Welcome Home and keeping the dream alive!

Namaste! 

Everyone has landed safely at Heathrow and now on their way back home. 

We hope you have enjoyed reading our updates. Don't forget to share your daughter's photos, experiences, anecdotes, personal stories and experiences with us (via the blog, Facebook, with Fee, or directly into the Outposts' office).

Help us to keep the dream alive and share in the memories and unforgettable experiences of the expeditioners' special time in Nepal!  

Photo Competition: We run a competition each year for the best photos from our expeditions with a prize being awarded to the winners. Why not enter your best photos by sending them in to us? Winners will be chosen and announced in September.

Good luck everyone!  

The girls have shopped ... and are now ready to 'drop' ...

After a frenzied day of last-minute shopping in Kathmandu - Girls are all happy and enroute to airport ready for their flight home.

Girls have arrived in Kathmandu for cultural show and dinner

Fee Bellamy reports: 

All's well! The Girls have all arrived back in Kathmandu where they are preparing for their final evening in Nepal with a very special dinner at a traditional Nepali restaurant where there will be a cultural show.

Rhino spotted on elephant safari in Chitwan Jungle and Rapti River canoe ride

Fee Bellamy receives a brief update from expedition leader Mike:

Expeditioners transferred yesterday by road from Pokhara to the Royal Chitwan National Park where they were met with more rain!

Exciting times in the jungle however has left everyone very happy! 

Elephant rides and sighting of Spotted Deer, Boar and Rhino! Canoeing on the River Rapti today.
Early start tomorrow for the drive back to Kathmandu and their final night in Nepal.

From Himalayas to steamy Chitwan Jungle ... 

The Lonely Planet guide describes Nepal as ... 

"Wedged between the high wall of the Himalaya and the steamy jungles of the Indian plains, Nepal is a land of snow peaks and Sherpas, yaks and yetis, monasteries and mantras."

Here are some typical sights and views our 'adventurers' will have experienced yesterday on their bus ride from Pokhara to Chitwan ...

... and into the Jungle in search of Rhino and Bengal Tiger! 

Elephant safari - Chitwan Jungle

Rhino - Chitwan Jungle

Canoe ride on River Rapti bordering the Chitwan Jungle

Monsoon Rains. Girls now adapting well. Teaching and maintenance at Community Project going very well!

Fee Bellamy reports after making contact with expedition leader Mike:

Have just spoken to Mike and the monsoon rains in Pokhara are full on!

Last night the Girls were drenched going to their evening meal, they then sat with little streams running under their dining tables and walked home in ankle deep water!

Yesterday was a tough one at the school as the Girls got used to the environment and today it’s like they had always been there. Teaching is going really well and it would seem that they are on track to paint the entire school by all accounts … apparently very much needed. The roof has been dismantled on one room and they will put that together before the day is out tomorrow.

There has been no internet connection over the last 2 days and therefore no photos I’m afraid but here are some photos from previous expeditions of Nepali school children who were also being taught by our expeditioners.  

There have been some glimpses of several of the iconic Himalayan mountains - see below ... 

The mountains still prove elusive, but there have now been glimpses of the Fish Tail Mountain (Machhapuchhre), Annapurna 1 and Dhaulagiri. 

Annapurna 1 & Fish Tail viewed from Lake Phewa, Pokhara

Dhaulagiri (8,167m) - middle - viewed looking West from Poon Hill 

Next call to Mike is scheduled for Wednesday when they will arrive in Chitwan for the next exciting phase of their expedition.

Work on orphanages finishes ... teasing glimpses of peaks!

Fee Bellamy reports:

All very happy. Weather is dry at the moment! Teasing views of the mountain peaks from the hotel. Work at the orphanage sites finished today and lots of plans are being made for the future!

Tomorrow the Girls start at the school for 3 days before they head South to the Chitwan Jungle.

All in all - "Fantastic"! Retail therapy on Pokhara High Street then the hardwork began on Community Project

Fee Bellamy reports, following an update from Mike the expedition leader:

Yesterday: Mrs Mackintosh writes: “Great time … Girls enjoyed their day off  with retail therapy and a lie-in. Pokhara High Street was in its element!!"

Today: On meeting the Orphans this morning and introductions being made, the orphans burst into a rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Diana. I believe there was also much singing yesterday for Olivia! The SGS gang have been levelling out the grounds of the new site and built some slate steps. They have had a lot of interaction. It is now evening in Pokhara and they are preparing for the evening meal and “cake!”

Orphanage update: Tiny Hands has a acquired 2 acres of land ½ an hour outside Pokhara. The Holy Home and Paradise Home Orphanages are joining up re-locating to this site. They moved in last night! 

Holy Home House Parents and Children 

Paradise Home House Parents and Children

Beloved and Grace Homes will be joining them in due course. There is room for an additional 2 Orphanages to re-locate to this site and that is the “dream” that Tiny Hands is hoping to achieve over the next 2 years*.

Tomorrow: A bit more gardening and then constructing a Bamboo Fence. After this they will fit curtains throughout. The curtains have been part of the donation from the SGS girls. They will also install 2 x Water Filters. It is the intention for the group to cook a traditional Nepali meal with the Orphans during the day as well.

And then … there will be a further day at the actual Orphanages and then the SGS girls will spend 3 days in a local school. They will split into 4 groups and respectively teach and interact in the following subjects: Music, Games, English and Science. They will paint a couple of classrooms, rejuvenate the blackboards and fix a roof.

All in all – fantastic!

*Learn more about Tiny Hands here ... 

Now in Pokhara planning school and orphanage project work ... plus 2 Birthdays to celebrate!

