Just Desserts

As Marie said, the crème brulée offered more than a huge sugar rush for our PMs, it also revealed their destinations for Phase 1 of 10E. 

Shady, Geoff and Clare found Koolal in their pudding and will be heading up our community project based in the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu.  This terrific trio will work alongside the local tribal community to build a preschool for children from Koolal and surrounding villages.  Tribal people in India face many challenges and one of the most pressing is the lack of access to education.  The preschool will help develop not only learning but also the social skills these little ones will need to fit into mainstream education. 

Clare, Shady and Geoff

Revisiting Mutilmoola for some inspiration from previous groups in 09I and 09J

While the setting is idyllic - Koolal is set right in the middle of a tea plantation - monsoon has certainly arrived in Tamil Nadu, and making peace with the rain and mud will be one of the challenges these guys will face as they work to build the school.   The community were thrilled to meet the group on their project planning visit inviting them into their homes for chai and curry served traditionally on banana leaves. 

Meanwhile heading off in the quest to build an elephant-proof fence and trench on the environmental phase are Julie and Shane.  The duo were joined by our blogger Marie on their recent visit to stake out their campsite and plan how they will live at one with nature and most importantly and fittingly...elephants. 

Human-elephant conflict is a big issue here in India and Huskarhadi, the small hamlet located in the Mysore region is no exception.  Elephants spend 16 hours a day eating (my personal dream) and with the depletion of their natural habitat they are increasingly looking towards crops as a way to meet the demands of their stomachs.  Unfortunately these crops are the livlihood of local farmers and so protecting them is their highest priority.  The competing needs often cause clashes and result in loss of both human and elephant lives.  In fact it is estimated that 20% of all elephant deaths in India stem from direct and at times extreme actions taken by people.

Shane inspects damage caused by elephants just days ago

The solution comes in the form of solar powered elephant proof fences combined with elephant proof trenches.  For general knowledge sake should you ever face such a question at your local pub quiz, an elephant proof trench should be 2 metres deep, 1 metre wide at the bottom and 2 metres wide at the top so that it resembles a wedge of cheese.  Rumour has it that these highly intelligent animals can sometimes outsmart this by knocking over trees to make bridges or indeed act like a bulldozer and push in the sides, so the addition of the six foot fence is seen as the perfect combination.  This expedition we will build 1.5 km of fence and 500 metres of trench, no mean feat especially when one considers the additional challenges that living in a self-sufficient jungle camp bring to the table. Fortunately the worksite is just a few hundred metres from a stunning reservoir, perfect for cooling off in the afternoons and soothing the aching muscles brought on by digging.

While Marie and Julie do their best to recruit some local support -girls I think they may be a little too young to dig

And finally, flushed from the success of recent trek training, Nick and Louise will be pulling on their boots to lead the first trekking group through 200 kms of the beautiful Kerala.  It will be a baptism of fire for our trekkers who will face the second highest peak in Southern India, Misapullimala - around the 2,500 metre mark, on their second day.  From there they will head down to lakeside for some rafting and a survival challenge before continuing on through the Western Ghats.  Their journey will be punctuated by forests, tea plantations, backwaters and of course the wonderfully friendly locals. 

Now it's a 1.5 day journey to the start of this trek and so with just 3 days to complete their project planning visit, Nick and Louise had the chance to flex their muscles on our new 3 day trek for our recently arrived Wembley group. 

Nick shows how to pull off leech socks - these will be needed people!

While Louise adopts the popular clothes catalogue pose to show where they have come from or perhaps where they are heading

Simply stunning - the views of Kerala!

Meanwhile back at the ranch or field base, Jo will be keeping us all healthy and well as fieldbase medic.

Jenny won't have time to lie around as she oversees the logistics for 4 different programmes

Fortunately she is ably assisted by Robin - see how excited he is

And Pete......the tiger???

The gorgeous Neelima will not only help us work out how one uses one's hand to consume rice, but slighly more importantly will ensure all of our admin needs are taken care of

While Marie will be roving - taking it all in to ensure you are kept up to date as it happens and finally

Anita will be taking care of our safe and managing our money.  She has also taken on the challenge of managing our growing photo collection so we can share them with our friends and family back home.

It's 12.31am on Sunday, we have just finished our staff induction which culminated in an adventure race organised by Veejay, taking in the highlights of Mysore including (in no particular order of importance) Pizza Corner, the central fruit and veg market and of course Chamundi Hill.  It is a tired but highly excited crew who are bedding down tonight in their comfortable wooden frame mattress less bunk beds.

We can't wait for Tuesday!  Safe flight venturers.

PS - should you feel the need to bring me licorice that would be fine

Wembley have arrived safe and well

After a marathon journey of plane and bus the Wembley group of 10 young people, 2 teachers and 2 PMs have arrived safe and well.  I met the group this afternoon and helped settle them in to their new home - the stunningly beautiful if a little wet CTRD campus.  Despite being very tired and more than a little jet lagged the group were excited to have seen elephants, monkeys and peacocks on their way. 

