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Jez's Letter

A light hearted and non-factual account of life at the Jungle Jamboree by Jez...

Dear Dad,

Kevin and Rob told us to write to our parents in case you saw the floods
on TV caused by the monsoons in Nepal and India and are worried. We are
okay. Only one of our tents and two sleeping bags got washed away.
Luckily, none of us drowned because we were all in Meghauli looking for
Sacha when it happened. Oh yes, please call Sacha’s parents in Egypt
and tell them he is okay. He can’t write because of the cast.

I got to ride on one of the search motorbikes. It was neat. However we
never would have found Sacha in the dark if it hadn’t been for the
lightening. Keith, our Cub Leader got mad at Sacha for going on a hike
alone without telling anyone. Sacha said he did tell him, but it was
during the fire so he probably didn’t hear him (and he is a bit deaf).

Did you know if you put petrol on a campfire, the petrol will blow up?
The wet wood didn’t burn, but one of the tents did also some of our
clothes. Matthew Cross is going to look weird until his hair grows back.

We will be home on Saturday if Scout Leader Paul can get the bus fixed.
It wasn’t his fault about the crash. The brakes were okay when we
left Pokhara to travel to Tansen in the mountains. Paul said that with
a bus that old you have to expect some thing to breakdown; that’s
probably why we could not get any insurance. We all think it is a neat
bus. He doesn’t care if we get dirty and ifs it hot (it was 42 degrees
today) sometimes he lets us all ride on the roof with the luggage, the
locals do it so it is safe. It gets pretty hot on the bus as there is
no air conditioning (or seatbelts), so riding on the roof great.

Marion (the female leader from Bristol) is really cool, she’s a good
driver. In fact she is teaching Ryan how to drive on the mountain roads
where there isn’t any traffic. All we ever see up there are large TATA
trucks full of cattle and iron railings.

This morning all of the lads were diving off the side of the banks of
the river with one person on Crocodile watch (he lives only 100m up the
river), its great to shout ‘crocodile’ and see who is the last out of
the river, this has happened a few times (only once for real)! –
normally its Cameron, he is sooooo laid back.

Rob isn’t crabby like some Group Scout Leaders, he didn’t even get mad
when we went rowing on Fewa lake in Pokhara larking around, splashing
the others and rocking the boats without any life jackets, there was so
much water we had to bale out the boat - we were so wet.

Guess what? We have all passed our first aid badges. When Richard
dived into the river and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet
works. Rhys and I threw up, but Kevin said it probably was just food
poisoning from the leftover pork from the pig roast. He said they got
sick that way with food they ate in prison. I’m glad he got out and
became our Group Scout Leader. He said he sure figured out how to get
things done better while he was doing his time.

Remember, Kevin gave us some alcohol hand rub, Matt Rashleigh found out
it was flammable so we all made impromptu flame throwers and celebrated
Nadine’s 18th birthday in style, fortunately Mama Mia’s had a sprinkler
system.

I have to go now. We are going to town with Sharon and Fran (mum) to
post our letters, and buy some cigarettes and get some more whiskey.
Don’t worry about anything. We are fine.

Love.

Jez

Reflections on the week that was

Hari … At Meghauli, Myself and the 1^st Scout troop Meghauli and friendship Clinic, we had a great time with 47^th Plymouth and 90^th Bristol scouts. Dor 1^st Meghauli Scout Troop and Clinic family this was 1^st opportunity to celebrate together. I do not have word to descript how wonderful time and opportunity we had. We are hoping to celebrate this rip of lifetime soon gain. Thanks lots.

Matt ® … Meghauli was worlds away from my expectations, even though families were very poor they still had a smile on their face, and to think at home everyone walks around with scowling faces, they have no idea how lucky they are to have what they do. It also proves to me that money does not bring happiness!

Every time we came into contact with the locals they said hello, the whole town was very welcoming and we were thankful for their hospitality. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the village and felt that the group and our donations made a real difference to so many lives. Even a simple pencil had the recipient running around in tears showing it to everyone. I enjoyed my time and valued my experience with the people in Meghauli and hopefully I can be back in a few years time.

Matt © … The camp was a great experience. It was really simple but always fun. On the last day I gained a sister after 30 minutes of knowing her she gave me a small elephant arrangement. The food was always great. I always ate loads – love it. I’ll do it again many times before I die.

