As the sun set, the sea darkened, and the peaks of the Nui Chua massif etched random, peculiar shapes against the sky. After setting up our tents, we kindled a small fire using dry branches gathered nearby. The sea breeze roared through the shrubs, creating strange, ever-changing sounds. We huddled around the fire, listening to the crackling of burning wood as our Raglai guide softly recounted the origins of the name “Nui Chua” and its various peaks. As the night deepened, stars twinkled above while the lights of fishing boats shimmered on the sea, merging sky and ocean into a breathtaking, magical whole.

We woke very early, rekindled the fire to boil water for coffee, and awaited the sunrise. Still “submerged” beneath the sea, the sun cast its golden rays onto the eastern horizon, gradually redrawing the boundary between sky and sea – a boundary that had been blurred the night before. With every passing moment, nature’s marvels transformed the colors of the landscape at dawn, leaving us mesmerized, our coffee forgotten and cold. Then, the radiant orange sun slowly emerged from the horizon, casting a dazzling V-shaped beam of light with rosy wings that faded into the distant brightening sky, heralding a new day. Watching the sun rise above the sea, I gazed around and was once again stunned by the breathtaking beauty. The sea mirrored the sky, forming two vast blue planes meeting at a golden, straight horizon. A few thin white clouds in the sky and gentle ripples on the sea’s surface added delicate touches to the scene, creating a perfect picture before us. Moreover, the golden morning light, as rich as honey, drenched the forests on Nui Chua’s slopes, making the green foliage sparkle like smiling eyes welcoming the new day. The smooth, curved sandy beaches, framed by contrasting light and shadow on the cliffs, resembled a shy maiden with her hair cascading, partially veiling her face.