Fee Bellamy reports:

We have a photo from trek! (Apparently there are 3 others which were sent but we haven't yet received them - we will post them here as soon as/if they arrive)!

The Girls on trek!

Lots of rain but everyone is happy in Pokhara. Today they made plans for a routine of work between the Orphanages and the schools, this they did with their Nepali guides Sonam and Su.

Birthday celebrations for today and tomorrow! 

Olivia and Diane… Happy Birthday from everyone!

Final day of trekking from Tirkhedhunga to Nayapul

Today ... after breakfast, the girls will have descended gently down to the banks of the Bhurgundi River and followed the trail along the river to Birethanti and then Nayapul. Here they will board the awaiting vehicle and head to Pokhara for a well-earned night’s rest in an hotel.

Yesterday ... the girls would have been up at first light (probably 4 am!) for their penultimate trekking day and hike up to our high point, Poon Hill (3,210m). This is the best opportunity (weather and cloud cover permitting) for the most spectacular mountain views of the snow-capped Annapurna Himalayas. The descent from Poon Hill to Tirkhedhunga (1540m) is down some 3,260 stone steps! 

Weather permitting - the views can be spectacular!

Typical trekking terrain

Having an amazing time. Trekking going really well. Early start in the morning!

Fee Bellamy reports after very intermittent conversations due to poor comms on trek:

Trek going really well. Hot and humid up to Tadapani and now settled into the Trekkers Inn and going to sleep before an early start tomorrow. 

News from Amanda: 

"Having the MOST AMAZING time! Su and Hari cannot be praised enough. Hoping to have internet access when we reach Pokhara Tues/Wed and will try and email some photos. There is a particularly fetching one of expedition leader Mike in traditional Nepali ladies dress which we will try and send to you! 

Parents ... please do not be concerned if you cannot make contact with the girls due to the poor communications - be assured all is well."

It's UP, UP and UP today to Ghandrung home of the Ghurkhas

Expeditioners are now well into day 2 of their trekking phase in the Annapurnas* through colourful villages, rich forests, traversing rushing mountain streams and spending the night in traditional tea houses.  

Yesterday they left Nayapul (1,070m) following the Modi Khola Valley to Syange (1160m). Today is a tougher trek up to 1,940m. They will climb through the rice paddies and up stone staircases to the 2nd largest Gurung settlement of Ghandrung home to many Ghurkhas. The temperature up here is cooler than the monsoon heat of Syange. Clouds permitting (!) they will see good views of the Annapurna range and the sacred Fish Tail Mountain Machhapuchhre.  

Some typical scenery on trek: 

*For reference: The Annapurna Region in central Nepal is the most geographically and culturally diverse region for trekking. Annapurna I is the world's eighth highest mountain (8091m). The area boasts of a variety of Hindu and Buddhist cultures, tribes and castes including the Brahmins, the Chhetri, the Newars, the Gurungs, the Magars, the Manangis and the Tibetans. This area has sub-tropical lowlands, valleys, forests of bamboo, oak and rhododendron, alpine meadows and windswept desert plateaus. The area is home to over 440 species of birds and animals like the marten, deer, languor and the elusive snow leopard.

Kathmandu ...

Some of the sights and views the girls will have enjoyed on their cultural tour of Kathmandu yesterday.

A frenetic, hot and busy city full of colour, noise, a babble of many tongues, smells (some sweet, some foul), hooting of horns. Trying to follow the guides stories and information flow certainly taxes the senses. Su, the group's main guide, who we know so well at Outposts, is an indomitable leader and an inspiration to anyone with a very light touch and deep knowledge of his country and customs. The Girls are sure to have had a unique and unforgettable insight into the people, customs and religions of Nepal.

Next ... Flying into Pokhara and bus transfer to Nayapul for the start of their trek in the Annapurna Himalayas.  

All smiles at temple in Durbar Square, Kathmandu

Amanda sends photo and writes:

Having a wonderful time . Weather hot and humid. Su and Hari are showing us the sights and culture of Kathmandu. We visited the golden temples in Durbar Square and a farming village on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Off trekking tomorrow - early flight to Pokhara and then its walking!!!

The girls with Su & Hari their Nepali guides in Durbar Square, Kathmandu

Jacqueline has met up with the group

Jacqueline arrived at the hotel with Su and Amanda last night. 
The group is being picked up after breakfast today and heading off into Patan and other wonderful sights!

Kathmandu, sightseeing and school visit

Fee Bellamy reports following contact from expedition leader Mike: 

Having settled into their Hotel and had a spot of lunch the girls, Mike and Su have headed into Kathmandu and visited a school that Outposts expeditioners worked with last year. This has given them a taste of things to come in Pokhara! They are, as we speak heading off to Boudha and the Stupa to get a taste of Gompas, Prayer Wheels and the “All Seeing Eye” (see below)!! Later, Jacqueline will fly in from Hong Kong and the group will be complete, ready for another cultural experience tomorrow. It's hot & humid!

Colourful Kathmandu

Boudhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet.

 

Holy Man

One of the many shrines

School in Kathmandu similar to where girls visited today

Arrived safely in Kathmandu ...

The group have arrived safely and are freshening up and resting in their rooms. They have met up with their main Nepali leader Su and will probably take a trip out to see the huge Stupa in Boudinath this afternoon. 

We hope to receive a further update later on today.

Sudarshan 'Su' - the expedition's main Nepali leader

Stupa in Boudinath

... and they're off. Kathmandu here we come ...

Everyone is onboard and flight took off on-time.

Happy expeditioners at check-in before heading through security.