Just in time we approach the train station. Unfortunately no steam engine - a simple disel machine is waiting for us.

The coach is half seated and still we do not know if we will see anything. Will we have a clear sky? No clouds?

Very early morning

Getting up early is getting tuff. Still very dark outside. A one hour car ride through the high mountains to AliShan, which is the starting point of the small train running to the top of the mountain, is next. Although having no breakfeast and coffee we make it!

As allways in Taiwan everything is well prepared for the crowds. The actual sunrise date is stated on a table in minutes. And the schedule when to reach the train down the mountain again is depicted clearly too.

It's comfortably cool up on 2500 meter altidude. About 15°C - quite nice after long days of more than 30°C. Roughly 300 people are awaiting patiently standing on the hill side for the apearancy of the sun.

Two profesionals are explaining a lot of details to the crowds. Which details? We don't know because it is in Chinese. ;-) But we wonder what one can talk of all the time assited by megaphones without resting a second. It's funny but this seems to be the Chinese way.

Sunrise - allways a miracle

After a few minutes we get used to it and concentrate on the scenic. At the end it is realy getting clear and bright and we notice the two guys are tring to sell their goods. So everything is selling only.

Fortunately the sky is clear. Deeply impresed from the sunrise, the change in colors, vanishing fog and at least the warming sun herself we enjoy the morning.

Payed back for getting up so early!

Trains

We decide to take the foot path down to the station instead of the train. Arriving there it is still silent and peacfull. We get the first coffee in a Starbucks which is the top most in East Asia. At least that's what the advertisement states.

After a short break including a power nap we move back to FenchiHu.

There is a small museum in FenShiHu near the local train station. The railroad was build by Japanes to get wood out of the mountain forest. In the museum we find some old fashioned steam locomotivs.

Summer camp

Again we decide to take the short way through the mountains. Next stop is Sitou and bambo forest park. We arrive late afternoon, still bright. The hotel is a youth hostel inside the park.

After dinner we go out for a short walk around the camp ground. A few experimental photographs and then to bed. It was along day.