In addition to the scenery, Sapa is known for trekking to see the villages of the many ethnic minorities in the area. Marva was recovering from a back injury and could not walk much and the weather was bad, so we opted for a jeep tour that went to an area that could have nicer weather and was less touristed then the other options (tours had only been going there for a few weeks).

It was really interesting because we got to go inside people's homes and our guide was very enthusiastic and informative. It was obvious that tourism hadn't yet had an impact because no one tried to sell us anything. Even so, it is inevitable that the impact of tourism will soon be seen, and I definitely have mixed feelings about it.

I overheard a guy say that he was disgusted by the impact of tourism and that "poor" was a western concept. These people were rich with culture and family.

I got to thinking about that idea. I decided that perhaps these people are accustomed to the cold and don't need indoor plumbing (even though they have electricity and satelite TV). I could even be convinced that letting life run its course without health care and medicine is acceptable.

The one area that I feel it is undeniable that the lives of ethnic minorities can be improved by the influx of income is education. In my opinion, the human mind is meant to be exercised. It is what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. To say that someone is better off poor is to say that ignorance is bliss and what you don't know can't hurt you.

However, once someone receives an education and is aware of the world, it is likely that they would strive toward a more comfortable, modernized way of life and new challenges for the mind.

And so, assuming that tourist dollars translate into education, it is hard to say if our tourist dollars are good or bad. It is apparent, however, that they will eventually lead to the disolution of the cultures of these ethnic minorities.