Hi All,
We are back in the land of the living - well have been for a couple of days but have been busy and not into writing the blog on slow, crashing computers.
Well the trip was a bit of a paradox, in some ways it was everything we anticipated but in other ways it was nothing like we anticipated. The latter mainly because we had very unexpected unseasonal snow which meant the itinerary had to be abandoned and a new one drawn up as the days went on. Have to say in many ways we feel somewhat cheated.

However the scenery was magnificent and our guides and staff were brilliant in every single way. We got up over the first pass and on to a camp near the Kangshung face but then went to bed with snow and woke up to find we were snowed in - so we had to spend another night in that camp. Guides and yak men went ahead to check out the second pass which was somewhat higher. The decision was the yaks, who were carrying all the supplies but our dayspacks would not make it over. Some of us were pretty keen to give it a go and if we had had more support crew to enable us to split the group may haver been able to. Anyway it was not to be so we had to return back over the original pass, also with snow and as it was snowing. All of this was of course pretty exciting.

The flowers in the area were beautiful and one day was a truly magical walk. The snow meant the landscape was almost like a black and white photograph except when the yaks crossed it and added colour. a bit like the day at Bryce National Park. Those yaks are amazing beasts, they carry enormous loads and just keep ploddding in snow up to their chests.

Also got to the other side of Everest and visited the base camp many of the climbers, including Lincoln Hall use. There were the tail enders for the season camped there. The Chinese however make it fairly difficult, not sure what they are afraid of but they really regulate where and how far you can walk - and they must have checked our passports a million times as we drove thro from there to the boarder.

Tibet is so different to Nepal, I expected barren but was unprepared for the absolute starkness of the landscape. Not a tree, not a bush, not even a blade of grass except along the rivers. In its own way beautiful with superb colours but just rocks, dirt and dust, and then when you thought it was as barren as it could get we came to hills that were like enormous sand dunes. Also we were in VERY remote areas, three hours of driving and we saw one village and one other car!!!!

Will add more tomorrow as the time is about to expire - don't go away -
Love Pete and Robyn

Hi again,

Yes, some of these people live in unbelievably remote areas, no such thing as popping to the shops. The roads are pretty dramatic as well although of course most of them are walking or using a horse and cart. Got to do some really special things with our guide Rinzin, like go into local homes, the tea rooms of monasteries etc on an "off the cuff" basis. Pretty good insite into the hardship of these people's lives. But they are so wecolming and always present a happy face even tho' they have so little.

Forgot to say the morning we woke up to drive to the start of the trek was a bit of an omen, there was very heavy snow all night which we didn't know about until waking. Pretty deep and Rinzin had never seen it before in that town!! Just like New York Miguel. The drive over the 5,000 odd metre pass to get where we were going was great and adventure filled, we almost didn't make it around the last steep bit and the bus behind us (we were in jeeps) cetrtainly didn't - infact they are probably still there.

After Everest we headed for the border and as soon as we left Nyapul the scenery changed, there was greenery and trees, I had to get out and hug one I was so excited. I am glad to have visited Tibet but probably have seen enough, Nepal is so much more beautiful in these Kiwis eyes - but of course seeing the Tibet mountains was amazing. The drive from there on the friendship highway was great - built by the Chinese- another astounding engineering feat as it snaked thro' very narrow gorges way above the river - not everyone in the jeeps likes hanging out over the edges like me tho', some were hanging on with very white knickles. Once over the boarder we were on the same road but built by the Nepalese - it took three hours to go the first 25kms!! but are those drivers talented, they can pass with miniscles to spare between vehicles or the tyres and a very long drop.

Back in Kathmandu we have treated ourselves a bit (yeah, yeah, Toby). Decided to stay on at the Radisson as it is very comfy , we got a good rate and the food is safe. Have spent the time site seeing and getting the odd thing from the shops. Yesterday we had a great morning, Rinzin (the trekking guide) gave up his time yet again to take three of his to visit a bead making factory his wife has set up to employ local women: and the Montessori scholl she has set up. The kids were sooooo cute and so well behaved, very bilingual. Rinzin and his wife are an inspiration - putting so much back into other people and so busy. Will be doing a drive to get reading books etc to send them when I get back so clean out the cupboards folks.

Well, that's about it from us this trip, sorry if it has been disjointed but it is hard to remember it in order when writing. Off to clean the gear and pack the bags ready to head out in the morning.

Love to everyone, thanks for putting up with us

Love The Clarks.