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In the 21st century, modern people are busy.

Because they are busy, they run, and to run better, they pave the way.

However, rough and rugged off-road trails still exist in various parts of the world, and there are people who travel along them at a leisurely pace.

These are not-so-road paths, preserving primordial nature by forbidding human access. Consequently, every single one of these paths boasts majestic and breathtaking scenery.

Yet, humans have broken taboos and stepped into the realm of the gods, and quite a few have lost their lives traversing these paths.

These are the roads called "Death Roads" because they are paths where one risks their life to travel.

Yet, if you look closely at these roads, they are all paths of life that sustain human existence.

The most dangerous, yet also the most beautiful, roads in the world.

We portray the landscapes of the Death Roads, where life and death coexist, and the stories of the people who live there.

A Travelogue in Search of Those Living a Life on the Road Where Life and Death Coexist

Dolpo, Nepal's Last Remote Region

Even Susan, a Nepalese, seemed somewhat surprised by the mention of "Dolpo."

It is considered the most rugged of Nepal's mountainous regions, so much so that even Nepalese people rarely venture there. Yet, around this time of year, people flock to Dolpo, following narrow paths where a single mistake could send them plummeting into a sheer cliff. They come to find Cordyceps (Yachagumba, Kira), which can be harvested at an altitude of 4,500 meters in the Dolpo region. The harvesting season lasts only two months. Since enduring this hardship allows them to survive for a year, people drop their jobs and travel from all over the country. I decided to follow their journey. The first destination is the capital, Kathmandu, Susan's home. When I met her parents and grandmother for the first time in a while and explained the trip, her family expressed great concern. They said they weren't worried about the treacherous roads, but rather that she was turning thirty and unmarried. Leaving my parents' worries behind, I headed toward Dolpo.

To get to Dolpo, I first had to go to Nepalganj. Then, I had to take a plane to Juphal. The plane was a 15-seater light aircraft, and both the schedule and the number of passengers were unpredictable. Watching the plane take off and land along the gravel runway on the side of the mountain already gave me a dizzying feeling. Once I arrived in Juphal on the rattling light aircraft, there were no more means of transportation. I met human and donkey porters, formed a team, and had to keep walking. Susan was the same age as the porters. Walking with good friends made the arduous journey at least somewhat enjoyable. After walking for five days with the team, we arrived at Dunai, the largest town in the Dolpo region. People gathered to search for Cordyceps began to appear one by one. We hurried our steps toward Dhotarap, a village that served as a forward base for harvesting Cordyceps. Let us follow the journey of these people who, while camping in the embrace of nature boasting unimaginable scale, realized the preciousness of the path anew.

In Search of Yachagumba, a Gift of Mother Nature

A sheer cliff, a narrow path where it is hard to even stick a needle in.

We set out in search of the golden herb along a path that perfectly fits the typical expressions used to describe dangerous trails. Although we are tense, never knowing when a rock might fall, and our breathing quickens with every step, a sense of awe washes over us as we witness the immense scale of nature, which defies human imagination. Our first destination is Do Tarap, a village situated at an altitude of approximately 4,000 meters. It serves as a forward base for our journey to Tangbochae, where the Cordyceps are found.

Since the harvesting period for Cordyceps is fixed, timing is crucial. We hurried to arrive, only to learn that the harvesting date has been postponed by five days this year. With this newfound time, Susan interacts with the villagers and enjoys spending time with the porters accompanying her. Finally, the door to the Cordyceps harvest opens... and we head toward Tangbochae Hill, located at an altitude of 4,800 meters. The people who crawl through the snow on the ground searching for Cordyceps all speak of hope. From a determined boy determined to use the money earned this way to study and support his family, to a mother finding strength in the thought of her children, we meet these individuals who face life with purity and live each day honestly.

✔ Program Title: World Theme Travel - Anniversary Special: The Path of Life, Death Road Parts 2–3

✔ Broadcast Dates: June 27–28, 2017