瘋狂的阿里山賞櫻
自從前兩年第一次看到吉野櫻，一向對拍花興趣缺缺的阿貓，卻是瘋狂地迷上了櫻花。尤其是去年走了趟京都，在風雅的古都裡邂逅了滿開的櫻花，更是讓我今年一直蠢蠢欲動，恨不得可以重回日本賞櫻。無奈假期有限，計畫的行程無窮，到日本賞櫻的衝動只能暫時壓下。而且搬離了台北，陽明山花季突然變得遙不可及。幸好，阿里山解了我對櫻花的相思之苦。
第一次看到阿里山櫻花，是在某大攝影網站。黑色復古的蒸汽火車行駛在雪白的櫻花隧道裡，非常經典的畫面。後來，看到類似的作品如雨後春筍般冒出，雖然知道自己拍不出什麼不一樣的東西。但就是想在自己的攝影版圖加上這一塊。幾個禮拜前，我便開始在「漫步在雲端」網站上注意最新花況跟天氣，約了幾個朋友，鐵了心不管多累，就是要上山！
結果，就在上山前，阿里山公路發生了令人遺憾的死亡車禍。一些約好的朋友因為這個顧忌及其他個人原因，都不能成行。對於大半夜開車上山這種事貓夫人本來就是興趣缺缺的（她要睡美容覺）。於是，計畫好的團體旅程變成阿貓獨走，就在貓夫人再三告誡開車小心的叮嚀中，阿貓上路了！
從斗六上二高，中埔交流道下來後，便是漫長的阿里山公路。上次上阿里山是十多年前念大一的時候，一樣是凌晨上山中午下山，十多年後再次熬夜趕路，心情卻大不同。在濃濃的霧氣中，阿貓謹慎地開著車，九十幾公里的路程碰不到五輛車，但絕然的孤獨在氤氳瀰漫的山路，反而有種令人毛骨悚然的寂靜。我甚至不太敢看後照鏡，怕看到我的車多載了好幾個不速之客。
咖啡因支持下，順利地在沒打任何瞌睡的情形下抵達阿里山森林遊樂區。看著天色微白，疲憊卻全然沒有睡意的我，決定直接背起背包，開始追逐櫻花的行程。
第一站是沼平車站，也是拍櫻花火車的超級戰區，我帶上山的參考書籍DIGIPHOTO上有一張照片，在櫻花鐵路旁大大小小的腳架大概有上百支。但我上山的日子運氣不錯，人不算太多。等火車來時跟幾位攝影朋友聊聊天、交交朋友。火車一到就是此起彼落的快門聲、興奮的尖叫聲，在蒸汽火車頭跟檜木車廂的加持下，雖然沒有藍天當背景，還是很開心。拍了大概四列火車，霧氣越來越濃，眼看沒什麼搞頭了，我便約了剛認識的攝友阿迪，一起去覓食，並到其他的點賞櫻。
狼吞虎嚥地嗑了一盤關東煮和一個肉粽，還幫一位山裡的居民挑了誤闖眼內的小蟲（唉～連休假都脫離不了工作的命運），我們接著走訪了貴賓館、阿里山工作站、櫻木花道、阿里山賓館、阿里山派出所等地。至於沒有出產櫻花的姊妹潭跟神木區，就被我們自動跳過了！
今年的阿里山花況不如預期，主要是因為櫻花沒有同時滿開，少了點磅礡的氣勢。我在心裡想像著，如果所有櫻花同時滿開，這畫面應該不輸日本的某些景點。也難怪路上碰到不少日本團觀光客，因為阿里山的櫻花，真的有國際水準啦！
拍完櫻木花道，我便打道回府囉！回程整個起霧到伸手不見五指，開起車來令貓怕怕。幸好一切平安，阿貓才能坐在這裡po照片給大家看。明年此時如果我還在雲林，應該會再殺上山一次吧！
想看更多照片，請按此連結。有些側拍可愛櫻花妹的照片，為免引起肖像權跟隱私權爭議，我就獨享了，哇哈哈！
相本延伸：2007陽明山櫻花 2007京都賞櫻 2008奧萬大山櫻花
天氣、花況都比phyphy去的時候好很多，
再加上貓大夫專業級的技術，
羨慕啊～
有機會再請貓大夫指點指點，
傳授兩光phy一、兩招吧！ ;D
Phyphy您美言了。您的技術一點都不兩光，看您印的攝影集就知道了！
我去賞櫻那天的天氣只能算普通，多半時候還是煙霧繚繞，藍天出現的時間很短。
跟清明節連假這幾天其他人拍的照片相比，實在遜色太多了。明年再來吧！
我倒是去了趟東京賞櫻之旅唷～
昨晚剛回來 現在還是一整個好想睡覺
希望明天有力氣整理相片
燕子有沒有網路相本，可以讓我們聞香一下。
下次賞櫻，我也想改走關東甚至是東北路線。
好懷念日本的櫻吹雪啊！
溫哥華此時也櫻花盛開
忽然想起 之前你和小凱不是計劃今年四月來這兒的嗎
Dear小舅媽，小凱最近在忙結婚的事，所以加拿大旅行就暫時擱置囉。
我們夫婦倒是決定重回馬爾地夫度假啦！
有回來台灣再一起吃個飯吧！
我是有部落格呀！http://blog.yam.com/himawari
可是因為一回來就忙工作 所以還沒上傳照片耶！
再給我一點時間吧！希望月底前能上傳囉～
對喔！妳有部落格我都忘了，抱歉。等妳的分享喔！
羨慕哇—
我已經好久沒有離開大台北地區了
趕快趁貓小子出現前多享受享受人生
否則就會跟我一樣
去到哪都有兩個超大件行李
根本輕鬆不起來
(反而有種自找罪受的感覺)
方學姊，那是種甜蜜的負荷耶！我願意用現在的自由，換來貓小子早點報到。 :P
Hi there,
Beautiful photos, as always! I was a kid last time I went to the mountain. I really enjoyoed it there. The one place I remember the most in the area was a small lake called 姐妹潭. It’s a beautiful serene lake (it’s so small, probably not warranted being called a “lake”). Is it still there? I’d certainly love to spend a few days in Mt Ali next time I visit Taiwan.
