Welcome home, feedback and Photo Competition

Namaste expeditioners one and all,

It was wonderful to see you all home safe and sound this afternoon.

Just a couple of things:

1.    Your feedback is really important to us.  If you have a moment to let us know your thoughts about your expedition, they would be very valued.

2.    PHOTO COMPETITION!  Please do send us any photos or videos that you took whilst in South Africa.  The winner with the best shot will get a £25.00 Amazon voucher.  All entries must be in by the 30^th of September. 

Please email both feedback and photos to: info@outposts.co.uk.

We've created a dropbox folder for you to share your pictures on (could you please limit it to your 20 top shot and put your name in the image title). 

Very best of wishes,

Fee

Now 1245

Eta now 1245 ....

Coming home

They're on the bus and coming home!

Elephants in Chitwan

The group have seen Rhino, King Cobras.....  I believe the Bengal Tiger is, however, still elusive!

Looking forward to seeing you all on Monday.

A note from Michael Kingscote

The expeditions are nearing completion. Of course, the real finish is when you meet your sons & daughters at the pickup points on Monday.
Until then we shall keep our eye on the ball!
Thank you, parents, for entrusting Outposts Ltd, with your charges.
We all hope that they have grown in stature from the opportunity we produced as an idea and that you, parents, have bought into wholeheartedly.
Your sons and daughters will have changed a little, seen things for the first time and made new friends; they also will have their own tales to tell.
We all hope that this has been a worthwhile venture for your family and would ask that you send us your thoughts and feedback as soon as you can after the expeditioners return.
I shall be at LHR on Monday to meet the flights.
Thank you again.
Michael & DD Kingscote and all at Outposts Ltd

Home on MONDAY

Just to remind you that they get back to the UK on Monday 18th!  :)

Arrive: London Heathrow Airport 09:05

09:40 Coach Transfer from Heathrow to Taunton

ETA Taunton Sainsburys Hankridge Bus stop: 1240

We will confirm the times on this Blog as they arrive, alternatively you can call the office from 0830 on 01823 451959 

Last day of project

Today will be their final day in Pokhara and at the school.
I understand from Polly that  on Monday she was asked to give a science lesson to some of the older students..  It transpired that the topic for the day was all about the birds and the bees!!  I am so glad they asked Polly to do that particular one!

Yesterday they spent time at the Tibetan Village, Devis Falls and the Mountaineering Museum:

Carpet weaver at Tibetan Village

Solar Cooking

Devis Falls

Traditional Dress

Sherpa traditional dress

Very smart traditional dress!

Busy busy bees...

They are all having a simply wonderful time.  Break time at school and new fencing at the Orphanage!

I will let the photos speak for themselves:

News from the project

Some news from Nepal... 

Yesterday, the 7th:
Everyone fit and well  in Pokhara. 
The team spent their first day in the Sunrise School, Pame, Lakeside, Pokhara - they taught many classes of children from kindergarten to grade 8 ( so anything from 4 yrs to 14).
Lessons taught included English, geography, maths, the solar system, and the ever popular football.
Simon in particular did a fantastic singing lesson and had the whole class singing African songs and the class also shared some favourite Nepali songs as dances with us.
It was great fun and everyone really got into it as the day wore on.
Everyone is looking forward to tomorrow when they get to do it all again.
They may also be putting some Shelving together for their library.

Today, the 8th:

Everything is going great guns- the expeditioners are being brilliant- getting really stuck in and enjoying teaching at the school .  We apparantly have to wait out for a fantastic end of course video on their return to the UK!

We'll post pictures as and when they get through... it will be intermittant though as recognising photo files is proving interesting to Pokhara Cyber Space!

A few more photos

Namaste Bahinis

Relaxing in and above the clouds

Repairing the path

Josh

Back from trek

They have all arrived safely back in Pokhara and are now relaxing before going out for meal and perhaps a bit of dancing at the Boomerang Restaurant!

Photos are beginning to flood in..  I will put them on as and when I get them.  For the time being..

Poon Hill

This great little team had by 0600 UK time reached the summit of Poon Hill - 3210m!  Just one more night with their trekking team and tomorrow afternoon they will be back in Pokhara and enjoying an hard earned rest.
The rain has let up and they have had views and sunshine!  Great for morale.

Here are some photos from last year to give you a flavour!  Hopefully when they get to Pokhara we'll get some through of their very own experiences..

Landslide NOT near expeditioners

Just to let you all know that the landslide in Nepal as reported on the BBC is NOT anywhere near the expeditioners or any routes that their itinerary will take them on.

They are all very well, indeed a text from them just now reports:

..just arrived at the end of day 2 on trek at the Ghandruk Guest House.  All group are fit and well.  Lots of photos being taken of the wildlife and culture around them.  Food is a good mix of UK and Nepali, the majority of the team are trying all the Nepali options.  Woke this mornign to overcast sky, but this cleared before 8am to reveal the majesty of teh Annapurnas and spectacular views fo the Sacred Fishtail Mountain.  Machapachure.  This afternoon sees them exploring the village and even trying on some of the local dress!

This morning in Nepal

Our trusty leader writes again:

"Namaste!!!!  I have a mosquito in my breakfast - just eaten him/her - ha! Anyway - everyone fit and well ready for trek!"

And I have since had a text to say that they have landed safely in Pokhara and are now heading off into the might Annapurna foothills to start their trek.

Internet is pretty much non-exsistant, so don't panic if it's a little quiet.

p.s thank you for all your comments!  I have passed all thoughts and wishes onto the group.

Yesterday in Kathmandu..

Polly writes: Today the team had a full tour around Kathmandu - firstly visiting a nearby village where we saw lots of floral people leading their daily lives, along with Buddhist and Hindu temples. We then went to the main square in Kathmandu where we went to see the living goddess Kumari ( not calamari as Sam suggested! ) - but the 7 year old deity decided not to be seen today so although we saw the inside of her incredible home, the child goddess did not appear. The group were then blessed in the temple before we toured the rest of the square and museum and had lunch. The team walked back to the hotel through the famous shopping area of Thamel where many of us spent money (some a lot more than others!). And finally after a freshen up we are all waiting for dinner in the famous Kathmandu Trekkers restaurant called Rum Doodle- sanctuary and popular eating place for all Trekkers - including every single Everest summit climber - with signed feet adorning every spare inch of space. Along with help the Heroes bunting - I've taken a photo for Bryn:)

Blessed!




For Bryn?



New Clothes?

The gang

 



Rum Doodled...

Happy photos of their arrival in Kathmandu

In Kathmandu

They have arrived safe and sound and are being looked after by the lovely Su at the Hotel Manaslu.  They can have a little rest and then head into Kathmandu for some sightseeing.

Checked in and on the plane!

Not long now!

Just 3 more days to go!

Roll on Tuesday morning, looking forward to seeing you all at Sainsbury's Hankridge, Taunton for departure at 0800!

Any questions just email me on: fee.bellamy@outposts.co.uk

Outposts Open Expedition to Nepal 2014

Just over 6 weeks until "The Team"  head off to London Heathrow to catch a plane to Nepal!

At that point any information about the expedition and how they are all doing will be posted on this blog.  Do share it with family and friends so that you can all keep up to date.

If you have any queries before they depart please email Fee Bellamy: