Life at poles no stretch for researcher

Penba Tsering made history when he became the first Tibetan to visit the South Pole, and if he ever gets the chance, he would like to repeat the feat by visiting the North Pole.

The China Meteorology Institute and Tibet weather bureau sent the 35-year-old weather engineer to the South Pole in November 1999 for 15 months of scientific investigations.

"The wind at the South Pole may not freeze someone to death, but it can still be deadly," Penba Tsering said.