The Return from Imbak Canyon

I feel so privileged to have visited Imbak Canyon, situated 300kms south east of the Sabah state capital, Kota Kinabalu.



Above: Dawn on the Imbak River

The area has been given class 1 conservation status, meaning that no trees can be cut down in the conservation area. The area is the source of the River Imbak and is considered the most biodiverse area of rainforest in the world.



Above: The very impressive Imbak Falls



Above: The view downstream Imbak Falls

The Raleigh project at the site involves securing the foundations for the four uprights of a suspension bridge across the Imbak river which will open up the area for further scientific research.



Above: The impressive meeting room at Ranger Camp.

Controversially,the approach to Imbak is through a 41kilometre palm oil plantation, which butts up against the primary rainforest.



Above:The palm oil plantation abutting the Imbak Conservation Rainforest

You can read more about how the Raleigh Expedition to Borneo is going here

We are now waiting for the Host Country Venturers to arrive on Thursday and the main body of venturers who arrive on Friday, and then the Expedition will begin for real.

I'll endeavour to keep you posted!

Jungle Training and off to Imbak Canyon tomorrow

On the 19th June, all the project managers and Field base staff set off to TAC to undergo our initial jungle training, to prepare us for life on expedition on our respective phases. TAC is located by the Kiulu River at Tamparuli, Sabah.



TAC

The comprehensive training consisted of how to use a parang (machette), how to build a basher (hammock under a tarp), how to dig a long drop (toilet), and how to build a slops pit.



We were then given the opportunity to practice setting up and using the radios, and the precise way that Raleigh communicates using verbal templates.

Swim awareness was covered as was how to undertake a river crossing, using the trusted method of side stepping across the river, facing the flow, in Indian file, and we all had a practice in the river, which was running very fast given the amount of rain that had fallen up the valley.




We were then allocated our rations for the two day trek into the rainforest, which starts on the opposite bank of the River Kiuli.

The heavens opened, which didn't bode well for our 3 hour trek into the Jungle the next day.

We set off at 15 minute intervals the next day in our Tango groups, of 9 people, lead into the jungle by a local guide. I was a member of Tango 3 and we set off last.



It was incredibly hot and humid on the trek, through some very rough hilly terrain and we had a lot of kit to carry, including the Radio Pack, Aerial, solar charger, 5 litre jerry can for water (empty!), a group tarpaulin, 2 trangia stoves, 3 washing up bowls, perangs, hammocks, personal tarps, personal kit, food for two days, and my camera kit, which consisted of one D200 and 24.120mm lens, spare battery, 10.20mm sigma, and tripod, which I carried externally.

All in all my pack was heavy, but not too bad, but I need to look at how much kit I am carrying around with me. One of the challenges for me is to plan each phase of the expedition so that I am not carrying any unnecessary kit. Weight is a real issue.

We trekked into a camp site by a fast running river, and set about setting up our individual bashers, before it started raining, and did lots of group tasks, such as digging the slop pits, and long drop and erecting the communal tarp.

We had a well earned swim in a deep pool in the river to cool off, and then it was dinner and some quiet reflection time, before some name games and then bed in our bashers.

The highlight of the trek was waking up to the sounds of the jungle. Absolutely unbelievable sounds. I was lying in awe of what I was listening too. Croaks, squeels, eecks, buzzing, coughing, barking, tweeting, whirling, burring, tooting, squeaking, howling, whooping, zinging, zipping, ripping and on and on! Can't wait to hear them all again soon.

We struck camp and trekked out back to the TAC centre, and had a little surprise on the way out, and I'm sworn to secrecy about what happened, so I can't tell you. Suffice to say that I was amazed at the speed at which Gilbert our guide could build a stretcher out of a hammock and four bits of bamboo, cut from the jungle!

In fact I was amazed at the difference between our guides' kit and the kit we carried. They certainly know how to travel light!




We travelled back to Field Base rather dishevelled and had an afternoon of cultural awareness gives, by Jim and Yolander.

Today everyone is preparing for our Pre Phase Visits and mine is to Imback canyon along with Nick, Franz, Sarah (Medic) and Cat (who is visiting from head office).

We are setting off tomorrow morning at 0700, travelling by bus to Telupid, where we will be taken by 4x4 vehicles on a 3 hour run to the Imbak River. After crossing the river, it is another 1.5hours off road to Ranger camp, and a 1.5hour trek to BBC camp, which is at the Canyon.

