Conquer the highest place on Cam Mountain

Lost in the clouds

At dawn, Cam mountain was immersed in a blanket of clouds. The sound of motorbikes of the mountain people going up and down the mountain roared loudly as if tearing apart the clouds in the sky. Following the asphalt road, we went to the guard gate to ask the locals to take us all the way to the top. This season, rainwater seeped through every crevice of the rocks and flowed down the roadside, making it easy for drivers to slip if they were careless. Reaching an altitude of more than 500m, our motorbikes occasionally sped past the cool and refreshing clouds. When we arrived at Thien Tue cliff, we were confused and asked for directions to Bo Hong cliff. The motorbike taxi drivers enthusiastically guided us. However, to conquer this high road requires a steady hand and courage.

Taking a deep breath to enjoy the cool weather of Thien Cam Son in the early morning, we put the car in first gear and sped up to Bo Hong. Through the winding, steep slopes, if you don't lean forward, the wheels will bounce back. Seeing the locals driving up the mountain smoothly, I secretly admired their skillful driving. For me, this was my first experience climbing to the top of Bo Hong, so I kept the throttle steady to let the car slowly climb the mountain. Bo Hong slope is known as a very dangerous place, so I drove very focused when conquering the top. When reaching the steepest section, just put the car in first gear and turn the throttle all the way up and the car will be able to climb.

From Bo Hong cliff, visitors look towards Thien Tue cliff, with a beautiful temple complex. Photo: THANH CHINH

From the foot of the mountain, if you go by road to Bo Hong, it takes more than 4 hours, and by motorbike it only takes about 1.5 hours. Nowadays, the road to Bo Hong temple is built by the villagers who pooled money to open the road, and poured concrete all the way to the top to transport vegetables and fruits down the mountain. This season, if you go by road, you can easily see people carrying wild bamboo shoots to weigh for traders. In addition, at Bo Hong, every day there are many "xe om" drivers making a living along the mountain road. As soon as tourists set foot on Thuy Liem lake, there are xe om drivers serving them right at their doorstep.

The reason why the mountain people's vehicles can go up and down the mountain easily is because they have "modified" the chains and sprockets, and with the skillful hands of the drivers, the vehicles run smoothly over the mountain roads. After running for about 2km, we reach the parking spot for tourists to continue walking up hundreds of steps to the top of Bo Hong. We parked our vehicles at a cafe and continued climbing many tiring steps. Many tourists had just set foot on Bo Hong with their shirts soaked. Wiping the sweat from their foreheads, everyone was happy and excited because they had conquered the highest place in the That Son range and could reach out and touch the clouds in the sky.

Sacred peak on the mountain top

Currently, in the area of Bo Hong, many shops have sprung up next to each other to serve food and drinks to tourists who come to the mountain to make pilgrimages and make offerings. Mr. Tran Van Tuan (Nam Tuan, 66 years old), who chose Bo Hong to start a business on Cam Mountain the earliest, said that the reason why it is called Bo Hong is because in the past, this place was a deep forest with many "bo hong" insects living and flying like mosquitoes in the plains. At night, people had to use forest leaves to burn and smoke in their houses to drive away this insect. Normally, "bo hong" only appears in the first months of the rainy season, then flies away. Currently, Bo Hong no longer has this type of insect, and people on the top of Cam Mountain do not know the reason.

On the highest point of Bo Hong cliff, people place statues of the Jade Emperor and the Holy Mother, and on the left, they solemnly worship the Nine Generations of Hundred Families. Currently, this place is built spaciously to ensure safety for visitors to visit and worship. On holidays, New Year, and full moon days, Bo Hong cliff attracts thousands of visitors from all over the province to conquer and enjoy. On Bo Hong cliff, there are many mysterious stories, creating a spiritual attraction for visitors from near and far.

The day we wandered around Bo Hong, we saw many groups of tourists who had just arrived at the top of Bo Hong, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. This season, Cam Mountain is covered with clouds, visitors to Bo Hong will feel comfortable with the cool, peaceful space. Standing on the top of Bo Hong, looking towards Le Tri, Ba Chuc, visitors will see the vast, majestic scenery. Going a little further and looking to the west, visitors will see the complex of temples, the Maitreya Buddha statue in the Thuy Liem lake area, looking like a fairyland.

Nowadays, to facilitate tourists to stay overnight, in the Bo Hong area, people have opened many motels and restaurants to serve all day long at affordable prices. Mr. Nam Tuan said that the motels here serve customers very attentively, at affordable prices, without overcharging even a single penny. “On the full moon day, many tourists conquer the Bo Hong peak and then stay overnight to worship the moon and enjoy the cold, foggy night. Early in the morning, tourists will watch the clouds and mist on the mountain. Thanks to that, we have a stable income,” Mr. Nam Tuan said excitedly.

From the top of Bo Hong, looking down at the Maitreya Buddha statue with a gentle face hidden in the misty afternoon mist, it looks like a paradise. Suddenly, we also caught a sight of a group of people climbing up the slope. Many groups of tourists climbed through other cliffs and temples on Cam Mountain, then in the afternoon they continued to conquer Bo Hong cliff, staying overnight. Now, Bo Hong cliff is not only located at the highest altitude of Cam Mountain, but it is also a famous spiritual tourist destination. It seems that every tourist who comes here lights incense and prays sincerely to show gratitude to the ancestors who once founded the mountain.

Afternoon! The sunset suddenly disappeared, Cam Mountain was immersed in a hazy mist, looking like a charming landscape painting.

THANH CHINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/chinh-phuc-noi-cao-nhat-tren-nui-cam-a427294.html