SA PA
Every time I walked your mountains, I encountered your people. Each one a reflection of the land itself: resilient, warm, and quietly strong. Language was never a barrier. We spoke with gestures, with the shared rhythm of footsteps on dusty paths, with the simple kindness exchanged in glances. We didn’t need many words. Just smiles that spoke volumes, tired feet that told stories of long journeys, and moments of silence that somehow said everything.
Storytelling with Purpose
For the third time, I found myself embarking on a mission under the generous wing of GIZ Germany. A program that supports professionals from developing countries who studied in Germany.
My previous projects had taken me deep into the Colombian jungle and to a small island, where I worked alongside Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, teaching photography and creating audiovisual content for NGOs dedicated to protecting local culture and the environment.
This time, my compass pointed east. To the misty mountains of northern Vietnam.
The Story
For two and a half months, I collaborated with Green Local Travel,
a community-based tourism organization in Sapa. My role involved leading photography workshops and developing a brand-new website to tell the stories of the region and its people.
I was delightfully lost at first, but sometimes, you just have to trust. The moment I let go of the need to control every detail, the trip began to shape itself naturally.
We didn’t need words. We had landscapes, muddy trails, shared meals, and sore legs. Nature became our common language, and the connection deepened
Of course, there were challenges
The biggest one being language. I had big plans, deep thoughts to share… and yet, often felt like I was missing meaningful connections. That was, until I realized I needed to shift my approach.
Instead of relying on words, I chose to immerse myself. I started joining the local guides — all from ethnic minority communities — on their six-hour hikes through the mountains. It was humbling. I had to slow down, breathe, and match their rhythm.
That experience turned out to be life-changing. Surrounded by people deeply connected to the land, I saw with clarity that those who live close to nature often carry a calmer, wiser spirit. There’s wisdom in the mountains, I kept thinking. And for the first time in a long time, I felt incredibly small — in the best possible way.
Every moment reminded me that this Earth has much to teach us, if we’re willing to listen (and get a bit muddy in the process).
Presence, community, creativity
Every trek came with doubts: Will I make it? What if I fall?
But time and again, I did make it.
Something inside me pushed forward. The desire to capture a portrait, the urgency of the light, the quiet beauty of this land.
That determination turned out to be stronger than any doubt.
Thank you, Green Local Travel, for reminding me how fleeting life is , and how powerful it is to truly be present.