These Nepalese porters have superhuman strength carrying loads weighing more than 100 pounds (45 kg) over the steep Himalaya terrain. These porters could balance loads on top of their heads and on their backs and they could traverse more than 60 miles about 1000 along rugged footpaths. The loads that they carry goes into an oversized basket, or doko, which rests against the basket. Nepalese porters are still relevant today and highly commercialised in the country because they provide cheap labour and they are efficient, reliable and familiar with the steep, narrow winding roads in Kathmandu. There are about 1 million porters around the country. This is a 100 year-old profession which is still being employed until today. There are female porters too but they are in small numbers. These porters are highly in demand by tourists and small traders to carry and shift their loads around from as light as vegetables, food, clothes, furniture, electrical goods to anything under the sun for a small fee of 50 Nepalese Rupee to 200 Rupees depending on the items and distance. They are able to shift and carry these goods as far as 5 km on foot. These porters can easily rake in 1000 Rupees (equivalent to RM40) per day. THE STAR/Azhar Mahfof
A porter a carry furniture in the street in Downtown Kathmandu on June 6 2014. Part of Supermen of Nepal photo series. THE STAR/ Azhar Mahfof
Porters carries foods stocks to a temple in Downtown Kathmandu on June 6 2014. Part of Supermen of Nepal photo series. THE STAR/ Azhar Mahfof
::FotoWarung.net
