Rest and relaxation

These last few days of r&r were just what the team needed. After an early start trekking up over 5,000 steps a very tired team boarded the bus and headed to sunny Galle. The 6 hour journey was well worth the wait when we arrived at jungle beach resort and ate our dinner on the beach. We spent our days exploring Galle and the fort that surrounds it, discovering beautiful beaches, great food and some even tried surfing. In the evenings we spent our time relaxing at beaches, nursing our sunburn lol, and being able to  finally reflect on the amazing times we've had.
It was a struggle to leave Jungle Beach Resort for multiple reasons, however the journey to Colombo, despite the many "comfort breaks", was peaceful and exciting. Many of the team were thrilled to finally get to see another side of Sri Lanka, and they weren't disappointed. The city's constant buzz of activity brought new energy to us all, and we had a brilliant day shopping and indulging in McDonald's. Sorry mum.
Our final meal as a team made us all realise that our time in Sri Lanka was coming to an end, so Iain's idea of a prize giving was very well received and kept spirits high as we reminisced over the many inside jokes we've shared this month.
We are all currently sitting in TGI Fridays in the middle of a toasty Colombo, packed up and already dreading the cold of Scotland.
This month has been more than we could ever have imagined. There have definitely been times where patience's were tested and hormones were sky high, but we have all become incredibly close, (perhaps too close) and have bonded into a weird dysfunctional family.
Parents, we'll see you very soon, please make sure that fridges are fully stocked and the hot water is turned on high. Be prepared for tears lol.
Evie and Rhiannon x

Project Phase

I can honestly say that none of the team was ready for our project phase.
After an early exit from the Victoria Inn, we set off through idyllic tea plantations heading for the school that we were going to be helping at for a week. Upon our arrival we were already blown away, the entire school was clapping and cheering, blessing us individually and then performing dances and songs which were amazing and more than we could ever have imagined.
Despite a slight bout of sickness that hit almost half the group (a disaster considering we had 3 bathrooms between 18 pupils lol ) we set off early the next morning, ready to tackle the school which was in dire need of help. Split into three groups the team started stripping the toilet block, which was full of spiders and other horrendous things, building a wall to prevent from flooding in the kids playground and resurrecting a storeroom that the school needed desperately to conserve room for the teaching of 147 pupils. We were also asked to produce a mural on the wall of their school which involved both the Sri Lankan Map and a World Map, which was completed by both pupils and the team. The work was extremely tiring and strenuous, and with the added heat the entire team was always exhausted coming home at the end of each day, but a cup of hot Milo never failed to fill us with energy and give us the drive to keep going.
A part of project that many of the team had been extremely excited for was meeting the children and experiencing an entire new way of living. The kids never ending love and happiness shown towards us was more than some could take, and when it came time to go many tears were shed for the friendships made and bonds formed. Our thanks towards the school was shown on the Friday of the week where we wore our saree's and jazzy elephant trousers, actually sang our national anthem, showcased both traditional Highland dancing and ceilidh dancing and then gave gifts to the school such as science equipment and an assortment of different stationary (which we knew they'd love after the constant drawing lessons that a few of the girls had partaken in).
The entire experience was truly life altering and definitely helped us appreciate just how lucky we are with the many opportunities and resources given to us each day. For many the experience will be one we hold close for the rest of our lives. Evie x

Nuwara eliya

The team felt like they were back in 'sunny Scotland' after arriving in Nuwara Eliya and getting absolutely drenched. The 4 hour train journey from Kandy was an amazing and different experience which we probably will never get again. Train journeys here are extremely different from ones back home, cramped carriages and the lacking use of doors seemed to take the team by surprise. Not to mention buying lychees, peanuts and samosas from baskets to keep us going. We were welcomed into Nuwara Eliya by a copy of the Hollywood sign but instead said Edinburgh which was a nice surprise.
We arrived at the Victoria Inn which was a bit soggy and dull. We splurged on fried chicken at the 'dodgy pub' which took everyone's minds off of the mouldy pillows and stained bed sheets. Some people liked dodgy pub more than others...
Haddon Hill was a walk in the park compared to the Knuckles Trek most of the team had completed just days before, although there was a slight direction problem we drifted through the tea plantations and eventually got back on track. Horton Plains national park the next day was a magical experience. The 9.5km trek through thick jungle to find the 800ft drop was just amazing, World's end truly felt like the world's end. Then on the way back stopping at the most amazing waterfall really did make the day.

