Water from the sky, water beneath our feet, as the hull cuts through one of the great channels of the Mekong, along its Delta, sailing to a small island near Ben Tre. The city, not too far from Ho Chi Minh, is an important hub for river trade, and we can sense this from the bustling urban traffic, as well as from some imposing buildings being erected along the banks of the canals.
On the island we are headed, however, the atmosphere is completely different, and as soon as we set foot on land, we are immediately confirmed: here we breathe in the scent of wet earth and hear noises of a disappearing world to make room for emptiness.
Intrigued by the sensations, we decide to explore this small handkerchief of land, enveloped by the murky waters of the Mekong, and we decide to do so from the only road that can be travelled and then get lost in small side paths.
We start walking as a group, but almost immediately, we lose each other along the way, without realizing it, each of us is attracted by unexpected encounters, which step by step reveal themselves in front of us: artisans and artists work meticulously painting and sculpting, monks pray in community, shrouded in quiet solitude, other people, on the other hand, rest in their homes, whose door is always found open.
Immersed in this dense and humid vegetation, I continue to walk slowly, allowing me to observe and take in what is happening around me. Behind every glimpse protected by dense palm trees is the human presence and the stories it brings: a small temple with burning incense. This house guards behind its walls the memories of loved ones, plantations of coconuts and other exotic fruits guarded by faithful and fearful four-legged companions.
This island returns a strange feeling, and if I pay attention to my surroundings, it seems to lack everything I need to live peacefully, and yet, it’s as if I don’t miss it here. Perhaps it is just the isolation, which opens the mind to thoughts, removes the superfluous, and leaves room for the essential.
Suddenly it begins to rain again, and as I retrace my way back to the island, I feel the need to give thanks for the time spent here, in this small universe far from chaos and hurry, where thoughts return sharply, and are reflected in an immortal memory.
