Expedition 12D has officially started!

Selamat Datang (Welcome) to our blog about Raleigh Borneo 12 D & I expeditions! For the next 3 months this blog will be the place to read about all the updates from our project sites, treks and Fieldbase. We hope that our stories, photos and videos will give you an insight to Raleigh life in Borneo!

This blog is a tool to allow you to keep in touch with your loved ones while they are out in rural communities, on trek and in the jungle, where technology and modern communication are pretty useless! So please feel free to send us your comments and questions.

This is how it works:
• Any comments posted by family and friends will be printed out and taken to the respective volunteers on the project sites. Please don’t forget to put the name of the volunteer you would like the message to go to along with the name of the project they are on in your correspondence.
• The comments are posted on the blog after they have been moderated by the Comms Officer so they do not always appear straight away.
• We will also put messages from the volunteers to their family and friends on the blog.
• Please remember this is a public blog. More personal messages can be posted via letter or email Head Office, which we will deliver personally.
For instructions on how to post your comments please see the right hand side of the blog.

Any questions? Let me know! My name is Kate and I will be writing and managing this blog. We are looking forward to a lively exchange of lovely messages!

How we built a Kindergarten...

We declare the kindergarten...open!

Education, something we take for granted, but for some of the remote villages in Sabah these are luxuries that they could only dream of. For Kampong Mandurian Laut, they are now a reality thanks to the hard work of expedition 12A.

Alpha 1 - Building a Kindergarten at Kampong Mandurian Laut

Let's take a look at the humble beginnings...



Alpha 1 Phase 1





Alpha 1 Venturers



The walls being built and the undercoat getting painted

How it looks now...

The finished article

PM Laura with the village children in their very own kindergarten

Inside the Kindergarten

The Bravo rocks up to the site of the new Kindergarten



Fieldbase team visited the kindergarten opening ceremony



The villages cooked feasts, they gave speeches and welcomed us with open arms as we celebrated the opening of the kindergarten. Here are the best bits!

Alpha 8 do a little bit of wandering

After spending their two phases on static sites, the members of Alpha 8, AKA Bang Tidy, now have a new challenge to face: Trek


Twelve happy Venturers and two motivated PM's spent their first night in a camp in Long Pasia, where we divided the food and got ready to stay in the jungle for eleven days.


We then met our main guide, Nooh, the king of the jungle. He is a real legend in Borneo and we all found hime very impressive the first time we saw him.
Then  began the trek. In the beginning, Nooh has  been testing us. Feedback: we are apparently a quick and strong group and we're going to have an amazing trek, walking hard and  even extreme trails.


Alpha 8 is actually so fast that we've been having lunch at camp every single day during this trek, which is nice because early arrival means free time pin the afternoon, chilling in hammocks, sunbathing on the rocks and making 'jungle bling'...


Since we had a lot of free time, we've been enjoying the guides' knowledge about the jungle. Nooh and his two assistance, Albert and Johnny, taught us how to make a good fire, how to set up animal traps and how to boil water in a plastic bottle. They then explained their way to hunt and fish (with only a knife). The guides are really friendly, always offering us hot drinks and jungle bling.

On the first day we all received a bracelet and necklace made of jungle wood. The necklace is a protection against jungle spirits and the bracelet is a sign of our friendship with the king of the jungle.


Of course we had some down moments: some REALLY moody days with lots of falling over and even more leaches, some hard days walking up hills, but on the other hand we're really enjoying it.We spent two easy days at the camp of Maga Falls, where Nooh took us to a mini trek, we saw the waterfall after walking on some very sloppy rocks. We went to see the cave of a famous warrior and went down into a dark bat cave. We then dressed up to do traditional dances. We were actually wearing clothes and hats made of leaves.


At the time I am writing these lines, Alpha 8 has just set up his camp in the nicest existing place: right next to a big river with some huge rocks, ideal place for sunbathing and stargazing.
We only have two nights left in the jungle, then we're heading back to Long Pasia for a night in the home stay (looking forward to sleeping in a real bed!).


