I Will Survive (Simon's Singing and the Scary Suspension Bridge)

This is it, my last contact with the world as I know it for 10 weeks. Tomorrow the first participants arrive and I go off to jungle camp to teach them how to survive in the jungle with only a penknife, spoon and 3 washing up bowls (don't ask). I'm working with a girl called Madeline (from Eastleigh as it happens) and have the pleasure of two projects to complete during our time here. Phase 1 is a Gravity Water Feed Sytem is a small Muslim community set high in the hills, stunning views and apparently for Raleigh some pretty plush accomodation in the form of a rest house and community hall. The pressure is on for this one as we have the press and local Minister coming on the 24th March for an opening ceremony - let's hope we get the water there.

(For anyone who doesn't know - and I include myself in that category - a gravity water feed involves damming a water source, laying some piping and putting in some tanks - for storage or pressure or something....)

Fortunately phases 2 & 3 are also a gravity water feed system so hopefully after doing it once I might have a clue what I'm doing. And the second village is incredible. The people have nothing (making money from rubber tapping) but they were the friendliest, smiliest people and there was a brilliant feeling to the whole place. The village is in a valley, surrounded by mountains and full of piglets, cows, dogs, chickens, goats etc generally running everywhere along with the children.

Only slight issue with this project is we have 6km of piping to lay, uphill through steep jungle and we have to lay the pipe across the bridge above. Might not show on the picture but it's a good 150m and rather less secure than I would like... Anyway, prior to us starting we're getting it properly assessed, we didn't cross it on our planning visit - particularly when the locals kind of shrugged their shoulders and didn't seem too sure at all about how many people it could take and how often it's used. (Don't worry mum - I won't be trying out any Lara Croft style legging it across falling bridges to escape the marauding wildlife)

Each of the villages basically drys out for a few months each year and they have to either collect water from a river (long way away and not clean) or collect rain water. Raleigh has sponsorship to do the projects and for the participants running and doing the project is a chance to 'develop their soft skills'. Thank god I've managed to leave most of the jargon back in Staines (good luck David - guessing you have to be done by now and get a well deserved break??)

By the way, check out the orange and green chosp shirt (they get everywhere... :0)

So last night we had a final staff evening out, has anyone ever in the wildest dreams ever imagined Simon up doing Karaoke?? No? Well check him out strutting his stuff to the Weather Girls and there was definitely some I Will Survive action going down too. I can feel a phrase coming on... something to do with you've changed....

All the best x

Spiders, bugs and sweaty feet

Right, this whole lark is getting a bit serious now (apart from a hard day checking out the project dive site on the right) . We've had our first taste of the jungle and training in surviving the Borneo rainforest. We both successfully trekked into the jungle, put up hammocks, bashers and mozzie nets, discovered the many positions to use with a long drop (and how to dig one), cooked our greasy dregs (yes, that really is what it's called) with powdered soup and noodles in our mess tins in a torrential down pour and had our guide show us a traditional head hunting warrior type dance which Si unfortunately declined to participate in.

After getting 'comfortable' in my hammock and settling down for the night (amongst the spiders, centipedes and giant ants) there was an almighty cracking noise as one of the guys in a neighbouring hammock mananged to bend the tree that his hammock was around. No-one particularly wanted to move and check everything was okay and it generally caused much hilarity round the group although when a more sensible hardy type checked the tree and shined a light on Si's hammock to tell him there was a tree hanging over him (and then over my hammock next door) we did half think about getting up. Although we were reassured that it wouldn't kill us if it fell. Anyway we stayed put (getting up in the dark in the jungle does not appeal) and have lived to tell the tale.

All of this is in preparation for when the participants arrive in a week's time and we have to train them for 5 days before heading off on project. I am also massively conquering any insect fears and in a practice medical evacuation physically picked a spider of the casualty with my own fair hand! We finished the weekend with some white water rafting (which was pretty tame) but a good opportunity to relax and also partake in some general racing and competitive splashing of the other rafts :-)

So today I've been told which project I'm on and who I'll be with (both good). More on that when I come back from the project planning visit. Si knows which phase he'll go out on (the second) and will be in a place called Danum Valley which had a resident orangutan on the last expedition. It's an environmental project where we're building a suspension bridge in a scientific area.

Hope all's well at home we are thinking of you all, thanks for the comment postings

- it's good to know what's going on, do stay in touch!

London to Kota Kinabalu (via Brunei)

Evening All, (Or morning for most of you)

Hope all is well back home - Ned & Paula hope your wedding went well & that you enjoy Goa, Rowthorn - any news yet mate?

Long old flight getting over here - we thought the six hour stopover in Brunei was going to be a right hassle but in the end we had enough energy to get out for a quick tour (Photo top left). The golden dome is actually pure 24 carrat gold and there's a few of them scattered about so the oil money's pretty obvious. Our guide was telling if they have a party (which is a group booking in a restaurant, no bars it's a dry country) they have to notify the Police in advance and they send an officer over to stand outside & make sure there's no alcohol!

Top right photo is our Raleigh Fieldbase, currently inhabited by about twelve of us, (soon to be thirty odd when the main staff party arrive). Outside is one of our "Bravos" - Landrovers I'm just getting used to lugging around the city.

Mid left is the local Phillipino night market - hectic place we chickened out of eating on the first night but ate in last night with the Raleigh lot. Had a massive plate of noodles & a slice of stingray fin for under a quid. Other delicacies available included chicken's bums & fruit that smelt like sewerage.

Mid Right is Charl out doing a fundraising event with the local participants down at the waterside earlier today - Whilst I've been working my way through a grimy hot tool cupboard & trying to plan what equipment we need for coming weeks Charl's been helping out wherever needed.

We've actually just been out this evening to a "sunset symphony concert" down at the docks (bottom left) so are feeling incredibly cultured this evening.

Cheers all - we'll try and update again soon.

Simon & Charlotte

And They're Off!

Final day - you'd have thought having had two weeks at leisure would mean we would have been well and truly sorted by now, but in a feat of disorganisation and general apathy we are still rushing about trying to tie up all loose ends before our five a'clock start tomorrow morning.

Quick thanks to all who came out on thursday night - quite pleased that one of my final achievements in this country for a while was drinking my way through the entire Chamber's cocktail menu. Best of luck all with Babies,Weddings, Stags, New jobs, Women, Men and whatever other trials and tribulations lie in wait in 2007!

Raleigh and three months of pretty intense work await so whereas we'll try our best to update this during the expedition it may well be May before we can get the next post up. Do please drop in the odd e-mail though as if we do get a spare couple of minutes to check through them it'll be good to be reminded there is still a normal world out there outside the hot, dirty, bug-infested jungle that's going to be our home for a while!