An interaction programme was organized on June 28, 2005 with twenty Thai Tour Operators who came here for FAM tour to share their experiences during their stay in Nepal .
Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) organized an interaction program on 'Rebuilding the Image of Nepalese Tourism through Embassies Abroad' at Soaltee Crowe Plaza on 24th June 2005
Bandipur Bandipur is an ancient trading town of quaint streets and charming atmosphere. Situated on a ridgetop south of Dumre, it lies 135 km out on the Kathmandu -Pokhara highway.
Shiv clinched
Surya Nepal Int'l Golf Championship title
India's Shiv Kapur lifted the Surya Nepal Masters
2004 golf title after an exciting three-way playoff on the
final day of the championship on December 12, 2004.
2nd Thuraya TAAN Mountain Bike Championship & TAAN Afforestation Program
Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN), in association with Nepal Mountain Bike Association (NMBA), Thuraya, Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee (BTDC) and Tourism Development Society Kavre, organised the 2nd Thuraya-TAAN Mountain Bike Championship and an afforestation programme on the occasion of the World Environment Day (June 6th).
The championship was organised to promote mountain biking as a new tourism product. A total of 127 participants, including 28 foreigners, took part in the event.
Saplings of different species of plants were planted at TAAN Forest in Kashi Bhanjyang of Nala Ugrachandi Village Development Committee (VDC) of Kavre district.
As the chief guest, French Ambassador to Nepal Michel Jolivet presented plagues, prizes and certificates to the winners amidst a special programme organised at the nature-blessed hill of Kashi Bhanjyang. The French envoy also opened the afforestation programme.
Delivering a welcome address, Acting President of TAAN Mrs. Bandi Nima Sherpa said that TAAN has been working for the promotion of adventure activities like mountain biking to promote Nepal's mountain tourism.
She believed that the sports, tourism and environment-related activities would be helpful in the promotion of the country's tourism industry.
She expressed her gratefulness to Ambassador all the dignitaries and invitees for making the programme a success.
"I am very grateful to His Excellency Michel Joilvet and Vice-Consular of the British Embassy Ms. Serena Brocklebank for accepting TAAN invitations," she said.
She lauded envoy Jolivet, who was recently in the Khumbu region for trekking, for contributing to the promotion of Nepal's mountain tourism.
Ms. Serena, who was also the chef guest at opening ceremony of the mountain bike championship at Bhaktapur, was a participant of the championship.
Speaking on the occasion, the French envoy said that Nepal is a paradise for many adventure activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, trekking, skiing, horse and elephant riding.
Appreciating the beautiful natural setting of the Kashi Bhanjyang hill, he said he was happy to visit the scenic area.
TAAN aims to develop the TAAN Forest into a camping site and picnic spot in the long-run.
Mr. Shankar Prasad Koirala, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), suggest that TAAN should take the initiative to make the mountain bike championship an international event from next year.
Encouraged by the annually increasing number of participants of the championship, Mr. Koirala said, "The ministry and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) will extend full support and cooperation to TAAN for organising the event," he said.
He also commended the French envoy and the Vice-Consular of the British Embassy for their support to the promotion of Nepal's mountain tourism.
He asked TAAN to work together with the local community for the conservation of the saplings.
Ms. Serena, who was a member of an Everest expedition from the northern side in 2004, said that the event offered her a wonderful experience. She was pleased to see many Nepali girls taking part in the championship.
Mr. Chhimi U. Gurung, President of NMBA, expressed happiness over the growing number of participants of the championship.
He said that he was encouraged by the fact that over 80 per cent saplings planted in the past in the area were growing.
Mr. Sanatan Gajurel, representative of Constellation (P) Ltd. that is the main sponsor of the event, spoke about the importance of the event.
Extending a vote of thanks, Mr. Hari Dharel, General Secretary of TAAN, said that TAAN was committed to promoting adventure tourism and conserving the environment.
More than 500 participants, who include representatives of the trekking industry, bikers and journalists, took part in the event.
Mr. Biswesh Shrestha, executive committee member of TAAN and sports sub-committee coordinator, was the master of ceremony.
