Hello from Sun Moon Lake and Ali Shan

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Hello from Sun Moon Lake, hello from Ali Shan! Arrived at Sun Moon lake just before sunset. Just enough time to get on a boat to the other side to really enjoy it. Sun Moon lake is a man made lake created by the Japanese years and years ago. Quite an accomplishment for way back then. It has since become a major Taiwanese tourist destination. You can see why from the picks. I'm guessing it's the honeymoon capital of Taiwan. Very beautiful. The way the sun rises and sets. The way the clouds roll over the mountains and the mist in the morning. Not to forget the hot spring in the basement of my hotel! All very romantic. The next morning we were off down the very very very twisty road to Ali Shan and the famous little train. The rain from the day before brought slides and mud. The road crews were right onto patching it up again. This road is very high in the mountains (which run right down the center of Taiwan). I heard that 60 percent of Taiwan is mountains! This is also the center of the 1999 earthquake which destroyed all these roads and thousands of lives. Nature in action. Made it to the train station with plenty of time to spare. Wandered around the little misty town. Very much an alpine feel. This train was again...built by the Japanese to log out the forest. It is very old...very rickety...very zigzaggy...and kind of scary! Check out the pic of my ticket! WTF is that! Anyway three climate zones later I was back in the tropical Chiayi safe and sound. Now...onto Taitung!

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Photos

Guarding the Temple
very effective

View From the Top
of the Wen Wu temple looking onto Sun Moon Lake

Path From the Lake
to the Wen Wu temple

Fishing the Lake
the traditional way

Sunrise
on the lake

Earthquake Aftermath
landslide from the 1999 earthquake destroyed the original road. Thousands died.

Tea Farms
high on the mountain

Another Slide
still a dangerous road

OMG
what is THAT!

My Train
narrow gauge old style zig zaggy train