tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2009-11-09:/Welcome to my new Blog. I have decided to start a Blog for my expedition to India in July 2005. I have chosen to use a Blog over a normal Website because it is so much more easily updated. I may even, if have access to an Internet cafe, update whilst I am still in India. This will allow me to communicate with people I know back home and let them know of the experiances I have had. It will also enable my friends to send messages of support and encouragement if they want to !! I will be leaving the UK on 11 July, returning 10 August. How to read this blog....start at the bottom where the first posts are and work back up to the top.MokoFeed2009-11-09T01:04:16+01:00tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-12-07:/2005/12/07/thanks_to_everyone~368179/phoenixchallenge2005-12-07T17:52:16+01:002005-12-12T12:42:59+01:00 <p>This is one last message just to say thanks to everyone who helped me achieve this fantastic journey, including all my team-mates. It has to be the most worthwhile thing that I have done in my life so far. If anyone wants to contact me just email me. Thanks once again,</p> <p>Matt </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/12/07/thanks_to_everyone~368179/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-11-06:/2005/11/06/title~287019/phoenixchallenge2005-11-06T14:09:58+01:002006-02-23T21:06:43+01:00 <p>After the Trek phase we traveled back to Delhi for the R&R phase of the expedition. We got a flight back to Delhi instead of a bus as this would allow us more time to see the sights back in Delhi. We found that after the relative cool of Leh that Delhi was like a steamroom. The smells were also a lot different than we remembered as well, very pungent indeed. The day after we arrived we travelled by train down to Agra in order to see the Taj Mahal. On the way we had an interesting experience when our train split in half. We had to wait for several hours in the mid day heat for a new carriage to put between the two that were broken in order that we could carry on. </p> <p>It was an interesting experience to say the least sitting with my legs hanging out of the open doorway looking out over the verdant green of Indian farmland whilst traveling at about 50 miles an hour. I'm not quite sure it complies to European health and safety regulations.</p> <p>Once we arrived at Agra we tooka short taxi ride to the Taj Mahal. Although I thought it was smaller than it it looked in photos it was still a magnificent piece of Asian architecture. What most people forget is the magnificent gate ways into the Taj Mahal almost as big and nearly as ornate and splendiferous. After walking around and taking the obligatory photos we went to have some lunch in a rooftop cafe. We went up the stairs and turned aropund and there it was towering over the rest of the city the Taj Mahal, turns out we needn't have paid to get in, we could've just gone up there.</p> <p>.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/6India1.JPG" title="The gate way"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/6India1_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The gate way"></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/6India3_edited.JPG" title="The thing itself"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/6India3_edited_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The thing itself"></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/6India11.JPG" title="Me on the roof top"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/6India11_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Me on the roof top"></a></p> <p>After a long train journey back to Delhi we were glad of some rest.<br> The next day was spent looking for last minute presents for everyone back home, and of course looking for bargain designer clothes for ourselves. It suprising how many designer outlets there are there.</p> <p>After a hard days shopping we had a final meal together to celebrate what a fantastic time we all had.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/6India12.JPG" title="The last meal"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/6India12_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The last meal"></a></p> <p>The plane journey back was one of mixed emotions, sad to be leaving but also glad to be going home, to cool sedate and most of all pleasantly smelling England </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/11/06/title~287019/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-10-02:/2005/10/02/the_trek~212892/phoenixchallenge2005-10-02T19:36:44+02:002005-12-07T18:01:56+01:00 <p>This was it, the major challenge of the whole expedition. It was also the bit I had the most mixed feelings about. I'm not what you would call the most athletic of people and therefore I was a little daunted about treking up to 5200m. We started off in some narrow valleys that were reasonably green with vegetation. As we wound our way up the valleys the river shrunk and turned into a stream and finally it turned into a trickle. There were some serious climbs at various points on the way that made all of us out of breath. But the feeling I got when I had climbed the high passes was unbelievable, I was on the verge of tears it was that emotional....along with the fact that I still needed the toilet it was an unforgettable experience!