Raleigh International - Malaysia Summer 07F

A few words from Tifini

2007-08-14T07:00:00.003-07:00

Project Managers
by Tifini Clark – Alpha 4

A Project Manager, isn’t a Project Manager,
Unless you can trust them, unless you can speak to them,
Unless they become part of your team.

Having them as part of your team,
To go through the same as you, to do the same as you,
To feel what you say.

On this phase, the Project Managers are part of the team,
To be seen as a senior team member,
To be shown respect as you would want yourself.

But most of all, we’d like to thank them for being there,
For keeping us safe, for keeping us sane.
THANK YOU.

The Team
by Tifini Clark – Alpha 4

Everyone was different, everyone was nervous,
Till we spoke to each other,
We came together with just a word of good luck.

Now the everyone, is not just everyone,
But a team to be proud of,
A team that works together, a team we all love.

That team is know as Alpha 4, the one and only Alpha 4,
This group will never be forgotten,
A team that became one.

End of Phase 2

2007-08-14T07:00:00.002-07:00

Phase two will be coming to a close at the weekend. The Alpha Groups are due back in KK over the course of Sunday 19th August. They will have just enough time to do some laundry, buy additional supplies, phone home (if they want) and catch up with their friends. On Monday morning they will find out where they will be going for the last phase.

The Loop Rally

2007-08-14T07:00:00.001-07:00

Just over half way through each phase, field base sends out a vehicle to visit all the project sites to take in supplies if needed and mail and to make sure everything is ok with the groups. On the second phase field base sent out the three wise monkeys - Chris, Tom and Colin. Here's what went on......or so they say!

THE LOOP ROTI RALLY; The “official” inside story.
August 14th Kota Kinabalu
Wooooo!!! Yeah baby yeah! On the 10th August Raleigh International Malaysia’s 3 hottest playboys on expedition, jumped into the low rider Pimp Mobile (Bravo 2) and cruised round Sabah to check out the hot spots of the hippest social circuit.

Leaving early with new Welsh Medic Matthew Morgan, the crew wheel spun out of Field Base and roared off in the general direction of Mount K. With a quick refuel in a Roti shop in Ranau, some inspired driving from Logs Guru Colin around some logging trucks of dubious safety, we arrived at Party Location #1 - first stop Imbak Canyon, home of the mighty Alpha 3! ROAR!

The welcome was subdued, as A3 peered out of corners and cautiously approached the car like frightened orang-utans, but all such inhibitions were swept away as the overpowering siren like call of clinking coke cans and rustling of snickers wrappers brought them running. Leading the charge was “I left my boots on the balcony at Borneo Paradise” Heather, wallet in one hand and sticking two fingers up at the world, she dived into the back of the Bravo, quickly followed by Beth and Kim.

Yes guys, the reason you had no Mars or Snickers for the rest of the loop was because Alpha 3 shovelled them away like Sainsbury’s crate packers on overtime.
Having satiated their desires we were entertained with a pleasant walk through primary rainforest to A3 HQ where we swam in the river and were transported back to the smells of home with a good ol’ fashioned beef curry and rice.

Unfortunately our time at A3 was brief as we had to make tracks to get to the next event on the social calendar – Pirates of Danum Valley! Ooo arrr! With the wind in his hair and half a ton of dust in our mouths, Tom Carter, the local ladies man took us out of the jungle. A quick stop in Telupid for a cheeky roti before we crossed never ending palm oil fields to make it to Batu Puteh, where we picked up our own personal paparazzi (well, there’s not point being on the social circuit if there is no one to take photos of you!). With one eye on the elephant dung, one eye on the look out for monkeys and a general jedi sixth sense on the road for the ever menacing logging trucks and Malaysian drivers we made it into Danum for best dinner event in town.

The spread was phenomenal as all hands went on deck to prepare this veritable feast – deep fried breaded mushrooms, garlic butter, sausage rolls, chocolate crunchies to name but a few of the culinary delights conjured up by Alpha 4 under the guidance of Natasha, Emma, Tara, Harriet, and “Changeover-is-cancelled” Jess.. The Playboys were so impressed that rumour has it a 7th Alpha Group will be specially created for the 3rd phase – Alpha Fieldbase – Project Cooking.