Marion … The trip so far has been utterly amazing, staying at the clinic was so peaceful – no stress. The jungle jamboree was the best camp ever and I have made so many new friends! As Arnie Schwarzenegger said “I’ll be back”.

Keith … Coming to Nepal is like visiting a whole different world, but at the same time the people here are so friendly, trusting, caring. The Jungle Jamboree camp was and well be the jewel of the whole visit and the hardest part was leaving. The scouts of the 1^st Meghauli with tears in their eyes (and ours) was truly the hardest and most difficult part of the trip. A lot of new friendships have been made, for life.

Nadine … The last week in Meghauli has been fabulous, peaceful, tranquil, and the J3 camp was amazing (mum I have a few more siblings now!). Everyone want to be a member of your family. The worst bit was leaving, it gets harder every time. It was very emotional, and I could not stop crying. I already miss it.

Rob … The Jungle Jamboree has been a great success and exceeded every expectation! Looking forward to the next one!!

Jez … I enjoyed it on the back of the motorbike. That was probably the best bit as I also got to drive the bike which was an amazing experience.

Cameron … I enjoyed the food because it was really tasty.

Rhys … The best bit about the camp was the atmosphere and the people, also there was a river next to us to jump into when it got too hot and I loved it.

Richard … I enjoyed the whole thing as it has been an amazing experience.

Sharon … The camp was brill, never met people like that in my whole life, seeing Joe’s well was lovely and to have a Scout Hut in his name is so wonderful. Enjoying everys company having a REAL LAUGH. XXX

Ryan … The place was wonderful and the scout’s were a bundle of fun. I am glad I saw Joe’s well but when I left, it felt like I have left him, it was up setting.

Fran … Fantastic experience, fantastic people, fantastic setting, fantastic weather – all in all – fantastic week!!

Sacha … I had a fantastic time camping we had fun and games and campfire and met lots of new children at Nepal.

Paul … Meghauli was an amazing experience – life is so simple – there are no cars, all transport was by motorbike, pushbike or the occasional bus. It was great. The jungle Jamboree was great – it was a chance to meet the local children. They are so different from children in England – no electrical gadgets, no TV’s but they still enjoyed life. Left to their own devices they would simply entertain themselves. They would start a sing-song and some would dance – everyone would join in! If they didn’t have anything to do they never said that they were bored, they would just sit quietly and watch something else that was going on. It was a sad time when we left – everyone had a tear in their eye even though we had only met two days ago.

Kevin … 14^th time in Nepal and it does not become any easier (I wish I could stay). J3 proved to be a great success, I do not know what our party got out of the whole experience, but I do know that the 42 boys and girls on camp from Nepal, gained a tremendous amount, improving their English, learning, playing etc all tottally immeasurable, taking with them the memories and experiences of something different.

In NEPAL - When they go back to school, their class mates will want to know what they did during Dasian (there holiday). I could talk for hours, how long have you got. The audience would be silent and take in every word they say and will ask, “How can I join the scouts”.

In ENGLAND – when they go back to school, their class mates will want to know what they did during ½ term and how come you weren’t a school last week. They will recount their stories and their experiences, one question will be asked “how were you able to do all that” and the reply will be “through SCOUTING”, on hearing that some will automatically switch off, but hopefully through taking the boys away to Nepal we will have some converts.

The children of Nepal and England must be congratulated for their contribution to the camp, with their dedication, friendship and camaraderie, fun, the event would not have taken place.

Epilogue

This is the 2nd time I have taken scouts abroad, and the lessons learnt
will be taken to the next adventure. 16 people umpteen 1000’s of miles
to a different continent Asia, to visit two countries, India and Nepal
is some feat – and achievement. This is mainly due to all of the
leaders prior to the event, exploring, contacting, writing – crossing
all the t’s and dotting the i’s with all the official paperwork, risk
assessments etc.

A lot of hard work and planning went into what can only be described as
a fantastic trip for the boys, leaders and helpers alike. A trip tinged
with sadness as we visited Joe’s well in memory of Sharon’s son (Ryan’s
brother) who so tragically died in 2005, but also joy as we dedicated
the foundation stone to the new Scout HQ in his honour.