</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India28.JPG" title="The first days trecking, and the barren desert"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India28_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The first days trecking, and the barren desert"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India29.JPG" title="Wide sweeping valleys with slashes of green"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India29_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Wide sweeping valleys with slashes of green"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India30.JPG" title="High mountians were the stunning vistas"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India30_small.jpg" border="0" alt="High mountians were the stunning vistas"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/5India1.JPG" title="A man herdinfg his sheep along the pass to market"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/5India1_small.jpg" border="0" alt="A man herdinfg his sheep along the pass to market"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/5India3.JPG" title="At the top of the pass"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/5India3_small.jpg" border="0" alt="At the top of the pass"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/5India6_edited.JPG" title="Us at the top of the pass"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/5India6_edited_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Us at the top of the pass"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/5India17.JPG" title="At the end of the trek"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/5India17_small.jpg" border="0" alt="At the end of the trek"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/10/02/the_trek~212892/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-09-17:/2005/09/17/the_project~186985/phoenixchallenge2005-09-17T18:51:40+02:002005-11-06T14:20:21+01:00 <p>The project was basically a chance to do what ever we wanted with a local school to improve its looks. We chose to help out the local school by painting the dull classrooms and making them much more appealing to work in. The best part about the project phase was meeting the local kids who went to the school. Considering the kind of place they had to learn in it was realy amazing to see them so happy. We had games of cricket and football with them and they even helped with the painting. Of course they ended up painting us as well.</p> <p>It was during the project phase that we first sampled the excellent cooking that we were to have during the trekking phase.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India10.JPG" title="The school"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India10_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The school"></a><br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India12.JPG" title="The tents we stayed in"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India12_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The tents we stayed in"></a><br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India15.JPG" title="Imagine your school with this view!"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India15_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Imagine your school with this view!"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India17.JPG" title="Us with some of the Kids"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/4India17_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Us with some of the Kids"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/09/17/the_project~186985/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-08-21:/2005/08/21/day_7_8_manali_to_leh_by_bus/phoenixchallenge2005-08-21T12:54:56+02:002005-08-22T11:56:11+02:00 <p>We left the hotel at 6.00 on the morning of Day 7 in order to get the bus to Leh. The journey went well until about 2 hours into the trip when we had to get out of the bus and take our kit up the hill due there being a rockfall on the road. Once we made it up to the other bus we had to wait for it to be refuelled. So we took this oportunity to top up our tans by sunning ourselves on the rocks overlooking the valley.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/2India2.JPG" title="Me overlooking the valley up which we have just journeyed."><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/2India2_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Me overlooking the valley up which we have just journeyed."></a></p> <p>After the bus was refuelled it had to be turned to face the right way. This involved it doing a three point turn on a very narrow road resulting in the picture you see below,</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/2India5.JPG" title="An Italian Job moment"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/2India5_small.jpg" border="0" alt="An Italian Job moment"></a><br> One of our team was on that bus, he didn't realise quite what had happened until someone showed him a picture.</p> <p>The rest of the journey for that day was a mix of sharp turns (some too sharp for the local lorry drivers)...<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/2India8.JPG" title="One of the many lorry accidents that we saw"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/2India8_small.jpg" border="0" alt="One of the many lorry accidents that we saw"></a></p> <p> ...and magnificent views.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/2India10.JPG" title="one of the magnificent vistas"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/2India10_small.jpg" border="0" alt="one of the magnificent vistas"></a></p> <p>.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India6.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India6_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p>Eventually after about ten hours in the bus we stopped at a small shanty town where the 'hotels' were permanent tents. We had a game of cricket with the locals and spent the night playing cards.</p> <p>The second days travelling passed much the same as the first apart the bus didn't hang over the edge of the road as much. The journey is better expressed in pictures.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/2India27.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/2India27_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India10.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India10_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India19.