It all started in 2017 as we were returning from the
Manaslu Circuit in Nepal, an Exodus trek led by Valerie Parkinson. We had a long day’s
drive in a jeep over bumps and potholes, along probably the worst road we’ve
ever been on.
Valerie
and Carole were sitting in the front, chatting and giggling a lot, when they
decided we needed something serious to
focus on. Carole declared “Let’s do another sponsorship project”. Our first had
been in 2012 when we climbed Stok Kangri in Ladakh in the Indian Himalaya and raised over £6,000 for
local charities. It wasn’t long before she came up with the mad idea of Neil
playing a piano on a high pass.
Valerie
was already planning a new trip for 2019, ‘Birds & Mammals of Ladakh’,
which involved driving over the Taglang La at 5,328 metres. What better place
to meet this challenge!
Valerie
miraculously located a piano in SECMOL, a school near Leh, Ladakh’s capital,
and they agreed to loan it to us.
We
immediately set to work setting up the giving page, contacting everyone we knew
and publicising it through Exodus.Our
target was set at £5,328 (ie £1 per metre!), the money to be administered by Friends of Conservation ( www.foc-uk.com ) and divided between
two of Exodus’ Himalayan Community projects.
The journey
On July 8th
we flew into Leh (3,500m), Ladakh's capital, and the reality of our undertaking hit home. Just
being there filled us with excitement and anticipation. Neil’s first task was
to check out the piano, so we all went to SECMOL (Students’ Educational and
Cultural Movement of Ladakh), a school which gives educational opportunities to
disadvantaged teenagers. Neil played part of his planned programme to students
and staff, discovering with some relief that all the notes worked, though were
not all in tune! No matter. Our visit finished with a tour of the school led by
two of the students.
SECMOL school
Inspecting the piano
Students, staff and our fellow travellers gathering for Neil's performance
Neil performing!
Our student guides next to a Gandhi quotation
A couple
of mornings later, we awoke to see from our hotel room window what looked like
a piano wrapped in a blue cover on the back of an open truck. Yes, it was the
piano. After breakfast, we set off for our first campsite at Rumtse (4,100m) en
route to the Taglang La. The truck arrived later that evening with the piano
intact – phew! Big thanks to the driver,
Wangyal.
Piano arrived safely in our Leh hotel car park
Yes, it IS the piano, well covered and securely tied
Wangyal about to leave Rumtse camp for the Taglang La at 6am on the 12th
See you later!
Friday, July 12th –
the big day!
At 6am we
waved goodbye to Wangyal leaving camp with the piano.By 7.30am, we were all on the Taglang La,
choosing our spot while our brilliant Ladakhi team re-assembled the piano ready
for the performance. Alex’s cartoon bemoaned the fact that Liberace was not
available. We had to make do with Neil!
Piano arrives safely to our great relief
Unloading and reassembling the piano legs, pedals and lid
We all
donned bow ties, the programme was distributed, Neil warmed up his fingers as
best he could with the wind blowing, light snow falling and a temperature not
much above zero. The performance was about to begin.
Tamchos, our chief Ladakhi guide, has his bow tie checked
The programme
The performance begins!
Still playing!
Performing in the snow
Our fellow travellers enjoy the Chopin...
.... with much applause!
Garth, Kris & James pose bravely in full concert gear!
Prompted
by a secret sign from Valerie, a cake suddenly appeared on the piano. Neil
sounded a chord and the assembled party gave a breathless rendering of ‘Happy
Birthday’ for Carole (a day early!). She ceremoniously cut her cake and dished
out a slice to all, including Johnny our cook and cakemaker!
We all
posed for the obligatory Exodus photo. Tamchos, our Ladakhi leader, guide and
chief piano organiser, couldn’t resist a tinkle before the piano was
dismantled, put back on the truck and driven home to Leh.
The obligatory Exodus photo of our group and Ladakhi support staff
Tamchos can't resist a final 'tinkle'!
Dismantling begins...
...back on the truck...
...covered and secured..
...leaving for its return journey to Leh
Bye bye!
Challenge
achieved, Neil now can wallow in the glory of being the pianist who has
performed at the highest altitude, ever! And, of course, Carole likewise as the
highest page-turner, ever!
By 9.15am,
we left the Taglang La, site of this surreal event, pinching ourselves and
feeling euphoric, to continue our wildlife journey. But that’s another story!
Our charity beneficiaries
Half the
money raised will go towards setting up more plastic-free eco-cafes run by
local Ladakhi women, selling good coffee, cakes, filtered water and locally
made handicrafts on this very popular trekking route in Markha Valley.
Inside Skiu cafe
Markha Valley women who run the cafes and make the handicafts
More Markha Valley women who run the cafes and make the handicafts!
A selection of handicrafts
The other
half will pay for a cook/carer in a home for old people in Langtang, Nepal, who
lost everything in the devastating 2015 earthquake.
The elderly folk from Langtang, Nepal, with their carer (extreme right)
A further
£500 has been earmarked for SECMOL, not only for the loan of the piano but also
to sponsor two students for two years to attend the school.
Our heartfelt
thanks to everyone involved in making this project such a resounding success,
and to all of you who have donated so generously so far. It’s not too late if
you still wish to contribute. The Virgin Money Giving page is open until 12th
October 2019: Just click here
