I have had many camping trips before, but this is the most special one ever. I camped alone at a spot called Trai Bo deep in the nature reserve Kon Chu Rang, Gia Lai province, home to a group of Ba Na ethnic minorities.
Different from the previous camping trip with friends, this time I had to bring all the necessary camping equipment and do all the work myself. Also, getting to this site was difficult as it was a small village deep in the forest about 60km from K'Bang town. Besides, the way to get there was also very difficult, it was a narrow and steep forest road, I'm sure a lot of us wouldn't be able to drive a motorbike on our own. I had to ask a local guide to take me there. The trip took a lot of effort, but it was really worth it.
I camped on a lawn near a small village of the Ba Na ethnic minority. They live mainly by growing rice, raising buffalo, catching fish in the river, hunting and gathering in the forest. There was no electricity, phone and internet. Their lives are almost completely separate from civilization. They don't even have wells and clean water, their only source of clean water is a nearby stream where they took me to get water when I asked them for water. In return, the atmosphere here is extremely fresh and quiet. The scene is also stunning, especially when the buffalo herds leave early in the morning and return in the afternoon. In fact, they're living in a place where billions of urban residents really want to live for a few days.
I had a great time camping here, enjoying the peace of being alone and taking some time to look back at the past and think about the future. The people there are very hospitable and friendly. Luckily, I camped there on the same day they held a village party. They invited me to eat buffalo meat and drink wine made from cassava roots. The buffalo meat is delicious, but the wine is a bit strong for me. The children here also like me very much. We played soccer together, swam in the river, baked potatoes, baked eggs, and I shared my food with them. Maybe that's why they stayed with me until I left. Honestly, I had an unforgettable time. I will definitely return here one day.