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India19_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p>This is where we started to go over the second highest motorable road in the world. At over 5500m I was starting to suffer from altitude sickness in a bad way, namely vomiting and intense head aches , however I wouldn't have missed the journey for the world.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India26.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India26_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India25.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India25_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India29.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/3India29_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p>As you can the see the change in scenery was drammatic and surprised us all. We eventually pulled into Leh in the dark and we managed to find a hotel. Albeit we had to fit six people into a double room. Luckily it would only be for one night </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/08/21/day_7_8_manali_to_leh_by_bus/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-08-17:/2005/08/17/days_4_6_manali/phoenixchallenge2005-08-17T22:20:16+02:002005-08-18T12:31:08+02:00 <p>After arriving in Manali after the 16 hour bus journey we were really tired and it didn't help to be accosted by twenty local businesmen offering various taxis, hotels and restaurants. We managed to gather our wits and seek out a reasonable hotel. Once we found one most of us including some of the leaders sat down exhausted in the lobby whilst we waited for rooms. The view from ours was fantastic, we could see, when the clouds went away, all the way down the valley. Walking down the street one day we saw an elephant just standing there. A couple of days later we saw another, we got quite used to them in the end. We went on a couple of acclimatisation treks in order to get used to the altitude. There were many more good views to be had here.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India29.JPG" title="Me in front of a wonderful waterfall"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India29_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Me in front of a wonderful waterfall"></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India6.JPG" title="The view for the top of one of our treks."><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India6_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The view from the top of one of our treks."></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India17.JPG" title="A fantastically carved wooden traditional house in Minali."><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India17_small.jpg" border="0" alt="A fantastically carved wooden traditional house in Minali."></a></p> <p>Most evenings we ate in restaurants that had a wide range of cuisine. They had Tibetan specialities including Then-Thuk, Mo-mo's and Thukpa, a huge range of chinese dishes and of course a huge selection of Indian food from all over the sub continent. I decided to have one evening the spiciest curry they had to offer and I asked for it to be made extra spicy. When it came I tried it sparingly. My first thought was,"It's not that bad" then the after burner kicked in and my mouth burned. </p> <p>On one of the day treks we visited gallery of local art. It was fantastice to an example of local culture whilst looking out on gorgeous vistas. After 3 days of relaxing we were about to experiance our second bus journey, 2 days long.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India21_01.JPG" title="A beautifull crafted temple."><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India21_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt="A beautifull crafted temple."></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India3_01.JPG" title="The team in a restaurant"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India3_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The team in a restaurant"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/08/17/days_4_6_manali/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-08-15:/2005/08/15/day_3_delhi_and_start_of_journey_to_mana/phoenixchallenge2005-08-15T17:44:12+02:002005-08-18T12:31:43+02:00 <p>Arriving in Delhi was a bit of a shock, the heat and humidity not helped by the fact that we had to take a half hour's taxi ride to get into the centre of Delhi. The sights and smells of the city were unbelivable along with the amount of car horns that were being used excessively. The Indian drivers seemed to think that an open road required the use of a car horn to fill it up. We sat on the side of the street with our bags for six hours whilst we waited for the bus that would take us to Manali. We took it in turns to go and explore the local area. We got to know that stretch of street quite well over time. We also discovered a McDonald's. It was actually a lot cleaner and the staff were friendlier and spoke better English than in some of their restaurants here in England. At seven o'clock we caught the bus that would eventually after a 16 hour bus journey take us Manali. On the bus we saw some extreme poverty as we were driving out of Delhi but that passed and we entered the hills as night fell. It was a scary experiance driving aroung hairpin bends in the pitch dark.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India12.JPG" title="The team in Delhi"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India12_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The team in Delhi"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/08/15/day_3_delhi_and_start_of_journey_to_mana/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-08-15:/2005/08/15/day_2_the_flight_to_delhi/phoenixchallenge2005-08-15T17:36:18+02:002005-08-18T12:31:28+02:00 <p>We awoke at 4.30 to make sure that we got to the airport on time. After huriedly getting ready we boarded the coach and set off down to Gatwick. The journey was uneventfull though when we got there I was awoken through the use of an elastic band. Check-in went smoothly apart from the fact that one of the team had second thoughts and made the decision to pull out right at the last minute. It was a real blow to the team losing someone so early in the trip however we all pulled together and boarded the plane without incident. The flight was one of the best I have ever been on with many movies and games that kept us entertained for hours. We arrived in Dubai for a 4 hour stop, and with the help of a few Red Bulls we managed to make it onto the next flight. