POEM
by Nanda Raj Rai, porter
(translated by Ben Ayers)
Today,
a Nepali's morality
Only considers possessions.
Respected
porters, brothers -
Today, a Nepali's identity
Has become selfish.
Respected
porters, brothers -
We're only here as long as our physical health is.
Of course, we will become wealthy and happy.
Respected
porters, brothers -
If your soul is content and peaceful
Your creativity can build a Taj Mahal!
Respected
porters, brothers -
Make your hardship into a possession.
Soak this earth with your sweat.
Make a storehouse for your sweat.
FILM
REVIEWS
Trekking
Wisely
By Elsie James
You won't find these films at your local cinema nor will you
find the book at your local bookstore, but they are both well
worth seeing. Two videos were released in Fall 2002 in Kathmandu
- one entitled, Trekking Wisely (English language only) and
the other A Porter's Story (In Nepali - with or without English
sub-titles).
Produced
by Australian filmmaker, Serena Rix, with funding from the
Australian Government, Banff Centre for Mountain Culture and
the Himalayan Rescue Association, the videos are proving to
be excellent tools in the continuing effort to educate both
trekkers and trekking staff about the hazards of travelling
in high places. In addition they are helping people recognize
the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS, HACE and HAPE)
are preventable.
Trekking
Wisely includes personal interviews with foreign trekkers
talking about their experiences with altitude related issues.
It's understandable, and although it gives serious warning
to people contemplating high altitude travel, it puts the
viewer's mind at ease. It answers many of the common questions
about this potentially deadly problem at the same time, giving
a sense of reassurance with the proper preparation and sticking
to a few simple rules.
Read
the review of the second video, A Porter's Story by
the producer herself below.
The
Producer has done an excellent job of both of these films.
If trekking companies, tour operators, etc. have access to
them and use them effectively, I am sure that lives will be
saved. I think these videos are a MUST SEE for everyone trekking
or climbing in the Himalaya - experienced or novice - Trekker,
Porter or Guide. The life you save may be your own!
Both
videos are available for purchase from the Himalayan Rescue
Association in Kathmandu
'Porter's
Story'
By Serena Rix
Prakash Rai stumbles under his load and lands on the side
of the well-trodden track. His worsening cough echoes from
his rib cage into the valley, and his breathing is laboured,
even on this unusually flat section of the Annapurna trail.
After
taking twice as long as all the other porters to reach camp,
Prakash's headache and cough has worsened, his appetite gone.
After a disturbed night sleep, he can barely drag himself
from his makeshift bed.
The scene
described above is oft repeated around the trekking routes
of Nepal, but in this case, Prakash, a real life porter, is
my 'hero actor' starring in an educational film for porters
about health and safety, particularly at high altitude.
Porter's
Story is a 30-minute video entirely in Nepali made specifically
for porters, about porters. It aims to educate them about
the risks of trekking at high altitude, and how to recognise,
treat and prevent altitude sickness, frostbite and hypothermia.
The idea for a video for porters was born in October 2000.
In the same week that I was trekking in the Everest region,
two porters and an Australian woman died due to altitude sickness.
After meeting Prakash Adhikari, Chief Executive of Himalayan
Rescue Association (HRA), and also Nepal's IPPG representative,
I floated the idea of a video to educate trekkers about altitude
sickness. "A film for trekkers would be great,"
smiled Prakash enthusiastically, "but a film for porters
could be even more useful."
The Australian
Embassy in Kathmandu provided the majority of the funds for
Porter's Story, supported by donations from IPPG, HRA, Australian
Volunteers International and the Banff Centre for Mountain
Culture.
Almost
all the porters we met were delighted to help with the film.
Porters became actors, interviewees, camera assistants, poets
and musicians. Some even tried to help me direct! "Don't
look at the camera. Speak louder" they would command
their friends.
Porter's
Story is now screened at Porters Progress in Kathmandu and
Lukla, and at HRA and KEEP, among other places. The challenge
remains to find more places along the trekking routes willing
to have porters crowding inside to watch the video. It is
a delight to watch the faces of porters as they see their
friends, their stories, and their woes unfold on the television
screen. They have never seen a film made for them before.
By the end of the film, though they may not yet be experts
in altitude sickness, the point has been made: that the dangers
of altitude can be fatal, and they can happen to anyone. But
with a little knowledge and care for each other, fatalities
can be prevented.
One of
the porters I interviewed, Shantari Rai, summed up the message
of the film well. He almost died several years ago from HAPE,
and by a stroke of good fortune, was one of the few porters
ever evacuated by helicopter from an HRA clinic.
"God blessed me, that's why I got the opportunity to
live longer. I work for the trekking industry, so now when
I go to high altitude, I think about it very carefully. What
use is the money if I am dead?"
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