* Travel Journal: Mampujan
Posted on April 25th, 2010 by Mike Shriver. Filed under Journal.
The work began to manifest itself in a few more obvious ways today. Simon trucked a large tent into Mampujan for the hearing, and Torin and I were quickly enlisted to help set it up.
I wish I could say that I was useful in situations, such as this, where physical labor is required. After a couple of hours in that sun I largely gave up helping. Toring showed far more grace working steadfastly throughout the day as the sun turned into clouds turned into pouring rain, turned into 3-inches of mud covering the entire field. At the end of the day, he remained in the same high spirits he started out. He even seemed happier with having been given a job that required hard labor.
Halfway through the afternoon, I realized that the last roll of film I had shot hadn’t loaded properly. I lost some of my most anticipated photographs of the trip, so far.
Regarding the events of last night: They have completely changed my entire perspective on this day. Suddenly, there is hushed talk of police excorts and military informants in the community
In a place I used to feel completely safe, I am norewharboring back-of-my-mind thoughts of abductions and concerns for my safety and the safety of the others here.
As much as I was worried last night, I couldn’t stop thinking how awesome a story this will all make once I am back. Perhaps that is indicative of how afraid I actually was, but my most pressing thought was for the story I would have the opportunity to tell when I get back.
Torin thinks very little of the threats, which is somewhat reassuring, but I still slept pretty uneasily last night