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/08/15/day_2_the_flight_to_delhi/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-08-15:/2005/08/15/day_1_build_up_day/phoenixchallenge2005-08-15T17:26:52+02:002005-08-18T12:32:07+02:00 <p>Day 1 of the expedition was the build up day. I was dropped off by my parents at mid-day and said my goodbyes. For the next couple of hours we proceeded to get to know the other members of the team and to check kit and so forth to make sure we hadn't forgotton anything vital like sleeping bags. Later on we had a barbeque, cooked by me and a few other members of the team. We certainly had enough burgers and sausages to last for quite some time. After an evening playing football we went to bed on the floor of the school hall eagerly awaiting the next day.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India1.JPG" title="The team on the build up day"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1India1_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The team on the build up day"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/08/15/day_1_build_up_day/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-08-10:/2005/08/10/i_m_back_7/phoenixchallenge2005-08-10T18:38:53+02:002005-08-14T11:00:52+02:00 <p>Hello everybody, this is just to let everyone know that i am back safe and sound in the uk after a fantastic month in India. Over the coming weeks will write about my experiences in India. By the way, if anybody wants any diet tips, go to India and lose weight... a lot!</p> <p>Till then thanks for all your comments whilst i was away. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/08/10/i_m_back_7/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-07-30:/2005/07/30/postcard_from_leh/phoenixchallenge2005-07-30T20:55:44+02:002005-08-02T19:02:29+02:00 <p><em>By postcard dated 23/7/05</em></p> <p>I'm having the time of my life here in the northern reaches of India. I loved the bus ride to Leh, even though I was feeling the effects of altitude as we went over the second highest motorable pass in the world. </p> <p>The people here are very friendly and make some amazing food. As we are so close to the borders of China and Tibet I have been sampling some of their delicacies as well. Crispy chilli chicken was a real favourite along with a vegetable cheese Momo (a Tibetan speciality very much like a tortellini or ravioli). </p> <p>The other people on the expedition are amazing. We are all getting on great. It's a real boost to know that you are sharing such a momentous adventure with others who have a similar mindset. </p> <p>Thanks for everyone's support in getting me here.</p> <p>Matt</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/Matt--s-card0002.jpg" title="Bara Shigri range, Lahoul. The crystal clear skies of Lahoul in late autumn offset the snow capped peaks of the Bara Shigri mountain range. A giant glacier in the range forms a difficult part of a trekking route from Spiti valley to Lahoul."><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/Matt--s-card0002_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Bara Shigri range, Lahoul. The crystal clear skies of Lahoul in late autumn offset the snow capped peaks of the Bara Shigri mountain range. A giant glacier in the range forms a difficult part of a trekking route from Spiti valley to Lahoul."></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/Post-card-to-Karen.jpg" title="A favourite with tourists, Rohtang pass (alt. 3978m) 50km north of Manali is the gateway to Lahoul and Spiti districts. Covered in deep snow for most of the year the summer months provide an opportunity to see the many wild flowers that cover the grassy slopes."><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/Post-card-to-Karen_small.jpg" border="0" alt="A favourite with tourists, Rohtang pass (alt. 3978m) 50km north of Manali is the gateway to Lahoul and Spiti districts. Covered in deep snow for most of the year the summer months provide an opportunity to see the many wild flowers that cover the grassy slopes."></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/07/30/postcard_from_leh/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-07-20:/2005/07/20/greetings_from_the_mountain_town_of_leh/phoenixchallenge2005-07-20T20:48:18+02:002005-07-30T20:31:23+02:00 <p><em>By email</em></p> <p>Hello, we arrived in Leh yesterday and spent one evening in a really cramped room, however we have moved into a better hotel now and and will be busy gettin a sun tan/ though probably a sunburn. [To Mum & Dad]Hope holland/belgium/france is nice and buy me some truffles please. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/07/20/greetings_from_the_mountain_town_of_leh/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-07-13:/2005/07/13/arrived_in_manali/phoenixchallenge2005-07-13T12:13:37+02:002005-07-30T20:32:02+02:00 <p><em>By phone</em></p> <p>"It's 3:30 Weds afternoon. We arrived in Manali late this morning after a 16 hour bus journey from Delhi. Hot, sticky and tired as I've hardly slept so far. We've found somewhere decent to stay so we're chillin for the rest of the day. We'll be doing a couple of acclimitisation walks over the next 2 days before heading off for Leh on Saturday." </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/07/13/arrived_in_manali/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-07-10:/2005/07/10/we_re_off/phoenixchallenge2005-07-10T15:10:08+02:002005-07-12T23:31:06+02:00 <p>The bags are packed and we're off......