Bye Bye...

I am completely in communicado as of tomorrow as the venturers finally arrive and I have to actually start managing stuff. I am knackered from relentless training, a little scared, dreading the trek again but really looking forward to meeting my group. We train themn for 3 days in everything we've learnt at TAC (see previous post) and then we're off to the jungle. I thought I would leave you a little set of pics from my project site in Imbak Canyon so you can visualise it better...

Mount Kinabalu on the way to Imbak

Imbak Falls, next door to BBC camp where we're staying

The route into BBC camp

Some more Imbak River

BBC camp kitchen area

BBC camp living area

And the group sleeping area

Last but not least, all the damn food we have to trek in..

Right. I'll love you and leave you... please send messages of encouragement if you can. I'll hold my hnds up and say I'm more away from my comfort zone than I have ever been. You can leave comments oin the Raleigh blog (address on the right) and write if you want to.

See you on the other side.... xxx

Raleigh debrief - two weeks in

So, I've talked and talked about the project specifically, but I thought I'd give a bit of a debrief about how the whole experience has been thus far...

The challenge - is much more than I thought it would be. I'm sure the result will be much more rewarding but I haven't done anything so mentally, and sometimes physically, demanding. There have been tears and times when I've felt a very daunted by the task so, as much as I'm getting a lot out of it, it's hardly like I'm sat here having the best fun of my life 24/7. Although this evening I did walk into town and treat myself to a back massage. Yes, my treat is paying a small Malaysian lady to essential beat me up, that about sums it up!

People - I have been really lucky with the group of PMs we have. I cannot believe I type these words as I haven't really enjoyed the previous chances to meet other volunteer managers and thought I would find it difficult to meet like minded people but, hats off to the guys and gals, they are ace. Instead of the highly competitive atmosphere everyone is openly finding this 1,000 times more challenging than we expected, and is quick to pick people up when they've had enough or don't think they're up to the challenge. There is a lot of laughter, not necessarily because we're having the time of our lives, but when we realise that we've done this to ourselves, and some of the more ludicrous positions we find ourselves in. For example, tonight we had a night at HQ which involved fancy dress, skits and 'Raleigh Olympics'. For my sins I was force fed ice cream, crawled on the fall to narration and pushed a land rover up a hill as part of a race. Honestly, what is that about? It's refreshing to be involved in a cause like this and it not be flooded by, as my good friend Racheal would say 'hideously pro-active do gooders' simply, people who are up for a challenge and something different, most importantly, with a sense of humour.

Sanity levels - are low. I spent most of today's soft skills training wearing a cape my friend found in the dressing up box here. No one really questioned it, least of all me. This is not right, surely? I think the isolation of jungle life may mark the dissolution of my sanity altogether...help!

Malaysia - is a gorgeous place and the island of Borneo is beautiful. I have seen a real range of luxury to poverty which I clearly haven't experience before and is a real eye opener. The people everywhere are super friendly and helpful which is very reassuring when you're stressed trying to organise things of great importance. It is super hot and humid here, none of our clothes dry, we sweat just from sitting down and rain is a thing to be celebrated as it leaves you momentarily comfortable!

Going native - I haven't worn make up in two weeks, my hair looks like I've been electrocuted and I kind of love it. I cheated and borrowed someone at HQ's hair straighteners the other day and it was blissful I will admit. Two luxuries I miss are a bed and warm water but hey ho, we can't have it all. I am also a bit sick of everything smelling all the time, if it's not because no one can stop sweating, it's the super strong DEET insect repellent we wear. A very savoury thought I know.

Personal development (i.e. what 50% of Raleigh is all about) - I don't know how I feel about this. I am being truly pushed and can only imagine it's good for me, however, it is bloody hard. I know a lot of friends likened what I'm doing to travelling, and I too thought it would be a lot more straight forward! I don't mean to sound like I'm banging on but, friends who read this probably sponsored me so I want them to know what they paid for! It has made me realise a few things I need to work on personally, and I'm sure many more will come to the fore throughout the project. I just wish I wasn't so far away doing this sometimes as there are plenty of occasions I could use the phone/a rant! Please send letters if you can, I may go mad without.

Skills - I have loved learning radio communications, and a lot of a fluffy 'soft skills' have been very useful. Practical camping skills are something I haven't needed for a long time and it's nice thinking that way again, and being able to say I know how to use a machete properly is a bit strange. I think it'll be one of those things where a random question/comment will be made and I suddenly realise I have learnt loads and will be extremely grateful.

Anyway, enough blabbering, photos of the Imbak Canyon jungle camp to follow soon! xxx

PPV - Project planning visit

As I mentioned in a previous post, my project is based at the nature reserve Imbak Canyon where I have discovered, my group will be working on a suspension bridge. That's right folks, I'm project managing the construction of a suspension bridge, god help us all. The project is run with the Imbak Rangers (an organisation called Yayasan Sabah) who will direct and help us with the work, and in turn the access means more opportunities for research and maintenance of this beautiful, untouched area.