Imbak has class 1 conservation status. It is noted for its bio diversity and is one of the most prestine rainforest on the globe. I can't wait to get there.

Getting ready for the off!

It is now 6pm on Friday 18th June 2010, and the rest of the project managers arrived yesterday, Thursday, looking a bit jet lagged and jaded. Today has been a full on day of Health and Safety and learning how to operate the radios prior to deployment on phase.

We also learnt lots more about the projects that we will be involved in and more details can be found here

Its been really fun to date, with lots of hard work interspersed with a great deal of fun and laughter and we are really being well looked after here. And I had a really good day off, which I spent at the zoo, amongst Gibbons, Orang -Utan, Asian Elephant, Otters and Sun Bears!

I had a very good day with the logistics boys, when we went out into the bush and they were given a rather intense course in how to drive the Defenders off road. The roads are no more than muddy tracks and take some skill to negotiate even in the 4x4's.

So, its off to TAC tomorrow at 0700, to learn the basics of how to survive in the jungle. We will be spending tomorrow night in the bush, sleeping under tarps using hammocks, and at the moment it is raining very heavily....so i'm dry bagging everything, including the cameras. This is really going to be a good test of my plans for looking after my kit.

We will know how successful I have been by Monday morning!

Settling in

Just a very quick note to say how very busy i'm going to be, this is not going to be a holiday!

Read this blog that my comms officer Hailey has written regarding the staff team here at Field base, Kota Kinabalu, which will give you an overview of who I am working with.

I have three months here, and during this time I have to basically travel throughout Sabah

Photographing each phase of a 10 week and a 5 week expedition involving the young venturers that are taking part in Raleigh Borneo. I've described the nature of the phases in an earlier blog, and I'm really looking forward to getting out and about visiting these wonderful projects in what look like stunning locations.

Early next week the project managers (PM's) who will be running the phases in the field arrive and go straight to Jungle Training. I will be with them and then I'm deploying to Imbak Canyon to help undertake the Pre Phase Visit (PPV), which is basically a risk assessment of the site and the route in and out.

I cant tell you how excited I am! Until later......................

John

In Borneo, arrived safely and its hot!

Just a very quick message to let you know that I have arrived safely after a 24 hour journey in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. I was met at the airport and driven to the Raleigh house and met up with the members of the advance managers, and we have a week working together before the other project managers fly out.

We all went for a roti meal last night, lots of fragrant rice and spicy noodles and after a couple of beers, it felt as though someone had turned the light off! So, it was early to bed and I was up at 5.30am this morning.

I watched the sun come up in a clear marine sky, amused by the aerobatic display of brown bats the size of my hand and a cacophony of weird birdsong and a barking dogs. I'm sure there was a few frogs in there as well.

Today is a bit of a training day, in the very safe surroundings of the Raleigh house, along with the other managers, all of whom are very friendly and interesting people. So more later.

Fitting 120 litres of kit into a 80 litre rucksack

I'll be off at 11am tomorrow by train to Leeds and then to Kings Cross. Tube Wednesday morning to Terminal 4, meet up with Alley and a couple of others under the clock, wearing our Raleigh 'T' shirts (not!), and depart on an eastern bound 747 for a 13 hour hop to KL. 2 hour wait for our short 2 hour flight to KK, and then the fun will start!

Actually the fun has already started for me, working out how to fit all my personal kit, camera gear and laptop into my rucksack, pelicase and hand baggage. Not easy with a 5kilo limit on hand baggage and 20ks for the rucksack. Raleigh are paying for the camera gear, and the pelicase complete with 2 bodies, lens, batteries, filters and other paraphernalia is weighing in a 10kilos already! Malaysian airlines charge 1.5% of the ticket price PER KILO for excess, and double it because I need to bring it back too.

My personal kit plus rucksack is weighing a little over 12 kilos at the moment, which suprises me, but I havn't finished packing yet! May well be room for me 2.5kilo tripod as well. One thing is for certain, I'm going to have long arms and strong shoulders hoiking this little lot about.....

I'm told the day of arrival, which is Thursday is getting to know the place, the next day is radio training before heading off to the jungle training camp. Woohoo! I'm very excited now, and really looking forward to getting stuck into creating some stunning images, bring it on!

