Thailand’s King Bhumibol’s 80th birthday will be celebrated with the country’s first expedition to the peak of Mount Everest.
Thai TV station TITV plans to sponsor a nine-member team of Thai climbers for the trip to the summit of the world’s highest mountain that borders Nepal and Tibet.
The station has asked permission from Nepal’s Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry to allow the climbers to hike the potentially-fatal mountain.
In its written request, TITV said: ‘We want to show the Thai people’s faith and loyalty towards the king, country and Buddhism.’ If the hikers make it to the 8,848-metre summit they plan to plant the Thai flag, a Buddhist pennant and a flag featuring the king’s emblem at the top of the mountain.
Most people choose to climb Everest from the Tibet side rather than Nepal side.
TITV added in its letter: ‘We want to climb from Nepal and not from Tibet since Nepal is the birthplace of the Buddha.’ The expedition, from training sessions to the point of the team reaching the summit, hopefully some time in October, will be recorded for a TV documentary.
King Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, turns 80 in December and is highly thought of by Thai people.
© bangshowbiz.biz
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