Over the past few days while shopping in the central market here in Antigua Guatemala, I have noticed Cargadores at work hauling various goods around for folks using a Tumpline or "mecapal" as it is locally called.
These tumplines are made from everything like leather or rawhide to woven natural agave fibers, or nylon. I watched a cargadore today make a quickie Mecapal from a grain sack to haul pineapples for a lady who paid him a few centavos for his effort.
Most of the cargadores gear appears to be a tumpline, poncho, and a leather belt similar to that which weight lifters use.
I am very impressed by the amount of weight these guys carry at a jog, most of the cargadores appear to be older than me to boot!
I bought 2 "mecapals" and will try them out down the trail.
Here are a few pics of my "mecapals" and some cargadores hard at work.
Tomahawk - Scouts Out!
It seems that people there in Guatemala and here in the PI use the same thing to haul heavy load even though we're oceans apart.
ReplyDeleteyup jing, it would amaze you how much southern mexico and guatemala look like all of the philippines.
ReplyDeletesame coconut trees and other palms, fruit vendors, tri cycle taxis, humidity, all you need to do is plant a few ric fields and sprinkle in a few carabao. presto - mindenao.
kinda makes me "homesick" for the PI
tomahawk