Asia - Page 46

 On Sunday the first team of the 7 Summits Club in this season, arrived in Kathmandu. Tomorrow they will go to the trekking route to Everest Base Camp. This is Tatiana and Oleg Yusupov, who will be accompanied by representatives of our subsidiary Nepalese companies 7 Summits Adventures. This year, Nepal is waiting guests with a special sense. After the disastrous earthquake for local people is particularly important to  get tourists back.

So, Welcome! Welcome!

Trek was very interesting, long, with multi-day tiresome approaches and exits from the area. But feelings remained tremendous, you feel as you get into the heart of the Himalayas, on narrow gorges among mountains surrounding you from all directions which become day by day higher and more severe. Kanchenjunga from Nepal - very hidden mountain, despite the size that is very surprising. It opens only when you come nearer to it closely. "Visyt card" of the area, his face and the center riveting attention pay well-known Jannu (Kumbkhakarna), a topmost pyramid, and then and which crests are visible from the most distant approaches....

IN RUSSIAN MORE...

Tashi Tenzing, multiple climber of Mount Everest, the youngest son of Pem Pem, the eldest daughter of the great Tenzing Norgey. November 30th he will be 50 years old! The date worthy to tell the history of his life, continuing the great generation of Tenzing.

"The famous GRANDPA of our hero was born in the highlands of the Khumbu in Nepal. Later, as an adult, he moved to Darjeeling (India). It is likely that in fact he was born in Tibet. After birth, was named Namgyal Wangdi. Then, on the advice of Lama was named by parents as Tenzing Norgay, which means "happy wealthy supporter of religion." He did not attach much importance to his exact age, proper names and their transcription (Sherpas at the time did not use written and accurate calendar in the home). Date of birth he defined approximately, according to the memoirs of mother about the weather and the harvest. "

Read in Russian

Arrival to Nepal, whether you visited this country before or a newcomer, is always a thrill. Especially, when you have a wonderful reception by 7 Summits Club office in KATHMANDU. #Gokarna Forest resort where we are staying is a ranch full of wonders. Starting with curious monkeys, jungle walks, SPA on premises and very polite and helpful personell.
Our group is here to see how international and Nepalese efforts of overcoming the major 2015 earthquake aftermath is taking effect on tourists and tourism industry in general. Kathmandu office of 7 Summits Club is located in the trading center of the city and full of memorabilia, authographs, books and awards.

Going around historical center and surroundings of Kathmandu, we can see that 2015 earthquake did a lot of damage. Over 1000 people lost their lives in Kathmandu itself. At the same time, many buildings had survived 8+ magnitude #earthquake in Nepal. Probably it's because all buildings tight up together with concrete, masonry, metal frames, that it makes one monolith net of houses, knitted into each other for centuries. Many buildings are still not rebuilt. Not enough funding. And funding comes from tourism - mountaineering, climbing, trekking, rafting, historical sightseeing, spiritual searches, and many others. And the tourists are not here. Tourism had dropped 50 to 70 percent in different segments. It will be a bigger post later on this subject. So stay tuned.

Olga Rumyantseva from Nepal: in recent days, we drove many miles and saw many interesting things. We watched the sunrise view on Annapurna. We walked through the wonderful town of Bandipur. We talked with the grandson of Tenzing Norgay. He answered our numerous questions and we were invited to Kathmandu to come to his home for a Cup of tea.

We passed a trekking in the jungle, where monkeys rode and through the rice fields.
Was went on rafts down the river. For many of our comrades this was the first such experience. It was very funny and wet.

Today we arrived at Royal Chitwan nature reserve where we were met by elephants. And then during the jeep Safari we saw rhinos, crocodiles, deer, mongoose and numerous birds.

Olga Rumiantseva from Nepal: 

 Today we visited Kathmandu. Moreover, we got acquainted with the capital in very different ways. We went to see the stupa of Boudhanath. It is being rebuilt after the earthquake. But, despite the fact that the top of the stupa demolished, the atmosphere of the place is preserved.

In the monasteries the monks pray, in souvenir shops to tourists trying to sell the most incredible things.

 Then we went to Swayambhunath. Having 365 steps on the road photographing numerous monkeys, we cleaned our karma, and looked at Kathmandu with the bird's eye view.

 After that we went to the Kathmandu city, on the famous Freak street. No freaks or hippies we discovered there. Looked at the consequences of the earthquake, as this part is in Kathmandu has suffered enough.

 In the end of the day, we went to visit the Director of our Nepali office – Mingma Sherpa. He invited us to visit his home to meet the family and enjoy traditional Nepalese food.

 Tomorrow morning we fly to one of the paradises of Nepal - Pokhara.

