Alishan in Cherry Blossom Season is THE place to be! High up in Taiwan’s central mountain range, part of Chiayi County, its charm lies in the little red mountain trains that chug upwards and onwards each day before dawn, taking … Continue reading Alishan 阿里山 Cherry Blossom Season 2025! 🌸
A fairly momentous few weeks as I packed up in Taiwan and said goodbye to all my friends ~ and then came to the UK! Thanks be to God, all went well, and finally, I’m here ~ happily still with many wonderful memories of these last few weeks in Taiwan… Lots of memories of daybreak and sunrise at Advent Church and St. John’s University …. And sunrise down at the sea, with a plane overhead heading to the airport… The nearby lotus fields are looking stunning, within walking distance of St. John’s University…. Sunset as I headed to the airport … Continue reading ✈️ And so to the UK! ✈️
“Nothing in the cry of the cicada suggests they are about to die” やがてしぬけしきはみえずせみのこゑMatsuo Basho, Japan (1690) What a great attitude to have, and especially in the midst of a pandemic! Follow the way of the cicada. Live life as … Continue reading Cicada Summer: Update from Taiwan 😷
Taiwan’s outlying islands are all special, but the crown jewel of them all must surely be Lanyu! A tiny green dot in the middle of a vast blue ocean, and on a sunny day (or 3) wow, the island glimmers … Continue reading WOW! Lanyu 蘭嶼 Orchid Island, Taiwan
Alishan, ah Alishan! Famous for its sunrises, tea, cherry blossom, ‘sacred’ trees, sea of clouds and its mountain railway. The place everyone goes once in their lifetime. Visitors from all over the world, and especially from the Chinese-speaking world are … Continue reading Alishan 阿里山 Sunrise and Cherry Blossom ~ Happy Easter 2018!
And looking spectacular! If you have any free time in the next few weeks, you just must make time to go to Alishan and see the cherry blossom, it’s stunning! I went yesterday. It’s only a week before the official Cherry Blossom Festival is due to start, but most of the flowers are fully out – and so was the sun, perfect! Alishan is one of Taiwan’s most famous scenic spots, and for visitors from overseas, it is one of the must-see places. Best to do things leisurely and stay there overnight, but if that’s not possible, go on the … Continue reading Alishan 阿里山 2017 ~ Sakura Cherry Blossom is out!
Alishan has two 7- Eleven Stores, and claims they are the second highest in Taiwan ~ and Taiwan’s #1 highest post office too. Another must see! And Taiwan’s #1 highest elementary school. Wow, that’s quite something! 2,195 metres above sea-level, that’s over 7,000 feet. Imagine that eh? But of course, none of these reasons are really why Alishan is so popular. It’s very well up on the list of THE places to visit in Taiwan. Tourists from all over Asia and especially Mainland China, zillions of people have it on their list. Alishan is famous, very famous. We’re talking about an area of … Continue reading Alishan 阿里山 2016
Very early morning means sunrise, 6:00am-ish and this week I’ve been out and about…. to see Taipei 101 before anyone else was out, the roads strangely deserted, and not a tourist in sight. Plus of course, sunrise from the hills at the back of the Grand Hotel…. Ah yes, and mustn’t forget a sculpture I happened upon near Taipei 101. So this is art?! All I can tell you is that my toes don’t do that ha ha! Continue reading Very early morning in Taipei….
Catherine Lee 