Brain Dump — Full Blogpost to Come Later

It’ll take some time to sort through the photos — I took way too many — but here’s the initial brain dump while everything is still fresh.

Sunrise at Alishan

My alarm went off at 4:15, and I left the hotel by 4:30. I’m so glad I did — if I had left even ten minutes later, like the receptionist suggested, I might have missed the train.
The train itself was adorable, but it was still dark outside, so there wasn’t much to see from the windows. It was also pretty cramped.
After around 25 minutes, we reached the summit. The sky was already glowing behind the mountains.
The sun had technically risen, but the giant peaks were blocking it, so we were still waiting for that first real burst of light.
I moved on to the next viewing platform — a tip from a YouTube video — and managed to get a great spot.
Then came the 40-minute wait for the actual event.
It was quite cold, around 10°C, but I had plenty of layers, so it wasn’t too bad.
To pass the time (and stay warm), I bought some plum liquor and sipped a little while waiting.
I let a few shorter people stand in front of me — as long as I could still see over them — and everyone was pretty respectful.
The higher the sun climbed, the more breathtaking the views became. But still, that mountain kept blocking the horizon.
And then, finally — after about 45 minutes — the sun broke free. Many people recorded it on their phones, but I didn’t want a screen between me and the moment. It was absolutely worth it.

The Waterworks

I had another emotional moment — maybe it was the lack of sleep, maybe the liquor, maybe the buildup — but it hit me all at once.

Watching the sun appear felt like the symbolic beginning of another day.
I’ve been trying so hard to make the most of this trip, sometimes even scolding myself for not enjoying it “enough.”
But I realized: you can’t stop the sun from rising. Time keeps moving, whether you’re ready or not.
All you can do is take it as it comes and try your best.
I opened my blog, looked at the grid of everything I’ve done these past two months, and it washed over me:
- So many unforgettable memories.
- So many accomplishments.
- So much to be proud of.
I stood there quietly thanking TWICE for bringing me here:
- Emotionally — helping me through hard times.
- Spiritually — motivating me to keep going.
- Physically — otherwise why on earth would I be in Taiwan?

By the time I came back to reality, most people had already left — satisfied with their pictures and on their way back to their continental breakfasts. That was perfect, because it gave me the peace to explore the area a bit more on my own.

The Hike Down

I hiked back down to the hotel, passing through beautiful forests and viewpoints.
This is exactly my kind of park:
- Lush greenery
- Dense trees
- Huge old stumps
- Mossy paths
- Scenic railroad tracks
Everything was well maintained and thoughtfully laid out.
I visited all the major spots and had a great time.

I arrived back at the hotel right on schedule.
Took a shower, packed my bags, and headed out for the bus.
I had paid for late checkout, and honestly the extra fifteen bucks was absolutely worth it.

Going to Taipei

The bus ride back was fine. I napped a bit, but eventually got very bored.

While waiting for the bus earlier, I explored a small exhibit at the station. I realized I had managed to see all the major sights they highlighted. I only missed:

The cherry blossoms — wrong season.
The Sea of Clouds — not misty enough.

Everything else, I saw. And it was great!

The whole area felt like it should be larger, but I guess that’s just the tourist zone. Off-trail hikes and other stops along the bus route probably go deeper into the mountains.

The train ride back to Taipei went smoothly. It was really busy, but luckily I got a seat. I’m so relieved that all the travel worked out without booking anything in advance.

In Taipei

The metro station was packed — I arrived around 18:30, so I guess it was rush hour.
Everyone is glued to their phones, even when walking outside. It’s such a funny sight.
Sidewalks! I almost forgot what those looked like after Kaohsiung.
My hotel is pretty nice, and I’m already excited for the continental breakfast tomorrow.
I grabbed dinner at a nearby place. It was okay — a bit pricey — but nice to sit down.
I got a headache afterward and thought, “Maybe I need more food? Or ice cream?”
I checked McDonald’s, Burger King, and MOS Burger in that order, but nothing on the menus appealed to me, so I left each one without ordering.
I figured I’d just grab something at 7-Eleven.
But on the walk back I realized I was just extremely tired. So I went straight to bed.

Even though I was in Alishan for less than 24 hours, it left a huge impression on me.
The forest was beautiful, the air was so fresh, and I think it genuinely did me good.

It was definitely worth all the travel hassle.