Day 3: Abseil and Yoga-tastic Day

Today was a pretty full on day - after our usual morning stretches the students were divided into two teams - team one were kitted out in their gear for the morning abseil - helmets, life jackets and ready to go. Team Cavemen were bound towards Belilena Cave on a 2 hour hike through rubber and tea plantations. Luckily "Mother" and "Alfa-Whiskey" could maintain constant contact whilst separated via the walkie-talkie system, which have become crucial survival kit for some of the boys on this Borderlands mission! Special thanks to Charles for helping our guys out with the rope work. And to Ferial who really overcame all her fears and took that huge leap of faith in herself in stepping over the edge.

Over at Belilena Cave (where the remains of a civilisation dating back 32,000 were excavated)the "Cavemen" Team were enjoying yoga with a spectacular view. Fiona Raymond, a great friend of Borderlands organised a 60 minute yoga session especially designed for the ACS students - helping to focus the mind on overcoming fears and insecurities, and self acceptance.

Post lunch the teams swapped over and the "Cavemen" turned rappelers, and again the kids showed such courage and determination - William and Faisal excelled with the belay work.

The second team hiked to the cave and took a while to settle into the yoga, but with Fiona's expert instruction she soon had them chanting and and doing deep breathing exercises which hopefully prepared them for the long walk back to camp at the end of the day!

Whilst the abseiling certainly posed a psychological challenge for some of the students the most overwhelming challenge to overcome was the fear of our little friends who come out to play when it rains. The jungle leeches were undoubtedly the biggest emotional struggle for the majority of the kids, and today they were out in force after the rain! Special mention to Wael who had 15 leeches on the hike back along - getting on for a record there I think, Jad el Haji whose belly-button became the temporary home of a very hungry leech, Joanna whose boot literally turned red and Jenna's leech was definitely the largest and most sated of the day! Guys you were amazing today - we are all proud of you, and you should be really proud of yourselves! Tomorrow is the community service day at the local Kithulgala school - so a very different but very rewarding day ahead.