Cancun, looks like we made it... look how far we've come my baby!

YAY CANCUN! Sun and beach and pool and shower and air con in my room and I dont have o wear my dirty smelly tshirt anymore!

So much has happened since my last blog. We went to see Mayan ruins at Tikal and they were really beautiful. We climbed to the top of the highest temple and watched the sun rise. It was misty but still beautiful and it was totally silent. We then travelled that day and watched the sun set in belize!
The next day we started our jungle trek and in the morning a few of us went to see a cave which the tour guide had discovered and if you guys saw what I climbed down you would be totally shocked because it was AMAZINGLY small and tight and we all had to do a bit of body rolling to get in and out.

Our trek was only two nights because we cut it short. It was really hot and I fell over lots- naturally! The last day was amazing though, we did two river crossings, the first was fine but the second I fell over in and it was very funny because I was laying flat and there was a little waterfall drop but luckily I didnt fall in. By the time I got to the otherside I was shaking.

We kept walking and when we saw a shop in sight it started pouring with rain and we were all really happy and ecstatic. Once we returned we travelled to the local town San Ignacio and stayed in a hostel and then the next day started our travelling across countries.

Basically all I can say now is that we made it and I am in clean clothes and have had a clean shower. Peakey temporarily cancelled Cancun because he was angry at us for doing lots of things which were bad but now were here and happy!'

Ive gotta go catch some rays guys but just a couple more things... well done on results everybody, from what ive heard youve all done really well and now I really dont want mine! Well done at pizza hut Lew, cant wait to hear all about it! And Mum, Dad and jman, thanks for the email, glad its been sunny! When you pick me up can you possibly bring a big bottle of cold orange squash for me to drink please and a camera to take a piccie of me when I come through. And also my phone charged up please so I can make a few calls!

Loads of love everyone, cant wait to see you xxxxx

Today we are in Flores and soon going to Tikal

We should already be at Tikal but yesterday the bus got a puncture and then it ran out of petrol so we had lots of hold ups.

We ended up not getting the police escort and were in a 15 seater bus for 19 of us (four of which were fold up seats) so that was an interesting bus journey, lots of singing!

It is very hot and clammy in Flores and the jungle will be a lot worse but we are all looking forward to chillingo ut in cancun.

We met another world challenge group and had an injury comparison session, one of them dislocatedf their shoulder and one cut his head open so that was interesting.

My knee still hurts and I havent strapped it up, Ill see how it is in the jungle. My right foot hurts a little bit but not a problem because in 9 days time I dont hav to wear these silly shoes anymore!

Looking forward to seeing you all soon. We went to Semuc Champey and I wswam in the pools and it was lovely

Love you xxx

Last day in Nebaj

Today I woke and I have to say I was not in a good mood. I had really bad dreams about getting my results and it put me in a badish mood for the day. We had a talk from one of the volunteers who works for this cafe and it was about the history here, very interesting and quite amazing the things that the people here have been through! We have it so easy back home in comparison.

We went to our school today and took some things to give to the teacher, she wasnt there so we left it with their children who we have all fallen in love with and wish we could take back home with us and give them a real chance for a good life.

I am leader today which means I make the decisions despite some rather pushy people who are desperate to get their own way. I ate an avocado today which was nice.

I am looking forward to moving onto a new place because although I like it here I feel that we are not actually doing that much anymore because there were never any children at the school as they were always on camps. Yesterday however was the festival celebrating the two year anniversary and loads of kids from different schools turn up and they all walked along the street playing musical instruments. It was great to see because despite their poorness they still take part in music and celebrations.

What else... I took my clothes to the laundrette, had a pb and j sandwich and ate lots of cake- very bad!

I´m hoping in the next couple of days my mood will pick up and I will be more positive, apparently the water pools at Semuc Chempey are really beautiful and will be nice and relaxing. I am slightly concerned about our final trek as there is definitely still something wrong with my knee, just walking down the stairs hurts :(

Anyway, happy holidays to everyone, Ive heard that the sun has now gone and therefore you will no longer be getting great tans... what a shame!

Love to everyone, good luck with results as I may not blog for a while as we are going to Semuc Chempey, Tikal Ruins, Trekking and then Cancun. Miss you all and dont worry, we will be safe on the roads xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Second day of the community project

Today we went back to the school and started painting the classrooms the proper colours, yesterday it was just white primer but today it was blue and we painted the whole classroom and it looks so great! I love painting and a big blue blob fell on my face haha! There are about four children who live there as their mum and dad were the ones who set it up and they have been playing with us and chatting with us and today Marta (5yrs old) was trying to wipe the paint off my face which was totally cute.

I really wish we could explore here but really there is no where we can go other than this town.

The knee is feeling a bit better, not having my rucksack is helping I think!

My clothes are covered in paint by the way Mum and my hair and Im not sure my hand washing will make it come out. I have blue smurf hands as well.

We also now have a group kitten called Bobby which one of the girls picked up off the street and it lives in the hostel with us. Im not sure how they are going to handle it when we have to leave it behind.

Im sure what Im going to do for the rest of the afternoon, just chill out I think. Id like to do more in the school but the world challenge budget is very messed up so we have no money to buy anything other than paint. The school is very shocking though but it looks better now.

