12th October 2013
So, after a night in the jungle, venturers were really starting to get an idea of what life is really like on a Raleigh expedition. Over the last two days all Delta groups have trekked out into the jungle and survived their first night in the Bornean wilderness.
Deltas 1, 3 and 5 trekked out on Wednesday with two local guides per group, after a training session on camp craft and how to stay safe in the jungle. After swinging between the trees in our hammocks we transformed from novices to (almost) experts! So as Deltas 1, 3 and 5 trekked back to Basecamp, Deltas 2 and 4 were up and raring to go out for their jungle training. Despite the rain, everyone was in high spirits and either excited to get into the jungle or pleased they’d made it back from the trek with a mountain of knowledge and expertise to take with them for the rest of the expedition.
Friday morning we were all back together and the only thing on people’s minds was ALLOCATIONS!!
Below is where your friends and family will be spending their phase one of this expedition and a quick reminder of the projects venturers will be involved in over the next three months.
Muhammad Tahir, Mohana Ramanee, Harriet Ayliffe, Ella King, Bethany Scott, Adam Del Guidice, David Salter, Oger De Vries, Sebastian Skjott and Nina de Planque
PMs: Hugh Rogers, Zhanara Yessenova, Alicia Lovell
Alpha 1 will be building a Community Learning Centre in the village of Togudon in partnership with PACOS (Partners of Community Organisations in Sabah).
Yin-Shyen Chon, Kirstey Selva, Emily Reed, Chloe Barren, Timothy George, James McPherson, Felix Hochholzer, Willem Volker, Romy Menten and Isa Vroom
PMs: James Harper, Angela Tucker, Rae Lloyd
In association with the Asian Forestry Company (AFC), Alpha 2 will be constructing a Gravity Fed Water system in the village of Sonsogon Suyad, located in the hills of Kota Marudu.
Woan Wei Loh, Jack Pairin Joseph, Josephine C-Thorwill, Lauren Wells, Emilia Wood, Quddus Rahman, Oscar Castenfelt, Michiel van Wulfften Palthe and Hannah Crook
PMs: Ali Fewell, Dickie Humphries, Nicola Smith
Alpha 3 will be involved in the construction of a second suspension bridge at Imbak Canyon, a class 1 protected site. In constructing the suspension bridge further research can take place into this bio diverse rainforest and illegal logging and hunting can be more closely patrolled.
Justice Pius, Peh Hwa Wong, Jennifer Moroney, Charlotte Wells, James Wileman, Archie Cage, Thommy Doeksen, Florentine Arkel, Katherine Stack and Robert Gibson
PMs: Nic Logan, Nat Salvesen
Alpha 5 will be starting with the Dive lessons on Mamutik island, within the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Marine Park, in conjunction with Borneo divers, finishing the phase with a 12 day trek.
Weng Yee Loke, Pg Zaheerudin, Lucy Maguire, Isabella White, Peter Wallis, Kyle Scott, William Shaw-MacGillivray, Ole Hylkema, Bobbie Schuller and Stefanie Siedenburg
PMs: Chris Payne, Naomi Moore
Alpha 6 will be starting phase 1 with their 12 day trek. Groups will be trekking in the south western corner of Sabah on the Kalimantan and Sarawak border in Long Pasia – a remote area of Borneo steeped in tradition and folk lore. Alpha 6 will finish this phase on Mamutik island for their Dive lessons.
Following allocations, everyone was buzzing, new groups were formed and people were getting to know each other – the name games were flowing. In groups we all discussed hopes and fears Venturers had for the expedition and the phase in general.
As a team, we want Raleigh to be everything the Venturers hope and dream it will be. Personal journeys will be carved out of the soil, Venturers will develop and evolve over the expedition in so many different ways – let the adventure begin!
Over the next three weeks Venturers will be getting stuck in to sustainable construction, environmental conservation and adventure. Good luck to everyone in phase 1, updates to come soon on how the projects are getting on.