All I can say is that I really enjoyed those 11 days in the jungle, even if there have been some really hard days with people struggling, even if there were some tensions with the food (who's going to be the one scaling the jar of the peanut butter?). we've been helping each other and finishing each trek in less time than expected. When it was really too hard, we simply thought about dive island, the beach, the sun (the food) and then everything seemed easier.


DIVE ISLAND, the ultimate reward after eleven days of walking, food rationing and washing in freezing cold rivers, HERE WE COME!!!!

Art Attack at Alpha 1!

Amazing Kampung Art Day!

By Joost beeuwsma and Jacobine Muntendam.

We arrived at Kampung Mandurian Laut on Saturday the beginning of Phase 3, our last phase!

After a warm welcome from the villagers, we set up camp and walked up to the almost finished Kindergarten or not so finished kindergarten! We realised there would be a lot of hard work ahead of us, but it would definitely be an exciting challenge. We were and still are super motivated to finish the whole kindergarten before we finish Phase 3, which includes building the toilets, putting on the roof and walls, painting and creating a veranda.

After two days of work we were pleasantly surprised by the early arrival of Ed, Team Coach and Videographer (and the creator and organiser of the 'Celebrating Art in Sabah' exhibition) and his great team of creative minds Sam (A Venturer) Ellie (International Operations Manager from Head Office) and Lucy (From Bridging the Gap Australia). 

Mandurian laut, Pitas is an beautiful place situated on a hill. The Kindergarten itself has an amazing view that looks out of over a landscape of around thirty hills and mountains. There is a church, community centre and JKK (Head of Village) house and a lovely river for us to bathe in.There are chickens and dogs everywhere and some cows, not forgetting all the mosquitoes!

As part of the 'Celebrating Art in Sabah' Exhibition (the first time Raleigh has ever done anything like this) we introduced villagers to arts and crafts. There is very little knowledge of art in the Kampungs in Borneo. That is where Raleigh stepped in to make a difference! The villagers used their imagination to paint on a massive canvas. Sam and Mel, a young local who could draw incredibly well, bonded their strengths and created a great painting, with the help of many of the Venturers. After a colourful morning, it was time for lunch made by Josh and Jamie. We invited the locals over and we all had lunch together at the big table in front of the community centre.

PMs Laura and Natalie

With the most hilarious PM's (Natalie and Laura) we all had a fantastic time with the villagers, painting two different pieces of art which everyone worked on, and they turned out amazing! We got to have a blast with the old and the young people of Mandurian Laut. It made us realise you can communicate with the locals in many different ways, like with art and not just with language (which usually doesn't work out that well!).

DUTCH POWER!!!

The Real Reason we are here!

This latest video shows one of the truly amazing projects Expedition 12A has been working on.

In the 'middle of nowhere' in Kamung Imusan Nick Bromley and the rest of Alpha 4 have been working a gravity water feed funded by The Coke Foundation. 

Take a look and feel proud that this expedition is making a real difference. 

Artistic Pipeworks

A2 Kampung Pantai and Lihing 

This morning I woke up in a pool of my own dribble, sweating profusely in my longs, lying uncomfortably close to the venturer on my left, with another venturer laying at my feet... oh the joys of close Raleigh living! 

Despite the cosy sleeping arrangements, I am having a ball here in the village of Kampung Pantai. Our group has been given a hugely warm welcome to this village - the kids are a constant presence in our living quarters, the adults regularly deliver home cooked food to our door and we have been given an especially warm welcome from the dogs (although that might be something to do with Fauzie feeding them our bananas daily).

We are here to finish off 2 existing gravity water feeds and to build an entirely new gravity water feed. When we complete this work, we will be turning on the taps in homes across two villages and in a hospital, giving the community much needed running water, something which I most certainly take for granted back in the UK.

