On the 11Th of January 2008 a great New Zealand man, Sir Edmund Hillary, died at the age of 88. He and a native Nepalese climber Tenzing Norgay were the first to reach the summit of the Mount Everest in 1953 in a British led expedition. He got knighted for that by the British queen. He continued to make expeditions to Antarctica and also went on further mountain climbing expeditions.
Sir Edmund Hillary used his fame to help the people of Nepal. He oversaw the building of 3 hospitals, 13 health clinics and more than 30 schools. May his life be remembered and may his remarkable devotion too help the people of Nepal be an example and inspiration for people all over the world.
Sir Edmund Hillary's funeral will be on Tuesday at St Mary's Church in Parnell, Auckland
May he rest in peace, Marja
Some kinda man. R.I.P.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful life.
ReplyDeleteMay his soul rest in peace..
ReplyDeleteI so agree - Sir Edmund Hillary was indeed a role model for many who wish to aspire to such levels of endurance.
ReplyDeleteHe was most worthy of his Knighthood - and still retains fond affection here in Britain.
May his memory live on - R.I.P.
A true MAN as passed away. R.I.P
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting to me...I didn't realize that Sir Edmund Hillary was from New Zealand. I thought he was British. And yes, he was a wonderful man!
ReplyDeleteYour part of the world is so beautiful. I can't afford to travel, so I love visiting other places through my computer.
A beautiful inspiration he was....from teaching us perserverance to teaching us all about humanitarianism.....all in how he lived his life.
ReplyDeleteMay we continue to celebrate his life.
I had the privilege of meeting Sir Edmund Hillary twice, once in Colorado and once in Namche in the Everest region where I used to lead treks to the base camp. He dedicated his life to helping the Sherpas who were such a critical part of his first ascent. Beyond the Summit is the first work to dramatize their lives in fiction. Hillary's work in the area is mentioned frequently as well as his climbing partner, Tenzing Norgay.
ReplyDeleteDetails of Sherpa culture and religion are interwoven in a tale of romance and high adventure. The story has something for everyone: a love affair between an American journalist and Sherpa guide, conflict between generations as the modern world challenges centuries of tradition, an expedition from the porter’s point of view.
Below are selections from reviews. To read the complete ones and excerpts go to [www] beyondthesummit-novel.com
Beyond the Summit, is the rare gem that shows us the triumphs and challenges of a major climb from the porter’s point of view. The love of two people from diverse cultures is the fiery centerpiece of a novel that leads its readers through harshly beautiful and highly dangerous territory to the roof of the world. Malcolm Campbell, book reviewer
Conflict and dialog keep this gripping story of destiny, romance and adventure moving from the first page to the last paragraph. LeBlanc has a genius for bonding her readers and her characters. I found I was empathizing in turn with each character as they faced their own personal crisis or trauma.
Richard Blake for Readers Views.
A gripping, gut-twisting expedition through the eyes of a porter reveals the heart and soul of Sherpas living in the shadows of Everest. EverestNews.com
A hard-hitting blend of adventure and romance which deserves a spot in any serious fiction collection. Midwest Book Review
LeBlanc is equally adept at describing complex, elusive emotions and the beautiful, terrifying aspect of the Himalayan Mountains. Boulder Daily Camera
LeBlanc’s vivid description of the Himalayas and the climbing culture makes this a powerful read. Rocky Mt News Pick of the Week
A rich adventure into the heart of the Himalayan Kingdom. Fantastic story-telling from one who has been there. USABookNews.com
This is the book to read before you embark on your pilgrimage to Nepal. The author knows and loves the people and the country, and makes you feel the cold thin air, the hard rocks of the mountains, the tough life of the Sherpa guides, and you learn to love them too. This is a higly literate, but also very readable book. Highly recommended.”
– John (college professor)
Memorable characters and harrowing encounters with the mountains keep the action moving with a vibrant balance of vivid description and dialogue. Literary Cafe Host, Healdsburg, CA
This superbly-crafted novel will land you in a world of unimaginable beauty, adventure, and romance. The love story will keep you awake at night with its vibrant tension and deep rich longing. Wick Downing, author of nine novels
Such vividly depicted images of the Everest region and the Sherpa people are the perfect scenario for the romance and adventure feats narrated. It’s a page-turner, so engrossing you end up wanting to visit Nepal! Not just novel, but perfect for those seeking to get acquainted with the culture of this country.
By Claudia Fournier (América, Bs. As., Argentina)
Available through Barnes and Noble, Borders, amazon.com, Chesslerbooks.com, and the web site
Rest in peace, Sir Edmund Hillary .....nice and thoughtful post, Marja.
ReplyDeleteWow he did a lot on climbing as I can see form your writing, He is the second climber who died this year. May he rest in peice..
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet words for my sick (Swiss) Bernese Mountain Dog "IOS", she is feeling less pain now and thats always better right?
Bye have a good day
Marja, coming from ... secrets ... just to say hello and tell you that it´s usual on the region of that photo to let cattle go into the woods and let them there all the day. When the days comes to it's end, cattle returns.
ReplyDeleteHe truly is an inspirational man who will not be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteHoi Marja , I las net dat je ook in de Beekse nergen bent geweest, mooi is het daar he?
ReplyDeleteHave a great and creative weekend! I hope to see you on my blog, be welcome, Greetings from JoAnn
I interviewed Sir Edmund a couple of times in NZ when I worked in radio there. He was such a kind man, and didn't mind giving his time. NZ has "lost a great kauri tree", as the Maori people say.
ReplyDeleteThat´s sad...May his soul rest in peace!Great post,Marja!
ReplyDeleteone of my fav. heros! He will live forever in many hearts...beautiful tribute, Marja.
ReplyDeleteI thought you might like to read this
ReplyDeleteAs a citizen of Barbados I am moved by the generosity of this great mountaineer and the enduring legacy he has left behind. This above all else has motivated me to write an epic poem of 44 stanzas in heroic couples when I visited New Zealand in 2005. The inspiration came as I gazed at his statue in the mall at Orewa.
The epic poem, "Tuakua Honey Jar First to Ever Rest" is found on the web by clicking on this link http://poetrynest.blogspot.com/2008/01/tuakau-honey-jar-first-to-ever-rest.html or in the book, "Poetry for all Seasons:Poems, Forms and Styles" first published in New Zealand 2005and by AuthorHouse in 2007.
Cheers,
Paterika Hengreaves, Poet Laureate
St. James, Barbados