Six girls from QMS

The year 2000 saw Year V girls being offered the opportunity of an exciting two and a half weeks expedition to Tibet. Tibet is still, to some degree, a restricted area for tourists, and the expedition afforded a unique opportunity to visit this remote ancient kingdom and learn something about its fascinating culture. Six year V girls, having completed their GCSE exams, took advantage of the opportunity and set off on the 14^th July.
Accompanied by two members of staff, the group left from Heathrow to fly first to Kathmandu, in Nepal. They spent a few days in Kathmandu where the girls had the opportunity of teaching primary age Nepalese children at the Amar Shishu Vidyalaya school. This was the same school that QMS girls taught in last year as part of their Himalayan expedition. As before, the girls were a great success, endearing themselves to children and staff alike while trying their hand at teaching.

teaching in Kathmandu

teaching in Kathmandu

TIBET

Next stop was their arrival in Lhasa after a spectacular flight over the Himalayas with a clear view of Everest providing you were sitting on the left side of the plane. The objective of the expedition was to drive the Friendship Highway, (contrary to what you may think, this is definitely not a tarmac road!) which stretches 725km between Lhasa and the border with Nepal.

A couple of days were spent in Lhasa to acclimatise. This gave the opportunity for some sightseeing, including the Potala Palace, one time winter residence of the Dalai Lama and the seat of the Tibetan Government and the Jokhang Temple (the spiritual heart of the city). There was time to wander round Barkhor Square and linger over the shops and spend an entertaining evening in a Tibetan nightclub where the girls were never short of partners even though a few ballroom dancing lessons would not have gone amiss. The older members of the group found disco dancing at altitude strenuous to say the least and Jack did wonder when the heart attack was coming!

 On Friday 21^st July, the group set off in three four wheel drive vehicles, accompanied by Pasang, our Tibetan guide and three excellent drivers for an exciting six days, traversing several mountain passes, huge plains and long valleys as we gradually climbed higher to reach Rongbuk at a height of approx. 16,000ft. This was the setting off point for the walk into Everest (North Face) Base Camp. The days were filled with adventures.

Each day had its own particular interest and excitement ranging from a horse festival in Gyangtse, colourful and very friendly Tibetans, herds of yaks, wonderful temples and monasteries, some terrifying roads and passes, getting stuck in huge mud slides and getting to grips with some interesting toilet facilities. (or none at all!) The drives were spectacular and the intensity of light over the vast reaches of Tibet has to be seen to be believed. Open landscapes and stunning views of the Himalayan giants appeared round every corner. At the very least the views took one’s mind of the often hair-raising and precarious mountain passes!

Rongbuk Monastery at 4980m is the highest in the world. Accommodation was basic, particularly on the first night when the roof leaked! However it was worth the discomfort, to have the rare opportunity to go into Everest Base Camp.

Horseracing

Gyangtse Kumbum

This was the way George Mallory came to make his last attempt on Everest and to this day no one can be certain that he was not the first man to stand on the summit.

Rongbuk

The group hung prayer flags at base camp inscribed with the names of family and friends (and QMS!) and scattering ‘wind horse’ paper inscriptions. In the afternoon the weather cleared and we sat on a hillside watching Everest appearing. An awe inspiring sight none of us will forget.

Unfortunately Peter had a bad fall at Rongbuk and it was a two day drive to reach the Tibet/Nepal border at Zhangmu after an amazing if terrifying drive down the Matsang Tsangpo gorge dropping 3,000m in two hours and passing spectacular waterfalls. Once across the Nepalese border, Peter and Andy were flown out to Kathmandu by helicopter, a sight which entertained all the local people and the group, when it landed on what seemed an impossibly small site on the road. The rest of the group drove out by bus, spending the night at Dhulikhel on the rim of the Kathmandu valley. Showers were a must!! Then it was back to Kathmandu for some relaxation, sightseeing and of course, to finish all that shopping.

The group learnt a great deal about Tibet, its people and its culture, and gained some idea about what it can be like to live in a repressed country.  Restrictions for tourists in Tibet have become even more stringent over the last few years, and the group had a rare opportunity to see and learn about this fascinating country.

Tibetan lady

Old guy at races

Balloon boys

As always there are many who have to be thanked. Dr. Chapman and the staff of QMS for their support, with particular mention of Sr. Swinglehurst who deals with all the inoculations; Andy Binns from Golden Hill Travel for yet another successful expedition; my assistant, Carrie for all her help and Jack, Samantha and Annie for their support. Many thanks to the parents of the group for their enthusiasm and support; and lastly, but most importantly my thanks to the girls. It was their cheerful positive outlook to everything they did, coupled with their enthusiasm, total lack of complaint, politeness, sense of humour and enjoyment which endeared them to everyone who met them and made this expedition an outstanding experience for all of us.

Trish Powell

Should your school or college be interested in a Himalayan Experience contact Andy Binns at Golden Hill Travel andy@goldenhilltravel.co.uk to discuss your plans.