Revised coach drop-off times ...

Due to delays experienced on M5 motorway ... the new estimated drop-off times for the coach are Churchill 1pm; Taunton 2pm.

Welcome Home ... and keeping the dream alive!

Good Morning ... and welcome home to all our 'adventurers' who are now on the coach and heading for home.

Estimated coach drop-off times:

• 12.30 Churchill 
• 13.30 Taunton

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

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

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!

Here are some of last year's winning Nepal photos:

Flight landed at Heathrow!

News just in from Michael to say that the flight has landed.  (9.20)

Currently pick up times remain the same.  We will let you know if there is any change.

Now back in Kathmandu plus a special message from Michael Kingscote, Managing Director of Outposts Ltd

After a long trip by bus everyone is safely at their hotel in Kathmandu. They are all looking forward to a final bit of sightseeing before they board their flight and head for home.

*********************************************** 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

DD (my wife) and I set up Outposts Ltd 17 years ago; the aim for overseas expeditions was to:

·        Seek out overseas locations and projects, particularly in Africa and Nepal, that offer our clients an opportunity to know and understand the culture, ecology, history and true essence of the country.

·        Encourage the development of all who participate to learn about the wilderness environment in selected locations by providing a range of fascinating expeditions, courses and opportunities.

We wanted to enable young people to have the option to travel to far flung places to learn about others and themselves.

Thank you for allowing Outposts Ltd to take your children / wards away to South Africa and Nepal for the last three weeks. Since meeting the first of you at a parents presentation, nearly 22 months have passed and a long distance has been travelled.

Many of you heeded my advice and worked hard with your ‘Expeditioner’ (s) to raise the money for the expedition, getting them involved in the whole process of planning and earning; the reward of this process was the expedition, but the lessons learned have been witnessed by our leaders and will stay with your children forever.

You have read the Blogs from Nepal & South Africa and apart from some minor medical conditions, (parents have been advised when applicable), overall, both expeditions have been a success. The majority of Expeditioners have totally immersed themselves in the programmes, contributed with vigour and have learned a lot about themselves, other people, different cultures, environments and life. A few have struggled with their personal administration and hygiene, as a result they have had to be strongly guided; all will take away something worthwhile from the experience.

If all goes to plan, the expeditioners will arrive back at LHR on Monday, I shall be at Terminal 1 to greet the South Africa expeditioners and then, time allowing, will move to Terminal 4 for the Nepal arrival.

We would appreciate feedback, so please let us know what you and your expeditioner have to say …

Michael Kingscote

MJF Kingscote

Managing Director

Adventures in Chitwan Jungle ... rhino spotted on elephant safari and canoe trip on Rapti River!

Fee Bellamy reports having received communication from Martin, expedition leader:

All are well here in Chitwan! We've taken a canoe ride down the Rapti River, been on elephant safari and spotted Rhino! (Bengal Tigers remained elusive although we are told they are much more likely to be watching us than for us to spot them!). The expeditioners have also danced with the locals!

An Elephant Safari - Chitwan Jungle

Rhino - Chitwan Jungle

Canoe ride on River Rapti bordering the Chitwan Jungle

Baby elephant - Asian Elephant Breeding Centre, Chitwan.

From snowy Himalayan peaks to the steamy Jungle ... Expeditioners arrive in Chitwan for next phase of their expedition

Fee Bellamy receives word from expedition leader Martin that everyone has arrived in Chitwan ready for the next exciting phase of their expedition.

The Lonely Planet guide describes Nepal as ... 

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

The Expeditioners transferred today by road from the Himalayas (Pokhara) to the 'steamy jungle' (Royal Chitwan National Park).

Here are some typical sights and views our 'adventurers' will have experienced on their bus ride today ... 

Community Project & Voluntary Work now well underway in Pokhara

The community project work is now well underway. Here's an introduction to the Project phase:

The Principal of the Metropolitan Academy, where the students are volunteering.

The Tibetan Refugee Camp that the expeditioners visited several days ago was Tashling. This has been there for many years and is very well organised, tidy and structured. Tibetans can live in Nepal but they can’t own any land. However they were allowed to build this camp which includes a monastery and a school, and is a place where they are part of the community.