Well after weeks of training and anticipation our venturers have finally arrived, and boy are we pleased to meet them!
Lots of curry!
A home from home!
We picked up a surprisingly perky group this morning at Bangalore Airport and treated them to their first taste of India in the form of a delicious dosa and, of course, a cup of chai.
Making sure we've got everyone!
A hearty Indian breakfast
After a four hour bus drive, we were finally at Fieldbase and greeted by some very excited PMs. They gave the venturers a tour of Fieldbase and took the venturers to their dorms so they could get their mosi nets up and sleeping bags out.
Arriving at Fieldbase
Off to unpack and find their beds
Mark then gave them a welcome chat and an overview of the projects that they would be working on during their time in India.
Finding out about their projects
All the PMs already know quite a lot already about the projects and after going on their PPVs have a good idea of what to expect. It was really wonderful to hear all the excited gasps and see all the smiles of the venturers as Mark gave them a quick overview of Expedition. After two weeks of training, all of the PMs felt a spark of excitment that expedition is very much alive and all around them!
Just before the venturers sat down for lunch, Helen put them into their India groups that they’ll be training with over the next five days. These are:
India 1
Ed, Maggi and Jon: Amelia, Lavinia, Lukas, Anna, Megan, Albertine, Jamie, Julie, Suthakar
India 2
Kath and Sian: Roz, Zoe, Leticia, Esmee, Stewart, Sterre, Lizzie, Alex, Shruti
India 3
Jon and Charlie: Lizzie, Jenni, Kate, Jake, Gemma, Steph, Valerie, Dan, Shafeeque
India 4
Andy and Hannah: Lucy, Hannah, Matt, Anne, Claire, Harriet, Will, Firose
India 5
Rachel, Anthony and Kim: Lucy, Aaron, Robyn, Lisa, Veerle, Maya, Victoria, Victor
One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be a busy next five days. Tomorrow morning everyone is leaving in their India groups for three days of trek training. The venturers will be learning camp craft, navigation skills, how to cook on Trangiias and doing their swim test. It’s going to be a fantastic few days and I can’t wait to update the blog with everything they’ve been up to!
So, after an afternoon of name games, admin and packing for trek, it was an early night for everyone. We’ve all got a 5am start tomorrow, the perfect opportunity for our venturers to have their first taste of our famous energy bombs!
A few games before lunch
The all important 'three bowls'
Hi Lieverd/Lavinia, wat sta je er mooi bij!!!! heerlijk om je te zien, ik zie waar je slaapt, wat leuk!! vanavond komen de anderen, laat ik alle foto's zien, ik heb ze al de blog doorgestuurd. Vette zoen, je mam, het is gek zonder jou. Emily/mother Lavinia
ReplyDeletePost for Anne Schouten Group India 4
ReplyDeleteHi Anne, just a small note from rainy Holland. Very excited to see you arrived and very pleased that the blog is updated so quickly! Have fun on your 3 days trektraining. Love mum, dad & robin.
For Roz India 2
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, you should feel at home in the female dorm!! Work on your wardrobe has begun. Envious but not of the swimming part!
fao of Dan Rose:
ReplyDeleteHi Dan Really pleased to see you arrived safely - was great to see the blog pics. Enjoy the trek tomorrow. Have a brilliant time. Am in contact with Robyn and have had lovely message from her so no worries there. We all miss you already. Love Mum, Dad and all xxx
Hi Kate
ReplyDeleteIndia 3
Jon and Charlie: Lizzie, Jenni, Kate, Jake, Gemma, Steph, Valerie, Dan, Shafeeque
Brilliant to see your picture and know you have arrived safely. Love you tonnes XXXX
to harriet bailey ,raleigh india group 4. hi harri so glad you arrived safely, everyone sends their love and Jimbob says thanks for his pressy,he loved it!! looks amazing there,have a wonderful time and try and get in some of the photos !!take care i love you ,mum xx
ReplyDeleteHi Anna,
ReplyDeleteI now have a new morning routine: wake up, brush teeth, take pills, read about you!
