Expedition 12A Has Gone to the Land Below the Wind

It is the new year and a new start for Raleigh KL in general. A new batch of venturers has left for the first expedition of 2012, aptly coded 12A. 12A will be an adventurous and inspiring experience for all of them. There are 9 venturers in total coming from the K.L. side. Have you all wondered what do they do at expedition?

This time around, Borneo Expedition 12A will be building a kindergarten for the village kids and also other village kids too, three gravity water feed systems to ensure that they do get quick and easy access to water, helping with conservation of the Sunbear sanctuary, preserving one of Sabah's treasure, Danum Valley, a forestry survey in a remote region, along with the all popular trekking and diving!

Without further ado, let me introduce to you the venturers that are already there for their first week of training in Sabah. The names underlined are from expedition 12A.

On Gunung Nuang, at Kem Pacat.

Top from left: Chew Yoke Yuen, Choo Geng Qian, Evonne Lee.

Bottom from left: Jeremy Cheang, Lok Chen Haw

After Gunung Nuang, at the mount hill.

Top from left: Hock Soon, Shen Quang, Jia Yee, Hii Ning

Bottom from left: Liang Keat, Kit Yen, Chen Yang, Khai Ping, Yi Xiong

Missing from the picture is Liow En De

You can send them mail by snail mail at this address;

Venturers Name,

Expedition 12A,

Raleigh,

PO Box 14182,

88848 Kota Kinabalu,

Sabah, Malaysia.

You can follow their adventures at raleighborneo.blogspot.com as well.

Do write to them. That will be the few communication from the outside world that they would get.

If you want to look for your own expedition, you can email me, Shen Quang, at expedition@raleighinternational.org.my.

February Monthly Meet: Construction for a Cause

A quick overview of the project: this centre for Orang Asal (OA) children is being run by a semi-retired couple. It works something like a boarding school. The children are from various kampungs around Malaysia with parental consent and endorsement of the local native leaders.

The purpose of the school is to provide basic primary education i.e. reading and writing for OA kids. In addition, the children are taught discipline, responsibility and life skills. Since joining the school, there has also been marked improvement in the hygiene and health of the children.

The couple relies on donations from friends and contacts for things such as rice, books, stationery, and clothes. Most of the funds come from the couple’s own pockets. Right now they occupy a space at a community retreat venue that is available for most of the year, rented out to the couple on a ‘payable when able’ basis. The space houses around 10-15 children.

During our first recce in August, we found children who were barely over a metre tall, healthy and chirpy. They were reading, drawing, chasing chickens, doing kitchen duty and folding their own clothes. There is hope that these children will graduate from here, carry on with secondary and tertiary education, and eventually be leaders of their own community.

There have been more requests for enrollment from other Orang Asal parents. Now the couple wants to build a proper boarding school, with hostel for boys & girls and a bigger classroom. Some work has started on a piece of land in the area, purchased with the couple’s own EPF money. A volunteer has helped draw detailed plans for the chalet-style accommodation for the kids and the couple. They will use recycled materials, attap roof and little tree trunk blocks from the land they clear, also due to cost.

The work that is available to us now is as follows:
1. Clearing the shortcut trail to the work site
2. Clearing the proposed site for building the dorms
3. Making the exterior walls of the dorms
4. Extending electrical cables to the new teaching hall


Location: Bentong (Pahang)
Date: 4 – 5 February  (Public holidays fall on the 6 – 7 Feb)
Project type: Community Project
Meeting point: Gombak LRT Station
Meeting Time: 7:30am (Please be punctual or else you will be left behind!!)


Day trip (Package A): RM55

*Includes lunch, working tools, insurance and transportation fee


Itinerary:
Saturday 4th February
07:30am – Registration at Gombak LRT
09:30am – Reach project site
10:00am – Start work
12:30pm – Lunch
01:00pm – Raleigh Monthly Meet
02:00pm – Continue work
05:00pm – Finished work. Group photo.
05:30pm – Pack and leave
07:30pm – Reach KL

Things to pack: (*mandatory)
1. Change of clothes*
2. Towel / Sarong (for changing) + plastic bag*
3. A bottle of 2L water*
4. Messtin / Food container and metal / plastic cup + fork / spoon*
5. Daypack*
6. Your personal medication
7. Camera / Gadgets in waterproof bags
8. Insect Repellant*
9. Rain cloth / Poncho
10. Personal snack
11. Cap / Hat*
12. Sunblock
13. Small towel
14. Covered shoes & sandals*

**No sandal or slipper allowed at the worksite


2 days 1 night (Package B): RM85

*Include 2 X lunch, 1 X dinner, 1 X breakfast, working tools, insurance, accommodation (dormitory) and transportation fee


