It will be stunning

by Marc the Producer, in Nepal
18th November, 2009

Off again. It’s crazy....Continue reading

Jimmy

by Luke, in Nepal
19th November, 2009

Great day – attempted some hardcore healing on a dog we named Jimmy. Not a very Nepalese name but I had an urge and one of the key founders of HART is called Jim. It’s a good name and that’s reason enough. Jimmy underwent epic surgery – about three hours – whilst I tried to reconstruct his neck. Lots of maggots and a horrific wound, I also castrated him so all things considered Jimmy has had rather a lot to cope with today – but either that or he would have had a lingering demise. He is currently sleeping off the anaesthetic and he now has to make it through the night. Fingers crossed. Whatever had caused the wound – he was probably savaged by another dog (although there are attacks on dogs by leopards in the town) he was lucky to be alive when we found him.
 
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Community day this afternoon – vaccinating dogs, and then managed to track down some vincristine so that was a fantastic end to the day. Currently in Pokhara Lakeside Cyber Station courtesy of a few computer issues, so no e-mail access. If anyone happens to be reading this and needs to contact me – best to phone. I’m sure it’ll be cheap....Continue reading

Hike of power

by Luke, in Nepal
20th November, 2009

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Great day – totally action packed. Hardcore healing at the shelter – few cases and then a two hour drive to an area where pack horses are used to hike up and down the mountain side laden with massive packs. It was an amazing setting – huge suspension bridge hanging over a raging river. The pack horses fearless in their crossing of it as we set up a base for treatments. I say horses but they were actually mules – offspring of male donkeys crossed with female horses (hinnys are female donkeys with male horses). Felt very sorry for some of them and we tried to get a bit of education in the mix as well as treatments. It’s a drop in the ocean but hopefully the story of one mule in particular will tell the story of thousands and I hope it makes the programme.
 
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The drive back was terrifying – Marc was behind the wheel (Simon and Nathan were in the truck in front) and our headlights were of questionable use. Sadly we found a calf collapsed by the side of a road half way up a remote mountain. Treated as best we could and the plan is to get up at the crack of dawn and check on it before the action starts. Will keep you posted. As for Jimmy – I’d hate to spoil an advert break for you…...Continue reading

Loving the driving!

by Luke, in Nepal
21st November, 2009

Nathan and I got up early and hit the road in search of the calf we had found on the way home last night. Thankfully the treatment we gave must have worked because where the calf had been lying was a lot of dung and it had clearly got up and walked away. The best bit of the morning though, was that on the way back to the shelter, our driver pulled over and indicated he wanted me to drive....Continue reading

Simon’s EXTREME Birthday

by Luke, in Nepal
22nd November, 2009

Simon’s birthday today so we’re all in great spirits and hopefully he’s had a good day filming cattle and some rescued birds of prey. The sun also came out so we got a great view of the mountains – gave us a taste of what to expect for the next few days because we have a flight up into the Himalayas crack of dawn tomorrow to a remote place in the lower mustang – near the Tibet border. Of course we have the birthday meal to deal with before that… Internet may be a bit hard to come by so will catch up in a few days.
 
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Happy Birthday Simon!

by Nathan the Assistant Producer, in Nepal
22nd November, 2009

We all woke up slightly the worse for wear today as last night was spent out celebrating Simon’s birthday – an interesting night at a bar called the Busy Bee. Their house band played classic tracks like “Smoke on the Water” and “Paranoid” and we were all fairly impressed with the guitarist.
 
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But despite this we all had work to do and spent the morning filming a veterinary training course for large animals and the afternoon filming the rescue and rehabilitation of injured birds of prey. It was a good day, although I think I shocked the rest of the crew by showing off my running skills when the camera batteries died and we had to get them from the bag. I sprinted over to the car and was highly energetic. It was probably the fastest I have moved all series…
 
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The Flight!

by Nathan the Assistant Producer, in Nepal
23rd November, 2009

So the day of the flight arrived and I was absolutely petrified. The flight was very early in the morning and for this reason we were all very tired, waking up at 5am. I was sitting in the departure lounge looking tired and trying to put the flight to the back of my mind when the guys came up with my Nepalese name, Sloth, because I looked like a sloth with little sleepy eyes and curled in arms. It runs in complete contradiction to my energetic display from yesterday, but all in all it’s probably quite apt. And sloths are also my favourite creature so I’m pretty happy.
 
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The plane was worse than I hoped – it looked like it had been built by the Wright Brothers. But we arrived safely in Jomsom and it was actually an absolutely stunning flight with the mountains looming above us. The landing came upon us pretty quickly, but the pilot had it in control and we touched down smoothly. The only problem now is that we have to fly back in a couple of days. Oh no…
 
nepal_flight2...Continue reading

Deep in the Himalayas

by Luke, in Nepal
23rd November, 2009

A nerve wracking plane ride ascending 4000metres and landing on the edge of a mountain got us in the mood for a hardcore section of the trip. Amazingly there is an old computer with internet in the hostel we’re staying in. I say amazingly because there is also very little hot water – no soap, toilet paper and the room temperature is sub zero, but it does have brilliant food, a great family running it and is soaked in character. ...Continue reading

Himalayas!

by Nathan the Assistant Producer, in Nepal
23rd November, 2009

One the most stunning places I’ve ever been.
 
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nepal_himalayas2...Continue reading

I saw Nathan run!

by Luke, in Nepal
24th November, 2009

Big, big, big news – Nathan ran. The rest of us were astounded but I can confirm that witnessing this was up there with being on a remote mountain top in the Himalayas treating yaks. I rate Nathan hugely but he has acquired yet another nickname this trip – ‘sloth’ – due to the fact he has been moving at the speed of a lame snail and has been feeling a little ‘tired’. Poor chap. But he was in the zone and actually ran about twenty metres. It was like watching a baby bird take its first flight – or so I would imagine – but without the feathers – almost miraculous....Continue reading