The wooden house in the forest

The road was deserted, and occasionally young men from the village would speed past the houses on their motorbikes, tearing through the air. Nhat told me, "The people here are less educated, and because the road is deserted, they ride their motorbikes very fast. But they are the same people; when they participate in traffic in the city, they are very cautious and obey the rules."

Thus, the living environment helps people adapt. Nhat and his wife built a very peaceful wooden house. Behind the house, the sound of a stream flows pleasantly. Nhat said that building the house only cost a few hundred million dong, and they sourced the materials themselves, so it wasn't as expensive as in the city. I observed that the house had many flowers and ornamental plants, and a newly made gate that was very beautiful and elaborate… This place also lacked mobile phone coverage, so everything felt old-fashioned and outdated.

Nhat makes delicious snacks. Sitting at a long table in the courtyard, the brothers drank beer in the scorching sun of the Eastern Truong Son Mountains, then the torrential jungle rain poured down. “My life has been tough, I’ve had business failures, but now I have a small house, my wife and I work steadily, and our children are growing up happy. I think if you look at things simply, life won’t be so burdensome.”

Nhat told me many stories. He and his wife were a young couple; the husband worked at a rubber company, and they borrowed money to raise buffaloes, cows, pigs, and chickens… but things didn't go as planned. The buffaloes and cows died from disease, and his wife cried because she lost all her assets: “Seeing my wife cry, I felt so sorry for her, but what could I do? I encouraged her, telling her we would start over, that if we loved each other, there would be a better day,” Nhat confided.

My conversation with Nhat and his wife fascinated me with their generosity. I was just a stranger to them on a trip. This unplanned encounter led to a lively conversation and a deep understanding of each other's spirit. For me, this charming man taught me a profound lesson.

That means you should travel whenever you can; you'll meet someone you never expected, and fascinating stories await you. The world is vast and open: there are seas, mountains, streams, endless green trees, sunsets by the lake, moonlight on a quiet night… the tranquility when you leave the city makes your soul lighter, more perceptive, more relaxed… As the famous French poet Baudelaire said: "Anywhere! Anywhere! As long as you are out there in the world."

In his book "The Art of Travel," author Alain de Botton states: "Nature will inspire us to seek in life and in each other 'whatever we desire to be good.' As 'the image of right and just,' nature will help to soothe the misguided impulses of urban life." It invites the traveler to an inexhaustible treasure: wholesome, pure, and enduring.

In this book, Alain de Botton argues that the suffocating urban environment has “killed” many of the good things in human beings: anxiety about status within the social hierarchy, envy of others’ success, the desire to shine in the eyes of strangers… Despite being provided with many things, they still crave new things, things they don’t lack and that don’t determine their happiness. “In this crowded and stressful environment, building genuine relationships between people seems even more difficult than on an isolated estate” (The Art of Travel).

Independent travel reminds me of a line from a movie I recently watched: "I like to travel because I don't know who I'll meet." Indeed, the serendipity and randomness of the journey allow us to enjoy fascinating stories. Strangers telling relatable tales, colorful and flavorful dishes that make us exclaim "amazing!", a wisp of smoke rising from a barren field after harvest, a tranquil lake... The feeling of peace calms us down, reducing the need for elaborate plans and grand goals that would drive us to frantic pursuit for a lifetime.

If everyone who set a plan succeeded, life would be incredibly harsh, with everyone scrambling and stepping on each other. The couple, Nhất and his wife, whom I mentioned earlier, also set many goals to "eradicate poverty," but difficulties surrounded them when they were young. However, things gradually stabilized over time. "Now I live peacefully, smiling at everything. Whether people praise or criticize me, it's all normal. I have my own purpose in life and I enjoy it," Nhất stated confidently.

Enjoyment isn't about making a decision. Enjoyment is about slowing down the heat of life, stepping back to observe whether the relentless struggle is really worthwhile. Out there, the train has empty seats, the sea is calling. So, let's go meet some strangers...

Tuan Ngoc

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/ngoi-nha-go-trong-rung-post550326.html