Observer Of Time

The world is so interconnected in 2024 and travel is widely available. This has given me the opportunity to experience traditions and lifestyles far different from my own. In my opinion, a country’s story is told by its people. Their candid, mundane day-to-day moments reveal so much and I crave to showcase that rawness.

Sapa was beautiful, with a mix of cultures. I took a sleeper bus ride up from Hanoi. It was nice to see local guides donning their traditional ethnic attire, promoting tours and sharing some of their handcrafts. However, something that caught my attention was the participation of many of the local kids. Many of them were also selling gifts and even busking along the streets.

Back home, it is uncommon to see kids this young start “working” and roaming the streets on their own. For the most parts, they would be stuck in the premises of school doing homework and taking classes.

In the beginning, it was hard to accept that children this young had to start “providing” for their families. They had to face the “cruelty” of the world when they should be enjoying a loving childhood. These tiny buskers were rallying crowds of tourist and bringing cheer, hopeful for some donations or tips at the end. Though, with all that effort and enthusiasm, it does seem like they are enjoying the dance and music. Kudos to these amazing children.

But then again there were another group of kids in town who were embracing childhood the way i would have expected. This made realize how lucky i am to have been born into a country and society that is more developed.

If you have enjoyed the photos, I invite you to support my journey. I document daily life and its people , and would greatly appreciate if you could get me a coffee with the link below. A small token from you will go a long way!

http://buymeacoffee.com/lookseesprityuri