New Zealand is such a pretty country with spectacular scenery, our country is well known for its many beautiful tramping and mountain climbing locations. Its little wonder then that on this day May 29 1953 a New Zealander Edmund Hillary decided to climb mount Everest and “knock the bastard off”. As Dozens of adventures followed, including the Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1957–58 and a 1977 jet-boat journey up the Ganges River, Hillary became a hero to our nation. His extraordinary humanitarian work with the Sherpa people of the Himalayas, building schools, hospitals and other facilities in the mountains, was a typical Kiwi attitude of going above and beyond. Edmund Hillary died on 11 January this year. In New Zealand he was given a state funeral, in Nepal he was farewelled as a King.

The gorgeous scenery and stories of Nepal and Hillary have attracted many kiwis towards its mountains, I am one of those Kiwis.
I am looking forward to experiencing the Annapurna Sanctuary trek (one of the more easy going treks with trees and oxygen) with my sister next year. My fitness will vastly need to improve as will my bank account, and it will be sad to leave behind my husband with my 3 year old daughter, and all my Timezoneone colleagues but I think I’ll quickly get over it. So stay tuned next year to see if a) I made it there and b) I made it home alive without needing a helicopter rescue!

Upcoming blogs – tonight Pecha Kucha – New Zealand designers and photographers talk about their work. Tomorrow the Timezoneone prize will be award. Who will win? David and his clones now have an unfair advantage….is a revolt brewing? Bribe money can be left on my desk in envelopes with your name on the back.

Maria

Hillary Flag

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