Northern Central Highlands at the end of the year - brilliant scenery
The northwest region of the Central Highlands, bordering the northeast border of Cambodia and southeast Laos, is not as fertile as the southern region of the Central Highlands such as Dak Lak and Lam Dong. There are only vast rubber forests, stretching endlessly along the steep slopes.
When the last rains of the season have ended for about two months, the flavor of the dry season has become clear, this is the special "season" in this Central Highlands region - "the end of the year season".
The sky in the Central Highlands after the rainy season is usually very clear and windy all day, but often in the afternoon there are many clouds appearing, creating brilliant sunsets. The western horizon casts a brilliant light with purple, orange, pink colors, dyeing the afternoon clouds.
Some days, the sunset dyes the clouds a light purple...
There are times when the sunset glows orange on the horizon…
…and the clouds gradually turned pink as the sun set deeper.
Not yet. In the last month of the lunar year, the moon in the Central Highlands is very big and bright. Early in the morning, when the blue sky (although the previous afternoon was still cloudy) has slightly brightened, the moon is still full and shines its ivory light on the treetops, before setting to make way for the sun to shine.
The sixteenth full moon of December at 6:30 a.m. in the border district of Ia H'drai - a new district separated from Sa Thay district, Kon Tum province
Vast rubber forests in leaf-shedding season
In the North Central Highlands, besides a small area of pepper, cashew, and coffee, rubber is mainly grown. The immense rubber forests in Gia Lai - Kon Tum, "the end of the year" is also the season when the trees change leaves.
Along the roads like silk strips winding along the hillsides, with long slopes reaching as high as the eye can see, are patches of rubber forests on both sides of the road. In the deciduous season, the dry, yellow-brown leaves cover the ground in a thick layer. On the trees, there are all colors of leaves: the newly sprouted green leaves, the last old green leaves mixed with bright red leaves like maple leaves, and most of all, the yellow of the old leaves about to fall.
Beekeepers have gathered beehives in rubber forests, waiting for spring to come - the honey-making season for bees.
A beautiful slope on DT664 road through the rubber forest, deserted in the late afternoon of the year
Spring is very near, the Tet atmosphere is bustling everywhere, but here, the rubber forests are changing leaves, space seems to stop, silent in the last afternoon of the year, among the beautiful colors of nature. The sunset is gradually falling on the mountains and forests. A layer of afternoon mist has appeared faintly on the horizon. But the yellow and red leaves do not care about that. Under the little light of the late afternoon, they still glow, calmly spreading their colors in the forest.
On the quiet road at the end of the year, suddenly a figure hurriedly drove past.
Tet is very near, spring is very near. Spring comes, the forest will change its new coat, with the fresh green of green buds, of new leaves full of vitality. Then the forest will be bustling again, with rubber workers tapping latex, with bees diligently making honey...