Surrounded by the vulture like bearded pig searching for cast-offs, to the wild sounds of unidentified insects and in the potential presence of several “Kill You in 20 Minutes” Spiders, the group battled with piratical panache and swashbuckle to defeat the spread, but needless to say left overs were left….over?

The boys were knackered by this point having sustained several injuries, mainly caused through over eating and to the gentle strumming of Alan’s guitar, Colin soon added his own beats remix as he accompanied Alan with his bass like snores.

Unfortunately this continued through the night with the undersigned being subjected to the surround sound like nocturnal rumbles (nasal and anal) of Colin, Tom and Travonte “Motherf**ker!” Saunders! The morning brought little relief as a maestral rendition of Eddie Murphy’s “ROOOOOXAAANNNE” rang out through the jungle to wake the party pooped Alpha 4.

The boys were sad to go, but go they had to, to make it to the final party on time – the crème de la crème, the place to be seen – CAVE MAN PARTY IN PAUS with Alpha 1! OOGA OOGA!!

With the standard Roti stop in Lahad Datu, Colin moved us marine style like a knife across the throat to Paus. Things were a bit hot and so the boys cooled down by the river, colin got confused and thought it might be a nudist beach, but once that was clarified and he got his shorts back on, the playboy players got their party gear on – 2 leaves and a stick – and rolled into Paus!

Aaaaaggh!! AMMBUSSSH! Those pesky A1 tried to tricks us my precious, but no worries, Colin wasn’t in the marines for nothing and his inner eye foresaw the danger so that we could arm ourselves with…..water balloons!!

The original cavemen and women of PausBut Rome wasn’t built in a day (what does that have to do with this article? Nothing I just like the sound of it) and having got past the initial Neanderthal like communication we eventually came to an agreement that food, rounders and games should be had. Alpha 1 had prepared a special day for our Birthday Boy Colin who turned 64 on Monday – Happy Birthday in the style of Marilyn Monroe, a lap dance by Chris Bailey and a kiss and a cuddle from none other than myself (all in the name of protecting Helen who had originally been sitting next to our very own living OAP – I didn’t think she could have taken the sandpaper like features on her cheek, nor would it have been within Raleigh Rules. The sacrifices I have to make…..)

And so The Playboys and the Pimp Mobile returned home, knackered, stuffed, dusty but extremely happy with the 72 hour Party Marathon.

We’d like to thank The Crazy Cavemen of PAUS, The MIGHTY IMBAK and the Pirates of Danum Valley for their kind hospitality on Loop! We’d also like to thank all the ROTI shops of Sabah, last count was 15 rotis in 3 days for Chris!

Looking for the 5 weekers

2007-08-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hi,
Just to let you know - those of you looking for the 5 week participants - please go to their blog site: http://www.malaysia-summer-07n.blogspot.com/ where you will find a bit more information about what they are getting up to.

News and views

2007-07-31T02:07:00.002-07:00

Here in Kota Kinabalu, we have our very own Raleigh newspaper - written for the most part - by the participants, for the participants, the Sabah Sun. The latest edition of the Sabah Sun was full of interesting articles....some of which I would like to share with you.

Many thanks to all the participants for their contributions.

HOLIDAY IN 5 STAR LUXURY
KAMPONG PAUS.

Team Alpha 1 invite you to join them in the luxury 5***** resort of Kampong Paus for three weeks of light exercise, numerous leisure activities and the best food in the whole of Sabah.
The accommodation leaves nothing to be desired! The hotel building is wind and rainproof – no more nights of waking up wet. A separate kitchen / dining area is provided and equipped with gas cooker and electric lights.
All facilities are top of the range. Alpha 1 are extremely proud of the enclosed toilet, that comes complete with seat and toilet roll and is always properly maintained by the camp Queen.
Hot running water and fresh mountain spring water come out of the strategically placed taps and a functioning shower has been erected for your convenience right next to the accommodation block.
The food is second to none! With a menu comprised of such treats as freshly baked cheesy bread, oven baked pizza, fresh fruit and vegetables and the finest organic meat. Alpha one takes pride in catering for a wide range of tastes, offering dishes of risotto, curries, soups, pasta and not forgetting authentic dishes courtesy of their live in chef Brilliant Betty.

