Towards the dragon

Ninh Binh - a day between water, sky and quiet happiness.

Yesterday, my journey took me to Ninh Binh - to a landscape that is almost too beautiful to be real.

I visited a pagoda: quiet, weathered, full of fragrant incense sticks and silent prayers. An island of peace among all the green, vibrant land.

Then a river trip, guided by the hands and feet of the locals.

The boat glided silently across the water, framed by majestic karst mountains that stood on the banks like ancient guardians.

It was one of those experiences where the heart simply becomes still because everything else becomes unimportant.

But the real highlight awaited later: the ascent to the Múa slope.

A steep path of narrow steps that winds its way up the mountain - and takes a little more breath away with every step.

The sun was burning and my legs were getting heavy, but something special was waiting at the top:

The dragon enthroned on the summit, which is said to bring good luck.

When I finally stood in front of it - the wind in my face, my gaze sweeping over rice fields, mountains and water - it didn't just feel like a destination.

It felt like a gift.

Sometimes the greatest happiness is not in what you achieve. But in the fact that you set out at all.

Between the sky and the water, between old walls and new steps - somewhere in between, a piece of heart remains.