The Alpha 1 team arrived safely at Kg. Ambong on the west coast, where they have started to work out the logistics of installing the gravity water feed system, with the assistance of the local community and the Rotary Club of Luyang.
They are settling in to the community despite an incident with an escaping goat! “We were cutting down bamboo and you have to walk through an area with a bunch of goats, one of them escaped and ran to the tiny village store and started eating rice. Patrick chased him away and through the village, but the goat double backed to the store and knocked over all the pots and pans so Patrick chased him all around the village again. Finally one of the villagers called the goat by its name and it went running back into the pen effortlessly!” reports newshound Veronica.
The team are visiting the water source tomorrow, and will assess what is required to begin work next week. They are all having a fantastic time and are all looking forward to teaching in the local schools after the holiday weekend.
Alpha 2 arrived at the community of Batu Puteh, after a long journey across Sabah to the bridge over the Lower Kinabatangan River. They made their way down to the camp beside the river and set about digging the long drop and moving all their supplies in to camp. They established camp and discussed with the community up at the eco camp what they would be doing during the next seventeen days.
Alpha 3 made their way into the interior of Sabah to the town of Telupid where they switched transport and continued down to ‘Ranger Camp’ deep in Imbak Canyon by four wheel drive vehicles. They spent the first night here with the rangers and then moved to the BBC Camp where they are will be based for the rest of the phase.
They are hoping to start moving the materials to continue the work on the suspension bridge, over the next week. They are settling well into life at Imbak, and newshound India reports they have already got a camp mascot, a grasshopper who they have named ‘Bubble & Squeak’, seen snakes, and enjoyed a very tense 2 hour game of, Raleigh favourite, ‘Mafia’.
They are expecting work to be at ‘Sabah time’ pace over the weekend as it is a national holiday from Saturday until Wednesday, so I image lots of games will have been played by the next update.
An epic journey saw the mighty Alpha 4 travel the furthest to get to the site at Danum Valley, and with the early departure of 6am from Kota Kinabalu, upon arrival the shattered group set up camp. Luckily the only incident so far has been a leeching, which got Ben!- Don’t worry mate, the first one is the worst!
The team are set to continue trail clearing for the next few days, before making a start on some repairs to the Mengaris Camp where they are currently staying.
The trekkers of Alpha 5 had a relatively short journey by bus down to Sipitang where they were met by 4x4’s to continue the journey to the village of Long Pa Sia. They are currently trekking south towards the Sarawak border, and despite trekking up and down lots of hills, they continue to be in high spirits.
The group is enjoying the adventure of the jungle and slowly adapting to trekking life, newshound Joanne reports “Josh woke up thinking it was morning and started taking down his mozzie net then realized it was midnight, so went back to bed.” The only other nocturnal murmurings were from Project Manager Ben who “had a bit of a panic in the middle of the night when he thought someone was stood at the end of his hammock only to realize it was his own rucksack!”
The group will continue to trek in a southerly direction for the next week down towards Sarawak before returning to Kota Kinabalu to start their diving on Mamutik Island.
Alpha 6 had the shortest journey to get to the start of their first phase project – it took them approximately 10 minutes to arrive at the training room of Borneo Divers where they spent the day completing their diving theory lessons!
Newshound Francesca reports “we managed to get all the gear on a very tiny boat and it didn’t sink! It was like we had arrived on the set of ‘Battle of the (Red Ant) Island, but everyone is enjoying it. We are all loving diving off the Island, even Jess who was repeatedly harassed by a jellyfish whilst diving!” It’s nice to hear the groups are making new friends of all shapes and species!
The team will enjoy another 4 days diving out on the island before starting their trekking down in Long Pa Sia on the 16th October.
They are settling in to the community despite an incident with an escaping goat! “We were cutting down bamboo and you have to walk through an area with a bunch of goats, one of them escaped and ran to the tiny village store and started eating rice. Patrick chased him away and through the village, but the goat double backed to the store and knocked over all the pots and pans so Patrick chased him all around the village again. Finally one of the villagers called the goat by its name and it went running back into the pen effortlessly!” reports newshound Veronica.
The team are visiting the water source tomorrow, and will assess what is required to begin work next week. They are all having a fantastic time and are all looking forward to teaching in the local schools after the holiday weekend.
Alpha 2 arrived at the community of Batu Puteh, after a long journey across Sabah to the bridge over the Lower Kinabatangan River. They made their way down to the camp beside the river and set about digging the long drop and moving all their supplies in to camp. They established camp and discussed with the community up at the eco camp what they would be doing during the next seventeen days.
Alpha 3 made their way into the interior of Sabah to the town of Telupid where they switched transport and continued down to ‘Ranger Camp’ deep in Imbak Canyon by four wheel drive vehicles. They spent the first night here with the rangers and then moved to the BBC Camp where they are will be based for the rest of the phase.
They are hoping to start moving the materials to continue the work on the suspension bridge, over the next week. They are settling well into life at Imbak, and newshound India reports they have already got a camp mascot, a grasshopper who they have named ‘Bubble & Squeak’, seen snakes, and enjoyed a very tense 2 hour game of, Raleigh favourite, ‘Mafia’.
