Borderlands and British Council Take on the Mahaweli

Four days of paddling through pristine wilderness with a team of great adventurists from British Council Sri Lanka is definitely a tale to recap on. The team of 7 from British Council together with the team from Borderlands Sri Lanka ventured on a multi-day river expedition along the ‘Mighty Mahaweli River’  starting from Mahiyanganaya and finishing all the way at Manampitiya. So here goes the story!

The first day started with the British Council Team arriving at the starting point on the Nipon Bridge just downstream of Mahiyanganaya – an opportunity to get familiarized with the equipment and the Borderlands team over lunch. After a brief training on paddling a sit on top kayak and some safety guidelines the team was ready to make the trip down the river on the following day.

Intro to Kayaking 

Riverside snack time

The first night was once again more learning for the team as they had to set up camp, cook dinner, build a fire and so forth before settling down for the night after a BBQ dinner. 

Evening Camp Fire and BBQ

 With the rather unusual feeling of waking up in a tent and the chirping of birds instead of an alarm clock, day two started with the usual cup of Sri Lankan tea.

Idyllic Beach Campsite

Morning Tea

Fresh fruits !

After a hearty breakfast the paddling began. Passing by a few bystanders (crocodiles to be precise!!!) the paddlers reached the first rapid of the journey. With the high water levels this was quite a task for the mostly inexperienced team.

Impressive Paddling on the First Rapid

Team work !

The bank by the “Kiri Ammage Ella” was chosen for setting up camp for the night. However surprising it may sound the scrumptious rice and curry cooked for dinner was simply fabulous!!!

Feel free

Pretty impressive river safari

Day three started with a routine morning at camp and the paddlers were out on the water once again. Passing long sections of swift water where our good friend Eranda decided to go for a swim (for a second time!) despite the lingering crocodiles, the fleet moved on. The fast moving fleet however had to stop for a moment to let one of the locals (and the local happened to be an elephant!!!!!) cross the river. The newly christened “Elephant Skull Beach”, after the skeleton of a long deceased pachyderm were found, was the camp site for the third night.

Have wood , make fire !

Beautiful Mahaweli sunset !

After yet another BIG breakfast the team commenced the last leg of the expedition aiming to reach Manampitiya which was our take out destination by mid-day. Weaving through the lines of the sand miners and their boats in the latter part the fleet of 4 kayaks, 1 canoe and a raft reached our destination which was marked by the Manampitiya Bridge.

Kitchen Duty

BIG breakfast !

Perfect conditions on the Mahaweli

So thus ended a journey that will never be forgotten by anyone who came along. It was definitely a new experience for the team from British Council giving them the opportunity to get to know each other and also to discover new things about themselves personally in an environment that is utterly different from their office in heart of Colombo.

The entire crew - well minus Wade!

And for us at Borderlands it was another great experience and a pleasure to join British Council on this expedition and we must say we had a blast in the wilderness!

Hiking, Abesiling and Some More Leeches! Oh and a Pretty Good Social Night

Good Evening - welcome to Update of the second day of our Elizabeth Moir Youth Leadership Programme - a day which brought us more scorching sunshine, followed by torrential rain and the inevitable emergence of the friendly local leech population.

However the day started off with a nice warm up, some exercises to loosen up stiff muscles and to get the heart rate going, as well as some team games to maximise the rather competitive (albeit completely friendly) spirit of the students of Elizabeth Moir!

Today's main adventure activity was the abseil off Sandun Ella Waterfall, a 80ft decent from one of the most beautiful vantage points in and around Kithulgala - to say that a few of the kids were nervous was an understatement, but all of them, even a rather nervous teacher (no names!) did it - with some overcoming some major physical challenges, and others really testing themselves emotionally and psychologically - well done to all of them, they did an amazing job of supporting and encouraging each other. 

Full Safety Brief

Zainab very relieved she's almost at the bottom!

Looking Good Dude!

Last few meters to our natural infinity pool

Caught in the waterfall

The rain came just as wel were sending down the last of the students and the teachers, so good timing, and the hike down saw everyone in really high spirits - its safe to say i have never heard so much laughter from students and teachers than than this group from Elizabeth Moir - infectious, and the way that some of them helped Nafla on the walk up and down from the waterfall, was really admirable.

Every school enjoys a social on their last night with Borderland,s and tonight was no exception - campfire, marshmallows, some music, improv disco lights and some great dancing! The inevitable "Gangam Style" (will this ever be replaced by new novelty song - perhaps we hope not?!). Thanks to the students who brought their own instruments to camp with them - always good to hear some live acoustic music at Borderlands.

Wasim enjoying his 49th marshmallow!

Hanging Out in the Long House

Yohann on the gee-tar!

Gwang Hoon - Sweet Guitar Sounds

Doing the Conga!

 

 

 

 

Did I Miss the Mandolin Session Emily...?

Mr PVT - Styling it the Gangam Way

Shazana Styling it up in her own Unique Way

The Long House - Best Party in Town!

Bed for the students was 11pm, and all quiet in Kithulgala, so finishing this up now so that I can get up to say a proper goodbye tomorrow morning. I think I speak for everyone at Borderlands when I say that we only wish we had longer to get to know these kids, who have really shone bright, and have been so incredibly lovely to have with us. They embraced everything with high spirits and good grace and a sense of gratitude which was great to feel and hear - we really hope to have Elizabeth Moir back with us again next year, as they've been a really amazing bunch, and I hope you guys leave with lasting memories and when you're back in the busy, dusty city tomorrow that you'll have a wistful feeling for the sound of the river and the feel of a hard floor! :) 

Meantime good luck to everyone with the upcoming exams and I hope that those few days break gave you a new perspective on things!

Til next year!

It's All About the River Today with the Kids from Elizabeth Moir

An early departure from Colombo for 33 students and 4 teachers from Elizabeth Moir School in Colombo for their first Youth Leadership Camp with Borderlands.

We're really excited to welcome these wonderful young adults who have really entertained us today - a really great bunch of kids - smart, funny, up for anything and definitely won't let a few leeches get in the way of an awesome time.

As always, and mainly for the parents at home, here is a brief update on the Day 1's activities:

Borderlands welcomed the students with an immediate introduction to the reason Kithulgala is such a hit with visitors world wide - a great trip on the river by raft - unlike anyone else though we make sure that the raft trip is more than a straight up and down the river - so plenty of time to play on the river

Some mid-air action!

Miss taking it in her stride!

and of course plenty of time to spend on the rapids

Yohan working the "Mahya" Rapid

Diana just doing her thang!

As we broke for lunch the searing heat gave way to some foreboding clouds, and has been the fashion over the last few days, the skies opened just as we entered the canyon, which was really in need of topping up the water levels - so a welcome downpour for the canyon, and it didn't seem the dampen the spirits of EM guys!

Taking a break in the Canyon

A very stormy canyon!

In between all the fun and games, there is a serious message that the student should be taking away with them from the day's activities - the importance of working together regardless of who is in your team, of helping one another, and not just those who are in one's immediate circle of friends and hopefully they have gotten to know some fellow students  abit better than they did before coming on this programme.

On top of this some will definitely have learned how to remove a leech as quickly as possible!

So far I think it's safe to say that the student, teachers and staff at Borderlands are having a blast!

Tune in tomorrow for an update Elizabeth Moir parents!

Over and out for now.