A couple of nice pix from Knaresborough:

PS Thanks for the card sweetie, it means everything to me xxxxxxxx

Check out this cool Kung fu Sun Bear

I had to laugh at this video,

Check it out here

Such Skill!

The Ongoing Environmental Projects that I will be photographing

Sepilok - Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Probably the most exciting new conservation initiative in Borneo, this is a truly unique project. The Sun Bear is the smallest of the nine bear species in the world. With little known about the animal and its numbers decreasing something needs to be done to secure its future. The new Conservation Centre was conceived by leading researcher Wong Siew Ti. The idea is a very similar model to that of the neighbouring Orang-utan Sanctuary.

The centre will aim to raise awareness of the plight of the Sun Bear. It will allow for the rehabilitation of Sun bears that have been kept in captivity or orphaned. Those that can't be released back into the wild will have the best life possible. Through a visitor programme the centre will become self funding with any profits used for further research of the species.

The BSBCC is completely unique as it is a collaboration of so many different bodies working for a common goal. Raleigh groups will be supporting the project by helping with the construction of parts of the conservation centre, mainly fencing, enclosures and boardwalks. The project is being overseen by LEAP whom is working very closely with two government bodies, The Department of Forestry and The Department of Wildlife.

MORF - Reforestation project, Kampung Bowang Jamal, Kudat District
MORF is a new conservation programme designed to actively pursue re-forestation through collection, cultivation and replanting of forest trees in order to reclaim barren areas. The initial objective is to establish a ‘field base' and ‘rainforest nursery' to supply indigenous tree species to land obtained through donation, purchase on behalf of the organisation or any other means possible.

This project is only just starting and will benefit hugely from having Raleigh volunteers involved. During the project Raleigh plans to; build an accommodation area for future volunteers to work on the project, create a nursery to provide trees for replanting on land obtained by MORF, to collect saplings from the local area.

The project is located approximately 4 hours drive from Kota Kinabalu and is quite close to an active community, the real bonus about this project is that it is only a short walk to a beautiful beach.

Cant wait to get going with these projects Link to Raleigh site here

Some of the ongoing community projects that I will be photographing

Community Projects

Kindergarten – one of two possible villages in the Tongod District

The Tongod region of Sabah is approximately four to five hours drive from Kota Kinabalu. The communities are predominantly of Sungai Makiang origin living in traditionally built housing of bamboo and leafed roofing. In some houses there are up to 2 families habiting. The population are predominantly Christian. Subsistence farming is practised with hill rice grown on a rotational basis on nearby land. A secondary source of income comes from a small amount of rubber tapping. The kampongs have become increasingly isolated over the past few years due to the deterioration of the main track into the area. There are very few community facilities available and the area has been earmarked for assistance from various NGOs to improve the standard of living. PACOS our long standing project partner will be working with us on this project and will ensure that the Kindergarten is maintained and staffed in the future.

Gravity Water Feed Systems Kampung Pinapak

Kampung Pinapak is approximately 4-5 hours drive from Kota Kinabalu. This is the first kampung of 54 that our new project partner Asian Forestry are looking to support by helping them with land rights issues and social infrastructure development. The community is from the Dusun Kimaragang ethnic background with a religious mix of Muslim, Christian and pagan. The majority of people live of subsistence farming, with a few crops sold to nearby markets. Typical crops grown are: paddy, vegetables, coconut, corn, banana, oil palm and also rubber.

info from the Raleigh site

Blackpool to Scarborough on a bike, and then to Borneo

A copy of a press release that I have just done: 24th May 2010

Blackpool to Scarborough on a bike, and then to Borneo.

Knaresborough photographer John Minary has just completed a gruelling 144mile cycle from Blackpool to Scarborough on the hottest day of the year to raise funds for the charity Raleigh.

John was partnered by local businessman David Crawford on the coast to coast cycle, which began at Blackpool Tower and took in the towns of Preston, Skipton, Knaresborough, and Malton before arriving at the fish quay in Scarborough.

John has been appointed as the official photographer for the charity on the forthcoming expedition to Sabah, in Borneo. The ride was to raise much needed funds for Raleigh.

It took the pair 10hours of strenuous cycling in order to complete the challenging route which they did on Saturday 22nd May 2010, averaging at just over 14mph.

With temperatures soaring into the mid 20’s the pair faced the added challenge of the heat and taking in sufficient fluids whilst on the route. Fortunately they were accompanied throughout the long journey by Alan Eastern who drove a back up vehicle.