The move is done just get to take some stuff to the tip tomorrow, and then done. Really missing you need some Anna wisdom!
I'm going to start my letter tomorrow got a dream that you will love to hear about. Love all the pictures of you by the way looking sexy!
hope your ok over there and it's not to hot make lots of friends and take lots of pictures for me.
miss you so much already keeping thinking must meet Anna for coffee oh wait no can't.
Looks great over there the dorm looks nice and the people look really cool and friendly.
love you keep me up to date with the gossip over there.
love you miss you be safe and have fun!
Love Ruth
hey anna glad you got there ok miss you already!!!! have a awesome time... love daisy xxxx
ReplyDeleteFor Anna Roberts,
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you got there safe, I really hope you're having a good time and I am already looking forward to you coming home with stories :D
Love Ross x
Hi Amelia (India 1) hope its going well Lisa X
ReplyDeleteHey Steph,
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you arrived safely. Have an amazing time, very proud of you too. Miss you loads already. Love ya cuz
Cazxxxxx
Dan! Cant believe I can see you in India. So proud of you. Have a fantastic time of your trek. Love you and watch out for the tigers Robynxxx
ReplyDeletethis is a message for amelia ayliffe:
ReplyDeletehi amelia!
hope you are having fun. not sure if you received my other messages, I am getting together a care package. lots of love m
Hello Ed M, looks like you are busy and having a great time. We're all working hard in cold and grey London, you have done the right thing! Take care of yourself and look forward to hearing your news when you're back in civilisation, thanks for your recent e-mail. All the best from me and the gang in London. Wenty
ReplyDeleteHi,a message for Robyn Brooks in 11J. Hi bobbin,yeah that's right i have managed to send you a message without any help from Charlie or Mart!!!!Just want you to know we have seen all the pictures of your new bedroom etc,its all looking really glamorous out there....Have lots of fun Bob and know that all of us love you so so much and are so proud of you.....Love always Mum,Mart,Fat Cat,Lucas and Liles xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteMessage for Lisa Marshall,India Group 5 -
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa! Glad to see you've arrived safe and well, I hope it's not raining and you got some sleep on the plane. It's chucking it down at home and freezing! Not much to report here yet, we have a new girl at work who is nice and keeping me sane thankfully and everything is fine. I hope you're settling in well hun. I miss you loads already; keep forgetting you've gone and go to text you!! I'll keep checking the blog and will write you a letter soon.
p.s Saw you in the pic having some food :P
Love you loads and thinking of you. Bye for now xxxxx
For Clare Davidson(aka kickass medic)
ReplyDeleteHi there CC!, Have just been catching up on the blog now I'm back in Melbs. Love seeing photos of you over there. Green with envy but also pleased as punch that you're doing a Raleigh. Still much adventuring to happen before I clap eyes on you but countdown has begun =).
Lots of Love
~boo
hallo esmee, ik ga het nog een keer proberen hahaha .Eens een digibeet voor altijd een digibeet . schrijf je dat eigenlijk wel zo. ik ga nog een keer het zelfde stukjes schrijven. we hebben gisterenavond het blog gelezen . heel erg leuk om de foto's te zien en de stukjes te lezen. jullie hebben volgens mij echt een vuurdoop gehad. het lijkt mij op het eerste gezicht een super leuke groep. ga vooral genieten en laat het over je heen komen. hoe voel jeje ? Zit je goed in je vel ? ik heb de huisarts gesproken. alles is goed . met de medicijnen moet je gewoon uitproberen . zijn er veel mensen aan de diarree,dan eveneen paar dagen stoppen met omeprazol. vanaf volgende week woensdag mag je proberen om een paar dagen te stoppen met innemen. gaat dat goed dan hoef je ze niet meer in te nemen , krijg je weer last dan neem je ze weer even intot het weer beter gaat. neem wel je vitaminers ,magnesium en d 3 . de zakjes zoveel mogelijk niet innemen. zo dat is ook weer gezegd. nu zijn we klaar met dat medische gedoe. hier gaat alles zijn gangetje. ik moet eerlijk zeggen dat het wel stil is zonder jou . ik moet even een nieuw slachtoffer vinden, die het ook leuk vindt om uren te kletsen hahaha . Ach via een blog informatie uitwisselen is ook niet verkeerd . Nu maar hopen dat ik het allemaal goed doe .Eerlijk gezegd twijfel ik daar wel aan . Krijg ik een een reactie op deze blog ,dan kan ik aanemen dat het gelukt is en zal het de volgende keer een stuk sneller gaan.We zijn heel erg benieuwd naar je avonturen , dus als je even tijd en zin hebt , alle tekst is welkom een dikke kus van ons allemaal mama (petra augustijn)
ReplyDeleteFor Zoe Coles
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe, Been waiting eagerly for news of your safe arrival. Missing you already! Hope you've settled in and all is going well. Looking forward to the blogs and photo's. Enjoy!!
