loveliness

My Scholarship entry - The Porters of Mount Rinjani

Indonesia | Monday, November 24, 2014 | 5 photos

The Porters of Mt. Rinjani in Indonesia are the hardest working people I've ever met. They make the trip up to the rim of the Mt. Rinjani volcano crater in Lombok, Indonesia sometimes twice a week, 3 days each time.

Each of them carries enough food and supplies for two trekkers, supporting the weight on each end of a bamboo pole. They start young, some as young as 16, and continue on each year until they are no longer able to make the trip. There are no sick days and no retirement pay. They carry their load in the blazing sun, and in the freezing temperatures at the summit of Mt. Rinjani.

Their only chance for advancement is if they are able to learn English. Only then will they be promoted to from Porter to Guide.

Our guide Jamal told us about his first day on the job as a Porter. He struggled through the 8 hour hill climb to the top of the crater rim, the destination for the first day of hiking. He made it to the top, set down his heavy load, and started to cry.

Once they reach the top, their work is just beginning, as they set up camp, and make supper for all the trekkers. In the morning they will make us breakfast, and wait until we leave to break down camp and clean up. They will leave sometimes an hour behind us. And they will beat us to the next stop, and have lunch waiting when we arrive.

They are friendly and cheerful, bearing their heavy loads without complaint. And they do it all in flip flops.