This week I am reflecting on a journey taken by Paul Salopek as he traced back the footsteps of our ancestors for over 21,000 miles. His journey had him begin in Ethiopia what Evolutionaribelieveive as our “Eden” and took him to the tip of South America. His journey is piecing together a walk that was once traveled hundreds of thousands of years ago.
On the fourth day of the walk, Paul came across Afar nomads and they asked him where he was traveling. They were astounded and thought his journey was even a joke. To think that he can travel over 21 thousand miles and 3 continents. They simply did not believe he would make it through the desert alone. The image Paul gave us one morning when he woke up and though he saw snow. It had to of been crazy to think because how can there be snow in a desert but instead it was simply dust whirling around. It’s so dry in the desert these natural phenomenons can happen like nowhere else.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/out-of-eden-walk/articles/2013-01-baby-steps
On September 22nd, 2014 Paul witnessed more than 100,000 refugees looking for food and a place to stay. Over 100,000 people left Syria for Turkey to find a new beginning. Seeing the pictures and his story of families that ran into fields to hide and seek refuge or people throwing bread and begging for food is very devastating to see. I can only imagine how Paul must feel after walking for so long and still seeing so much despair.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/out-of-eden-walk/articles/2014-09-no-reply
On February 28th, 2019 Paul has made it to VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA. Here he met a middle-aged woman named Phoolwanti Samayamu. She is a shepherd in the valley here. Her new concern to make a living is that in the valley there has been a rain drought. She depends on the rain to survive but cannot if it does not rain. She must also follow her cows because without them she will not have food or drink to survive.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/out-of-eden-walk/milestones/2019-02-milestone-63#introduction