wherever it is. I have 3000 words to write and submit before your return, I'll be thinking of you from the library!

    loads of love from all of us Mum xxx

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  11. Phoebe Atkinson-Eberle27 March 2012 at 16:51

    FAO HELEN SMITH (EX ECHO 3)
    hello Helen, your Ma has just been showing me your blog - lucky you. Have a safe trip home - come and tell us all about it PLEASE!

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  12. tiets en pietje28 March 2012 at 16:47

    Joost charlie 2

    hoi jostie,
    wat een gave foto's en leuk om te zien wat je daar aan het doen bent. Wat onwijs schattig die kleine schildpadjes die voor hun leven rennen over het strand. wij vragen ons af of je lekker tukt in zo'n hangmat, heb je wel airco?? Het ziet er echt gruwelijk uit dat kamp tussen de bomen. Ik(tiets) zit me hartstikke te verheugen om jou te zien in India en samen rond te trekken. Ik (pieter) zit me hartstikke te verheugen op jouw terugkomst, maarja eerst even mijn examens. Heel veel plezier bij je nieuwe project en hopelijk stuur je snel een smsje om te vertellen hoe het is. xx mammie en pietie

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  13. Archie Lightfoot29 March 2012 at 19:43

    Rory, Charlie 1

    Great to hear from you the other day and to see your smiling face in your new group photo. Looks like the next phase will be a breeze... on the beach looking at turtles... Missing the dinner time discussions and looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks, and hearing all the tales. Lots of love. Dad

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  14. Sofia K, Echo 3
    Hi Sofia! At this point I believe you are off to the Turtle conservation project. I hope you get to see the baby turtles. I know how much you love animals. Looking forward to hearing all about it. Lastly I sent you a card - snail mail. I really hope you got it.
    Hugs and Kisses - Aunt Florrie

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  15. Rosie Robinson1 April 2012 at 17:42

    Amanda Robinson Charlie 2, phase 3

    Hi Jim,

    Hope that you are well.. Just wanted to send you a little message to let you know that I love you so much. I have just got back from a great ski trip... and am having sunday lunch with mum before driving back to Cardiff. Ski-ing was excellent although it got quite hard towards the afternoon as the snow was quite slushy. Lovely weather though, with blue skies and high temps 12 degrees on the top of the slope.. so lots of sunscreen. It was great to see everyone again - John, Angela and Jonathan and Claire were there as well as some other people that I had met on previous international weeks, so that was good.

    Cardiff is great - I love going to the city centre and looking at all the clothes and walking around the squares - it is lovely! There is a gorgeous park nearby too... I have a great housemate called Laura who is generally up for anything so hopefully we should be able to do some exploring together.. perhaps the breacon beacons or the coast.. can't wait!

    I do hope that you are having a good time.. saw the video and it was hilarious! I hope that the last phase is excellent.. remember to finish strong!
    Lots and lots of love
    Rosie xxxxxx

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