In the spring all we were shocked by the tragedy of Nepal, native and close to us the country, the victim of a catastrophic earthquake. We understood and still understand that the main thing in our power to do is to facilitate the return in full of the flow of tourists in the Himalayan Republic. And it is very important to inform tourists about the current state of the country, its willingness to receive guests.

Tomorrow the press tour in Nepal will start, it is organized by the 7 summits Club and our Nepal office the company 7 Summits Adventure under the patronage of the Ministry of tourism of Nepal.

In the trip following media take part: the crew of the First channel, journalist of TV channel "Culture", the representatives of several well-known print media, the authors of the guidebooks. It is planned to conduct live reports on radio station "Mayak".

Tour purpose: to show that Nepal after the earthquake, is ready to welcome tourists, its inhabitants welcome guests and await their return. Our company, like their Nepalese partners, we can offer trips for every taste, from budget to luxury tours. The word for the press...

Director General of the project Snob Marina Gevorgyan participated in the expedition 7 Summits Club on Everest in 2015. As is known, the expedition was aborted due to a strong earthquake. Marina hopes to return to Everest next year ....

Those who are trying to become the same height as the mountain, the mountain will prove your strength by many of ways. Especially if you are a woman who dare to embark on this path.

April 25th. Rongbuk Monastery, Everest Base Camp. Earthquake

In the morning a part of our expedition team is starting to the second acclimatization outing, now to the advanced base camp ABC at the altitude of 6400 m. I go with the TV crew of Valdis to visit the old monastery Rongbuk. From here until the destruction of the monastery in 1974, all successful and tragic Everest expedition went up the mountain. Rongbuk now is partially restored, there live some monks. The crew installs the equipment on a small platform at the top of the monastery, prepare shooting. Valdis notes that descends from the slopes of a herd of mountain goats. I'm going with a friend in the prayer room of the monastery. I was offered to go down to the cave. May be it was an animal instinct - I refuse.

Within seconds the ceiling above us begins to shake, the floor out from under his feet. We have run out of the room, a meter away from us is crumbling walls of the monastery. It comes the realization: Earthquake! I have experienced similar, so quickly guided. Female Tibetan women, picked up on the hands of a pretty adult daughter for a few seconds escapes from the height of the monastery. We also run down the track. However, where we have been ten minutes earlier, lies a huge boulder. We have to traverse virtually fly head over heels. Then we were waiting for the film crew. It takes an incredibly long ten minutes. Everyone in the group is alive, everybody went down, even the equipment is not damaged. They continued to shoot. We return to the camp

Most of the expedition had already gone up, there is no communication with them. I call home, managing to talk to my mother before she heard the news of the devastating earthquake in Nepal force of nearly eight points. Alexander (Alex) Abramov goes up the valley for the group. We pray for them and all those who is at this moment up at the narrow paths and glacier. By the end of the day we feel a few new tremors. There is no panic, we read news on internet, one becomes aware of the scale of the disaster. In the evening, Alex reported that the group is together , all are alive. None of the other groups, too, was not injured. The night was without sleep because of the uncertainty and experiences of those at the top. We understand that in this area we are now in the most successful place in tents on the plateau.

Read all in Russian

Night photo of advanced base camp ABC on Everest

Hello! This is Alex Abramov from Everest expedition. Our expedition is over. Today we flew from Lhasa to Kathmandu. Rumors that Kathmandu destroyed - completely exaggerated. Virtually nothing is noticeable, the city looks like a unbroken. Only a few old buildings collapsed. Everything else - completely unhurt. No external damage in town, roads or buildings. We are now at the hotel Yak and Yeti , everything is fine here. The only thing that the decorative stone, which was on the edge of the pool, got down to the pool. Everything else - completely intact. Today, some people from our team have already flies home, the second part flies tomorrow, the third part - the day after tomorrow ....

Hello! This is Vladimir Kotlyar. Please find news from our heroic team of Voronezh. Now we are in Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Sherpas. And all we have is good. The weather is excellent. Finally, we are pleased with the weather ... Now - a little stars in the sky ... All day was almost clear, we havea great view on the mountains: Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Everest, see everything ... And we continue to go down ... We continue quietly, slowly down….

Hi, everybody! This is Vladimir Kotlyar. Good morning! We have here a morning sunrise over the summit of Everest. We are staying now at the summit of Kala-Patar. We are very lucky: at the moment, visibility is excellent, no clouds, we can see al mountains aound. Simply amazing! He mount of Pumori is right in front of us, of course, beautiful mountain! Now here we take a little break for a smoke ... and we start go down. We plan today to try to get to Namche Bazaar... All the best! We are all OK…

A guide of the 7 Summits Club reports from Nepal:

Hi! This is Vladimir Kotlyar, expedition to Island peak, now probably quoted. Because we finally thought about it and decided that we're not going  the Island Peak. In response to recent events we decided to stop our expedition ... We are now in Lukla (?) .... In the group all feel great. We are a little tired, it's the only thing we have.. Nothing to worry about. Just because we had to help in the evacuation of wounded people... (more unclear)

In Russian

Hi! It is Vladimir Kotlyar, the guide of the 7 Summits Club expedition to Island peak. We are still in the Pheriche. We don't leave this place for the simple reason, that today our group helped to evacuate the wounded, which was got down from the base camp of Mount Everest. It was a lot of them here. So we just found no moral strength to be aside and leave this small village. Our help was very useful. All members of the group, without exception, actively participated in rescue operations...

