Dicing with Death

North of Pakistan, the Hunza valley clings to the foothills of the Himalayas. In winter, villages over 3500m are cut off; only precipitous tracks cut through the mountain, the only food supply routes. The slightest slip means a drop of 800m. A few km from China, the Wakhi villages practice their ancestral traditions, like the Buzkashi, where acrobatic horse-riders fight over the carcass of a goat.

Nicaragua, Central America, has a rich political history, but also a devastated economy and run-down infrastructure, with road tracks turning into swamp in the rainy season. Mining is the main industry, mainly raw gold extraction. To transport the dynamite for this, Hilario must face - under the watchful eye of the police - the perilous roads, which could cause his cargo to explode at any moment.

The arrival of the rainy season in Malawi is bad news for Gray, a 'bush taxi' driver in this poverty-stricken country. The rain causes great trouble and isolation for the remote provinces, so he does what he can with his small truck. When a child falls ill in Malawi, the choice is between walking 40km to the nearest free health clinic, or handing their child to the 'Vimbuzu' spirit.

Ghana is known for its funeral rituals, notably their special coffins, which represent the profession of the deceased during their lifetime in the form of multi-coloured fish, sewing machines, bibles, and even 'bush taxis.' Locals cross Lake Volta each day to go to the market, but things get tricky when it comes to transporting livestock across the lake, especially with passengers on board.

Everyday life in Sierra Leone is not easy, but despite the regular tragedies they face, the people of Sierra Leone approach life with joy. Nothing stands in their way when it comes to making a living. We follow the crossing paths of three warriors fighting every day to ensure that their families have enough to live on. A lesson of courage. Always with a smile, even in the worst situations.

The island of Mindanao to the South of the Philippines has not yet fully joined the modern world . In the province of Bukidnon, the rice harvest still dictates the rhythm of life. With every harvest, the farmers entrust their precious harvest to overloaded lorries to travel 70 kilometers. The journey usually takes around six hours, but during rainy season it can take as much as several days.

When the road is dry, a journey on the highway 319 takes 18 hours by bus, but during the wet season it takes 6 times longer. At this time of year, there can be more than 2 metres of rainfall. It is impossible to venture there alone without risking being stuck for days. Getting there takes skill, and in some cases, luck. Cars are therefore forced to drive in convoy...yet it's still a nightmare.

Far from any tourist hubs; the inhabitants of the Gorkha region fight against the perils of monsoon season. Trucks and mule caravans strive tirelessly to provide for the cut-off villages. The monsoon forms mud ditches which trap vehicles and don't release them without a fight. The Shaman witch doctors are always on hand to chase away bad spirits and watch over the meager population of Nepal.