Our “In From the Outpost” TV Teasers Are Officially Out

Posted on September 11, 2019 by JeffFuchs

One of the most impactful concepts and terms last year was the word ‘Ayni’. Used in the Andean world by many of its peoples, it was a concept embraced by the Inca people.

That city of so much ‘zing’, history, and altitude, Cusco – and our base of operations while we were in Peru

Link here for Teasers

One of the elders in Chawaytiri who still spins wool and remembers the vitality of collaboration with the natural elements

During our journey to Peru our entire film team became absolutely bound to this concept of reciprocity and consensus building. How bizarre that the concept isn’t more widely used. I’ve seen it at work in all of the mountain cultures I’ve had to pleasure to immerse in and it is perhaps because of the mountains’ dominance that people still understand the value of it.

Part of our extraordinary team of mountain journeyers. Left to right: Wilfredo Huillca Gamarra, Alexander Estral, Benjamin our Shaman, myself, Jackie Bobrowsky, and our ‘runner’ Domingo Elias Townsend in the Salkantay region.

It was introduced by many of the locals who knew well how vital a principal it was (and still is). It is very much alive in many of the rituals and community gatherings and projects, where its practise is there to remind of the value of needing (and valuing) one another despite all other issues.

Our team looks on at (yes, true) coffee beans being hand roasted over a low heat. And yes, delicious

Interesting too is that the word when it is said, is pronounced identically to the Mandarin for “love you”, or “Ài nǐ” (爱你).

Another of the holders of the mountain wisdom near Chawaytiri, with a good hunk of coca in his cheek

Four teaser episodes are now out of the incredible time along portions of the Inca Road and with some of the communities we were fortunate enough to travel and meet. Not simply the place(s) though were of importance…there are philosophies and concepts that are so very much needed in this present time of so much rampant division. Ayni is one of those concepts that remain with me and hopefully inundate a little our teasers.

I get to serve – and offer – tea to the team and to the epic Machu Picchu behind. A tribute of both tea and coca was made to the city in the mountains.

About JeffFuchs

Having lived for a decade in Yunnan, Fuchs’ work has centred on indigenous mountain cultures, oral histories along with an obsessive interest in tea. Fuchs is the author of 'The Ancient Tea Horse Road' (Viking-Penguin) and he was the subject of 'The Tea Explorer' documentary based on his exploration of the Tea Horse Road. His photos and stories have appeared on three continents in publications such as Kyoto Journal, TRVL, and Outpost Magazine, as well as The Spanish Expedition Society, The Earth, Silkroad Foundation, The China Post Newspaper, The Toronto Star, The South China Morning Post, and UNESCO amongst others. Various pieces of his work are part of private collections in Europe, North America, and Asia. Fuchs served as Asian Editor at Large for five years at award-winning Outpost magazine. Jeff has worked with schools and universities, giving talks on both the importance of oral traditions, tea and mountain cultures. His recently released book ‘The Ancient Tea Horse Road’ (Penguin-Viking Publishers) details his 8-month groundbreaking journey traveling and chronicling one of the world’s great trade routes, The Tea Horse Road. Fuchs is the first westerner to have completed the entire route stretching almost six thousand kilometers through the Himalayas a dozen cultures. Fuchs partnered with Wild China to create a journey along the Tea Horse Road which National Geographic Traveler called one of the "50 Trips of a Lifetime". He is co-founder of Akahiao Nature Institute on the island of Hawai'i along with his wife, Julie Rogers.
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One Response to Our “In From the Outpost” TV Teasers Are Officially Out

  1. Lynne Gerard says:
    September 13, 2019 at 2:57 pm

    “Not simply the place(s) though were of importance…there are philosophies and concepts that are so very much needed in this present time of so much rampant division. Ayni is one of those concepts that remain with me and hopefully inundate a little our teasers.”

    I agree, Jeff, such philosophies and concepts are essential to counter balance the collective mental illness that has overtaken much of the human race. I have been enjoying the “teasers” and the thread of connection between mountain dwellers from different hemispheres. It’s utterly beautiful and inspiring, especially the way you and the film crew present it. Thank you for bring these elements to us! It is important work and especially illuminating.