Where space and time stand still in the middle of the jungle

Early morning in Muong Hoa land (Muong Hoa commune, Phu Tho province), white mist like silk wrapped around the mountain peaks and slowly dissipated on the lake surface. Ngoi Hoa wharf was still deserted, only the sound of the boat engine of Mr. Phung Van Luong, a man over 40 years old with sunburned skin, was heard rushing forward like a sharp knife slicing a line on a giant jade-colored piece of jelly...

Pearl Eye Lake:

Pearl Eye Lake is considered one of the most attractive destinations in Muong Hoa.

Speaking as if shouting in the wind, Mr. Luong said: Many people know about Ngoi Hoa. But today, I will take you to Mat Ngoc Lake, a place that visitors from far away rarely set foot. It is very beautiful, like a fairyland.

The boat left the dock far behind. The lake surface opened up to a vast, deep blue, with the silhouettes of the mountains reflected down. On both sides of the shore, cliffs connected, and the forest was lush green. After about half an hour, Mr. Luong slowed down and pulled into shore. Pointing to a path up the cliff, the boatman said: This is the entrance to the lake. It only takes about ten minutes to walk through the forest. On the other side of the mountain is Mat Ngoc Lake. Inside, it is completely separate from Hoa Binh Lake, but it is still full during flood season. Perhaps it is connected to the outer lake through an underground cave or a water source somewhere. The strangest thing is that no matter how muddy the flood water is out there, here it is still as clear as jade.

Seen from above, Mat Ngoc Lake is a completely different world from Hoa Binh Lake.

Following the directions, we went ashore, slowly and heavily following the guide up the mountain slope towards the deep green forest. The way to Mat Ngoc Lake is just a trail through the forest. But it is beautiful in a dark, mysterious, even ghostly way with all kinds of shapes. In some places, the tree trunks are rough and thorny, in others, the vines are twisted and almost tangled like a tangled mess of pink silk with no beginning or end. In some places, the vines are tense and winding, looking like a snake spirit, scaring the faint-hearted...

To admire Mat Ngoc Lake, visitors must go through a trail through the primeval forest.

Crossing the dark forest, the wind and waves suddenly seemed to be blocked. Before my eyes was a round lake, about 10 hectares wide, with clear blue water, embracing the shadow of the mountains and the sky. That scene made me forget to breathe. Mr. Luong burst out laughing: That's Mat Ngoc! Looking down from above, the lake looks exactly like a giant eye, deep blue and round. People in Muong Hoa have long called this area "Bua Rung" meaning dense forest. Before, not many people went in. But now, everyone calls it Mat Ngoc, every day hundreds of people flock in to admire and experience it.

On the trail there are countless trees with strange shapes.

Bare-armed and legs bare, face down in the lake after a long journey through the forest, drenched in sweat. The lake water is cool to the point of being chilly. There is no sound of engines, no phone signal, only the sound of birds calling their flocks, the sound of wind blowing through the cliffs. The midday light makes the water color change to emerald green, the bottom of the lake appears sparkling with schools of small fish. I met Ms. Bui Thi Mung, a resident of Ngoi hamlet, who was picking some wild bamboo shoots. Sitting and chatting, she said: When I was young, I often followed my father to this area to pick bamboo shoots and fish. The lake is closed, the water is clear all year round, cool to drink. It has been only in recent years that tourists have known about it. They say this place is more beautiful than in the pictures.

At the end of the road, the Jade Eye Lake opens up before your eyes with a picturesque landscape.

The light at Jade Eye Lake changes very quickly. In the early morning, the lake surface is as smooth as a sheet of paper, reflecting the clear blue sky. By noon, the sunlight pours down, making the water sparkle like a layer of crystal. In the late afternoon, the mountain shadows lengthen, the golden light spreads across the water, then gradually turns to dark purple. The sunset here makes people want to sit still and watch forever.

People like to come to Mat Ngoc Lake because it is still wild and quiet.

Ngoc Mat Lake is still pristine, without noisy services, nor flashy billboards. This place is for those who want to immerse themselves in nature or simply relax their mind.

Coming here, visitors can freely immerse themselves in nature with clear, cool water.

Leaving the lake, the boat took me along the shore of Ngoi Hoa Bay, passing through peaceful Muong villages. There are stilt houses, afternoon smoke from the kitchen stove, and the sound of roosters crowing from the distant forest. Visitors here often choose to stay at a homestay, go fishing with the host in the early morning, learn to weave brocade at noon, and drink rice wine by the fire in the evening. The meal in the village is simple but warm with fragrant grilled fish, colorful sticky rice, boiled bamboo shoots with sesame salt, young green wild vegetables with a sweet and bitter taste, sweet rice wine by the flickering fire...

And more than that, only here can one feel space and time stand still.

There are afternoons, just sitting on the porch, watching the mountain shadows fall on the lake, people want to return to Mat Ngoc Lake to touch the space and time frozen in the middle of the great forest. Mat Ngoc Lake is not famous for being noisy and that is what makes it precious. The pristine, separate, quiet beauty is all a gift from the great Muong Hoa forest for those who know how to find it. That is why before saying goodbye, I asked Mr. Luong: How many times have you been there, are you bored? He just smiled, his eyes turned towards Mat Ngoc Lake and said: You can't get bored. It's like a look. Looking at it, you suddenly feel your heart soften and want to come back.

I believe. The gaze from the “jade eyes” will remain forever in the memory of anyone who has ever been to this place...

Manh Hung

Source: https://baophutho.vn/noi-khong-gian-thoi-gian-ngung-dong-giua-dai-ngan-237806.htm