Imagine being surrounded by tens of thousands of bees trying to collect honey. What is one man’s nightmare is a way of life for the Gurung tribe of Central Nepal.
Twice a year the tribe travels to the largest beehive in the world to harvest honey. While they have been doing this for centuries, climate changes, tourism and commercial interest put their way of life in danger.
Travel photographer Andrew Newey (Facebook) went a two weeks expedition to document their lives, including a 3 days honey hunt travel. Andrew was king enough to allow us to post some of the photographs he made during the expedition.
The journey begins with a ritual offering to the gods of the cliff.
Each hunt starts by smoking out the bees
One the bees are smoke away, the hunter uses several poles to cut a piece of the honeybee and direct it into a basket.
The basket is lowered to the ground where the honey is collected and stored.
You can read more on Andrew’s adventures and world traveling on his website and Facebook page.
[Gorung Honey Hunters | © Andrew Newey ]
FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!