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)

Try saying "Kalainhnahalla" five times really fast...

(Above: Alpha 2 members Tom D at the back with Esmee and Lucy tackle one of the Kalainhnahalla eco-sanitation units. Thanks to Dr Andy for the A2 photographs)

So we here at field base know that to date, there haven't been many photos from Alpha 2 on the blog. So today we have a surprise for all the A2 family and friends: A special guest blogger!


Chris Ashford (pictured, below) put pen to paper and sent this thoughts about working on the eco-sanitation project with project managers Joey and Caroline back to Fieldbase.

Since he wrote his blog entry, we have had word that the Alpha 2 gang have actually completed the brick work for 10 eco-sanitation units, well ahead of schedule!


The editor would like to thank Chris for taking the time to write a blog entry, and to Doctor Andy for acting as proxy photographer during his loop visit to the A2 site.



A day in the life of Alpha 2 – the story so far

The cool morning air caresses my face as I awaken. I look to the left ot see the early sun peak over the surrounding hills, reflecting its beauty off the vast reservoir. As the warmth slowly moves in we prepare a traditional Raleigh breakfast. It’s porridge.

A bucket of murky water to wash in prepares us for a hard but rewarding days’ work mixing cement, laying bricks and trading witty banter with the masons which all adds up to a fantastic day at the work site.

The local community forever stands in front of our cameras and the children longingly want for a game of international cricket. The work day ends with a cool refreshing dip in the reservoir. Some of us sunbathe and others write in their journals. As the shadows lengthen and the breeze settles, the twinkling stars emerge after a well-deserved rest. The sky is lit up with a bounty of brilliance and even though the sun has disappeared over a far hill, we are warmer than ever. The sheer charisma of nature itself is enough to release all the worries and negative emotions we may have. We slowly all fall asleep and wait for the cool morning air to greet us once more. (picture: PM Caroline with Country Director Gav and fellow PM Joey Maloney at the Kalainhnahalla school where Alpha 2 is currently staying.)





(Above: That's not a chimney! That's Claire, Hannah and Chris in an eco-sanitation unit!)



So far at Alpha two (the Reservoir boys) we have completely constructed all bases for the units. We are now building up to the top of each unit. Besides building, we have also been embracing the local culture. Learning Kannada (the local language) has been a top priority of many of the Venturers here. However, we have only got as far as: Chinagiday – Super!Nero – waterand Binky – Fire!We at Alpha 2 believe in full food preparation and why waste our vast culinary skills? Tom D and I acquired three chickens and killed, plucked and gutted them for our Alpha 2 dinner party last Saturday night. Leanne – acting as head chef – promised and delivered a gastronomically pleasing affair. In the mean time, we will be visiting local temples on the weekend and above all, will be ploughing on with our primary project. And forever not understanding the Kannada language.

To all in the other Alpha groups and at home: we’re experiencing more than promised and all is well.

So now, for a quite whip-around the other projects:
Fieldbase is humming along with a facelift for the office which has involved Country Programme Manager Mark wearing his medical scrubs as a painting outfit.

Alpha 1 is marching along well, they have picked up their next food drop and will have the loop visiting them on monday.

Alpha 3 baked PM Caz a couple of cakes after a few tough days of work on site as a thank-you at the tribal housing project.

And at Alpha 4, they came to work today to discover some of the fence they had repaired had been damaged by elephants so they've had to get stuck into that. Forutnatley they're working efficiently and it won't affect scheduling at all. Tonight they're going to a local village to check out some traditional dancing.

That's the latest from Raleigh India 09C, our next blog is scheduled for Monday.

Both Loop vehicles will be out with the PRO and photographer so there will probably not be much in the way of new photographs but there will be another special-guest bloggger and all the latest news!