We will keep you updated on their efforts to install 10 new toilets for the community of Ellamana.

Training, trekking and crème brûlée

Last week we were put through our paces as we underwent an intensive training schedule, sharpening our skills in field communications, map reading and first aid to mention just a few. By Friday, we were all set for a day of trek training. With alarms set for 4am, we bounced out of our sleeping bags and helped attach each other to rucksacks. Split into two groups - with a 10 minute interval between us  - we set off on a 26km trek with a spring in our step. Group two dubbed themselves Tortoise 2, as they surmised that group one would call themselves Tortoise 1. Unfortunately, group telepathy settings weren't working that morning. Thankfully the GPS was...

And they're off!

Amusing the villagers en route

As the day wore on blisters bloomed and shoulders sagged but through it all the team spirit was exemplary. The care, consideration and encouragement shown to each other was a beautiful thing to behold. An army marches on their stomach and happily a bakery marked our halfway resting point. We'd heard good things about egg puffs from Pete and Robin, who had previously recced the route, so we took the opportunity to sample one, two and then three and indeed they were good.

That's the spirit, Geoff!

Julie and Anita enjoy a quick break

Shane reading a recipe for egg puffs

Proving that it's not about the destination; it's about the journey, Tortoise 2 added an extra 5km to the route. Another interpretation is that they got lost. After ten hours of trekking (a bit longer for Tortoise 2), we reached our destination: Uday's chicken farm! Tired but elated a sense of achievement was shared by all. Camp was arranged quickly as dusk fell - as quickly as aching bodies can muster - before our next training session in camp craft commenced.

A Scotsman (Nick) and a pot of porridge

Nice branding, Louise!

Next morning we left camp to take our swimming tests at a picturesque spot beside a temple. Feeling refreshed we returned to field base for some downtime. Our thoughts turned to the big event of the evening: the announcement of project allocations. Who would be teamed with who? Would snorers be teamed with fellow snorers? Butterflies fluttered in tummies; making a change from the familiar pangs of diarrhoea. Later, looking groomed and lovely, we dined at Parklane Hotel in Mysore where all was revealed during dessert in the form of crème brûlée. Craftily plunged into it's custardy gloop were cocktail sticks with notes attached revealing the allocations. The project managers eyed their crème brûlée nervously before seizing the cocktail sticks. Destiny was in their hands...

                                       Clare holds aloft her crème brûlée

                                     Julie and Geoff digest the day's events

                                             The team and crème brûlée

                                             

Next time: Find out whether the project managers got their just desserts...

Manning up

Arriving around 10am last Tuesday and shrugging off jet lag, our six project managers were warmly welcomed to a freshly scrubbed field base. With the whole team assembled it was time for festivities including bubbles, an official welcome ceremony and a homemade chocolate cake lovingly prepared by Anna. 

 

 

                                          

So, let's meet the rest of the team:

Geoff

Interesting fact: "In the seventies I used to work with the rock band Skid Row."

Luxury item: "My guitar."

Motto: "Carpe diem."

Tip for World Cup glory: "Brazil."

Shane

Interesting fact: Shane has never broken a bone and doesn't intend to.

Luxury item: "My beard trimmer which has yet to work due to intermittent Indian electricity."

Motto: "May you have the foresight to know where you are heading, the hindsight to know where you've been and the insight to know you've gone too far."

Tip for World Cup glory: "If you've watched all the games, you will have watched a lot of telly. Don't forget to run about."

Julie

Interesting fact: "I posted £560 in a postbox and managed to get it all back."

Luxury item: "If I was allowed, it would be my phone."

Motto: "Take life as it comes."

Tip for World Cup glory: "Go any team! I'm not interested in football."

Shady

Interesting fact: "I can hold down entire coherent conversations whilst fast asleep and not remember a thing when I wake up."

Luxury item: "A moleskin notepad which was bought for me; never thought it would give me so much pleasure."

Motto: "Life is not a rehearsal."

Tip for World Cup glory: "Leave the country so you don't have to think about it."

Jo

Interesting fact: "I dance Argentine Tango."

Luxury item: "My iPod.'

Motto: "Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." Goethe

Tip for World Cup glory: "Don't watch it!"

Nick

Interesting fact: "I share a birthday with Abraham Lincoln."

Luxury item: "My moleskin notebook."

Motto: "Always bounce out of bed."

Tip for World Cup glory: "Argentina."

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Lazy Sunday Afternoon

After a week of finding our feet at field base and getting to grips with our roles, the team were given Sunday afternoon off. Disguised as tourists, we drove off to Mysore carrying our digital cameras with intent.

