In Search of Humanity

Humanity. Noun. Defined as "1. the human race; human beings collectively. 2. humaneness; benevolence."

We're all human. We all breathe oxygen. We all need water to survive. We're all born. We will all die one day. In today's world, when it seems like everything is on fire and destroying itself, it's hard to remember this. It's hard to see past the destruction and the hate and see that everyone is a human. However flawed they may seem, however horrible the choices they make, however hateful their words are. It's hard to look past the evil and see all of the humanity around you is still moving. Babies are still growing. Teenagers are still laughing. Adults are still working. Elders are still breathing. The Earth is spinning and we're all still human.

When we were in Krabi Town, I stepped behind the camera for an evening with a goal to capture some humanity. The biggest thing that this trip has been teaching me is just how similar we all are, cause, duh, we’re all human. It doesn’t matter where you live, who your President is, what you’re house looks like...the human condition is alive and kickin’ ya’ll.

In each country we’ve visited so far there is one moment that stands out the most in my memory. One snapshot from each place that makes everything that’s been hard and uncomfortable about this trip feel totally and completely worth it.

In Bali, on the black sand beach, while the sun is setting and there are locals everywhere, living their lives. Families going for an evening walk, catching up on their days. Teenagers learning how to flip liquor bottles Tom Cruise in Cocktail style. A farmer shepherding his cows across the pasture. A brother and sister taking their dog for a walk.

In Singapore, during the evening dinner rush at the Golden Circle Food Hawker center, with people everywhere being, again, human. Families everywhere. A group of older Singaporean men playing Chinese music on a variety of instruments. The women gabbing about gossip and the men drinking buckets of beer as their cheeks turn bright pink. The teenagers eating noodles and showing each other videos on their phones. Children watching videos on cell phones while their parents talk among themselves.

And then in Krabi Town, at the weekend Night Market. Humans being humans, man. It’s a beautiful thing.

Disclaimer that probably only matters to me: At this point, the point and shoot camera I was using died, so we ran back to the hotel to switch it out for the nicer, SLR, thus explaining the change from Black & White to color.