I have survived!

Well it wasn't easy, but I survived a 12-day trek, 2 day rafting trip in Kerala, not to mention the 12 hour coach journey each way to get there and back! I have lots of news from the trekking phase, but suffice to say that it was a lot of fun and the following lessons have been learned:

• You can actually survive a lunch of a rice bag a day, even though they are disgusting


• Peanut crunch is a suitable subsitute for Kendal mint cake - just about


• Motivating a group of people who are really struggling is an excellent way to take your mind of your own pain, tiredness and general woes!


• Kerala is gorgeous, from tea plantations to mountains


• Keralan people are really generous about letting you use their toilets


• You don't actually die if you can't wash for a couple of days, you just look a bit grubby


• Swimming behind a bamboo raft attempting to push it along by hurling your body weight at it is not an effective method of river transportation


• Getting chased by leeches isn't much fun, but leech socks, Dettol and salt save the day every time!


• When the guide says "only 2km to go", take this information with a large pinch of salt (and possibly even Dettol).

Loads more to write, but just wanted to update t'blog while I had internet.

I received two batches of post whilst out on expedition, which was simply amazing. Thank you for writing to me (and including pictures of weird vegetable creatures from France!), and also thanks to everyone who has been keeping up to date with what I've been doing via this blog. It's lovely to know you're thinking of me.

Lots of love, and I'll be writing proper emails and blog entries tomorrow.

Ros xxxxxxxxx