They are expecting work to be at ‘Sabah time’ pace over the weekend as it is a national holiday from Saturday until Wednesday, so I image lots of games will have been played by the next update.
An epic journey saw the mighty Alpha 4 travel the furthest to get to the site at Danum Valley, and with the early departure of 6am from Kota Kinabalu, upon arrival the shattered group set up camp. Luckily the only incident so far has been a leeching, which got Ben!- Don’t worry mate, the first one is the worst!
The team are set to continue trail clearing for the next few days, before making a start on some repairs to the Mengaris Camp where they are currently staying.
The trekkers of Alpha 5 had a relatively short journey by bus down to Sipitang where they were met by 4x4’s to continue the journey to the village of Long Pa Sia. They are currently trekking south towards the Sarawak border, and despite trekking up and down lots of hills, they continue to be in high spirits.
The group is enjoying the adventure of the jungle and slowly adapting to trekking life, newshound Joanne reports “Josh woke up thinking it was morning and started taking down his mozzie net then realized it was midnight, so went back to bed.” The only other nocturnal murmurings were from Project Manager Ben who “had a bit of a panic in the middle of the night when he thought someone was stood at the end of his hammock only to realize it was his own rucksack!”
The group will continue to trek in a southerly direction for the next week down towards Sarawak before returning to Kota Kinabalu to start their diving on Mamutik Island.
Alpha 6 had the shortest journey to get to the start of their first phase project – it took them approximately 10 minutes to arrive at the training room of Borneo Divers where they spent the day completing their diving theory lessons!
Newshound Francesca reports “we managed to get all the gear on a very tiny boat and it didn’t sink! It was like we had arrived on the set of ‘Battle of the (Red Ant) Island, but everyone is enjoying it. We are all loving diving off the Island, even Jess who was repeatedly harassed by a jellyfish whilst diving!” It’s nice to hear the groups are making new friends of all shapes and species!
The team will enjoy another 4 days diving out on the island before starting their trekking down in Long Pa Sia on the 16th October.
10 comments:
Dear Malaysian Adventurers, Greetings from the UK. Your exped sounds fab and a lot more interesting than jobs we are doing back here. Thanks for your blogs - it is good to hear your news and your adventures. Any chance of finding out who is in which team, please?
For Tom J, Assume you are there and enjoying yourself. Get yourself in a photo to remind us how ugly you are. Sisters all well - going to see Flo as captain of netball U12s tomorrow and Hatty birthday evening with friends. LoL M&D, E, H & F. XXX
All hail the mighty Alpha 4...I know you are out there Johnny...
For others searching for list..i did too...Raliegh headquarters has list...that's how I found you Johnny...have requested list go on blog site..hope this helps others waiting at home.What a place to be for a Biologist!!
love always...xx mu
Dear Pao Pei Ee Laine, glad to know that you all reached your destination safely, it is now Raya break so I guess everything is slow ya. We are all waiting to hear from you again soon. Do enjoy and remember to be careful yea! Safety is always very important. Take care girl. Luv, mum, che n ko
Hi there Ishen and your fellow adventurers. Glad you arrived safely and trust that you are savouring and enjoying every minute of the experience. Good luck! Take care
Catherine,Graham, Nanny, Lindsay and Andrew xxx
Hi Jo,jamie is watching for your news from Alpha5 every day everyone at playgroup misses you and jamie sends his love. Alex
Hi Matt,
Are you there yet??? Whats it like in the deepest junglerly land? Would it be suitablefor Emma only reply yes or very yes depending on the size of the spiders!
Are you wishing you had done a jungle cookery course now with witchty grubs and centipeds on banana leaves? Yum.
Dad has sublet your room to unruly tramps it doesn't look alot different therefore from when you left it!
Regularly reading Raleigh blog. Love you loads, keep safe, have fun and look after each other.
M&D, E, G&G oh four legged Beanie and Ottie xxx xxx xxx
A big hello to you all A very big one to Vaughn Edwards who is from Geraldton Australia miss you heaps
Mum and Brian
Alpha 1 is currently having a town visit in Kota Belud, enjoying the KFC and internet cafe.....hehehe......
To the other Alpha groups, have fun and we shall meet again this Saturday!! Change over day.....yeah...
Thanks to RIKL who gave lots of support in putting 4 of us in this expedition...
Vincent Tanes@Ambong (Alpha One)
Salamat pagi jo
i have just found you note on facebook,its so so lush to hear from you, i miss you like mad,words can not describe. im so plzed ur avin gud time and makin lots of friends,but then i ad no doubt you wouldnt the post is a nightmare at the moment but dont worry you will recieve a sack full of post soon hopefully, as we av all been writing to you none stop, i love you so much, av seen jam few times n been txtin on and off just spend saturday with karen she is doin gud too. just wish time would go faster so i can have my sister bk. take care miss and love you with all my heart bex,mum,dad,jam and karen
Carly - where are you? Sounds like all groups are having a great (not sure if thats the word!) time - We need to know have you worn the black sweatshirt and what has happened to the moustache? Love you loads and loads - take care and keep safe. Mum, John, Dani, Pants and everyone who knows you (yeah right!) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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