An obligatory photo of a Raleigh vehicle

First stop off was for a delicious southern Indian lunch. While the rest of us were concentrating on simply filling our bellies, Jenny was carrying out a very important experiment: butter naan vs parota. The result was inconclusive; they were equally delicious.

Emerging back into the throng we hit the tourist trail. An enjoyable drive ascending twisty roads, dodging cows and endearingly relaxed pedestrians en route, brought us to Chamundi Hill. One of the eighth most sacred hills in southern India - well that's what the sign says - and about 800 feet above Mysore. Dusty sandals were slipped off as we entered the Sri Chamundeswari temple for anointing.

The temple's 40m high gopuram

A 5m high Nandi (Shiva's bull vehicle)

Descending the hill and pressed for time we snatched a quick glimpse of Mysore Palace before stumbling into rickshaw rally, an exhilarating spin that transported us to a jungle-themed restaurant where we were greeted by waiters sporting safari outfits, including pith helmets. A good time was had by all.

Discovery of the day

Kashmiri naan

Who came up with this gem! It's naan, but not as we know it. Resembling a cheese and tomato pizza, closer inspection revealed cubes of mango and then the pièce de résistance: an unexpected mischievious smattering of red jam. Genius!

Quote of the day

Pete after his anointing: "I just need a green dot then I'll look like traffic lights."

Coming soon...project managers arrive...

And so it begins...

Our story begins in Jayapura, 20kms outside of Mysore; a tranquil, pastoral idyll that's home to field base. With the arrival of the advanced team earlier this week, this scene of rural loveliness has been swept up by a monsoon of activity. Preparations are now well underway for an expedition as epic, inspiring and emotionally charged as any World Cup. But first things first, let's say namaskara to the team:

Raleigh Rovers

Goalkeeper

Our safe pair of hands is Jenny, logistics manager

Interesting fact: Jenny has been on expedition twice already. She got back from Costa Rica in the middle of May and this, her second adventure in India, will complete her Raleigh hat-trick.

Luxury item: “Olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Green and Blacks chocolate – the airline had a massive baggage allowance so I decided to load my bag with goodies from home.”

Motto: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Proust

Tip for World Cup glory: “Let’s just say the fact that the expedition overlaps with the World Cup is a happy coincidence.”

Defence

Logistics coordinators Pete and Robin are the backbone of our team

Pete

Interesting fact: Since 1994, Pete has run the London marathon thirteen times and the New York and Venice marathons once. Not content with that, he recently completed the UK Ironman triathlon in 487th place finishing in 12 hours 41 minutes!

Luxury item: “My Swiss Army knife, which I’ve had since I was 16. It has a toothpick and tweezers - I hope I don't lose it.”

Motto: “Whether you believe you can, or you can’t, you are right.” Henry Ford

Tip for World Cup glory: “Argentina.”

Robin

Interesting fact: Robin was once in a Bon Jovi cover band.

Luxury item: “A chrome shaving set but I’ve decided to grow a beard, so it’s pretty pointless.”

Motto: “Always bring a hammock.”

Tip for World Cup glory: “Ingerland...or Switzerland.”

Midfield

Orchestrating the passage of play are Anita, finance manager, and Neelima, administrator.

Anita

Interesting fact: Anita is a member of the Guernsey Glees and sings alto.

Luxury item: “Half a bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk.”

Motto: “A job worth doing is a job worth doing well” (So says Anita’s Mum.)

Tip for World Cup glory: “I don’t care.”

 Neelima

Interesting fact: Neelima was recently a host country venturer on the 10C expedition.

Luxury item: “My diary.”

Motto: “Not particularly, I like Clare’s though.”

Tip for World Cup glory: “Someone needs to teach me how to play football first.”

Attack

Focused and leading from the front, it’s our medics, Louise and Clare.

Louise (left) and Clare (right)

Interesting fact: On Louise’s first trip to Africa, her Mum gave her a surprise present: an enormous paper bag filled with condoms. Louise is still not sure why or what her Mum expected her to do with them. (Louise gave them to a local HIV/AIDS clinic anyway.)

Luxury Item: “Lots of books.”

Motto: "Feel the fear and do it anyway."

Tip for World Cup glory: “England but only because Scotland didn’t qualify.”

Clare

Interesting fact: Clare has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp!

Luxury item: “My iPod.”

Motto: “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." Dolly Parton

Tip for World Cup glory: “Not bothered who wins but could someone explain the offside rule to me.”

Team Mascot

Representing Raleigh Rovers is Marie, communications officer

Interesting fact: Marie is a mezzo-soprano.

Luxury item: “My Sony Walkman but actually I’d love to have my rucksack, which was last seen in Heathrow...”

Motto: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Soren Kierkegaard

Tip for World Cup glory: “Ingerland – definitely not France.”

So following that thrilling introduction be sure to check back often for exclusive stories, photos and videos lifting the lid on expedition life and leave us messages too. We'd really like that.