hi a message for lisa marshall in india 5, hello lisa its stephen im so glad to see you got there ok and i hope that you are settling in okay we all hope you are okay we all miss you and can't wait to see you when you get back hope you enjoy it love you xxxx
ReplyDeleteFor Amelia Ayliffe (India 1)
ReplyDeleteHey!!!
Hope you're having fun so far. Saw the photos and read up on what you've done so far. Sounds like you're having a great time. And the facilities in your camp look amazing! Tried doing that 'manoeuvre' I told you about earlier, didn't quite work. Apart from that, not much news. Will definitely try and send you a care package as soon as possible. Love you, Laura xx
mee India 2 said...
ReplyDeletelieve esmee
ik zit nu bij je moeder op de koffie ,ben namelijk in nederland . de gevulde koeken en banketstaaf smaakt weer eg goed .super leuke blog. veel plezier en een dikke kus tante jelina
for Lukas Klautke (India 1)
ReplyDeleteHallo Lukas,
wir haben deine tollen Fotos im Blog gesehen. Wir hoffen es gefällt dir bis jetzt und wünschen dir noch viel Spaß bei deinen Vorbereitungen auf die Expedition.
Alles Liebe Elke, Ekkehard und Philipp
message for stephanie beaumont india 3
ReplyDeleteHi Unagi. so Bianca has been stalking me she turned up unannounced at my house on sunday and stated shouting thru my letter box. she doesnt understand the word NO.anyhoo hope u r well and u r being missed i have noone to complain 2.
Hi Steph (Eco 3)
ReplyDeleteHope u r having a wail of a time.The whole experience looks fab.I am following u on the Blog which is great.Missing u loads.Have no one to moan at.Enjoy u brave girl.
love u loads Aude
to matt bell.i am following your adventures via my laptop its great to see that you are having such a wonderful time with group 4.reg [recyled teengager]
ReplyDeleteHi Stu! Charlie 2! I have had a little look at the photos of your adventure with Raleigh! I hope you are having an amazing time! I wonder which project you are on now. I am in Tamil, so we could be very close! I am leaving Adam tomorrow. Having an incredible time. I hope you are enjoying everyday...remember...keep your eyes, your ears, and most of all your heart open. (And look after hippo). Take care, lots of love, Shona x (see you in December for a Super Duper Christmas!)
ReplyDeleteaaron mc peake tango 6 dont know if you got my other messages but have been reading the blogs and your face book message i love hearing everything you are doing love you ane miss you loads look after yourself everyone sends lots of love and kisses mum dad eve daire and aoidin xxx
ReplyDeleteTo Matt Bell.
ReplyDeleteHope you're enjoying your elephant trench, beat the ones at Berlin and I'll be impressed :D Might have to start doing a Reg and following your time out there.
Got my first boxing fight on the 1st of nov and the 2nd on the 19th mate. There's some news for ya!
Getting those withdrawal symptoms I spoke about in Europe buddy!
Enjoy the sun you hate so much! :P
Antony.