I often sit in the corner of my friend’s garden, under the shade of a decades-old rambutan tree, watching the Dong Nai River flow slowly. I am happy because the river water is still red with alluvium. The rippling water flows downstream. A certain rice field will be silted up as the river flows by.
On the other side of the river is Cat Tien forest. Occasionally, a few boat groups carry tourists for sightseeing. The river sometimes echoes with the sound of motorboats of rangers patrolling to protect the forest.
Dong Nai River runs along the edge of Cat Tien forest (viewed from a friend's garden)
Every morning we cycled through the winding roads of the village. The village was peaceful, only disturbed when the dogs barked loudly to alert their owners that a stranger was cycling past their house.
The road passed through the young rice fields. The new green rice clumps were soft and wavy. On the rice fields, a flock of storks gathered to perch on the white edge of the fields. A small sound rang out somewhere. A startled stork flapped its wings, causing the whole flock to spread their wings white in the sky. On the mountain, the mist licked a part of the hazy mountain top, despite the sun peeking out, shining brightly on the other side of the mountain. The small houses nestled at the foot of the fields were still sleepy, the green fields were white with storks flying.
The winding, steep, winding roads around the foot of the mountain made the bike ride even more enjoyable. The fresh, cool air seemed to cling to every pore on my body. The moist steam refreshed every cell. I took a deep breath, clearing the air that had been stagnant in my lungs for so long... Perhaps because the air near the forest was cool and clean, I felt healthy and full of energy. We passed through lush green orchards one after another. Each stretch of road welcomed us with the scent of flowers. We called it the smell of morning.
These past few days, it has been raining every day. There were days when it rained all night long, and in the morning the Dong Nai River water level rose. Even inside the house, we could see the surface of the glacier. That morning, we were cycling, hearing the sound of streams flowing from the mountains. Streams and waterfalls were activated somewhere. The sound of flowing water made the mountains come alive and noisy. The mountains were no longer silent, lazily embracing the dew and sleeping like every other day. Last night, the mountains must have gone through a wet, cold night that penetrated deep into their cores. At the foot of the mountains, where the gardens were connected, the sound of flowing water was also noisy. The countryside morning suddenly resounded with the music of gurgling, gurgling water.
When I came to Tuong Mountain, I also loved the rice cake. The cake here is not as soft and smooth as the rice cake in other places I have eaten. I like the firm, chewy taste of the cake, the more I chew, the more delicious it becomes. Perhaps the gentle land and sky here inspired people to make this chewy, fatty rice cake that enthralls people.
Thanks to the cakes, I often go to the market. The market here is small enough that the vendors almost know each other. I suddenly remember the market in my hometown from when I was a kid. The market sells rustic items that people grow in their gardens. Crooked fruit trees, ugly black moldy skin. A few fish and shrimp caught last night are now brought to the market early. Beautiful water lilies are picked from some roadside ponds that I have cycled past. All are cool gifts of nature. The market opens just long enough for people to go home early to leisurely cook lunch.
A friend who lives at the entrance of the forest said that in Nam Cat Tien, the air is fresh, watering the whole space, so the people are also very gentle. People are neither rich nor poor. No one is in a hurry. Everything flows slowly. The fruits and trees in season also bloom and bear fruit regularly as a way to thank the people who take care of them. Friends from far away come, love this place and stay. The land is hospitable, treating people with everything from nature. So strangers become familiar, love the land and stay.
Life here is leisurely and slow, just like the gentle Dong Nai River flowing downstream. The air on the edge of the forest is cool and peaceful. Grateful for the Cat Tien forest - a world biosphere reserve that soothes the living space and waters the soul.
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