Alighting the train was a huge relief but after a few minutes I was feeling very nauseous. Heather kindly gave me a carrier bag for the next leg of our journey in case the worst happened. Fortunately I soon felt better.

The scenery on our 4x4 journey was becoming more and more beautiful, and whilst part of me admired the mountains, the rivers and rocks; another part of me tried to come to terms with the possibility of an imminent demise. Let's just say I was by no means used to the sheer drops we drove so close to, or the speed at which we did so.

Thankfully the scenery is so incredible that my fears of death were soon replaced with utter awe. There's a Kula Shaker song called 'Namami Nanda Nandana' which I've always loved and always makes me envisage stunning, sun speckled, foresty mountain. I listened to it on my ipod as we got closer to our destination and became some what overwhelmed.

I'm actually in the Himalayas
It's more amazing than I imagined
If only more of our world remained almost untouched by man, and could be this beautiful
I'm actually here, for nine weeks, in a completely new culture
….and Ian's not here to share it

I cried, but I was happy as well as sad.

At the house we were welcomed by the other 9 volunteers. Everyone seemed lovely and we got washed and had food. The house is amazing, but no match for the view. Despite this, I felt a huge hollow sadness well up inside me. I think the realisation of how long I'd be away and how much I'd miss certain people really hit me. I felt like giving up, but I knew I had to give it some time. It was only the beginning after all.