Where space and time stand still in the middle of the jungle

Pearl Eye Lake:

Pearl Eye Lake is considered one of the most attractive destinations in Muong Hoa.

Speaking as if shouting in the wind, Mr. Luong said: Many people know about Ngoi Hoa. But today, I will take you to Mat Ngoc Lake, a place that visitors from far away rarely set foot. It is very beautiful, like a fairyland.

The boat left the dock behind. The lake surface opened up to a vast, deep blue, with the shadow of the mountains reflected down. On both sides of the shore, cliffs connected, and the forest was lush green. After about half an hour, Mr. Luong slowed down and pulled into shore. Pointing to a path up the cliff, the boatman said: This is the entrance to the lake. It only takes about ten minutes to walk through the forest. On the other side of the mountain is Mat Ngoc Lake. Inside, it is completely separate from Hoa Binh Lake, but it is still full during flood season. Perhaps it is connected to the outer lake through an underground cave or a water source somewhere. The strangest thing is that no matter how muddy the water is outside, here it is still as clear as jade.

Seen from above, Mat Ngoc Lake is a completely different world from Hoa Binh Lake.

Following the directions, we went ashore, slowly and heavily following the guide up the mountain slope towards the deep green forest. The way to Mat Ngoc Lake is just a trail through the forest. But it is beautiful in a dark, mysterious, even ghostly way with all kinds of shapes. In some places, the tree trunks are rough and thorny, in others, the vines are twisted and almost tangled like a tangled mess of pink silk threads with no beginning or end. In some places, the vines are tense and winding, looking like a snake spirit, scaring the faint-hearted...

To admire Mat Ngoc Lake, visitors must go through a trail through the primeval forest.

Passing through the dark forest, the wind and waves suddenly seemed to be blocked. Before my eyes was a round lake, about 10 hectares wide, with clear blue water, embracing the mountains and clouds. That scene made me forget to breathe. Mr. Luong burst out laughing: That's Mat Ngoc! Looking down from above, the lake looks exactly like a giant eye, deep blue and round. People in Muong Hoa have long called this area "Bua Rung", meaning dense forest. Before, not many people went there. But now, everyone calls it Mat Ngoc, every day hundreds of people flock in to admire and experience it.

On the trail there are countless trees with strange shapes.

Bare-armed and bare-legged, I plunged my face into the lake after a sweaty trek through the forest. The lake water was cool to the point of being chilly. There was no sound of engines or phone signals, only the sound of birds calling their flocks and the sound of the wind passing through the cliffs. The midday light made the water color change to emerald green, and the bottom of the lake sparkled with schools of small fish. I met Ms. Bui Thi Mung, a resident of Ngoi hamlet, who was picking some wild bamboo shoots. Sitting and chatting, she said: When I was young, I often followed my father to this area to pick bamboo shoots and fish. The lake is closed, the water is clear all year round, and it is cool to drink. It has only been a few years since tourists have known about it. They said this place is more beautiful than in the pictures.

At the end of the road, the Jade Eye Lake opens up before your eyes with a beautiful landscape.

The light at Mat Ngoc Lake changes very quickly. In the early morning, the lake surface is as calm as a sheet of paper, reflecting the clear blue sky. At noon, the sunlight pours down, making the water sparkle like a layer of crystal. In the late afternoon, the mountain shadows lengthen, the golden light spreads across the water, then gradually turns to dark purple. The sunset here makes people want to sit still and watch forever.

People like to come to Mat Ngoc Lake because it is still wild and quiet.

Ngoc Mat Lake is still pristine, without noisy services, nor flashy billboards. This place is for those who want to immerse themselves in nature or simply relax their mind.

Coming here, visitors can freely immerse themselves in nature with clear, cool water.

Leaving the lake, the boat took me along the shore of Ngoi Hoa Bay, passing through peaceful Muong villages. There are stilt houses, afternoon smoke from bamboo stoves, and the sound of roosters crowing from the distant forest. Visitors here often choose to stay at homestays, go fishing with the host in the early morning, learn to weave brocade at noon, and drink rice wine by the fire in the evening. The meals in the village are simple but warm with fragrant grilled fish, colorful sticky rice, boiled bamboo shoots with sesame salt, young green forest vegetables with a variety of sweet and bitter flavors, and sweet rice wine by the flickering fire...

And more than that, only here can one feel space and time stand still.

There are afternoons, just sitting on the porch, watching the mountain shadows fall on the lake, people want to return to Mat Ngoc Lake to touch the space and time frozen in the middle of the great forest. Mat Ngoc Lake is not famous for being noisy and that is what makes it precious. The pristine, separate, and quiet beauty are all gifts from the great forest of Muong Hoa for those who know how to find it. That is why before saying goodbye, I asked Mr. Luong: How many times have you been there, are you bored? He just smiled, his eyes turned towards Mat Ngoc Lake and said: You can't get bored. It's like a look. Looking at it, I suddenly feel my heart soften and want to come back.

I believe. The gaze from the "jade eyes" will remain forever in the memory of anyone who has ever been to this place...

Manh Hung

Source: https://baophutho.vn/noi-khong-gian-thoi-gian-ngung-dong-giua-dai-ngan-237806.htm