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On the road…shepherds and their yaks

At 4000+ meters on the Shandur Pass in far North Pakistan . The shepherds were walking the yaks up to the high altitude summer pastures, where they spend 3 months of the short summer grazing. There is almost no vehicle traffic on this, which is the major highway across the pass linking two major regions of north Pakistan…Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan. It is a difficult and long road…mostly traversed on foot by locals with flocks in summer, and inaccessible in winter. One event in June which we missed by a couple of weeks, is the huge Shandur Polo Tournament, held at the highest point of the Pass. Polo teams from all the villages in Chitral and Gilgit assemble up there with huge crowds of supporters and VIPs helicopter in to watch. The polo, a game which originated in these high mountains, is a much more rough and tumble war game than the upper class descendant played on village greens in other lands. I have watched many an enjoyable polo game in these high mountains…usually given the ball to throw in to start the match, as a visitor!
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29 comments

Jaap van 't Veen said:

Interesting image and note.
14 months ago ( translate )

Stephan Fey said:

Sounds exciting!
14 months ago

Malik Raoulda said:

Je vous envie d'être sur ses lieux fantastiques avec des gens très accueillants.
Merci beaucoup pour toutes ces informations. J'espère que vous avez assisté à une partie de Polo.
Bonne et agréable journée dominicale.
14 months ago ( translate )

Günter Klaus said:

Ich mag deine tollen Aufnahmen von diesen Hirten und dieser Gegend liebe Diana,wenn man das nicht kennt,ist es unverständlich,solche Straßen und Wege zu befahren oder zu gehen :))

Wünsche noch einen schönen Sonntag,ganz liebe Grüße Güni :))
14 months ago ( translate )

Nicole Merdrignac said:

Superbe et très intéressant. Bonne journée. Nicole .
14 months ago ( translate )

Keith Burton said:

A beautifully composed image............and a fascinating insightgt into the life of the people that inhabit this part of the world.

Funnily enough I was visiting Cowdray Park near Midhurst in West Sussex yesterday, which is considered the home of British Polo. I doubt the folk who play there have any idea about the proper origins of the game!
14 months ago

tiabunna said:

A great photo and information, Diana. It certainly must be a tough life for the local residents there! Big huggss. XX
14 months ago

Ulrich John said:

Great impressions, Diana ! A fantastic picture !
14 months ago ( translate )

Eva Lewitus said:

Coming and going. ---- Thank you for all the information.
14 months ago

William Sutherland said:

Phenomenal shot!
14 months ago ( translate )

Roger Bennion said:

Such a well timed and superbly framed photo, Diana. Love it!
14 months ago

J. Gafarot said:

What a beautiful place !
You give us really the sense of it.
Congratulations e um abraço, Diana.
14 months ago

©UdoSm said:

Again a great photo from your adventurous life...
What temperatures were there ?
14 months ago

Diana Australis replied to ©UdoSm:

That day was very cold..it was snowing lightly. Not sure of the actual temperature. I was running around trying to get a good shooting position as the guys were just walking as if I was not there.
Down lower is warmer, naturally.
14 months ago

Peter_Private_Box said:

Hi Diana
A wonderful and interesting picture, which I like very much!
Very nice composition, and great to see how different cultures live.
Best Wishes, Happy Monday, a nice week ahead, and stay safe!!
Peter
14 months ago