It's official: I am now fully trained in mixing cement! If you ever need a dam building I'm your woman and I can lay piping for you any day. Even if it is 40 degrees (although you will be required to bring me juice with an oral rehydration sachet).

Alongside working on the gravity water feeds, we have begun giving daily English classes to the village, which have been very popular. Jasmine and Will gave a riveting lesson on that classic topic of the weather; it went down a storm. 

Today things became even more exciting, as we took a break from the usual routine of lugging gravel up hills, to help Ed Gregory and his creative team with the Raleigh Art Project. A 40ft canvas was set up in the community hall about a mile down the road, in the joined village of Kampung Lihing. 

The aim was to get the locals to design and paint their own section of the canvas, to represent their community. There was also a second, smaller canvas, 9ft long,  that the community painted.

Well I knew it would be fun, but what a turnout! It would seem that word had spread far, as adults and children alike turned up from 4 different villages. Their enthusiasm for the project was contagious and thus I did end up having a goatee beard and mono brow painted on my face, much to the horror of the children (although they did delight in scrubbing the paint off).

The rest of my group also got stuck in; Dan quickly made friends with a fellow Liverpool football supporter from Lihing and Jeremy posed in traditional costume brought by one of the villagers (he could probably start a modelling portfolio with the number of photographs taken). The fun continued into the evening, ending with singing and dancing in the church, encouraged by Alpha 2!

 So. Although I have come into this community to help install a gravity water feed system, I think in reality, these wonderful people have already given me far more than I could ever hope to give them. Their unbelievable warmth has made me realise that I am privileged to be here. It really doesn't matter where you do your business in life, flushing toilet or long drop - all that really matters is having a fantastic bunch of people around you and doing your damned best to be the most awesome person you can be to them in return. All you need is Love guys, all you need is Love (that's the brand of our toilet paper by the way). 
Speaking of which, where has the Love got to? It's business time. 




Written by Jenny Foster, Alpha 2
Photography by Ed Gregory


Jenny also features in this very exciting VIDEO...!

Phase 3 allocations!!

A little delayed due to technical issues...

After hugs, laughter, lots of showers, desperate attempts to wash t-shirts and socks (which will probably never be truly clean again!) and a night of fantastic skits about the adventures of pPase 2, it was time for allocations!

One hundred and forty four hard working, hilarious, dedicated, silly and brilliant people all gathered in a bamboo hut in the Borneo’Jungle to hear the new groups of Venturers and PM’s allocations for Phase 3.

A huge well done to everyone for pulling together at changeover getting their kit, brains and bodies ready to go again and out of their jungle hammocks by 5am for departure the next day. 

So without further ado, here are the groups for Phase 3... 

To the Alpha 1 with the kindergarten build in Mandurian Laut (PM’s Laura and Nat) it’s:

Andres S, Bethany M, Chloe A, Elizabeth F, En De L, Jacobine M, Jamie S, Joost B, Josh R, Martin L and Frazer N. 

To Alpha 2 Gravity Water Feed system in Kampong Pantai (PM’s Tim and Caroline) it’s:

Aaron S, Charlotte P, Jeremy C, Daniel O, Emma B, Gary U, Jasmine H, Jen F, Michael H-C, Will S and Fauzy B-N.

To Alpha 3 Gravity Water Feed system in Imusan (PM’s Nicki and Cat) it’s:

Alex R, Camilla G, Clarrie A, Ghislaine M-J, Ping T, Matts A, Rhiannon D, Sam R, Zoe M and Lucas K. 

To Alpha 4 with the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre (PM’s Chaitaly, Dave and Kim) it’s:

Cameron M, Erika D, Ingrid E, Jack H, James M, Nick M, Sheena H, Sophia B, Tom W, Sophie M and  Chen Y-C. 

