The dry season in Ta Lot

Returning to Ta Lot Valley, Nui Cam commune, during the peak of the dry season, I could still fully appreciate the beauty of the landscape and the people here.

The picturesque landscape at Ta Lot Lake at the foot of Cam Mountain. Photo: THANH TIEN

Nestled at the foot of Mount Cam and Mount Dai, Ta Lot boasts spectacular scenery. Nature lovers will be amazed if they take a trip to this majestic Bay Nui region. Provincial Road 949, a smooth, paved road like a silk ribbon, winds through the Ta Lot valley, offering unique viewpoints for travelers.

From Provincial Road 949, you can gaze up at the vast slopes of Mount Cam. This season, the mountain slopes resemble a vibrant natural painting. Mango groves are lush and green, covered in water. Bamboo hills are tinged with the golden hues of the sun. Wild plants huddle together in the dry gray. Nature in this region has always been like this. In the heat, everything seems to shrink. When the rain comes, the green awakens, refreshing the eyes of weary travelers.

Having visited Ta Lot many times throughout the year, I particularly enjoy the highland irrigation lakes here. In the March sun, these lakes resemble giant mirrors reflecting the ancient mountains. Even in the scorching midday heat, you can still feel a cool breeze while strolling around them. In the Ta Lot valley alone, the presence of Ta Lot Lake and Nui Dai 2 Lake helps to meet a portion of the local people's water needs for agricultural production during the dry season.

Visiting Ta Lot Lake, I was impressed by the picturesque scenery. Standing on the lake's edge, I felt as if Mount Cam surrounded me. The majestic slopes unfolded before me, creating a breathtaking and delightful feeling. If you're a travel enthusiast, this is a place you should visit at least once. "There are often young people coming to Ta Lot Lake to take photos and videos . Before, the scenery wasn't particularly special. Since the lake was completed, I find the area more beautiful and more people visit," shared Mr. Ngo Van Bay, a resident living near Ta Lot Lake.

Returning to Provincial Road 949 to reach Tri Ton commune, I came across several corn fields with tassels. Amidst the hot, white landscape of Ta Lot during the dry season, the sight of these lush green corn fields offered a refreshing change of scenery for travelers. "Currently, most people around here have stopped farming, except for me, who, thanks to storing water during the rainy season, can grow corn to earn extra income," said Ngo Van Tinh, a farmer from Ta Lot hamlet.

There are very few people like Mr. Tinh who can produce crops at this time. Most people will till the land and let it dry in the scorching sun, waiting for the rain before planting their first crop. Mr. Tinh plans to let the land rest after harvesting the corn, waiting for the rain before planting.

Leisurely pulling the water hose to irrigate his onion rows, Mr. Tran Van Binh, a farmer from Ta Lot hamlet, happily said: “There was a fairly heavy unseasonal rain the other day, so I took the opportunity to plant some onions to sell and earn some money for the market. This season, since there’s no rainwater, I’ll use tap water for irrigation. Because this plot of land is small, it doesn’t waste much water.”

This old farmer boasted that the Ta Lot area has changed a lot. Before, Ta Lot was a land without electricity or running water, where people's lives depended on nature. Now, cars run smoothly on the roads, people's lives are comfortable and convenient, and children go to school every day to learn to read and write. "I've lived here since 1979, so I've seen the changes in Ta Lot firsthand. Before, this area was sparsely populated because of the difficult living conditions. Like me, ten years ago during the dry season, I had to ration every drop of water. Now, tap water comes right to my house, and I can even use it to water my onion crops to sell and earn money," Mr. Binh said cheerfully.

Besides his onion rows, Mr. Binh also tends to 8 acres of Hoa Loc mangoes, hoping for a bountiful harvest in the next season, when the heavy rains come to refresh the Ta Lot valley. According to him, the dry season is when the Ta Lot valley is in a state of "rest," waiting for the rains, after which the people's production activities become much more bustling. At that time, every day there are people harvesting vegetables, and trucks constantly coming and going, bringing agricultural products to be sold in the local markets.

Bidding farewell to the cheerful old farmer, I left the Ta Lot valley, still remembering Mr. Binh's kind smile and generous, sincere words: "In the past, when things were scarce, people still clung to this land in Ta Lot to make a living. Now that this place is developing, we must strive to become more prosperous. If you have the chance to come back here again, you will see that this area is even more affluent."

THANH TIEN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/mua-kho-o-ta-lot-a480336.html