Another weekend has come again.
Another place I have travelled.
Another stranger I have met on the way.
And...
Green fields, golden fields of grain, kids, big old banyan trees, and the local people are the great features in my little village that I have been caught on my short trip today.
I often call this place by the name Bong Hiot where the most of Bana ethnic group settle down and earn for living.
Bana ethnic is called by other names such as Bơ Nâm, Roh, Kon Kđe, Ala Kông, Kpang Kông (source). They are one of common ethnic minorities in VietNam, you can meet them in almost everywhere in Gia Lai province and some towns in the Central highland of Viet Nam. Neither Bana community and Kinh people have a separated life, they still live in peace and brotherhood.
My adoptive mother is also a Bana ethnic.
My new friend, as I call “Hung” asked me if I want to have a short tour with him in the village, he would take me to go the special places that I do not need to find out somewhere else. Hung was born and grew up in here, that is why he always knows the twist and turn of the place.
Going through to the tough road, he took me to my adoptive mother’s field to visit him and let me have a chance to take photographs as my hobby.
Sadly, my adoptive father was not there, there was only his wife and an immerse fields. I started pattering along the dikes while suddenly my friends has come and his friend (a girl that I did not know before) asked me if I could take her some photographies with the ripe rice fields. Well, How can I dare to reject a lovely request like that coming from a stranger. She looks younger than me and quite sad existed in her eyes.
Hills and mountains covers the golden fields creating a deserted valley. She chose the position and posed her style freely.
In the opposite direction of the green fields, there was a space area that has been burnt to prepare for the new seedling season by ethnic people. They often reclaim land in the hill then grow their mainstay of agriculture. Following their living habit, in each crop, they will store rices and other grains for eating instead of selling for money. That is why we cannot buy rice from the Bana people, they always attach great importance to the field and rice.
Looking at the ripe fields in the sunlight, it is so so fucking amazing and fantastic than other fields I have seen in the past. I just kept staying there, open my eyes bigger and count the time.
I asked Mr Hung to drive me out of here. He wondered if there is anywhere I would like to visit here.
No need to wait for my respond, he suggested that I should visit a sacred place in Bong Hiot village, that place in the past was a grave-yard of Bana community.
After 3-4 years when the deads were burried, they believe that their relative’s soul has been released and dissolved into nothingness. Bana group will leave this grave-yard and look forward new place to create a new one and the left grave-yard would be an open ground.
To be more mysterious than that, this area also is a creepy land because there are more than 5 old banyan trees which are more 500 year olds. Its branches and trunk reminds me about baobab tree which come from Madagasca. I feel like I am protected by Saints and Gods from the trees when I looked at them in a long time.
Why they did not cut it down like other trees in the forest?
I believe that Bana people always love and respect these trees. It is not only their vitality but also their culture. They do not destroy it than Kinh people, eventhough they usually reclaim the land in the forest.
Before leaving Bong Hiot, I and Hung dropped by to my adoptive mother to visit and have some chat.
Fortunately, my mom just came home from the field. She was picking the buds of Cassava tree in order to prepare the dinner. Mom said to me this meal is one of their great food that they often use everyday. Although it is always praised to the skies, I still do not dare to try it. She used a big mortar to smash the buds, then took it out and got ready to cook it with onion and oil.
Her house is 100% completely made by wood, especially the kitchen.
Looking at her skinny shape sitting in front of a little fire, I remembered about my childhood when my mom rose me up.
In front of the house is the cowshed. Bana Ethnic always indulge and treasure Cows as the most precious property in their family. My adoptive mother raised 4 cows, her little daughter will tend the cows from the morning till the end of the day.
Cattle is considered a value asset for their family, they will sell the cows for meat whenever they need money in some indeed occasions such as wedding or taking care of people in the hospital.
Mom wanted me to stay her home till tomorrow but I could not do it. I still have more work to do at the new week, sometimes visting my relative for a while is better than staying with them in a long time.
My day at the weekend just went through gently like a flow of stream. Thank you for stopping by and taking your precious time to read it. Much appriciated <3!