Then we planned to go further but it was again a new push and we decided not to risk. So we sit here and drink rum just before bedtime, enjoying life. In General, here it is not so bad.

And we send best regards to our Everest expedition! We could not contact direct, we are worry and hope that everything is OK.

So, we sit in the mountains, everything is closed, but somehow we will get from there. All the best! The rum supply allow us to sit here for another week. Not more! Adios!

Hi! This is Vladimir Kotlyar (guide of the 7 Summits Club) from Nepal. We are all well. We're all alive and healthy. Our relatives worried, getting the news about the earthquake. Here it was a few hours ago. We felt it not very strong. The weather deteriorated, it is snowing, but we are safe under the roof.

We are now in the village of Periche. At the altitude of 4276 meters, as written in our Lodge. We're fine, we're going to dinner. All the best! Be Happy!

Yesterday was beautiful and calm

Hello! It is Alex Abramov from Nepal. Congratulations on your New, 2072-m year! Yes, You heard right, in Nepal tonight all celebrate such a date. Generally, the holiday goes for a holiday: Day of cosmonautics, Easter, and now the New Year. And we're all here. Today we visited the Russian Embassy at the invitation of the Ambassador. Father Seraphim blessed our expedition to secure success. And finally, tomorrow all of our holidays are over. Tomorrow at 9am we will leave the hotel and around 11 a.m. we fly to Lhasa. And there, as we have just seen on the weather forecast, temperatures of minus six degrees.

Serious expedition begins. Our team is 20 people, including our movie crew. Goodbye!

Yesterday our team arrived in Kathmandu.

After a short briefing and “distribution of elephants”, shirts and jackets, all met at the party. Russian Ambassador to Nepal Sergey Velichkin came to meet and greeted us.

By tradition, the party was held in the chambers of the former Royal Palace, in the end of it there was a disco. And why not? All team members have long been on planes, and wanted to move.

Today our entire team is invited to the Embassy.

Fully photo gallery of our Everest expedition.....

We have only good news. Mingma Gelu, our Nepalese Director, will go with our expedition to Everest. For this purpose, he got rid of the headmaster's belly. A few years Mingma was limited his work to office and base camp, and is now returning to the mountain. He had 8 successful summits of Everest, his sister Laki – 6 summiter. And she, too, returns to beat her record for number of ascents among women.

Meanwhile, Alex Abramov is thinking how he will be seen in history. The film crew will soon arrive and will start to work. Apparently, with the villainous beard, typical of the bad guys in Hollywood movies, Alex did not want to be captured for posterity. Better to be as good looking as the Dalai Lama. The benefit in Kathmandu – you can be shaved for a penny, they even forget about the strike, when the client coming.

The first team  arrived in Kathmandu: Alexander Abramov, Sergei Larin and Vladimir Kotlyar.

Here we were met by Gelu Sherpa Mingma, our permanent sirdar, and my daughter Lena.
We found out that tomorrow a big strike begins in Nepal, which will last 3 days. Therefore, our Sherpas, who prepared an expedition for a couple of months, tonight with the entire load, 5 trucks, go to the border of Tibet and tomorrow will cross the border.
Yay! The expedition begins!

Our Nepalese office reports:

Hurray, hurray! Thorung La pass (5420m) is behind us! It was a long and difficult day, but at the same time full of pleasant experiences and views.

Now Nadejda and Victor are already in Muktinath (3760m) - a famous place of pilgrimage. They visited the temples and now resting after physically dense day.

And tomorrow they go down in Kagbeni (2800m) - the gateway to the closed kingdom Upper Mustang.

Post from our Nepalese office: So, our spring season is officially opened !!!

A team from Moscow - Nadejda and Victor - arrived yesterday in Kathmandu.

They are the first time in Nepal and all day today we are familiar with the holy things of Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath and Boudanath. The day went very well - and Kumari on Durbar was in a good location, and the atmosphere Boudanatha pleased, and only Swayambhunath met us downpour with thunder and lightning, but in spite of that, the guys were full of positive space! Tomorrow they are with our guide Furom Dawa go to the start of the track in Darapani, where will the next day your way around the Annapurna. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to the news!