Roadside EntrepreneursNatalie Ortiz Villalobos

This book began as I walked

each morning.to my officeand observed life on the roadside.

It’s about curiosity, culture,sidewalks, wheels, creativity,

and,

driven individuals.

Myanmar, 2013.

This collection aims to celebrate the innovation and originality of the roadside entrepreneurs of Yangon. The images display many aspects of the local culture and identity.

But as Myanmar opens up and changes at a rapid pace, what will happen to these informal vendors and their trades?

From the outside

Will their traveling stalls be replaced by fixed storefronts?

Will women still choose to wear thanakha as make-up instead of foundation? How long will telephone rental stands last with smart phones?

Will car batteries cease to be the power source of choice? From local street food to foreign fast food?

Will there be space amongst the parking lots for this slow pace of leisure and transport?

vietnam, 2013.

In the main cities of Vietnam the roadside entrepreneurs are mostly women. This collection documents their trade and provides an insight into their own life.

What do they hide under their hats?

Why do they choose the roadside?

From the inside

“Our home is not in the city, we all come from the countryside. We come from many villages.” “Our families have subsisted through farming, but, today, getting by as a rural farmer is hard and inconsistent.”

“Working as a street vendor requires many sacrifices, I had to leave my kids and my husband. I had to learn a new trade.”

“This job allows me certain flexibility: I can return home every three weeks with at least $10, help on the farm, and participate in my village traditional celebrations.”

“We wake up around 3am to buy the produce we will sell. On a good day we finish work around 6pm and make an average profit of $1.80.”

“My biggest fear is getting caught by the police; my trade is not legal. If I am caught my day changes in a heartbeat. I have to pay a fine, spend time locked up and I lose my investment.”

“We all share rooms in boarding houses and at night we cook together. We relate to each other.”

“I long to be back with my loved ones and miss the slow pace of the village.But I taste the bitterness of the streets to be able to afford education for my children, to feed their future.”

They say there are all kinds of people out on the streets; I think these are some to admire.

More roadside stories: www.holaroadsides.tumblr.com

Roadside entrepreneurs