Happy Diwali!

It has now been a few days since all the newly formed groups left Field base and arrived at their new projects.


Tango 5 had a great start to the phase spotting elephants on the drive down to Kerala. They are now well in to their 16 day trek and have already climbed the second highest mountain in South India – Misappulimala, which peaks at 2,637m.

Charlie 1 arrived at Uluvadu and got stuck into things by digging a new long drop toilet. They are now continuing with the 7 houses started last phase.

Charlie 2 have met the villagers at Hagaranahalli and settled in to the school where they will be living for the next few weeks. One the first day they managed to complete the foundations for 6 of the 24 sanitation units that are being constructed.

Echo 3 set up camp and met the locals. They have been having lots of fun continuing with the Elephant Proof Trench and Solar Fencing started last phase.

Echo 4 also had a new long drop to dig and got their new bashas organised before continuing work on their Trench.

A few of the groups have also had the chance to celebrate Diwali with the locals, which is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism. Also known as the ‘Festival of lights’ Diwali is celebrated for 5 days, and involves lots of fireworks, candles and firecrackers.

Here at Field base myself (Christina) and Anna walked into the local village to see the morning celebrations of Diwali and found lots of Cows being cleaned ready to be painted with bright colours, and everyone wearing their best clothes to celebrate ‘Naraka Chaturdashi’.

 This day of Diwali signifies the victory of ‘good over evil’ and ‘light over darkness’. Small oil lamps are lit and elaborate Kolams (sand paintings) are drawn outside houses to bestow prosperity to homes.

Through the daily sit reps we were able to find out that Echo 3, Charlie 1 and Charlie 2 were fully involved with local celebrations, visiting local temples and being included in the community festivities.

Polly C and Del will be back tomorrow from Echo 3 and Echo 4 with an update of how they are getting on. If you have any messages for any of the groups leave a comment and all messages will be taken out with the loop vehicles.



Diwali Celebrations at Field Base



All text by Christina Ambrose

Photos by Anna Tate and Christina Ambrose



We built this (basha) city on rock and soul

News flash: More blog responses from Alpha 2 have arrived, see the "comments" section attached to this blog if you are waiting to hear from someone!

(above: Tom D, Sofa, Tjebbe, Claire, Eveline, Ed and Esmee getting clean in the check dam at Alpha 4. All pictures by Gavin Shelton)

Hello avid blog followers!

Today Country Director Gavin Shelton returned to Fieldbase after scouting out a new trek route for future Raleigh programmes, which took him and PM Ivan Phillips through the Alpha Four campsite.

"I have to say, the Alpha Four campsite is just amazing, they have really put in a lot of effort and it looks wonderful," Gavin said.

He said the group was working at a cracking pace repairing the solar-powered elephant-proof fence that protects the village of Anaikatty from wildlife including wild boar, deer, bison and of course elephants.

"It was really wonderful to see some of the fields within the boundary of the fence becoming green and growing well now they are protected by the fence," he said.

(picture: the mess tin tree at Alpha Four and below, the Alpha 4 basha-based campsite)

The group is also reinforcing the fence by digging some lengths of elephant-proof trench, as the fence repairing project was going so well.

"They have also been getting involved with the local community which is great to see," he said.

The next loop vehicle with Programme Administrator Lucy, Country Programme Manager Mark Ashby and photographer Ann Taylor is due back later today, so there will be more tales from the projects in the next couple of days.

In the mean time, Alpha 2 is set to visit the monks at the Golden Temple, at Alpha 3 rumours have been emanating about a fancy dress dinner, and at Alpha 1, they've done amazing times with their trekking and pitched in to hire a dorm room for a night so are no doubts feeling a little more refreshed after a real bed and wash.

Standby for more news from the Alpha groups

(Above: PM Peter leads Ed, Parthi, Eveline, Sreejith and the rest of Alpha Four to work)