By IANS
Kathmandu : Inclement weather marred Thailand’s ambitious plan to give a remarkable gift to its king on his 80th birthday – the first Thai Everest Expedition has been forced to abandon the attempt to climb Mt Everest.
As a tribute to the world’s longest ruling monarch Bhumibol Aduldyadej on his 80th birthday, Thailand had planned its first expedition to the highest peak in the world and broadcast the event on the state-owned TiTV.
The nine-member Thai Everest Expedition is also the only team so far to attempt to scale Mt Everest from the Nepal side this autumn, in sharp contrast to last spring, when dozens of climbers had headed for the 8,848 m summit.
Besides four staffers of TiTV, the Thai team also included three members of the Royal Thai Navy and two individuals.
However, after reaching 8,500 m, the Thai expedition had to turn back due to bad weather.
“The safety of our members is our first concern,” the Thai Embassy in Kathmandu told IANS. “The team is now coming down and are likely to reach Kathmandu Wednesday.”
Earlier, another team of Thai students had come to Nepal to shoot a documentary in Janakpur, fabled to have been the capital of the ancient Mithila kingdom of King Janak.
According to the Indian epic the Ramayana, the venerable farmer king Janak was the father of Sita, whose abduction by demon king Ravana and subsequent rescue by her husband Ram forms the core of the epic.
The Thai king, who was impressed by the life of King Janak, wrote a book on him that was subsequently translated in Nepali.
The documentary is also part of the nation’s tribute to its king.