Have a fun weekend everybody, love you xxxx

First day of community

Today we went to the school which was down a very steep hill and when we arrived I was shocked, it is three classrooms made out of breeze blocks and corrugated iron roof held up with small wood beams, wait for the pictures! The lady wanted us to paint the hall but I said we thought it would be more beneficial for the kids if we painted the classrooms so thats what were doing. Weve only painted white base coats so far but it was really difficult! By 12:30ish we were all tired so left and went for lunch. I shared nachos, egg fried rice with chicken and banana bread with Alex at an amazing cafe. We now have a free afternoon where I shall attempt to explore Nebaj and hopefully buy an extra tshirt because wearing the same clothes is a bit mind numbing!

Tomorrow saturday and sunday we are doing more painting then monday and tuesday we are helping out at the 2 year anniversary of the school so hopefully lots of music and dancing! I spoke to a couple of the kida who live there today and they are soo cute. There was also a crazy drunk woman who tried to get into the school and we were all quite freaked out by that.

So... what else... I have been spending lots of time dreaming about what I will do on the day I get back and it seems that shower and then breakfast at the Arches! I have to say I have definitley missed your cooking mummy! Even though we have eaten pretty well here and Ive only had to put up with the chlostrephobic tent for 3 nights. The hostel were staying in is really nice and the town is surrounded by mountains which is pretty different to home.

Love you all loads xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Back from the trek

Ok, to start with I have realised that the itinerary I have at home is the old one and there is a new one which is the one we are following at the moment.

The trek was... an experience! We walked for about 4 hours the first day and it wasnt that bad because I didnt get altitude sickness and by the time I got to the camp site I was so ecstatic for making it! So we set up camp and all of these local children spent much time staring at us and we were all so white and pasty! We set up our tents and had pasta and bolognaise for dinner. I am sharing a very small two man tent with a girl called Alice who is really nice. The next day we had a pancake mix, porrige, egg and hot chocolate concoxtion for breakfast which Dr Mckpeake (Peaky/Stuart) made which was suprisingly nicce. He then strapped the remaining eggs to the back iof my rucksack and they dripped onto my fleece all day so we now refer to my fleece as the salmonela fleece! So after that we packed up and we started going back down as we were going to come back to the town of Nebaj as Alex and Miss. Sleggs (Tara) had to go back to the town and we hadnt heard if they were ok but then we heard they were and loads of people wanted to go back home but some of us wanted to climb the mountain and in the end we did even though some were a bit grumpy.

It was hard but totally amazing to climb it and I was so proud of myself! That night we camped in a small village and all you could see was sky tops of mountains and clouds. However there were some seriously annoying children who peed on our tents and stole things from us! There were also lots of dogs. In the middle of the night I had to get up and go to the toilet which was a long walk away and all the dogs were barking and when I was at the toiulet which was a little shed with a hole in the ground and a plasticy curtain you had to hold I heard something or someone walking around the outside which was pretty scary but I never saw anyone. When I came back to the tent there were loads of dogs and they were really close and once I got back in my tent buddy Alice said she had never been so scared in her life!
The next day we walked across the mountains and I peed behind a rock which was fun it seemed like we walked forever and then we had to go down the mountain and I have to say that day (tues 29th) was possibly the worst day of my life! I have never been so physically, mentally challenged or scared and we all agreed after that it was really dangerous. It started hailing and everything and I can now say I have been down the side of a mountain on my bum as I seemed to fall over so much! To make things worse on the mountain I have really hurt my knee since being here and the strain on it hurt so much and even when walking on the flat at the end I was walking so slowly because it hurt so much! I have to say I have never felt so battered, bruised and dirty in my whole life.

Today we woke up and were told we would get the bus the whole way back to the town of Nebaj but instead we had to walk for 2 hours and it was mostly downhill. We stopped at a waterfall and originally I was happy just looking at it but then Leonie and Peaky pulled me up to go stand by it and it was so lovely and cool! After that Peaky carried both mine and his rucksack as I could hardly walk with mine which was so kind and unnecessary of him but made it easier on my knee. We finally got to the bus and made it b ack to Nebaj and I had a lovely shower even though I had to pull on my dirty trousers again! Tomorrow we are starting working the school and ive heard its pretty basic but im excited as its the thing ive been most looking forward to.

I´m taking it easy on my knee and hoping it will sort itself out soonish Peaky said as long as I can bend it it should be fine. Despite lots of time in the hot sun my tan doesnt seem to be coming along well. We also have a sun cream obsessor in our group who constantly checks up on if weve been using it or not. Everyone in the group is really nice and ive definitely learnt not to judge a book by its cover on this trip so far.

Just to say missing you all and wish you were here, everyday I think of everybody and how I miss you and also how I miss food- haha no suprises theere! Thanks for the comments, I love them! Dont forget to look for the other itinerary, you can ask Mum for the address and password of the wc website.

Love you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Today we climbed the indian peak and I made it with no help which was great and we went slow so I made my own way. I slipped and slid on my bum a few times but that was very amusing. We rode home in the back of a pickup truck which was so much fun and a lifelong ambition.

Sorry it short, I think Im getting dihorrea and dont know when i can next write. Good luck for interview lew and well done on tan chelsea! Loving you all loads the real hard work starts soon... xxxxxxxxxxx