A high altitude blog by Deshun Deysel

Where's the humanity?

Sherpini — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:43:26 +0000

I keep thinking about a news item I heard a few days ago - that in Zimbabwe, in the midst of a cholera epidemic, the price of a 25lt water container is 25 US dollars. Who knows how many gazillions of Zim dollars that converts to, or even whether that amount of money can be drawn from the banks there but, that aside, what struck me most is how us humans will often happily take advantage of the suffering of others. Sure supply and demand make our world go round but it seems that, in times of great difficulty, there are many, devoid of compassion or any generosity of spirit, who are prepared to exchange entrepeneurship for highway robbery.
The pooling of resources benefits many whereas taking advantage of those who suffer benefits only the robber. Is it naive to hope that Zimbabweans will share the milk of human kindness in the appalling circumstances they currently experience? Unless dramatic and urgent changes happen in Zimbabwe it could be the only means of survival.

Hi Mom!

Sherpini — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:17:25 +0000

Look what we got! Cool, hey?
Me and some friends were just chilling with our guns off the coast of Kenya when this boat comes chugging along so we think lets see what happens if we point our guns at it.
It's ours now so we phoned around the chop shops but they're too busy at the moment so we're gonna find somewhere to park it till all the fuss is over.
Only Lenny and me can drive and we're trying to figure out how to turn this thing around.
Anyway, Mom, I'll probably be late home. Don't wait up, okay?
Hey, I can see some boats now that are coming towards us real fast and it looks like they've got guns too.
Oh #$%*, Ma, their guns are much bigger than ou...

Hand art

Sherpini — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:51:40 +0000

A friend in Mexico sent this to me today and perhaps I should get out more but I think it's amazing. My days are usually wall-to-wall busy so it's great to take 5 in amongst the rush and appreciate something beautiful.

Tribute to "Mama Afrika", Miriam Makeba

Sherpini — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:46:23 +0000

"It was hard to be away from home, but I am glad that I am home now" - Miriam Makeba, on her return to South Africa in 1990 after 31yrs of enforced exile. She achieved international acclaim as a singer during her exile, not least of which was a Grammy award in 1966, and to her great credit used that acclaim to highlight at every opportunity the oppression of black people in South Africa under the apartheid rule.
On her death, the title of her last recorded album provides a perfect tribute to a gifted musician, a fabulous, powerful voice and a truly remarkable woman, "Makeba Forever"

We Can Too!

Sherpini — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:32:07 +0000

In electing Barack Obama US president the majority of voters, it seems, judged the man not by the colour of his skin but by the content of his character - part of Martin Luther King, Jnr's dream expressed in his evocative, timeless 1964 speech. Despite some mud slinging both Obama and McCain have, today, been lauded for their dignity and grace and this took me back to just a decade ago when South Africa was still celebrating a dream. A chance at democracy, guided by the extraordinary grace, dignity and humility of Nelson Mandela.
He taught us to look for the similarities in each other, not for the differences. He said "if you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with him. Then he becomes your partner." Today Barack Obama said "I will listen to you, especially when we disagree".
Perhaps some South African leaders will have heard those words and will step back from the slippery slope leading to that place where only differences are highlighted, where adversaries are labelled treacherous and where ego and self-promotion replace dignity, grace and humility.

Everest freefall

Sherpini — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:06:54 +0000

Imagine doing your first skydive ever. It's a tandem jump, you freefall for almost a minute from above Mount Everest, the highest point on earth, and set a record in the process? How insane is that!
It took 15 years of planning before it all came together last month (Oct 2008) when skydivers from various countries (incl SA) jumped from an aircraft over Everest. The 41 solo and tandem jumps set 23 national and international skydiving records and included a 72yr old man, a woman who jumped on her 30th birthday and even some 1st timers in tandem jumps.
Because of the subzero temperatures and thin air they used extra thick parachutes that were also 3 times the normal size. Their suits were specially made in Nepal and they used breathing equipment as they leapt into the freezing air at 29,500ft (8,992m) to see the summit of Everest sticking above the clouds.
Hurtling through the air for almost a minute of freefall before opening the chute and landing at the world's highest drop zone - Shyangboche airstrip in the Himalayas (12,350ft or 3,764m) - must've been an awesome, unforgettable adventure and, incredibly, there were no serious mishaps so kudos to the organisers who put an amazing amount of effort into the planning.

