A Town called Sapa!

As I squander away my last hours in Sapa- a small mountain town near the Chinese border- I wonder how much more of my own company I can enjoy (I've had a lot of it) 

This town is placed in one of the most beautiful settings I have seen- and I have observed some true beauty here in Asia so far. But I have spent the last three days in this town spending all my time with me, myselfand my iPad for reading. 

Part of me feels a small sadness when in this town as I hear the constant horns, and busy streets, and the constant "hassle" from the ethnic women of the nearby villages. Their colourful dress draws you in as a new visitor to Sapa then they encourage small talk before persuading you to buy their trinkets and embroidery. I can picture this town as a quiet place with a moutain charm that has now been disrupted by the constant supply of tourists, new hotels, and tour companies. There is much to experience and see in this beautiful place so there is no wonder people wish to come here. I met a family yesterday during a cooking class and they had visited Sapa a few years ago and they noticed quite the change in the feel of the town from then till now. I feel this place has lost is charm... 

Though the beauty remains. The rolling hills give the illusion of stepping stones as the rice terraces shape the landscape running from the bottom of the valley to the tips lost in the clouds. I went for a short walk yesterday and spent sometime looking out onto this amazing view. I was truly astounded by the human capacity to transform our surrounding  landscape. It comes in so many forms from urban sprawl and industrial growth to the transformation of rainforests to agricultural fields, to the magnificent structural formations of temples and pyramids. Is there anything us humans can't do? 

I've been thinking of a quote recently that I saw in Cambodia and it was also shared with me from a true friend of mine. 

"You are,

Stronger than you seem, 

Braver than you believe and 

Smarter than you think you are" 

This speaks to us on an individual level and has given me strength in the past week to push myself and believe in myself. We see change and transformation around us everyday in various different forms but its often difficult to see or notice. While I was sitting on that mountaintop I was 100% in that moment and taking in the entire scene before me- I hadn't been this content in some time. We all need to take a minute sometimes and just STOP. just stop and look and really see where you are, what you have accomplished and enjoy your life now not later.  I do realize this is much easier said than done and I too find myself wishing for my time in Bali, Scotland and Italy to come sooner so I can spend it with the people who I love! But I try and remember I will never be here again and Ive done my best to embody the hustle and bustle of this town called Sapa. 

Peace and love from Vietnam!