For those with work on their minds, it is only a two minute stroll to the worksite. The working day also includes a mid-morning brunch and afternoon tea where hot refreshments, chocolatey goodness or newly harvested crops will be served. There are multiple shops in the area catering to the holidaymaker’s every whim.

For those who prefer a slightly slower pace of life there is swimming area and a separate bathing area, the latter private and secluded. Luxury hammocks are available to hang up wherever you choose and our team mascot “Kampong Puss” is always on hand to provide cuddles to those in need.
So whether you wish to be serenaded by their guitar duets or prefer to join the friendly locals in their schools, homes or churches, Alpha one and Kampung Paus will be delighted to welcome you.
Text by Michelle Dawson.

All drawings by their very own live in artist, Laura Thompson

Changeover - a whole new meaning to the word!

2007-07-31T02:07:00.001-07:00

Some participants came back smiling, others came back smelling, others were dirty, some were clean. A whole other bunch just came back.....changed!!

Been and gone again!

2007-07-31T02:07:00.000-07:00

No chance of me getting any tan with the amount of rainfall we have been having over here, that's for sure - however, I did manage to get some photos of the projects I spent time with.
All the Alpha groups arrived back in town for changeover throughout the afternoon of 29th July. It was great to catch up with everyone again and to see the huge smiles on their faces. There was just enough time for the participants to stock up on basic needs, have their laundry done, read their mail, make a few phone calls, catch up with friends and then find out where they would be heading off to next and then get ready for phase 2!
Everyone left again early this morning for their next project sites. We wish them all the best of luck for the coming weeks.
The logistics team will be going out on the loop vehicle to the community and environmental sites to deliver mail, supplies and to check all is well with the teams around the 10th August - any messages will be given out then too.

Who has gone where now...?

There are a few changes to our staff team on this phase. Caroline, Miriam and Karveh, three of our phase one medics, have all gone home – all will be missed.
Two new staff medics, Matt and Henrietta, will be joining us here in the next day or so.
Pauline, Emma and Sam decided they had had enough of field base and have gone out with the Alpha 2 and 4 – Pauline and Sam to put their hammering and construction skills to use at the school hostel in Togudon and Emma to help finish a hanging suspension bridge in Danum Valley.
Mia has also fled field base and will not be back for the next five weeks as she joins the 5 week expedition and heads off tomorrow morning to a very remote area of Sabah to rehabilitate a kindergarten sponsored by The Body Shop.
Betty has also deserted Emily and Anth in Kampong Paus for other committments in Sabah but has said she will be back when the kindergarten opens at the beginning of September - so we look forward to catching up with her there.

This time round............

Alpha 1: Kampong Paus - Kindergarten

Project Managers:
Anthony Hartley
Emily Walpole

Participants:
Natalie Connor, Lisa Gillon, Tam Kar lye, Jevanoslee Mukilin, Shellvina Caines, Harry Hope, Giri Mairon, Nicola Bowman, Helen Slattery, Jacob Whitworth

Alpha 2: Kampong Togudon - School Hostel

Project Managers:
Johleen Koh Tse Boon, Pauline Dunn, Sam Rye

Participants:
Lewis Winder, Isabelle Lomas, Donna Townsley, Rejuhan Ak-usit, Michael Henry, Francisca Robert, Tamesha Wolfe, Claire Shelley, Gukang Selutan

Alpha 3: Imbak Canyon
Project Managers:
Wendy Rizza
Graeme Coll

Participants:
Lucy Best, Sabrina Caie, Chen Kang, Rachel Coates, Tara Grosvenor, Heather Freel, Kim Gardiner, Edward Lasingun, Kenneth Pearman, Beth Rushby, Richard Walklate, Natasha Wilkinson

Alpha 4: Danum Valley

This project group will help complete the construction of a hanging suspension bridge that was started by a Raleigh team in late 2005. The purpose of the bridge is to increase access into the conservation area for scientists in order that they can carry out further research.