His contribution was vital in providing the very necessary support, as they suffered 4 punctures on the journey.

Said John Minary, “ I had my fingers crossed for some fine weather, but didn’t bargain for the heatwave, it really tested our stamina.”

He went onto to say, “This event was not only a way of raising some funds for the charity, it gave me a focus for much needed training to get myself fit for the trip. I didn’t quite bargain for the Equatorial weather, but it was a good test of performance under extreme conditions.”

Said David Crawford, “We trained long and hard to complete the ride, it is for a worthwhile cause and I wish John all the very best on his travels.”

John has received support from the Knaresborough Camera Club where he is the chair and from other friends who have all contributed to raising an amount which will be close to £2,000.

Said John “Its great that so many friends have contributed, and David and Alan’s contributions are themselves greatly appreciated. I’d also like to thank everyone, including my Hull based corporate sponsor, Green Palm, who have donated half the total amount.”

Said John “I am hoping to capture some stunning images to share with everyone when I get back. Although I am missing feva this year, I am hoping that the pictures I take and the experiences that I will have will form the basis of an illustrated talk for next year”.

The story so far 2

2nd March 2010

I’ve just got back from the Gps surgery, having seen the practice nurse who went through the programme of inoculations for High Risk areas such as Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo. Two small pricks later, and I’ve had typhoid, polio, tetanus, Hep A and Diphtheria protection.

I also booked dates for my Japanese Encephalitis jab in two weeks, and sorted out seeing the GP to fill in a medical form for my insurance and visited the pharmacy to obtain information for which Malaria Tablets I need to take with me.

All this was done in under half an hour. And free, no cost at point of delivery so far.

This isn’t luck; this is down to the excellent health service that we have in the UK. And no wonder Barak Obama wants to introduce the same in the USA. It is hard to imagine what it must be like living in a first world country, which doesn’t have an inclusive health service for its population.

It also brings to mind what conditions are like for the indigenous population in Borneo. Malaria is such a killer and is not alone. It must be extremely difficult living in such poor conditions for people to avoid such diseases, the prevention of which, we in the west take for granted.

I’m looking forward to experiencing new cultures, and am not one for shouting about health issues, but I’m not looking forward to witnessing the poor living conditions which obviously exist in Borneo. Still it is part of the experience, so bring it on.

I’ve had some wonderful feedback from the girls of the Egyptia Dance Troupe. I first came across these beautiful ladies when they were performing as part of feva last year. I took some very vibrant images, and vibrant really sums them up really.

Beverley Smith who runs the group was very helpful in getting together with me to do a shoot on Sunday. For ages I’ve been wanting to capture some images which shout movement, and having spent many hours admiring Terry Cryer dance shots, which are mainly Jazz orientated, I wondered how I could make it happen.

The feva shoot certainly sowed the seed, and it has taken until now for me to get my act together and we did the shoot on Sunday morning. The highlights are on flickr and I am very pleased with the results. Lit with two soft boxes and using rear curtain flash, I think I’ve achieved what I set out to get.

Beverly and her girls seem very pleased to, great feedback from them, and this has been very much a two way street. I couldn’t have done it without their massive enthusiasm. Thanks Girls, many many kisses, to go with the ones I left with on Sunday!!!

The story so far 1

1st march 2010

I have started to count down to my Borneo trip. I had to start soon, and the 1st March seems as good a day as any! Fitness and raising the funds are going to be the main issues, and I’m really behind with both!

The length of this winter has knocked me back a bit training wise. I’ve committed to a coast to coast cycle with my mate DC, doing Blackpool to Scarborough on the roads sometime in May. So it really doesn’t give us much time to get up to the level of fitness that we both need.

We have both done long distance cycles before, I went all the way south of Geneva two years ago, and DC did the same C2C a couple of years ago in aid of meningitis research, so it is definitely in there, so let’s hope we can both pull it out, so to speak!

I need to start putting some road miles in and its got to start now, or else.

I have also got my first jabs tomorrow morning. I think i’m starting with the easy tetanus and polio boosters, but I’ve got to have the full Monty of Hepatitus, rabies and Japanese Encephalitis as well as enough Malaria tablets for a 3 month stay. Its going to cost a packet, but I can’t go unprotected, its just not worth the risk!

Then the flights, which are at a reasonable price, but I can’t make my mind up which way to go.