|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Sunrise Viewing |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
Getting up at 4 am and trekking to the summit of a nearby peak to view the sunrise seems to be a popular pastime in the Alishan region (at least for tourists -- the locals find this behavior peculiar). The sunrise pilgrimmage is a routine procedure in Alishan Forest Recreation Area, though this activity has now been exported to other tourist venues such as Fenqihu, Dinghu, and Ruili. If you stay at a hotel in one of these places, don\'t be too surprised if your phone rings at 4 am to announce the pre-dawn raid. The more considerate hotel clerks will first ask if you really intend to join the sunrise expedition, and if you say \"No\" they will graciously allow you to sleep in. Other hotels just assume everybody wants a morning wake-up call, and will proceed to rouse you out of bed whether you like it or not.
Although pre-dawn trekking is not everyone\'s cup of tea, there is no denying that (when the weather is clear) the sight of the morning sun making its debut over Taiwan\'s Central Mountain Range is very inspiring. In some places (again, Alishan is notable), this activity is so well-organized that you don\'t even have to walk -- a minibus and/or train whisks you to the top of a peak where there is a specially-designated Sunrise Viewing Area. Local entrepreneurs are well-prepared for the invasion, working the crowds with cups of hot coffee and fried egg sandwiches. It\'s all very civilized. |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