Earlier, an opening ceremony of the mountain bike championship was held at the Bhaktapure Durbar Square. The championship was inaugurated by Joint Secretary Mr. Koirala and Acting President of TAAN Mrs. Sherpa, by cutting a ribbon.
President of BTDC Neel Krishna Tamrakar, Vice-Consular of the British Embassy Ms. Serena Brocklebank and TAAN General Secretary Hari Dharel spoke about the event. The participants of the championship were blessed with teeka.
The programme was conducted by TAAN executive committee member Mr. Tilak Lama.
Alan Hinkes in capital June 6th, 2005 World-famous climber Alan Hinkes arrived in the capital city, Kathmandu from the Kanchanjungha base camp this morning. Hinkes, who scaled Mt. Kanchanjungha, the third tallest peak of the world, on May 30, has become the first Briton to climb all the 14 peaks of the world above 8,000 metres. Alan Hinkes in capital June 6th, 2005 World-famous climber Alan Hinkes arrived in the capital city, Kathmandu from the Kanchanjungha base camp this morning. Hinkes, who scaled Mt. Kanchanjungha, the third tallest peak of the world, on May 30, has become the first Briton to climb all the 14 peaks of the world above 8,000 metres. Climber dies on Everest June 6th, 2005 Robert William Milne, 49, software engineer from Livingston, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, died at the altitude of 8,450m on the way to the summit of Mt. Everest on 5 th June, 2005, according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA). He was the member of the seven-member Jagged Globe Everest Expedition, the ministry said, citing the report of the concerned liaison officer. The expedition team was permitted to climb 8,848-meter high Mt. Everest from normal route for the period of 75 days from 29th March, 2005 under the leadership of Mr. Kenton Edward Cool from UK. The handling agency of the expedition team is Summit Nepal Trekking, Kathmandu. MoCTCA expresses its deep sorrow on his sad demise.
Chopper crashes at Everest base camp, all crew safe June 3rd , 2005 All the crew members aboard a helicopter of the Shree Airlines that overturned at Everest base camp remained safe. The ill-fated helicopter overturned while landing in the morning on June 2. The chopper had left Kathmandu for the base camp to pick up members of the Rotary Centennial Everest Expedition. 21 more climbers climb Everest on June 2 June 3, 2005 Around 21 mountaineers climbed Mt. Everest on June 2, 2005, according to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The climbers of four expedition teams scaling the peak were 12 Nepalis, three Americans, and two Singaporean, one each from United Kingdom, Canada, Ecuador and South Africa. First marriage atop Everest June 3rd , 2005 Moni Mulepati, the first non-Sherpa Nepali woman to climb Mt. Everest, has set another history by wedding on the summit of the world's highest peak. Mulepati, 24, wed with her team member Pema Dorje Sherpa after reaching the summit on May 30, 2005. The newly married couple revealed about their marriage upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport on June 2. According to them, they wedded in presence of their colleague Kami Sherpa. The couple will arrange the formal wedding after the felicitation programmes of Mulepati comes to an end.
Finally, the dream of world-famous mountaineer Alan Hinkes to climb the world's all the peaks above 8,000 metres has come true.
After his successful scaling of the world's third tallest peak—Mt. Kanchanjungha on May 30, 2005, Mr. Hinkes has become the first Briton to reach the summit of the world's 14 highest peaks.
Mr Hinkes, 50, who hails from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, secured his place in the record books by climbing the 8,586-metre Mt. Kangchenjunga at 19:30 pm on May 30, 2005.
"Getting back to base camp was one of the best feelings of my life," news.bbc.co.uk quotes Mr Hinkes as saying.
"I just sat down in my tent and thought I've finally done it!"
He was accompanied on the final ascent by his friend Pasang Gelu.
On May 26, 2005, they had left their base camp for what proved to be the hardest climb Mr Hinkes says he has ever undertaken.
After spending a night at 7,400m, they made an attempt on the summit on Sunday but were beaten back by the weather.But an 18 hour climb the next day ended successfully.Speaking when he returned to base camp, Mr Hinkes said: "More snow had fallen but we made good time."