</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/IMGP0592.JPG" title="Only 2 bags to carry.....no sweat"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/IMGP0592_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Only 2 bags to carry.....no sweat"></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/IMGP0593.JPG" title="Off to meet the others"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/IMGP0593_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Off to meet the others"></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/IMGP0595.JPG" title="Did we forget to pack anything?"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/IMGP0595_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Did we forget to pack anything?"></a></p> <p>....see you all in a month.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/IMGP0594_01.JPG" title="Katie says bye bye "><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/IMGP0594_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Katie says bye bye "></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/07/10/we_re_off/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-07-05:/2005/07/05/where_in_wales/phoenixchallenge2005-07-05T17:48:15+02:002005-07-30T20:33:51+02:00 <p><em>Phone message from Matt 3:00pm Tuesday (somewhere in Snowdonia on his silver Duke of Edinburgh hike):</em></p> <p>"Hi. I'm on top of a mountain somewhere, don't know where, we could be lost...it's pouring with rain and misty so we've pitched our tent till it passes. Back aches from the weight of the rucksack, loads of blisters. Having a great time."</p> <p><em>Well that's one way of getting some practice in for the big one!</em></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/tent.jpg" title="Hope the view in the Himalayas is better than this!"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/tent_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Hope the view in the Himalayas is better than this!"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/07/05/where_in_wales/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-07-02:/2005/07/02/about_world_challenge/phoenixchallenge2005-07-02T11:39:44+02:002005-07-02T11:41:18+02:00 <p>World Challenge is the company that has organised the expedition that I am going with. It has supported my group and I through the planning phase of this expedition and continue to support us through the actual expedition. For information about World Challenge visit its homepage at </p> <p><a href="http://www.world-challenge.co.uk/">http://www.world-challenge.co.uk/</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/07/02/about_world_challenge/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-07-02:/2005/07/02/links_15/phoenixchallenge2005-07-02T11:32:16+02:002005-07-02T11:32:16+02:00 <p>These are some links to some very informative sites about Ladakh.</p> <p><a href="http://www.reachladakh.com/">http://www.reachladakh.com/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.ladakh.co.uk/">http://www.ladakh.co.uk/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.pugmarks.com/d-india/ladakh.htm">http://www.pugmarks.com/d-india/ladakh.htm</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/07/02/links_15/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-06-30:/2005/06/30/the_expedition/phoenixchallenge2005-06-30T16:58:55+02:002005-07-02T00:52:07+02:00 <p>1. Acclimatisation Phase</p> <p>Ladakh is known as the land of the high passes or little Tibet, and is bound between the peaks of the western Himalaya and the Tibetan Plateau.. The Markha Valley trek is very demanding both physically and mentally. The team will be reaching altitudes of over 5,100m when crossing some of the passes in the region. Thankfully we will be limited to treks that do not require technical climbing but we will require a good level of fitness and an acclimatisation phase prior to ascent. </p> <p>Delhi<br> We will fly into Delhi, the capital of India, and will need to allow at least one day of our itinerary to accomplish various tasks. The city is a curious blend of the modern with the traditional, skyscrapers and wide tree-lined avenues are mixed with architecture that reflects Indias ancient civilisations. We will need to change currency, visit the British High Commission, re-confirm flights etc. before organising onward travel to Manali where we will begin our acclimatisation and provisioning phase. </p> <p>Manali<br> Located in the northern mountain region of Himachal Pradesh, Manali, situated in the Kullu valley, is a bustling Himalayan town. Its inhabitants have a friendly manner and unassuming lifestyle. At 1892m, it is a beautiful and ideal location for us to acclimatise and start preparing for the next stage of the expedition. While in Manali we will have to find some where to stay, eat during the day and plan provisioning for our next phase, plus arrange transport for the 2-day trip across the mountains and passes to Ladakh - quite a lot to do.</p> <p>Leh<br> Located in Ladakh, Leh is cut off by road for most of the year. A small mountain town, it is dominated by the Leh Palace, the former home to the Ladakhi royal family. The town is Tibetan and Buddhist in feel, home to several impressive Buddhist Gompas (temples). At 3,500m the town is an ideal base from which to further acclimatise before our main trek, and will be the base for our time in Ladakh. </p> <p>2. Challenging Phase</p> <p>Project work<br> The team will be working for 4-5 days on a community project in Leh, helping with repair and building work in a small school in the Leh Valley.</p> <p>The Trek<br> The team will undertake a 10-11 day trek of around 75-100 miles over some of the highest mountain passes and along the Marka Valley, accompanied by a trekking crew of guides and ponymen. </p> <p>A typical trekking day</p> <p>It is hard to be too specific here as every day is different but typically a day will be:</p> <p>0600 Wake up, pack tent and equipment.<br> 0700 Breakfast.<br> 0800 Last minute preparations, sterilise and fill water bottles and litter sweep prior to setting of on the trek.<br> 0830 - 1230 Trekking including regular water and tea-house stops.