Kitty

Team 2.2 - knuckles

Day one in camp - The look of horror on Fraser Allan's face when he discovered his tent bag contained no pegs or poles made the rougher moments of the trek easier on the 14 challengers that remained. The breakdown that Katie went through when she found out that the "lettuce" she'd been preparing was in fact Chinese cabbage made it worth every every leech wound we had suffered - and we had suffered.

As if carrying 70 litre rucksacks on our backs and walking 57 kilometres wasn't enough, Fraser and Fraser felt the the need to rip the sleeves off their t-shirts and take on more weight than most could handle. A world challenge rated 5 out of 5 level trek for difficulty and the boys were still looking for a way to make the extensive walks even more taxing on their bodies. The amount of "jungle crossfit" that the rest of us have had to witness seemed to tire us more than Brodie and the boys but Finlay had to take a back seat after bumping 8ft down the almost vertical peak of the knuckles and landing on his coccyx.

I'm not sure what was worse, peters quips or Michaels shorts tear that manages to scar our guide Nishante for life. The sleep shouting - courtesy of Mairi Patterson was enough to wake us all - only 8 hours early for beakfast . Hannah Braidwood got a well earned rest after her concise budget keeping leading up to and during the trek. Evie's yelps after breaking her nails lead Brodie to believe a few legs were broken. Rhiannon's idea of a jungle toilet adventure took a turn for the worst when we got back to find about 17 leeches on each leg. Sources also say she rolled down the "hill" in the night to use Hannah Braidwood as a human matress. Mairi  Gilroy - (Gary Milroy) - had plenty to say to keep us all entertained on our way up to the top. Leading the way from day one she was one of the teams main motivators -"damn near innapropriately happy" - tom barker. The animal noises that came from Iain - team leader - confused the majority of us during the trek, man or monkey - Iain or iguana.

However, despite the leeches and the quite literal downfalls the trek through and over the Knuckles was thoroughly rewarding for all. The views from the guest house on the third night of the trek were breathtaking. Looking back over the mountains to see all we had achieved really made all the struggle worth while.

"This is what we came for!!" - Brodie Runcimen

Hannah bardett

Day 5,6&7

Muscles were very sore after a long day of rowing. The rafting and kayaking was an amazing experience and the water was so refreshing and we even got to float down the current. The following day we took the bus to Dambulla and we spent the long bus journey by stopping for lunch at another one of our bus drivers restaurants (everything here is so spicy). We also stopped off at a spice garden where we learned and tested some of the medicinal and cosmetic uses of all the Sri Lankan spices (Fraser A and Brodie are now lacking a few leg hairs). After a long day we arrived in Dambulla and took a stroll through the extremely small town to be greeted by monkeys. I think one of the best things about this place is how much fruit there is and how there's a stall every 5 minutes maximum. We indulged in king coconuts, watermelon, pinapple and lychees at the side of the road before heading back for dinner. The next day we went to visit the cave temples, home of the the largest reclined Buddha in the world sitting at 15m long. And tonight we went to a local cloth shop and got fitted for Saree's and everyone looked spectacular.  Finally , we went to a nearby farm and we picked fresh fruit and veg that was then cooked for us and they made us herbal tea.
Rhiannon

Day 4 & 5

After a late start to breakfast we finally left "Rani Beach Resot" to begin our adventure to the Borderlands which is located in the most amazing rainforest. On the way to our destination we stopped at our driver, Chandra's restaurant by the side of a road. Each plate cost us 350 Sri Lankan rupees which is the equivalent of £1.87, so so cheap although the food is crazy spicy. Also the girls used their first squat toilet in a shack surrounded by spiders - which wasn't Eve's cup of tea.
Eventually after a 3 hour bus journey we arrived at Borderlands and had a swim in the river rapids then shortly before dinner we took a walk along a very rickety bridge made for 3 people at a time, though the locals didn't quite follow this rule. We returned home to a large free basket of popcorn, followed by a large, freshly cooked (not spicy) dinner.
After dinner, some of us indulged in strawberry milkshakes, followed by cards and sleeping in the hammocks - not a bad way to start a World Challenge!!
Today we have been White Water Rafting, and will shortly be heading off to try kayaking - a super exciting day!!
Tomorrow we have an early start to travel to Dambulla to visit the cave temples.

 Kitty and Mhairi D

Sri Lanka: Day 5

SOS, Brodie's out.

(KC, MD, CC)