World Challenge organizes expeditions to different countries for students in the United Kingdom as an opportunity to develop skills that cannot be taught within the walls of a classroom.
Last week, Team Kerala came down from Dublin with the objective of challenging themselves. The team was an all girls team and ably guided by their Team Leaders – Peter and Helen. They checked in to Kochi on the 5th of June and settled down to familiarize themselves with the climate and culture of a different country.
Chinnakanal was the first destination about 13 kilometers away. From Chinnakanal, we started the trek through the grasslands to the Anaerangal camp in Suryanelli. The sky was overcast but the team was lucky that it didn’t pour. In Kerala, whenever it rains, it pours.
It was on this route that we were fortunate enough to sight elephants. We did have the necessary ammunition to scare them away – fireworks, but we didn’t have to use it, luckily! More exciting things happened when we hopped across a wooden bridge to cross a stream, a bit more of a challenging task than it looks at first glimpse. It wasn’t so much of a bridge as few logs put together!
The next part of the trek was when the group moved from the Anaerangal camp to a place which we call Suryanelli Camp. On the way, we were able to interact with school children at a tribal school. The group donated toys to the kids through the funds that they raised and brought a smile to their face. The group also managed to go to a tribal village to see Keralan way of life and interact with the locals. The locals were initially a bit hesitant and observed the group from their
Last week, Team Kerala came down from Dublin with the objective of challenging themselves. The team was an all girls team and ably guided by their Team Leaders – Peter and Helen. They checked in to Kochi on the 5th of June and settled down to familiarize themselves with the climate and culture of a different country.
Chinnakanal was the first destination about 13 kilometers away. From Chinnakanal, we started the trek through the grasslands to the Anaerangal camp in Suryanelli. The sky was overcast but the team was lucky that it didn’t pour. In Kerala, whenever it rains, it pours.
It was on this route that we were fortunate enough to sight elephants. We did have the necessary ammunition to scare them away – fireworks, but we didn’t have to use it, luckily! More exciting things happened when we hopped across a wooden bridge to cross a stream, a bit more of a challenging task than it looks at first glimpse. It wasn’t so much of a bridge as few logs put together!
The next part of the trek was when the group moved from the Anaerangal camp to a place which we call Suryanelli Camp. On the way, we were able to interact with school children at a tribal school. The group donated toys to the kids through the funds that they raised and brought a smile to their face. The group also managed to go to a tribal village to see Keralan way of life and interact with the locals. The locals were initially a bit hesitant and observed the group from their
rooftops.
At the Suryanelli camp, the group had to set up their Basha beds, a hammock sort of bed although
it is covered – good protection from pesky mosquitoes. Check out the pics, if the description isn’t enough. It was over here that the group got themselves involved in outdoor team building activities. Aside from being lots of fun, these activities showed the group the importance of working in a team.
We were awoken by a girl screaming and we ran over to see if there was some wild animal attack. In a way, perhaps, but it depends on whether you count a leech as a wild animal.
The most striking thing about the group was their bundle of energy. It is outstanding to see a group so filled with enthusiasm – they sing throughout their trek. The day’s trek started near Anaerangal dam. The destination was Santhampara about 13 kilometres away. The trek took us through the world famous Cardamom Hills. We passed the Mathikettan Shola National Park, although we did not enter the park per se. The word Mathikettan is derived from Tamil and means “Mind Confuser” – signifying that once you enter, you forget the path. A place you shouldn’t enter, obviously.
From Shantampara, we moved on day four to Chaturangapara. This section of the trek is relatively difficult as the path is steep. The trek also goes through the Kerala-Tamil Nadu state border. On the right side, lies the state of Kerala and on the left, Tamil Nadu. Although the distance was only ten kilometers, the topography of the area made it probably the most difficult bit of the trek. However, Team Kerala did not lose any of their resolve and managed to complete it without any unnecessary breaks and little fuss. Kudos to them! The wind was blowing at a high velocity and it made climbing very difficult indeed. Again, team work helped as people decided to move in groups and conquer nature’s obstacle.
From Shantampara, we moved on day four to Chaturangapara. This section of the trek is relatively difficult as the path is steep. The trek also goes through the Kerala-Tamil Nadu state border. On the right side, lies the state of Kerala and on the left, Tamil Nadu. Although the distance was only ten kilometers, the topography of the area made it probably the most difficult bit of the trek. However, Team Kerala did not lose any of their resolve and managed to complete it without any unnecessary breaks and little fuss. Kudos to them! The wind was blowing at a high velocity and it made climbing very difficult indeed. Again, team work helped as people decided to move in groups and conquer nature’s obstacle.At the Chaturangampara camp, we organized a cultural ceremony. A simple event to understand one another’s cultures, and we really did understand the Irish! The team sang songs and performed traditional Irish dances; they even taught us a bit of their language, or rather, their dialect. They even taught us a lesson on Indian culture when three of the members dressed up in saris and performed the AR Rahman song “Jai Ho”. Imagine our shock. Not to be outdone, we too put up a show and performed songs in different languages, including Tamil, Hindi and our native Malayalam. However the energy of Team Kerala just proved to be immense and we, sadly, had to concede defeat. They graciously cooked us a meal of noodles, soup and chicken curry as well – a little experimental, but worth the effort.
It was sad that the expedition had come to a close, however for Team Kerala, their project was still left. And after we said our goodbye’s the team proceeded towards their project and to make a difference in the lives of a lot of Keralite children. In Thekkady they were interviewed by four regional TV channels and are considered mini celebrities in our state – what all one can achieve just by teaming up with Kalypso!
It was sad that the expedition had come to a close, however for Team Kerala, their project was still left. And after we said our goodbye’s the team proceeded towards their project and to make a difference in the lives of a lot of Keralite children. In Thekkady they were interviewed by four regional TV channels and are considered mini celebrities in our state – what all one can achieve just by teaming up with Kalypso!
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