Wandering Scotsman

I’m completely knackered after having way too many 15-19 hour + days. But still, it beats ‘real’ work. The blog updates haven’t been happening recently as all the participants arrive from last Monday. I accompanied the host country participants on the bus to the jungle training camp, then came back to the airport to meet the mainly UK participants arriving. It’s been a manic (but magic) several days at training camp, with us doing the training of setting up hammocks and tarps, etc. I was mainly rushing around taking pictures of everyone in different circumstances, and my biggest picture to date of around 120 participants and staff in scorching heat….

After that I walked out the jungle at 6am to rush back to Kota Kinabalu to help the logistics guys. In a mad weekend we got equipment ready for 7 groups with 10-15 folk each, for three weeks. My tasks ranged from chatting to participants, handing out the expedition tshirts, taking pics, attending the opening ceremony with a minister and all the other volunteers, selling stuff at the temporary shop, drinking about 20 cans of 100Plus, and probably loosing around 70 litres in sweat lugging stuff around….
It was a bit bizarre getting up at 5am this morning and watching all my new mates depart on buses full of participants, food, and equipment ranging from circular saws to wheelbarrows, taking them around Sabah to their project sites.

I had a few achievements this week though….
I spoke on a microphone on a bus while driving from the airport 🙂
I had my newsletter distributed to the 80+ perticipants.
I took a shedload of pictures.
I had my first real venture into youth development, and had a very strenuous day in jungle camp…but this isn’t the place to discuss that!!
Some of my pictures were sent to local press today, but not sure if they’ll be used.

More soon…

We pretty much have a day off tomorrow, but in reality, there’s never a day off here. We’re all off for some team building on Mamutik Island in the morning, and I can’t wait. It’s a beautiful small island with a stunning beach with pretty dense jungle, and where the team stay on their own (except 4 residents) during the diving part of the adventure phase. Apparently you hear the crabs, lizards etc when you crash out in your hammock. I’ll then pop into KK to buy some tobacco…. no mum, it’s for my boots. Apparently it’s good in your boots to keep the leeches away, but when the guys returned from Imbak and Danum they reckoned it was a load of bollocks.
There’s a bit more anticipation as the participants arrive the day after then all hell will break loose with 90+ young folk fresh off a plan and taken straight to jungle camp. With a bit of jet lag it’ll probably be carnage as they get taken through a lot by us, most of which will be a new experience for them – e.g. staying in the jungle, cooking outdoors, rigid hygiene methods that must be applied, and lots more.
I went out for the Sabah Tourism photo shoot last night which was really good fun. I couldn’t complain as I was being asked to top up my free glass of beer so it looked good in the photo. There were loads of laughs and smiles as it was all a bit surreal for us so there should be some cracking shots for them I hope.
Anyway, it’s late. I hope you like the pics I’ve just uploaded for previous posts.