The Adventures of Julie: June 2009

Monday, June 22, 2009

Alishan Forest Railway Train

Taiwan is stunningly beautiful. The greenery and the mountains. The beaches and the tropical weather. As we are new here every day is an adventure. We had a blast during Dragon Boat Festival taking the motorcycle out and just exploring the roads and countryside. Stumbling upon a Lychee and Pineapple Festival. An amazing park with a railroad running through and kites flying everywhere. A humongous temple.

But, for this weekend we had a plan. The Alishan Forest Railway. It runs on a narrow gauge track and begins at 30 meters ascending to above 2200m in 3.5 hours. It includes 49 tunnels and 77 bridges. And passes through three climatic zones, tropical, subtropical, and temperate. It is truly amazing. We spent the trip with our faces glued to the windows as we rose higher the fog got thicker obscuring the view some but lending to a fairy tale feel as the train twisted up and up and up through the mountains. Looking down through the green trees and along the mountains was breathtaking. Along the way small villages dotted the hillsides. It was a trip to be remembered.