On the 16 June we’ll be attending this Institute of Customer Service event hosted by Audi in their offices in Brentford. We hope to see some of you there. Perhaps we’ll have a chance to test drive a few cars…

Follow this link to find out more – http://bit.ly/mgnvuU

Helen Smith, our much loved account assistant, and Larry the lorry have taken a sabbatical and headed East to the dizzying heights of Nepal, South Asia.

Their travels have so far taken them to an array of beautiful places where they have jumped feet first into the culture and lifestyle of the area, got to know the local people and their way of life, and taken in the breathtaking landscapes. And generally experiencing all that they can.

The manic city of Kathmandu was their first port of call. After spending a few days traipsing around the many markets and temples including the famous ‘Monkey Temple’, they took to the mountain town of Pokhara and embarked on a 10-day trek to Annapurna base camp.

A few facts from Helen and Larry:

-       Annapurna is the tenth highest mountain in the world

-       Annapurna is one of Nepal’s ‘Big 8’

-       In Nepal only mountains over 7000 meters qualify as mountains

-       A mountain from 6000-7000m is just a peak and anything below is just a hill

-       So technically according to these rules the highest ‘mountain’ in Europe is just a hill!

The trek was a challenge, but Helen’s never been one to shy away from tough situation, and Larry had an easy ride to the top in her pocket! They enjoyed breathtaking views which varied between dramatic valleys and forests in full bloom to rainforests and mesmerising snow capped mountains.

‘All part of the experience’ Helen said, this experience included wadding through snow up to her shins, battling with altitude changes, severe drops in temperature and spending a day trekking through a ‘high risk avalanche area’!, ‘It was fun though’, she said, ‘mad’ we say.

On their way back down the mountain they managed to take a much deserved break and dip their toes/wheels into a natural hot spring at the bottom of a valley. Bliss!

The weeks that followed were filled with what can only be described as once in a lifetime experiences. A visit to a Tibetan refugee camp in Pokhara where they met a budding Monk who invited them into the temple to sit in on afternoon prayers, followed by a night on the town Nepalese style! Helen and Larry have turned into true hippies and have jumped on the yoga band wagon, the ‘heart lifting’ type.

After relieving themselves of all of life’s stresses, the double act headed south to hotter climates in Chitwan, more specifically Chitwan National Park, located in the subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal. The duo decided a canoe and walking safari, as well as an elephant backed safari, were the best ways to see the wildlife reserve in all its glory. They came across monkeys, a rhino mother and baby, wild boar and crocodile and this was all followed by a dip in the Narayani-Rapti river during elephant bathing time.

After that much needed wash with the elephants, it was back to school for Helen and Larry while they stayed with a Nepalese teacher and his family in a tiny traditional village. The village had the cultural cast of people called ‘Tharu people’, they are the ethnic group indigenous to the Terai area and have a very particular culture system. Their homes are very basic mud huts, with no running water but a cold water pump outside, electricity for four hours a day and a hole in the ground outside which masks itself as a toilet. For Helen and Larry this was one of the best weeks of the trip, living like ‘real’ Napalese.

Back at school they taught English to children aged 3-13, and to say it was hard work is an understatement, but a very rewarding one. Aside from this, they helped out with the cooking and even helped to build a new hut, this involved smearing cow dung on a bamboo frame with hands/wheels – it all sounds a little dirty but apparently it was a barrel of laughs.

The last leg of the Nepalese adventure was upon them as they headed back to Katmandu. In true Helen fashion they made the most of their last day – doing the second biggest bungee jump in the world. May as well end it on a high, literally!

Last we heard Helen and Larry were sat in transit in Delhi airport ready to embark on the second stage of their adventure and missing us terribly of course!