"I reached the summit in driving snow and wind. It was the worst summit conditions I can remember,” he said. He started his mission to climb the peaks in 1987. He had to abandon his attempt in 2000 due to bad weather. He was seen off at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) by Acting President of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) Mrs. Bandi Nima Sherpa and Mr. Les Simm, an official at the Kathmandu-based British Embassy, on April 15, 2005.
Twenty-one more mountaineers have become successful in climbing Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world, on May 30 and 31, 2005, according to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Four members of the 2005 Img Everest Expedition scaled the 8,848-meter high peak on May 31.
The successful mountaineers include 55-year-old Edward Oner Diffendal of San Francisco, USA; Rex Pemberton, 21, of New South Wales Australia; Da Sonal Sherpa, 41, a high altitude worker from Khumjung-8, Solukhumbu and Pasang Rinjing Sherpa, 29, another high altitude worker from Khumjung-9, Solukhumbu district. Similarly, four members of the team Honda Everest Expedition 2005 team comprising Japanese Takeshi Kodama, 31 and Shigeki Imoto, 42. and Pasang Rinji Sherpa, 29, and Da Norbu Sherpa of Nepal; and Lindley Zebe, 26, of USA, a member of the
Singapore Everest Expedition team scaled Mt. Everest on May 31, while Scott Anzy, 33, of USA and Furr Gyalzen Sherpa, 29 from Nepal of the Everest Mc Expedition 2005 climbed the world's highest peak on May 30.
Three members and two high altitude workers of Jagged Globe Expedition 2005 and two members and two high altitude workers of the 2005 Hanyang University Alpine Club Mt. Everest Expedition team have been successful to climb Mt. Everest on May 31.
The Jagged Globe Expedition 2005 team comprised of Kenton Edward Cool, 32, of the United Kingdom; Australians John Thomas Taylor, 47, and Gregory Martin Lindsdell, 43 and Nicholas Phlip Farr, 39; and Nepalese Pema Norbu Sherpa, 25, and Pema Tshring Sherpa, 22, of Gaurishankar-1, Dolkha district. The members of the 2005 Hanyang University Alpine Club Mt. Everest Expedition team are South Korean citizens Jong Ho Ahn, 29 and Sang See Lee, 44, and Nepalese high altitude workers Thilian Sherpa, 37, of Makalu-5 and Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, 20, of Makalu-9, Sankhuwasabha district.
The Ministry also stated that once member of the International Lhotse Parivar Expedition (I) team- Mr. Joao Jose Silva a. Garcia, 37, of Portugal- climbed the 8,516-meters tall Mt. Lhotse on May 31.
Appa sets new record on Everest
June 1 , 2005 World-famous mountaineer Appa Sherpa, 48, broke his own record of 14 th time Everest summiteers, as he set foot atop the tallest peak of the world for the 15 th time on May 31, 2005.
The legendary mountaineer, who hails from Thame village of Solukhumbu district, reached the top of the peak as a Sirdar of the 10-member Everest Climbing for a Cure Expedition team led by Daniel Smith of the United States of America.
The team was attempting on the highest mountain form the southeast Ridge.
Appa began working as a high altitude worker since he was very young. His career in climbing began in 1985 with his participation in Ehardt Loretan's Round Annapurna Traverse.
He made his first attempt on the Everest in 1968 but was unsuccessful as he was still new to the route. In 1989 he climbed Mt. Dhaulagiri with a team of the French Army.
He scaled Mt. Everest for the first time on May 10, 1990 as a member of Kiwi Expedition. A year later, he was atop the tallest peak again with the Sherpa Expedition. In 1992, he summitted the highest mountain twice and in 1994, Appa and Ang Rita became the first brothers to climb Mt. Everest. Since then, he has been making it to the top every year except 1996 and 2001. He climbed Mt. Everest for the 14 th time on May 17, 2004.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) said that along with Appa, high altitude worker Dawa Nuru Sherpa, 40, and John Christopher Gray, 36, of the team handled by the Asian Trekking Pvt. Ltd. also climbed the peak simultaneously.
According to the Ministry, 25 mountaineers of seven teams scaled Mt. Everest on May 31 with 12 of them from Nepal, four from Australia, three each from the United States and Japan, two from South Korea and one from the United Kingdom.
