There are days when our souls suddenly become cramped amidst the daily noise. Not being pressing, Huynh Nhu - a little girl from the riverine region of Can Tho - quickly decided to return to Mang Lin (Da Lat).
The two went, not to visit crowded cafes, but to "touch" the most pristine Da Lat in the early winter, where the first rays of sunshine are like a medicine to heal the scratches of the soul.
The early dawn appointment
The Da Lat atmosphere at 4 am is an experience not for those who like to sleep overnight, like to sleep during the day and stay up all night surfing the phone. The alarm bell in the small phone rang, amidst the numb cold of the mountain town, we looked at each other with determination. Leaving the homestay on an old motorbike, the engine sound started in the middle of the night when the fog was still thick.
The road to Mang Lin hill is submerged in fog, a cold air creeps through each layer of clothes, making people shiver slightly. The "sweet cold" of the highlands is not like the cold of the Mekong Delta in the northwest monsoon season. It is not as cold as cutting skin, but silently penetrates deeply, clinging to every movement, through gloves, clinging to skin. Like having to put on a thin raincoat to block the wind, even so, the cold plastic layer still pressed close to her.
As we got closer to the hill, the slopes began to gradually rise. The car slowed down, the scooter had to hold steady to overcome the folds in succession. There were sections of steep slopes to the point that I could clearly feel the weight of both people pressing on the rear wheel, the engine roaring in the thick fog. Early morning mist lingered on people's faces, on the entire road we were walking was like a wet towel, the car lights were only enough to shine for a few meters ahead.
Traveling more than 20km, we also reached the foot of Mang Lin hill. Leaving the car behind, the journey to conquer the hill in the dark began. Under the bright flashlight mixed with the dew, the small trail leading through the grass, Huynh Nhu softly said: "Hope to catch the dawn in time.
Soothing the soul of a wandering man
During the movement, the whole space was silent as if giving way to the sound of wind chirping through the leaves and the steady footsteps on the red soil.
Getting there is very worthwhile," a voice echoed from behind, dispelling the silence. That was Minh - a friend we accidentally met on this trip, Minh also hugged his camera like us, his eyes as excited as the child about to receive a gift.
And then, "magic" began.
At 5:40 am, towards the horizon, the first bright streaks of peach orange began to tear apart the fog. The sunlight gradually appeared, not harsh but gentle, pouring golden honey on all things. That was when we witnessed the legendary Tyndall effect - rays of sunlight penetrating the old pine canopy, creating brilliant and surreal rays of light.
On the top of Mang Lin, the wind carries the moisture of the sky and earth when dawn comes, so pure and clear that every breath of breath feels like my soul is soothed. Huynh Nhu standing in the middle of the pine forest, she gently reached out to cover the early sunlight looking towards the valley, the two of us felt strangely at ease. Looking out into the distance, Da Lat is submerged in white clouds floating like a sea of flowers, obscuring the wooden houses.
We are not in a hurry, spending hours just to admire the color changes of the sky: from dark purple to light pink, then brilliant yellow. This conquest made both of us realize that "hunting clouds" or "seeing the sunrise" is actually just an excuse. An excuse for us to dare to leave the safe zone, dare to face the loneliness of the dark night to look forward to the brightest light.
The journey from Can Tho to the pine forest land closes with a hot cup of coffee at the foot of the hill, when the sun has risen high. Da Lat has a miraculous ability to make people slow down. When standing in the middle of the trail across the hillside, I realize that peace is nowhere far away. It lies right in the steady breath, in the moment we dare to stop to admire the pureness of heaven and earth.
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