"We know that HIV causes AIDS"

Sherpini — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:20:42 +0000

That's all it took for 10 years of South African Loony Toon AIDS policy to be swept into the bin where it had always belonged.
Initially I was embarrassed that Barbara Hogan's words made international headlines, or that it was even necessary for her to say them at all - I mean it is over 2 decades since HIV was found to cause AIDS! Now I feel that tahdah! moment was exactly the right thing to emphatically announce an end to the denial.
Of course SA was only ever going to be able to move forward on this once the grip of the sock smoking duo, Manto and Thabo, had been loosened. The cost of their discredited beliefs has, of course, been borne by those with HIV/AIDS in SA and I believe that is what those 2 should be remembered for. They may console themselves that "no one has ever died of AIDS" but we do know different.

How not to get the shot!

Sherpini — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:06:37 +0000

Many people think Deshun must be mad to climb mountains but, compared to this guy, it seems she's perfectly sane!
The pictures were taken at the Grand Canyon by Hans van de Vorst of Netherlands and the captions are his. The identity of the guy in the photos is unknown.

I was simply stunned seeing this guy standing on this rock in the Grand Canyon.

The canyon's depth is 900 meters here. The rock on the right is a perfectly safe vantage point so why didn't he just take his photo from there?

After the sun set behind the canyon he packed his camera and tripod and, holding them under his left arm, prepared to jump.

The point of no return...

The canyon's depth is 900 meters (3,000 feet) here and he's going to land in his thong sandals!
Also the rock on the right is higher so he had to land on the side and grab the rock....with one hand!

As he landed both his right hand and right foot starting slipping.....
He managed to push his body against the rock, waited for a few seconds, threw his stuff up on to the rock, climbed up and walked away....presumably to change his shorts.
I know I had to change mine and I was just watching!!

Less than 6 degrees between me and.....everyone else!

Sherpini — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:55:22 +0000

I've always been fascinated by the "six degrees of separation" theory (that anyone on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of no more than five intermediaries).
Microsoft recently analysed 30 billion electronic messages and their finding was 6,6deg of separation.   Close enough.
Trekking to Everest base camp in 2003, Deshun met an Australian solo trekker, Kirsty.    They became friendly and trekked together as far as Base Camp where they parted company, Kirsty to trek back down to Kathmandu and Deshun to prepare for the Everest climb.     About 2 years later Deshun addressed a TGIF group at Seattle Coffee in Hyde Park and after her talk a woman came up to her and said "hello, stranger!".
Yup, Kirsty was passing through Jo'burg on her way to the Displaced Peoples camps in Northern Uganda (another time I'll tell you more about this incredible woman and her amazing work in Africa) and had been invited to TGIF by a friend who'd said a female mountaineer would be speaking and he thought Kirsty would find it interesting.
This morning I was searching Facebook for a distant business connection and there, right above his name, was a listing for a Blast from my Past! So what, I hear you say, you're supposed to find people on Facebook. But then, you see, that 6 deg thing kicked in again and I saw that the BFMP shares some "friends" with Deshun!

One person CAN make a difference!

Sherpini — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:48:58 +0000

It's not very often I come into contact with someone who truly understands what it means to make a difference but that's exactly what happened when I was recently invited to speak at Kingsway School, just off Beyers Naude drive in the northwest of Johannesburg. What a wonderful experience! I thought I was there to inspire, but the inspiration I received from the staff and learners will stay with me for a long time and the story of how the school got started is an extremely powerful example of how one person can make a difference!

It all began when a lady, who was extremely concerned about children begging on street corners, did a little investigating and found that they were either homeless or parentless or both and that begging was their only means of survival. She soon made her garage available and started providing food and basic numeracy and literacy skills to 20 kids. Word spread, classes grew and, in time, more space was needed and there followed an epic journey during many obstacles were overcome until, eventually, Kingsway school was established - with National Education accreditation. Currently it provides education to over 300 children from informal settlements in that area but, amazingly, the story doesn't end there and plans are underway to build a bigger school able to cater for the education needs of over 1000 children.

The school principal beams when she speaks of the resilience the children display in the face of extraordinary hardships and the difference their education is making to families who, otherwise, would not be able to send their children to school. Success stories include a learner who is now studying to become a teacher and another who's gone on train in the field of road traffic management.

A truly moving and incredible story of a school that evolved from one persons concern for children begging and yet how often do we not hear (or say) the words “nothing I do will make any difference”?

If you're as inspired as I am to find ways to support them on their journey, and in continuing to reach their goals, contact us and we'll pass on your email. If you aren't, perhaps you need a motivational talk!!! (shameless plug)