We took this train!
At a chilly 4.30 am, SL LLG and I made our way to the train station which was located just above the restuarants vicinity. It was already chock-a-block by the time we arrived, but we managed to get our seats. The train was those of a quaint type and sitting inside it brought you back to the 1940s. When we finally arrived at our destination, many passngers wasted no time to take pictures. That was when SL LLG and I got separated.
A picture I took after getting off the train
What made it confusing was that there were two viewing decks. SL LLG being the elderly one decided to settle for the lower one, while those healthy, hearty and colourful characters of a heath had no trouble climbing up winding path that led to a higher viewing ground. There were many Hong Kong and mainland tourists climbing up too, judging from their conversations.
At the upper viewing ground, there were a few pavilions.
All waited with bated breath as the announcement that the sun was abut to make its debut. Though I had watched it the day before, it was still quite an excitement. After taking a video and some pictures, I made my way down and reunited with SL LLG. On the way back, he shared with me how the guide at the lower viewing ground told them lots of interesting news - like the sun will bounce up and down five times (Lu Lu in The Noose. Remember her?? yah.. will unhesitantly quip Bounce bounce ball 小球球 had she were there), or that global warming will make the growth of plants in the Alishan area used to make wasabi very expensive ion the years to come. In addition, going to Taiwan to watch sun rise in April will require them to be there at 4+ am!! But they will be compensated by the blooming cherry blossoms, etc.
Feeling spent, we returned to have our breakfast and decided to spend the time sleeping because there is essentially nothing to do. When we wake up, we whiled our time away (this is a luxury in retrospect and I wonder when is the next time I can use these words). When we woke up, we went to view a performance by the aborigines (原住民) in particular the Tsou tribe (鄒族).
The 鄒族. Due to the Hans influence, the tribe might go extinct since the total number of individuals were in the thousands.
After that we walked around and decided to buy some stuffs. That was when we formulated the great Alishan mathematical conundrum, and even though ShiLong LLG had receive his Mads degree in Camb!tch, he did not manage to provide the least easiest step. Allow me to recount. Ready for the story sum? Here goes -
SL LLG and I dealt with our Taiwan finance in an easy way. One of us will first pay for everything using our own NT2000, and when that runs out, the next one will take over, and so forth. We called this the Shared Account system. We keep this Shared Account in a different wallet compartment from our own personal account.
While buying some 土產, I realised my personal account is not enough. At that time, I had already put aside NT2000 as Shared Account. So I told SL LLG I will pay first using the shared account.
To illustrate with some numbers, say I wanted to buy coffee powder which cost me NT 500. I had only NT100 in my personal account. So I decided to pay the remaining NT 400 using the Shared Account. As I later remarked that I will return NT200 to the Shared Account, SL LLG pounced onto me and remarked - seems like your maths is not very good. Can you spot the problem? It is rather apparent now as the way I phrase this problem has somewhat make it easy to spot the mistake, but when you are involved, it was strangely confounding.
Nevertheless, SL LLG offered an almost circuitous solution involving transfers betweeen Personal Account to Shared Account, and then also giving him x amount of money. In all that perplexng explications, I finally understood where I was wrong. However, I managed to come up with an easier solution - Just treat the NT400 as a loan from the Shared Account. All I have to do is to pay back that NT 400. The CamB!tch-educated SL LLG was surprised at how this elegant solution had eluded us. We agree on one point however, that the laid-back, insouciant days of vacation in Taiwan had cause our mental faculties to be decidely blunt.
The carpark. Above there were many reaturants. Still further up, the train station.
Once while strolling to pass the time, I lamented how the dearth of activities in Alishan made this place extremely boring if you are staying for 2 days. Sharing with him my business proposal, I said I will set up an Internet cafe and KaraOk. Sl LLG eyes were gleaming when I asked him what would his business proposal be. Without any sense of shame, in an almost unhesitantly manner, he quipped, "I will exploit the 原住民 living here, pouring drinks in KaraOk and performing dance, singing, accompaniment for clients, making sure that a trip up Alishan is worth their time!"
When night fell, we decided to try a different steamboat restaurant. The eagled-eye me happened to spot a quiant looking restaurant and suggested to SL LLG we should dine there. The interior decor was wood-based so it gave us a hark to the past kind of feeling. We picked a far end of the seat, and enjoyed the stew and conversations, eavesdropping on what another table of Singaporeans were talking in gusto to a Taiwanese guide.
Still not quite done with Asia's tallest Starbucks, we went back there again and had our drinks before making our way back to the hotel to pack up our stuffs.
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