To Alpha 5 in Danum Valley (PM’s Krystina, Sam and Alex) it’s:

Bridget H, Erik V, Fraser M, James L, Josh H, Louise P, Meg W, Nick B, Frenley R, and Fishtail L. 

To Alpha 6 in Coupe 8, on the biodiversity project with PM’s Bruno and Lee, it’s:

Eva G, Eve R, Felicity P, Jack K, James A-M, Loek R, Matther G, Michelle C, Tim H-L and Dawn M.

To  Alpha 7 who are diving and then trekking (PM’s Dan and Rich) it’s:

Arthur M, Chris S, Derk B, Elliot B, Giulia H, Lester T, Richard P, Sarah W, Vilkon T-G, Kiki V and Rubyanne D.

To Alpha 8 who and trekking and then diving (PM’s Joe and Astrid) it’s:

Anneroos K, Bouke S, Cecile W, George C, Joseph S, Justin C, Kit Y-Y, Lauchlan M, Lydia M, Will D, Will G and Bo K-C.

To Alpha 9 who are trekking, diving and then trekking again (PM’s James and Claire) it’s:

Alyssa W, Jason T, Josh S, Lap L, Luke B, Minna H, Sam P, Tom B, Willemijne V-D, Yi X-C and Natasha K.

We are already hearing fantastic reports of how all of the groups are doing now that they are safe and sound out on their project sites, and are pushing through on the final leg of completing projects and overcoming the final hurdles of this fantastic expedition. We can’t wait to visit them on the loop!

Always up for a challenge!

Hello from Alpha 8! 

For the past 12 days we have been trekking in the beautiful rainforests surrounding Long Pasia and we have all had the most incredible time, have seen some amazing things.

We spent 2 nights at the enchanting Maga Falls where our guide Fauzy, took us to a nearby bat cave that we had to abseil down into, using only a rope (most of us got pooed on) and Jamie very nearly took a tumble down the waterfall when we walked a little too close to the waters edge!

We also had some down time, where Fauzy showed us how to make jungle bling - bracelets and wood carvings, which kept us amused for hours including Sophie, who attempted an ambitious sun bear carving (not to scale), but ended up with half a cat and lots of zinc oxide taped fingers.     

Always up for a challenge, we stormed a two day hike in under seven hours, proving ourselves to be a strong and able team.  Fauzy could see our strength and offered us the opportunity to finish our trek with two long and hard days, which we eagerly accepted and did not regret.  After six hours of steep uphill and some truly breathtaking views, we had the privilege of camping next to Yao Yao lake, an eerily beautiful place that we all felt lucky to have seen and some of us were even brave enough to swim in, despite the legends of the huge and dangerous monkey - fish.

To keep us entertained on trek Beni and Sophia introduced 'The Man Challenge' - no sitting down or taking bags off unless a designated rest was called and definitely no falling over - which they both  promptly lost within an hour of the first day. 

After all that hard work, Alpha 8 are in need of some TLC and therefore for the next week we will be diving, tanning and most importantly eating all of Alpha 7 and 9's left over food on the beautiful Dive Island.

An intimate introduction to leeches by Luke Kessaram

“Ohh, ohh, sometimes I get a good leeching,” Alpha 7 sang to us as part of their spectacular skit during first changeover.

Before coming to Borneo, I scarcely knew what a leech was. “Do they hurt? How big are they?” I nervously enquired. Soon enough, I was all too familiar with them.

My first phase was the Biodiversity survey. In the remote area of the rainforest which we were situated, my Project Manager Tim Chapman and David Rendle boasted about the creation of a new sport; leech racing, it was eagerly explained, is a game that involves encouraging a leech to move about on the floor using the placement of your feet. It would seem leeches are attracted to bodily heat. As you move your feet around, the leech alters its course.

Alpha 6 - Biodviersity Team Phase I

I’m not entirely sure how a leech race is won, but it may involve whether or not the leech survives – they tire out after some time.

