Antipodean Invasion!

Early on the afternoon of the 1st October 2007 twelve young people from Rockingham, West Australia, were met at Kota Kinabalu International Airport by Raleigh staff Tom, Tom (just to confuse them!) Rory, and their Bridging The Gap youth worker Nicci.

They clamed their baggage, some had a quick cigarette, and boarded the bus to take them to Likas Hostel where they spent their first night settling into the sticky heat of Kota Kinabalu.

Everybody was excited to be arriving in Kota Kinabalu, as well as a little tired from the journey, as they have a very unique bond with the capital of Sabah - their hometown of Rockingham is twinned with Kota Kinabalu.

After a night of ‘luxury’ they were whisked off to start their Malaysian adventure at ‘Jungle Camp’ - the scene of the staff’s intensive training just a week earlier - where they were met by four of the host country participants.

They spent the evening talking and playing games, and enjoying the relative quiet before the arrival of the Brits with the added spice of a few Europeans and Americans the following day.