<br> 1230 - 1330 Lunch en route carried in daysacks<br> 1330 - 1700 Trekking including regular water and tea-house stops.<br> 1700 - 1800 Post trek administration to include washing (self and clothes) and setting up camp.<br> 1800 - 1930 Dinner usually prepared by cooks though team can help.<br> 1930 - 2030 Evening debrief. Discussion of the day’s events and lessons learnt as well as simple sharing of ideas.<br> 2030 Socialising in the mess tent or the tea-house with team and trekking crew.</p> <p>3. Rest and Relaxation Phase</p> <p>After an exhausting time on the trek we will be flying back to Delhi before setting off for a couple of days’ well deserved R&R in Agra, including visiting the Taj Mahal.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1055928-Travel_Picture-Ladakh_Range_01.jpg" title="Ladakhi culture"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/1055928-Travel_Picture-Ladakh_Range_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Ladakhi culture"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/06/30/the_expedition/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-06-30:/2005/06/30/fundraising_1/phoenixchallenge2005-06-30T15:31:01+02:002005-07-02T19:05:55+02:00 <p>The total cost of the expedition will be just over £2800, plus innoculations and kit. One of the features of the World Challenge expedition is that the participants are required to raise the funds themselves instead of simply getting a blank cheque from their parents. It was a lot of money, but we've had 18 months to raise it. I finally raised the last £20 last week with only 20 days to go before we set off to India.</p> <p>I have achieved this amount through a range of individual activities and group organized events. The individual fundraising efforts included:</p> <p>Smartie Tube donations (A great kick off for my fundraising)..........£650<br> Work (housework, gardening, catsitting for neighbours)................£275<br> eBay sales (Dinky cars, Lego and old clothes).........................£755<br> 'Coporate' sponsorships (Natwest and the John Weston Trust)...........£200<br> Carboot sales...............................................£180<br> and a few other odds and ends.</p> <p>Group efforts included:<br> 2 Valentine's disco's }<br> A quiz night at school }........................................£115<br> Weekly cake stalls }<br> A sponsored lock-in at Derby's old haunted gaol.......................£270</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/000_0392.JPG" title="The group of us in Derby Gaol"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/000_0392_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The group of us in Derby Gaol"></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/000_0398.JPG" title="me receiving my cheque from the John Weston Trust - what a naff pose!"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/000_0398_small.jpg" border="0" alt="me receiving my cheque from the John Weston Trust - what a naff pose!"></a></p> <p>I would like to thank all the people who have helped me get this far, but a special thanks has to go to these people for their outstanding generosity in helping me reach my target; Natwest Bank, The John Weston Charitable Trust, Peter Oliver, My Grandparents Noel and Peggy, Sarah and Andy Patton, Peter and Tracy Dudley, Graeme and Julia Makepeace, Karen and Andy Roberts and last but not least my Parents.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/IMGA0522_01.JPG" title="Would you believe this sold for £210!!"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/IMGA0522_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Would you believe this sold for £210!!"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/06/30/fundraising_1/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,2005-06-29:/2005/06/29/info_about_ladakh/phoenixchallenge2005-06-29T12:45:22+02:002005-07-30T23:30:11+02:00 <p>Ladakh is in one of the most northernly regions of India and is populated by people of many cultures who speak many language and have many religions, though buddism tends to prevail due to Ladakhs proximity to China. The climate of ladakh ranges wildly, from -10 in the winter to 40 in the summer. Ladakh gained most of its wealth from being on the silk roads from Asia to the Middle-East. Ladakh is a mainly mountainous region with some of the highest passes in the world and it boasts the highest aiport in the world too.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/lada0043.jpg" title="The Mountains of Ladakh"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/lada0043_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The Mountains of Ladakh"></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/lada0047.jpg" title="The Ladakhi populace"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/lada0047_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The Ladakhi populace"></a></p> <p><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/ladakhlwrksg_01.jpg" border="0" alt=""></p> <p><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/m/mattstriptoindia/img/ladakh-031104.jpg" border="0" alt=""> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/2005/06/29/info_about_ladakh/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk,1999-11-30:/1999/11/30/welcome_to_my_new_blog_3/phoenixchallenge1999-11-30T01:00:00+01:002005-07-02T00:48:14+02:00 <p>Hello. I have decided to start a Blog for my expedition to India in July 2005. I have chosen to use a Blog over a normal Website because it is so much more easily updated. I may even, if have access to an Internet cafe, update whilst I am still in India. This will allow me to communicate with people I know back home and let them know of the experiances I have had. It will also enable my friends to send messages of support and encouragement if they want to !!</p> <p>I will be leaving the UK on 11 July, returning 10 August. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mattstriptoindia.blog.co.uk/1999/11/30/welcome_to_my_new_blog_3/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>