It was also on Phase I that I was introduced to two kinds of leeches. The regular leech is plain and black, and doesn’t hurt when it bites. These leeches contain local anesthetic so they can feed unnoticed by their prey. The second leech I was introduced to contains less local anesthetic thus has a harder time going unnoticed when biting: it is known as the tiger leech, either because of its fierce attack or it’s stripy orange colouring, I’m not sure which.

Leech attack in progress

We were advised to find a friend to check our hard to see places for stowaway leeches. It was also advised that we find a quiet corner and some alone time to check our no-no squares for some of the more adventurous little suckers. We’d all been told the horror stories of boys who have had to pry the little guys from their little guys, but fortunately we’d been able to avoid the most intimate of leeching.


That is until the fateful afternoon of 20^th February. I was minding my own business, admiring our newly completed basher when all of the sudden I felt it: a sudden prick, the leech looking for the most appropriate of private places to sink into. Unfortunately for me, the leech found the most inappropriate of places. I exclaimed my concerns to the world, but I was afraid to check. Could I really have been leeched there? Surely not; this was the sort of thing legends were made of – I am no legend. I couldn’t hide from the truth though, and I promptly galloped off to a private patch of jungle to carry out a more thorough investigation. Sure enough, there the little tiger leech was, staking his claim in my most special of special places. I pulled up my shorts and brought the leech back to my group, a trophy to show everyone, before performing the roll and flick.

That’s how you get rid of leeches, the roll and flick. Well, that’s the nice way. It’s a technique I think all venturers are trained in during induction. Leeches are sticky creatures, so just trying to drop them won’t work. You need to roll them up in the palm of your hand to disorient them, and then flick them away. Many people new to leeches panic, and rush to flick them away. The leech ends up not going very far, landing on a boot or a fellow team member. The key is to remain calm, and always aim away from the group. It’s cruel not to. Venturer Beth Maton says “I’ve become so skilled at the roll and flick that I can do it while walking.” A useful skill indeed.

Of course, better than getting rid of leeches is to not get any leeches in the first place. Some people hike around in longs during the day, their trousers tucked into their socks. Others have claimed DEET will repel the little suckers.

Leech on a sock

One way to reduce leeching is to watch where you step. Be a weary trekker. It is said that when trekking in a line, the first person to walk past a leech wakes it up, the second excites it, and the third person gets leeched, unless the leech misses, then it has about 10 or 12 more chances to find a victim. Knowing this, the prudent venture would choose his or her place in the line wisely.

But perhaps the best way to deal with leeches is to not care about them. Project Manager Krystyna Kirkham adopts this attitude. “Below the knee, fair ground.” She says. “On my first day of trek, I took off my boot and there were 27 leeches on my foot and another 15 in my boot. Even the guides were disgusted.” However, there is a line to be drawn. Krystyna agrees: “above the knee is my personal space”. A thought many a PM and venturer alike share, Beth being one of them. Beth’s first leech experience crossed that line.

Leech expert Krystyna

“I ducked behind a tree, had a quick look, and there were not one, not two, but three leeches in my underwear! I felt violated. They hadn’t even asked me out for dinner first!” Well there’s a quick alternative for us lonely singletons out there.

And some people do in fact grow fond of leeches. “I actually have a fair amount of respect of leeches. They are the most determined creature without a brain out there,” Krystyna says.

Beth tells a story of a girl in her first Alpha group who started out absolutely terrified of leeches, but by the end of Phase I was putting baby ones on her arm so that they could grow strong.

Whatever your feelings about leeches, they’re here and they’re not going anywhere. They are as much a part of Raleigh as buggy long drops, bland porridge, and Mac’s frightening motivational speeches. They help make our Raleigh experience, shaping us into the people we will be for the rest of our lives.  So whether your pulling a leech off your left testicle, stepping around one on a jungle trail, or waiting for a well fed blood-sucker to pop in the fire, remember to be grateful for leeches, and the fleeting part they play in our short lives.