Read more about the article Mountains in my heart
Gerlinde's book in English

Mountains in my heart

Dear all After just having been to Iran with my friend Gerlinde, I remembered that I never informed you about the English translation I did for the book she wrote together with Karin Steinbach called "Mountains in my heart". I spent the best part of 2013 working on the book…

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Read more about the article Thank you Iran
Experiencing the desert with great friends

Thank you Iran

Sadly, our time in Iran is coming to an end and the kindness and generosity of the people is certainly reflected in the size and weight of our bags. "I think we have just packed around 30kg of presents," Gerlinde said lifting her heavy bag off the scales.…

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Read more about the article Incredible Iran
Great atmosphere during an amazing event

Incredible Iran

"Your presentations have changed our lives," Ms Laleh told Gerlinde and me after having done our slide shows at the Koohbanoo exhibition in Iran. "It has been such a pleasure to have you here and we are all very happy," she continued. But the pleasure is ours and both Gerlinde and I are very…

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Read more about the article Belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
The Garmisch-P. mountains in the mist before the snow came on Christmas Day

Belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

I seem to have written the word 'apologies' rather often lately but I have just noticed that I have not posted anything since I first got to Islamabad in early October this year. So there you go - apologies for being so quiet but then again I usually refrain…

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Read more about the article Early morning runs in Islamabad
6.30am on my run through Jinnah Park in the middle of Islamabad

Early morning runs in Islamabad

It may sound strange to someone, who has never been to Pakistan, but it feels great to be back in Islamabad, where I have lived on and off previously. And even though I have only been back for less than one week, I already feel well-ensconced in my…

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Stuck in Tingri

We are actually supposed to be at Shisha Pangma BC already but Sergey's gear did not arrive yesterday as scheduled. I guess this is the beauty about travelling in these countries as nothing ever goes to plan and improvising is required. Well i I guess it's also…

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Read more about the article Tibet is calling
Not only humans worship Boudha Stupa.

Tibet is calling

After only 10 days back in Kathmandu I am in the process of packing again for Shisha Pangma - the 14th highest peak in the world, which is entirely situated in Tibet. It reaches out to 8,027 metres above sea-level and is the smallest of the 8,000m-peaks.…

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Read more about the article Different worlds
Many Syrian women, who have lost their husbands or their sons are grateful to Abou Hassan and Nofa (Samer Rawadi)

Different worlds

I have been wanting to update my site for a long time, however, work and travels have prevented me from doing so and now I am already back in Kathmandu helping Miss Elizabeth Hawley and getting ready for my next adventure, which will be Shisha Pangma (8,027m)…

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Read more about the article A huge ‘Thank You’ from Just-One
The Just-One kids shouting a big Thank You out to you

A huge ‘Thank You’ from Just-One

I have just paid a visit to Just-One, the organisation you so kindly supported through my Rome marathon, and the kids there all shouted a very big 'THANK YOU' for your help. Declan and I did the accounts and we came up with a total of 695,000…

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Read more about the article Back in Kathmandu – and off again
Bhawan, Namita, I, Jeevan and Suban with Miss Hawley at her birthday

Back in Kathmandu – and off again

Apologies for the late last post about Ama Dablam but as you can imagine, life in Kathmandu has been rather hectic with Miss Hawley's 90th birthday on 9th November and all the (unsuccessful) teams coming back from the normal route of 'The Mother of the Jewels' -…

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Namche Bazaar

This is just a very quick hello from Namche Bazaar, where we arrived this morning. I am amazed by how 'high-tech' the Sherpa capital has become with wireless internet being available almost everywhere. I am currently sitting in our lodge, enjoying a Cafe Latte and I am…

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Read more about the article Avalanches, Ama Dablam and Anniversaries
Towering above the Khumbu - Ama Dablam!

Avalanches, Ama Dablam and Anniversaries

I have been back from Berlin for just over one week, which has been very busy with interviewing expeditions for Miss Hawley and the Himalayan Database. Most teams have come safe and sound back from Cho Oyu and Manaslu, the sixth and eighth highest peaks in the…

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Read more about the article Kathmandu Marathon – ‘It’s like running with a cigarette in your mouth’
Running in the dust

Kathmandu Marathon – ‘It’s like running with a cigarette in your mouth’

Last Saturday, my friend Richard and I were brave enough to enter the Kathmandu marathon, or rather the half marathon as doing the full distance in this mad traffic would have been suicidal. After the race, I wrote a story for the Guardian's Running Blog, which you…

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Read more about the article Silently striding through Kathmandu’s strike
Not a car in sight on the otherwise extremely busy road

Silently striding through Kathmandu’s strike

It's all a matter of timing; if you get it right, you can actually enjoy a jog on the Ring Road. When I woke up at 5 o’clock this morning, I noticed that something was different. It was quiet. You would have thought that this was quite…

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Read more about the article Challenging Marathon Training
This is what running can be like near Kathmandu if you get out

Challenging Marathon Training

Just when I thought the monsoon rains had stopped, they have come back with a vengeance, which makes my marathon training a bit more challenging. Even though jogging in the green hills surrounding the Kathmandu valley is gorgeous, especially in the post-monsoon season when everything is lush…

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