As part of the prep for our projects we're required to undertake a 3 day recce of the site and meet the people we're working with (in our case, the Rangers of Imbak Canyon), plan risk assessments, plan emergency casualty evacuation plans, write cultural and environmental impact reports, route cards and check out the local medical facilities. As well as being part of crucial planning this is also pretty good for us project managers as we get to know our projects and puts us one step ahead of the venturers. It also makes the responsibility we're taking on hit home, as I think I speak for a lot of my fellow PMs when I say, we did not realise how tough this would be, and how many things there were to think of!

Anyway, my journey to Imbak Canyon started at 6am last Thursday in one of HQ's land rovers. As there are currently a project group out there at the moment, we were taken there as part of the 'loop' where HQ staff go and visit the projects, deliver post, bring some fresh food, check you haven't gone mental yet etc. After four hours driving up windy roads past Mount Kinabalu, we arrived at a small town called Telupid, which looks like some kind of border town where you shouldn't go any further. So, further on we went, spending three hours off roading to the Imbak rangers camp, including a river crossing and some spectacularly bumpy roads. Arriving at rangers camp at 2 pm we then had to trek to the camp we stay in for project (named BBC camp, as it's where the documentary makers stayed). Now, one important thing I've learnt is that I don't really like trekking... a walk here and there is great, I can even handle the odd hill, but trekking in 100% humidity carrying 20+ kilos of kit brings out my inner brat. so off we set on this trek which is essentially a wall of mud and tree roots which we somehow have to schlep up. Bearing in mind I had been awake since the wee hours and was probably a bit dehydrated, I wasn't quite in the right frame of mind for this. Once we got to the top of the huge hill (there were tears... brat) we had to come down the other side. Although there was no slipping like the jungle training, the was severe leg shakes from dehydration, only worsened by the fact that at the bottom of the hill, the trail was replaced by a series of rocks and roots, next to a sharp drop into the river and a hand rope to pull ourselves back up another hill with. At the end of this we cross a suspension bridge and then we make it to BBC camp. So this epic journey involving two sets of tears, the shakes and rock climbing was completed in about two hours... and what distance did we travel? 2 bloody kilometres. That's right folks, 2km! I hope this goes to demonstrate jungle conditions (not my lack of fitness - I've been assured it's normal).

Anyway, BBC camp is a bit of a palace, there is a basic toilet shack with a flush, static bunks - no more hammocks for me, a sink and our own waterfall should we fancy a shower. Right, it's not that lush but there is a waterfall next door where we can go for a little swim if the weather/current/conditions are right... It is beautiful but it's in the middle of nowhere. The rangers have a camp next door to us as they have to escort us everywhere but we are completely isolated. The only way to get any medical attention is helicopter someone out or stretcher them over the route I described which is obviously rubbish (I may have to introduce a putting down lame vernturers policy to deter them getting injured/sick... harsh? but fair?). I have images of us getting a bit lord of the flies/ the beach with no real human interaction so please send letters if you can. I may bang on about water falls, but it's quite a demanding job running these projects and we need the distraction and moral support!!

Anyway, after our day & overnight stop checking out the site, meeting Rangers and picking the brains of the current PMs we had to trek back to Rangers camp on that bloody route where we were met with bunk beds - hurrah, and I managed to only cry once on route. Well done me. I've promised to not be so pathetic when the venturers arrive.

We spent the next day back in the crazy border town of Telupid where we were treated like rock stars... lots of pointing, waving, calling out in English which was really very sweet. We assume this was because we're white which is a rarity in such a rural area, not just because we're weird looking. It made me a little sad I wasn't spending more time in a community project as the Malaysians are so welcoming. We were joined in the evening by another group of PMs and shared stories, a bit of hysteria and jungle/trekking nightmares. We're all in for a rough ride. We did however stay ion a lodge which had hot water, which I haven't experienced since being in Borneo so that was pretty wonderful.

Getting back to HQ we were met with the mountains of paper work we had to complete, in all its minutiae, which took us some hours. Anyone who thinks I am on a jolly can think again - it felt like being back in the office (with less coffee breaks and banter).

All in all, I am feeling OK about the project. The responsibility we have for health and safety, personal development of the venturers and smooth running of the project is huge which is incredibly nerve wracking, and as we know, I am not excited about doing that sodding trek AGAIN, but it'll be great to finally get on with something. I'll be very honest in saying I didn't realise how hard it would be and have spent the last few days thinking I have bitten off more than I can chew, but luckily my fight or fly instincts haven't driven me to get on that plane yet. I'll just have to hope I remain proud and don't let down the lovely people who sponsored me.

Selamat Malam, Sarah xxx