Project Managers:
Sophie Sharp
Emma Wrigley

Participants:
Natasha Abraham, Chris Bailey, Des (Yudas Bin Taka), Tiffany Clark, Harriet Corbett, Rosie Morgan, Alan Rooney, Travonte Saunders, Jessica Tate, Laura Thompson

Alpha 5: Adventure Phase

Project Managers:
Wilberforce Robinson
Libby Mayman
Helen Keenan

Participants:
Kasuni Bin Inyuk (Jeff), Tang Chii Chie, Michelle Dawson, Emma Dove, Sade Fox, Phillip Mason, Janine Allan, Ciaran Meachan, Hazel Polge, Michael Pritchett, Nicola Sweeney, Claire Wilson, Walnin Yustin

Where have they all gone?!

2007-07-24T23:54:00.000-07:00

Our usual blogger was seconded to a project site to take a few photos and get a tan, so apologies this is a tiny bit late!

This is your essential guide to project life, and where all the participants and staff have gone in Phase 1.

The Malaysia expedition is split up into three phases and participants will have the opportunity to work on a community project, an environmental site and take part in a challenging adventure phase over the course of the summer.

It’s all here - tropical rainforests with the wildest flora and fauna nature has to offer, some of the world’s best diving, friendly villagers, great food…..

Alpha 1: Kampong Paus
Project teams will build a kindergarten for the children of Kampong Paus. The village already has a primary school but there are no pre-school facilities. Raleigh is working side by side with PACOS Trust (a grass roots community based charity) who will help the village to train and sustain at least one, if not two, teachers for the school.

Project Managers:
Anthony Hartley
Emily Walpole
Beatrice Namesius

Participants:
Michelle Dawson
Jessica Tate
Elspeth Thompson
Claire Wilson
Kenneth Pearman
Sabrina Caie
Alan Rooney
Leong Chen Kang
Yudas Bin Taka

Alpha 2: Kampong Togudon
The aim of this project is to construct a small brick hostel for a primary school in a very small village on the edge of Crocker Range National Park.
About 70 children go to the primary school however most of them live up to 8 hours walk away and have to stay in the community’s homes during the week.

Project Managers:
Tom Carter
Johleen Koh Tse Boon

Participants:
Natasha Abraham
Lucy Best
Rosie Morgan
Michael Pritchett
Natasha Wilkinson
Travonte Saunders
Janine Allen
Rewin Udin
Edward Lasingun

Alpha 3: Imbak Canyon
Imbak Canyon is the last remaining, untouched and relatively unexplored area of Sabah. Yayasan Sabah (the concessionary) would like to reserve this area as a natural gene bank to help protect future biodiversity of the whole the region and has asked Raleigh International to play a major role in the development of this area.

Project Managers:
Wendy Rizza
Graeme Coll
Miriam Bord

Participants:
Isabelle Lomas
Ciaran Meachan
Hazel Polge
Helen Slattery
Sade Fox
Nicola Sweeney
Kasuni Bin Inyuk
Rejuhan Ak-usit

Alpha 4: Batu Puteh
Participants on this project will live in an environmentally sound jungle camp on the edge of a small community and will assist local tradesmen with finishing off an eco camp, develop trails and bird hides as well as help the local community in their continual battle to rid the lake of Salvinia, a weed that is continually encroaching on the water.

Project Managers:
Sophie Sharp
Helen Keenan
Claire Stout

Participants:
Emma Dove
Harry Hope
Phillip Mason
Claire Shelley
Natalie Connor
Michael Henry
Tang Chii Chie
Walnin Yustin

Alpha 5: Adventure Phase
Participants on this phase will split their time between trekking and diving. The trekking will be across arduous and physically challenging terrain in the south western corner of Sabah in Long Pa Sia. Treks will be over 10 – 11 days and therefore teams will have to carry all their supplies and equipment for the duration. They will then climb Mount Trus Madi - the 2nd highest peak in Malaysia, which stands at 2,642m. This offers some fantastic flora, and some amazing views from the top, but most of all a fantastic personal challenge.

