Coconut Garden
The hottest month of the year has passed. Typically, the highest temperatures of summer are in late April, but this year it lasted until mid-May. Brief showers signal that the rainy season is approaching. The weather has become cooler with layers of gray clouds, sometimes drizzling lightly, and at other times acting like umbrellas over parts of the city without raining.
As usual, I began my painting trip in the countryside and natural areas, carrying a few personal items and painting supplies. This time, my destination was Ben Tre Province, in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam. I stayed with a friend’s family, who had a pond beside their house and a large garden surrounded by many coconut trees, fruit trees, flowers, and various vegetables.
One morning, before the sun was too high, I stepped outside and followed narrow paths about a foot and a half wide, created by the daily footsteps of local people. The path felt solid, though my ankles couldn’t avoid the brushing of twenty-centimeter-long grasses growing on either side. This connection felt intimate as I continued forward, exploring the way ahead.
Walking slowly along the path to absorb the surroundings, the sun warmed my cheeks, drying the dew-covered leaves of roadside plants. Sparrows chirped cheerfully. I looked up at the coconut trees; the breeze was gentle, just enough to rustle the young leaves. On both sides of the path were expansive coconut gardens, with notable features like water trenches over a meter wide stretching the length of the garden. I stopped by a house with ducks happily sunbathing and splashing in the water, their tails wagging and wings flapping, making the water ripple and sparkle in the sunlight.
Suddenly, three black dogs barked loudly, breaking the peaceful atmosphere. I turned to the right, to a wooden house with several red clay water jars on the side. I greeted the dogs, explaining that I was just there to paint. After a while, seeming to understand there was no threat, they went inside, returning the quiet to me. I found a spot with many coconut trees surrounding a canal, sat down, and began sketching. As I worked, I focused on the scene before me, observing how the sunlight changed the reflections and shadows in the water. Ants seemed curious about my unfamiliar palette, wandering in as if searching for food.
Ben Tre was different from other places I had visited. The gardens were connected by metal mesh gates. I realized I wouldn’t get lost in these gardens as there was always a way back home. After finishing my sketch, I approached a coconut tree, touching its bark, which felt slippery. On closer inspection, the bark was covered with a white moss-like layer. Standing under the large canopy of the coconut tree felt cool, like being under a giant umbrella. I paused, looking around and savoring the experience. I was truly grateful for the atmosphere I had just enjoyed. As Albert Einstein said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