The smiles of the Nepalese scouts who we entertained, although strangers
3 days prior, now were seen as extra brothers and sisters to our own
families. To the tears that were shed when we saw the poverty and
surroundings of many of the villages, to the tears we shed on leaving
Meghauli, both from the UK group and the Nepalese scouts. With the
memories and experiences eternally etched into our minds for ever, to be
recalled at an instance when looking at photographs or giving a
presentation, its something to file away for when we have children, to
recall.

Thanks go to the dedicated leaders and parent helpers who made this trip
possible, educating the children and giving them the chance to
experience these things @ a young age and to help shape their lives.
The children might not know it now, but what has taken place over the
past 17 days will have made a lasting impression, I just hope that one
day they will appreciate the opportunity that was afforded to them. 17
days away from home and its comforts, clearly putting the OUTING back in
SCOUTING – what more could you ask for?

Sitting writing this ‘end piece’ on the coach from London Heathrow to
Plymouth, all but two of the leaders are asleep – the rest are totally
exhausted, elated, satisfied, a trip well executed, well good, WELL DONE.

Bring on J3 II in 2009 – any takers?

All back safely

We are all back home safely after another massive journey!
Our train across India was delayed by 5 hours, but we made it to the
airport to catch our flight just in time.

We will be updating the rest of the blog to cover the last few days of
our holiday shortly (after we've all had some sleep!)

A big thanks goes to all the people that have supported us on the trip,
especially Mr Ojas Walia and the Boy Scouts of India and Hari Bhandary
and his team in Nepal for looking after us so well.

3rd November

Paul writes … We are now ½ way though the long journey home and can’t
wait to get back to have a nice hot shower and catch up on my sleep.

The last 2 weeks have been a fantastic experience for me, seeing two
completely different countries that I have never been to before. India
– a dry dusty messy and busy place and Nepal – a greener, cleaner, much
friendlier place to be. Everyone was friendly and said “hello” or
“Namaste!” and all the children wanted was either sweets of chocolate –
never money.

The visit to Meghauli was nothing like anything I have done before – it
had not been affected by tourism – we got to experience the way the
locals live at first hand. Their lives were basic and they did not have
much, but they were happy. We gave the children simple things like
balloons, which kept them entertained four hours. We built things using
pioneering and I hope that the things we built will inspire them to
build their own constructions, because they have all the materials –
bamboo and rope – they just needed some guidance and ideas.

Our trip to Pokhara was a completely different experience in Nepal – it
was a lot more commercial and tourist orientated. It was good to see
two different areas and easy to see how tourists could get a blinkered
view of the country.

The trek in the mountains was good – it was a chance to take in some of
the beautiful countryside and amazing views. Unfortunately it was not
clear most of the time so we only had limited views – but this is part
of the beauty of being in the mountains. For the two mornings we got up
early to see the sunrise over the mountains – something I had never done
and will be definitely doing again.

For me this has been one of the most varied and most memorable holidays
I have been on and I would definitely come back again.

Matt © writes … 2 words – BLOODY AMAZING.

Kevin writes … 1335 – sat on the Virgin Atlantic plane, relaxing (in the
wrong seat) 33A instead of 34A! got told to move …

Let me recap – the train eventually arrive at 1055, some 5 hours late,
fortunately a familiar face was waiting in the crowd – MR WALIA, our
saviour, as we had to get across Delhi, and check in for the flight (all
in under three hours). We sped across Delhi at 40 kph! and arrive at
the airport at 1205 – hurriedly unloading and racing to wards the now
closing Virgin check-in desk. 16 passports, were exchanged for 16
tickets, we were then ushered through customs and ran towards the
departure gate, reaching there just after 1300. Just in time for the
boarding. 30 minutes later arriving into Delhi, we would have missed
the flight. PHEW.
Arriving in London, to the sight of fireworks in the early evening night
sky at 1800. The coach was there waiting for us, and after boarding we
were Bristol 1st and then Plymouth 2nd bound. Reaching Roborough park
and ride at 2310. Parents and loved ones swarmed over us as we
alighted, WE HAD DONE IT.

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Page 1 of 5

Jez's Letter

Reflections on the week that was

Epilogue

All back safely

3rd November

Jungle Jamboree

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