The diving phase will allow participants to complete the PADI Open Water diving qualification in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

Project Managers:
Wilberforce Robinson
Caroline Heggie

Participants:
Chris Bailey
Rachael Coates
Kim Gardiner
Tara Grosvenor
Lewis Winder
Tamesha Wolfe
Heather Freel
Donna Townsley
Tam Kar Lye
Gukang Selutan

Alpha 6: Adventure Phase
As per the other adventure group Alpha 5, participants on this phase will split their time between trekking in Long Pa Sia, climbing Mount Trus Madi, and diving on Mamutik Island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

Project Managers:
Marie Turke
Kaveh Beyk

Participants:
Nicola Bowman
Harriet Corbett
Beth Rushby
Richard Walklate
Jacob Whitworth
Shellvina Caines
Tiffany Clark
Lisa Gillon
Jevanoslee Mukilin
Franciscia Robert Saili
Giri Mairon

Fieldbase Staff
There is also a faithful staff team working behind the scenes supporting the expedition from our office just outside Kota Kinabalu. They are headed up by our Expedition Leader and Deputy Expedition Leader, and have work across areas including Admin, Accounting, Host Country Participant Co-ordination, Logistics, and Medic. They are the hub of the expedition's running, and the voices on the other end of the radio for the Participants to speak to twice a day.

And they are:
Laura Parry
Chris Man
Emma Wrigley
Chris Paine
Pauline Dunn
Paul Burgess
Colin Hawthorne
Sam Rye
Mia Meara
Libby Mayman

And not too long now until Changeover 1! We're looking forward to seeing all the groups again, and hearing all the stories from each project site!

Until next time, this is Zero listening out on Channel 1 & 2...

Thanks

2007-06-20T18:33:00.006-07:00

Thanks to all of you for your comments - messages for participants will be given to them on Sunday when they are back from their project sites.
All are well and I am sure they will be back with lots of stories.
Keep your messsages coming.

Welcome to all the participants!

2007-06-20T18:33:00.005-07:00

All the participants have finally arrived and have just completed four days of non stop skills training whilst trying to acclimatise.

Wendy and Nancy went down to the airport with some of the staff to welcome them. However, when they arrived it did take quite a few minutes to reassure them that they had arrived at the right place...and they eventually agreed to get on the bus and head off to jungle camp to meet the Malaysian participants who were already waiting for them there.

This summer we have 5 participants from Bermuda, 13 from Malaysia, a group of 10 from Scotland and another 27 from various parts of the UK.
When they arrived, the participants were split into their project groups and have spent the last four days getting to know each other.

Each of the groups spent a night in the jungle (some in the rain), to practice their newly acquired skills and to have a taste of what is to come…(without the leeches!) The participants now know where they are going to spend the first phase of the expedition and after the official opening ceremony this evening, will be heading out to all corners of Sabah as dawn breaks tomorrow.
We wish them all the best of luck!

Welcome to our new staff!

2007-06-20T18:33:00.004-07:00

We would like to give a very warm welcome to our three new staff members who arrived today and who will be with us now until the end of the programme.
Miriam Bord, a medic from the UK arrived this morning, followed a couple of hours later by two unannounced and rather unexpected Americans – Nancy Pants and Wendy Bond.
Whilst Miriam was settling in, Nancy and Wendy made themselves at home on the verandah and spent most of the afternoon telling anyone who would listen about their lives back home in Datona Beach.
“Our flight over, you know like, was so long, but you know like really long, like you know, not short at all, ever so long” informed Wendy when asked about the journey over here. “We were in first class though, so it didn’t matter too much, but it was really long and we couldn’t get out,” added Nancy when she was able to butt in.
Coming from very different backgrounds, Nancy a dolphin trainer and Wendy a trainee taxidermist, they told of their “hearts bleeding” when they heard that there were villages in Borneo without cable tv. To this end they have brought with them enough cable to supply every household in the Malaysian state of Sabah with the 487 channels they feel is a basic human right.
“We have just come here to help, to help the children and really help them any way we can”, said Nancy with tears forming in her eyes. “We just want everyone to be given the same chance that we had when we were growing up”.
They left field base shortly after 5pm to go and speak to the Manager of Macdonalds in Kota Kinabalu. They mentioned something about the supersize portions they were given at lunch not being up to standard and they had to rectify this before an outbreak of malnutrition hit the city.

