After aching pains and regrets from the last trekking trip, once again I plunged into another trip to Ta Nang – Phan Dung. It’s a 2 days 1 night camping and trekking trip through nearly 30 km of mountain and river paths with hardscapes. We walked through grassland to coniferous forests, waded across shallow rivers and climbed up steep terrains. Once again, I experienced the same array of emotions as in the first time: excitement, interest, exhaustion, pain, anger, relief, joy, and pride.

Interestingly, my tourism agency this time is called 52 Hz with a very interesting motto – connect your frequency. The theme is inspired by a haunting story of the 52 Hertz Whale -the loneliest whale in the world. The blue whale lives among other whales in the vast ocean, but he’s also apart from them. This whale sings at an unusual frequency of 52 Hertz which debilitates meaningful communications with his fellow whales. And probably, he is just the only one of his kind. The story of 52 Blue resonates powerfully with me/us, living, as I do, in a time of growing loneliness linked to social media. We are surrounded by people, but we still feel lonely. Maybe I’m just a lonely whale, swimming the vast ocean, year after year, never having any proper contact with another of its kind.

Luckily, as the journey went on, I felt more connected to other whales. They are one of the most amazing companions with unique colors and inspiring stories. We laughed, cheered, and shared our values in a cozy and judgement-free ambiance. And more importantly, I feel connected to my inner self, that I’m a the one and the only me in this world, that I’m alone, but I’m not lonely.

Although the journey ends with crampy legs, aching shoulders and sore blisters, my heart is filled with serenity and pride. And I’m pretty sure that this is not the last trip.