Al Jazeera made this amazing video about an unusual form of public transportation in the Andes.
In Bolivia’s jungles and steep cliffs the Yungas people do not walk. They fly. On ropes. Like birds. Faster than astronauts.
These ‘birds’ are known as cocaleros, or coca harvesters. They use ropes to swing across the narrow valleys, suspended from ancient rusting pulleys.
It takes all of 30 seconds from one side to the other. By foot it would have taken more than an hour.
Necessity is the mother of invention. And sometimes vertigo.
Tarzan seems to have gotten a bit carried away with the blow since he became famous. I am worried about him.
Why is it that seemingly the less privilege a society offers the average citizen, the more resourceful people are? In other news, this is epic! I’ll chew some leaves and strap in.
ziplines are always fun.
Dude’s shirt @ the 5:00 mark reads “You never run out of things that can go wrong”
on our ropes we’re like birds and faster than astronauts
@2: Respectful or formal? They sure as hell don’t respect women in any way we would define or understand.
@4, places like value village further donate the unsellable donations they receive, which is why docs of 3rd world countries always have a bunch of folks wearing random english brands and slogans.
Also…this was a really interesting documentary! Good way to cap off the work week.
After watching the whole thing, I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t just about flying across the valley on wires. The emotional focus of this story is really about a father doing whatever he has to to give his children a better future.
The footage of the road and bus trip are far more frightening than the footage of zip lines.
That road is how American agricultural areas would be served if not for government spending.