This journey took all the depictions of tea fields I’ve ever seen in photographs or my computer screen out. I saw them right in front of my eyes. No, I didn’t only see them. I felt them. Their humbleness welcoming our sudden visit. Their gratitude in their silent dance upon the hilly stage. Their smiles to the blushing sunbeam that keeps them alive. Their harmonious friendship with all the nature creature.
Among the people crowd on the truck that took us to the higher tea fields, I also figured out this: the love amongst father and son. They talked about anything simple yet deep in their daily life.
“You will have your taekwondo competition next week, right? Try to have your exercise here, I bet you’ll be stronger,” said the father.
“Yup! Maybe we can run along this road. About 5 kilometers? How long do we need to finish it? 30 minutes?”
“Are you sure it’s 5 kilometers? I guess it’s more than 10 kilometers.”
And the subject could suddenly change when we saw a lot of kids with their school uniform walked along the long road among the tea trees. Yes, they had to take a very long journey from their home to the only school in that green country side.
“You’re lucky,” said the father. “Look at them, they have to walk, sometimes with their naked feet, very long to get to their class. How great they are.”
”Yes, they’re great. Hey, do we bring camera, Dad?”
“I put it in your bag. I’ll take it.”
Then the father opened his son’s bag, took the camera, and gave it to his son. His son, that later i knew the name was Norman Sadik, turned the camera on and tried to capture the breathtaking tea field.
“It’s very shaky here, Dad. How to take the picture without making it blurred?”
“Try to stabilize your body. Use your one hand to hold on the truck, and use the other to push the shutter button.”
Norman attempted to do what his father asked, but still the photos were blurred. He then gave the camera to his father. With much effort, the father tried to capture the beautiful tea field as well. Norman looked at what his father has made with the camera. All blurred! They laughed together and happily believed that the best tool to capture that scenery is their memory.
Nothing I could do but smiling. Here I was, about 1.400 meters above sea level. Didn’t find any precise words to show how grateful i was.