Itinerary:
Saturday 4th February
07:30am – Registration at Gombak LRT
09:30am – Reach project site
10:00am – Start work
12:30pm – Lunch time
01:00pm – Raleigh Monthly Meet
02:00pm – Continue Work
05:00pm – Finished work. Group photo.
05:30pm – Trekking back to rest house (dormitory). Shower & free and easy.
07:00pm – Dinner
09:00pm – Surprise activity
10:00pm – Bed time

Sunday 5th February
06:00am – Wake up. Shower and prepare to trek to worksite.
07:00am – Breakfast
07:30am – Trekking to worksite
07:45am – Briefing
08:00am – Start work
12:00pm – Finished work. Trek back to rest house (dormitory).
12:15pm – Lunch
01:00pm – Transfer to famous Sg.Chamang waterfalls
01:15pm – Shower & Free and Easy
03:00pm – Pack and leave
05:00pm – Reach KL

Things to pack (*mandatory)
1. Change of clothes*
2. Towel / Sarong (for changing) + plastic bag*
3. A bottle of 2L water*
4. Messtin / Food container and metal / plastic cup + fork & spoon*
5. Daypack*
6. Your personal medication
7. Camera / Gadgets in waterproof bags
8. Insect Repellant*
9. Rain cloth / Poncho
10. Personal snack
11. Cap / Hat*
12. Sunblock
13. Small towel
14. Goggles and Personal floating device
15. Swimming wear/ Bikini*
16. Sleeping bag

**No sandal or slipper allowed at the worksite


How do I register?

Step 1: Register yourself at http://goo.gl/Cce8v

Step 2: To secure your seat, please bank in the full payment to our CIMB account within 5 days from registration.

Step 3: Take a photo of your bank in slip and email to monthlymeet@raleighinternational.org.my

Step 4: You will receive a confirmation email and details of what to bring on the day.


Please kindly bank in the full payment to:

Beneficiary Name: Pertubuhan Raleigh International Kuala Lumpur
Name of Beneficiary Bank: CIMB Bank Berhad
Account Number: 1430-0006860-05-5


Deadline for Registration is on 2 February 2012


FAQs


1. Will there be any proper accommodation and washroom if I am staying overnight?
Yes, you will be staying in a dormitory with bed and proper washroom.

2. Is there a public toilet at the worksite for us to use when we are working?
No. However, there are toilets near the accommodation, about 8 minutes by foot from the worksite.

3. Are there any mosquitoes and leeches at the worksite?
Definitely. Please do bring along your insect repellent. Leeches are usually only found near water.

4. Is breakfast provided on the 4th Feb morning (Sat)?
No, please have your own breakfast before the meeting time or you may pack some light food with you.

5. Is dinner included if I participate in the day trip (package A)?
No, dinner is on your own.


Any queries, call:
1. Qing (016-2050540) – sms preferred
2. Hii Ning (012-2263277)
3. Li Ann (012-2069443)
4. C.K (012-3852051)

The Rest House (dormitory)

Chamang Waterfall

A short hike to Sungai Chilling waterfalls

7.30am: A clear grayish-blue sky overlooked the skycrapers surrounding KL Sentral departure entrance. That was where participants gathered for headcount before departing to destination, the Sungai Chiling waterfalls in Kuala Kubu Baru.

8.00am: After registration, everyone hopped into the assigned car and set off.

9.00am: Within an hour or so, the convoy reached the welcoming arch of Sungai Chiling fish sanctuary. Joining us that day were the honorable Mr. and Mrs. Razak, together with their two adorable sons. Mr. and Mrs. Razak were the pioneering members of Raleigh International who went to expedition in Bahamas and Chile. It was a great pleasure to have them with us. Buzzing with excitement, we had a round of ice-breaking and also a hearty discussion on ongoing projects and expedition.

10.00am: Soon after the registration at the ranger hut, we started an hour journey on the wet and sandy trail. We crossed 6 rivers, some up to the waistline, till we were all drenched in sweat and river water.

11.00am: We reached the first waterfall. It was an amazing sight, with the fountain cascading down 5 storeys high of rock formations, and lush greenery surrounding the secluded spot. Fish were spotted loitering in the still pools, while hovering over them are stony platforms for people to sunbathe. Without much thought, we dropped our bags and waded into the water. Some clambered up onto the slippery ladders made of natural rocks, and plunged off into the gushing waters.

2.00pm: After some splish-splashing, we returned to land with a mounting appetite. It was a perfect time for a serving of steamy soup and hotpot ingredients. Everyone chowed down lunch.

3.30pm: Time flew. After cleaning up the area, we left the first waterfall and walked back towards the ranger’s hut. It started drizzling right after we stepped into the starting square.

4.30pm: We finally reached Kl Sentral. It was a remarkable experience to see such beauty in the makings of Malaysian rainforest. Provided enough time and resources, some vowed to return and witness the wonders of the second and third waterfalls in Sungai Chiling area.