Ha Vy (28 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) had a trekking trip to K50 waterfall - one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Central Highlands. “As a native of Gia Lai, I have witnessed many waterfalls when I was young that are now dry or have very dirty water. So this journey is like meeting an old friend I haven't seen for a long time,” Ha Vy shared.
In the pickup truck on the edge of the forest, she prepared to begin her journey.
K50 Waterfall, intact wild beauty
Located in Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve (Binh Dinh Hamlet, Son Lang Commune, K'Bang District, Gia Lai Province), across the border between Gia Lai and Binh Dinh Provinces, K50 Waterfall is likened to a princess hidden in the Central Highlands mountains and forests because of its wild and pure beauty. With a height of more than 50m, K50 is also called Hang En Waterfall, because behind the waterfall is a large cave, home to thousands of wild swallows.
To reach K50 waterfall, visitors will have to conquer a long trekking route, weaving through small paths nestled in the forest, crossing streams and rapids to see this majestic waterfall with their own eyes. Perhaps because not many people set foot here, K50 waterfall still retains its original wildness.
K50 Waterfall, also known as Hang En Waterfall, is majestic in the mountains and forests of the Central Highlands.
Ha Vy and her group of friends booked a tour from a local guide to ensure safety and bring the best experience for the trip. She shared that from January to June is the best time of year to conquer K50 waterfall. This is the dry season, the weather is warm, the road is dry and easy to travel, there are not many leeches or insects. Vy and her group of friends went during the rainy season, so they were carefully advised to prepare clothes to avoid leeches.
The journey started with warm, sunny weather at the edge of the forest. The group happily stopped to take photos and check in every time they passed beautiful spots. When we went deeper into the forest, it started to rain. Everyone had to run really fast, because if we stopped to rest, leeches would crawl into our bodies. Every time we reached a stream, the group took turns catching leeches from socks and shoes. “If you ask me what impressed me the most on this trip, it was definitely the leeches. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps, the tiny leeches after biting me would grow as big as a finger, and they would stick to my body the whole time,” Ha Vy recalled.
It's rainy season so the road to the waterfall is very bad.
A trekking trip is supposed to be about enjoying the surrounding scenery while walking, but for Vy, she was small in her raincoat and running tirelessly. Until she came face to face with the majestic waterfall in front of her, Vy still couldn't believe she had arrived. She turned back to ask her teammates, "Have we reached the waterfall yet?" making everyone burst out laughing.
Vy’s first impression was the waterfall stretching like a white silk strip, with the water flowing rapidly from a great height. This beautiful scene made everyone in the group burst into tears. At that moment, people felt like they were being welcomed by a greater force, feeling so small, blending into that majestic, mysterious nature.
It seems like all the essence of nature has converged in this place to create a paradise in real life.
The whole group began to unload and camp next to the K50 waterfall. The water was clear, you could see the bottom, the space was quiet, only the waterfall still resounded with the call of nature. Despite the rain, Vy and everyone swam out to the middle of the stream, letting themselves flow with the water. If you go in the dry season, you will be able to admire the enchanting rainbow when the sunlight penetrates the mist. "Every season has its own beauty. The white water falls like snow from a height, creating bubbles and mist hovering around the waterfall, the scene is very poetic and romantic," Vy said.
Ha Vy always knows how to enjoy every experience in her own way.
In addition, the rainy season also makes the area around K50 waterfall more brilliant with green trees, blooming flowers, and fast flowing water sections full of vitality. All create a beautiful landscape, making anyone who comes here cannot help but be attracted by this wild and majestic beauty.
That evening, after a feast of grilled chicken and bamboo-tube rice - a specialty of the highlands, the whole group sat on rocks in the middle of the stream, watching the starry sky and singing Zen songs. In the vastness, all that could be heard was the sound of the waterfall and the gentle singing of Plum Village music. All in harmony, surrounded by thousands of flickering fireflies. That magical scene was hard to forget.
Returning to nature is returning to yourself
Every year, Vy always tries to arrange time for herself to take a trip back to nature like that. For Vy, going is not only to experience, but also an opportunity to understand more deeply about herself. During the trips back to "Mother Earth", you can temporarily escape from the noisy life, worries, just focus on the current emotions and experiences. You can see the beauty of nature in the most naked way. It feels wonderful to feel the liveliness, the subtle emotions and philosophical values that nature is waiting for people to discover.
Each journey will be different depending on your emotions and maturity at that time. "Everything that comes will give you a message. But sometimes if you just stay in one place, doing nothing, you will not be able to see that. And when I start such trips, because I have already gone, I cannot turn back. I have to continue to finish, then those experiences are like the key to open the door to that message. I see myself more clearly, more truthfully with each step," Ha Vy confided.
Vy recalls, after the difficulties of crossing the forest and wading through streams, sleeping for a long time, waking up to see the wonderful scene before her eyes, still breathing, that feeling of relief as if she had just fought with herself and reached the finish line. At K50, or in any natural space, you just need to slowly enjoy. Like the way Vy and her friends sat sunbathing on the rocky beach. The water flowed, caressing her feet. The sunlight shone on her cold feet, giving off a light smoke. "A cup of hot milo in the middle of the mountains and forests at that time, for me, was enough."
More and more young people are turning to nature. Trekking trips will bring you many memorable experiences. However, to have a safe and effective trip, careful preparation and finding reputable tour operators are essential. Let yourself enjoy the best moments by exploring and experiencing nature, as Ha Vy did when returning to K50 waterfall, which is considered the muse of the majestic Central Highlands mountains and forests.