2007-06-20T18:33:00.003-07:00

The project managers were allocated their projects and project partners on Tuesday afternoon and after a lot of preparation left this morning to their project sites to find out more about where they are going to be living for the next couple of months and will no doubt be back on Sunday afternoon with lots of stories about their trip.

Unexpected surprise at jungle camp.......

2007-06-20T18:33:00.002-07:00

Saturday 23rd June saw the Malaysia 07 staff heading off to jungle camp for 2 nights to learn how to survive in deepest, darkest Borneo.
The team had a very full first day, learning all about jungley things such as how to set up the radios, how to get from A to B using a map or a GPS, how to set up a place to sleep between two trees along with a lot of essential medical and first aid training. The real challenge came however when the groups had to test their culinary skills and try and make something edible from the rations generously handed out by Sam and Colin.

After a good nights sleep in quite a stable hammock (for those who did not have to get up throughout the night) the team got stuck into mounds of not under-cooked porridge to get them going for the day.
Just as the first team was about to head off into the jungle there was a loud crashing wailing sound and in swung Lara Croft straight off the scene of Tomb Raider 3. As you can no doubt imagine everyone was thrilled to find out that she had come to give some top tips on how to survive in the wilds.

The first thing she told the team was the importance of having her knife close at hand and proceeded to tape her brand new Swiss Army Knife to her leg.
“I prefer to use this thick tape to strap it on to be sure to get any stray hairs off my legs at the end of a day,” explained Angelina – Helen – Jolie. “The red of the knife, I also find, goes well with the cherry blossom lipstick I wear.”

After promoting her summer season of jungle wear she went on to explain the importance of singing “Reach for the Stars” to keep the leeches away and emphasized that you can never have enough string.

Practicing the warrior dance was also high on her list of jungle training along with being very careful where you squat when you need to go.
The staff had the opportunity to take a few photos and ask a couple more questions before she hurried off back into the trees.

Welcome to Sabah!

2007-06-20T18:33:00.001-07:00

Selamat Datang!

Welcome to Raleigh International's Summer programme. This is the official site for updates and photographs.

The Raleigh Team

Introduction to Sabah, Malaysia

2007-06-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

Sabah is one of the 13 states that make up Malaysia, along with the other Malaysian state Sarawak, Indonesia and Brunei, it makes up Borneo, the third largest island in the world. The capital city of Sabah is Kota Kinabalu (or KK) where Raleigh Field Base is situated. Well known as the 'Land Below The Wind' or 'Land Of The Sacred Mountain', Sabah is a land of varied landscapes and natural wonders.

The state is also known for its incredible natural features and varied terrain, which includes everything from swampy, mangrove tangled coastal areas, to gorgeous sandy beaches and coral reefs, through dazzling green paddy fields and rainforests. Nature here weaves such a colourful and diverse tapestry of sights and sounds. In Borneo you will find the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, along with orangutans, rhinos, Asian elephants and proboscis monkeys, all living together.

Sabah also has the highest mountain in South East Asia. At 4,095m Mount Kinabalu is Malaysia’s only world heritage site. Participants may also have the opportunity to visit one of the world’s last areas of pristine and unexplored primary rainforest in either Danum Valley or Imbak Canyon, and experience world-renowned coral dive sites with their beautiful sandy beaches.

The people of Sabah are a multicultural mix of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Eurasians and indigenous groups such as the Rungus and Murut (formerly headhunters). Although Islam is the state religion, Sabah is one of the few places left on earth where many faiths live together in harmony, often ‘borrowing’ aspects of each other’s religious beliefs, as the mood takes them. The official language of Malaysia is Bahasa Malaysia, but English is widely spoken. Part of the challenge of the expedition is to be able to converse in Malay. Learning about traditions and customs of the remote regions that we visit has been an important part of the training, as in some cases Raleigh volunteers are some of the first non-Malaysian people the communities have met.

Malaysians are incredibly friendly and welcoming, and keen to help anyone to learn their language and understand their varied culture.

We are very happy to be working here... roll on the start of the expedition!