Journey to Taiwan: My Perspective, Part 4

Monday, February 9, was another early day, as Kristina, Fae and I went up to the mountains to the Alishan (imagine the “h” is invisible) National Forest area.  We got up, made and packed our lunch, and then headed to catch the local bus to take us to the bus station in Chaiyi City.  Once in Chaiyi City we got our tickets for the next bus, and loaded up for our 1 1/2 - 2 ride to Alishan.

It was cold up there, and we were a little cold all day, but it was worth it.  The way up the mountain consisted of many switchbacks, and we rapidly gained altitude once on the mountain.  Growing on the mountain we saw everything from palm trees to tea bushes (although at different altitudes).  On the way to the park and in the park Fae told me some of the unique history behind some things, including about the Taiwanese aboriginal people (most of whom live in the mountains).  Once we arrived we enjoyed the scenery on the different paths.  Several people pointed us out to their friends or families as “foreigners.”  One boy asked us if we were Americans, and after telling him that we were, Fae asked him if he was Taiwanese.  He said, “No, I’m Chinese.”  Alishan is a favorite tourist area for Chinese and Japanese (as well as the Taiwanese themselves).  It is part of Japanese history, as they destroyed and replanted trees there during World War 2; it is also mentioned in a Chinese song.

While we were looking through the shops so that I could buy tea, a boy who was eating his lunch off to the side with his younger sister and friends recognized Kristina and Fae.  He attended one of their English camps several weeks ago, and his parents own a restaurant on Alishan.  Once he spotted us, he stayed with us the rest of the time, and told many of the store owners that Kristina and Fae were his English teachers.  Most of the conversations with him were in Chinese, but he did say a few of the English words he learned during camp. 

When we were preparing to leave we found a ride on a private van (versus the city bus we rode up on – did I mention the boy sitting behind us on the bus on the way up got car sick?)  Kevin (the Taiwanese boy) may have helped us find it.  It wasn’t much more expensive than the bus, and we were all able to sit together.  The driver took a slightly different route than the bus took – the road was smaller and curvier.  However, we got back a little sooner than we would have otherwise.  That evening we went to the weekly Bible study at the Owens house.

Watching the sunrise while waiting for the bus

Tea farm on the mountain

Mountains (from the moving bus)

Another tea farm.  The farms would have been beautiful places to visit!

Passing under what is left of a giant tree

Another giant tree

This might have been the place where one of the Taiwanese visitors told us to stay on the trail...

Note to self: When getting someone else to take a picture, turn the camera focus off of manual onto auto

The temple at Alishan

A really big, old tree

Old Alishan train

Meeting a student

7 Eleven is everywhere!  This was one of the most decorative ones I saw.