Dear QP,
Thanks for your positive comment, I appreciate a lot. 姐妹潭 and 祝山sunrise
are the most attractive scenes in Mt.Ali (for me), though the 神木s are always
the most famous. Of course the “lake” is still there, but there were no “Sakura”
arround the lake, so I didn’t go to 姐妹潭 this time. :P
好美的櫻花喔！
我也去過一次，但是，卻沒有這樣的美景
真的很棒！讚！
謝謝Roger，明年有興趣的話一起上山拍拍如何？
Hello Dr. Cat,
I’ll be in taiwan for about 2 weeks at year end. Can’t believe it’ll be my 2nd trip to Taiwan this year. Over the past 20 years after we immigrated to the US, I had been back every few years. However, I’ve never really had an opportunity to travel past the northern part of taiwan. My memories of the island were really limited to the trips I took as a child.
I really want this trip to be about getting to know the island as an adult. It really is a shame that I feel I know some other countries more than my birth country. The challenge is I’ve no idea where to start! I figure an avid travler like yourself would have great ideas to share.
So… any suggestions? My preference would be places of mountains and lakes.. Your help would be much appreciated!
Dear QP
Most of the beautiful places in Taiwan are not easily accssible. I’ll suggest you some places I like best, but some of them may take you 2-3 days to reach them (…and some are realy tiresome). You can plan your trip according to your stamina, preference and time.
1.Lakes: the lakes I like most in Taiwan are 嘉明湖、松蘿湖 and 日月潭。嘉明湖 and 松蘿湖 both need a two-day trip, and both are tough for those who didn’t climb mountains or didn’t exercise regularly. You may need a guide or a friend who are familiar with the route. It’s not safe to go there alone. Both lakes are most beautiful at sunrise moment, so bring you tent with you. One day is enough for 日月潭, but best time to explore the lake is still at dawn. Spend one night at日月潭is also a good idea if you have enough time. You can also go to 清靜農場 after 日月潭，they are on the same route。Spent one night in the wonderful 民宿 in 清靜is suggested.
2.Mountains: High mountains in Taiwan are really great and fabulous。I’ve been to雪山、合歡山…。玉山 is also good, and it’s the highest mountain in Taiwan :P。You also need a guide and apply for the permission in advance. And it take 2-4 days to climb these mountains. I don’t have much experience in mountain climbing, but I’ve seen lots of the photos taken in high mountains. The views are really breath-taking, you should try if you have time.
3.Beaches: Kenting is always a good place to visit, but maybe you have been there for many times. 蘭嶼and澎湖 are both good and take at least 3 days to make a trip. However, you’ll be in Taiwan at year end. It’s not a good time to visit 蘭嶼and澎湖。
北海岸is not as good as kenting (my personal opinion), but driving along the nothern seashore is great for you, since you didn’t travel there.
4.Hot springs:I like bathing in hot springs in winter time. The hot springs I like best are 礁溪 and 烏來。You can choose a luxury hotel and enjoy one or two days there.
5.花東地區：太魯閣 national park is good. If you haven’t been there before, you can consider it. 花蓮and台東 are also worth visiting, but I am not sure is it good to visit these places at winter time.
The above are places I like best in Taiwan. I don’t think they would be more beautiful than the Rockies, but still worth looking. I always feel that the most attractive thing in Taiwan is 台灣美食。Be sure to include some famous night market and Taiwan restaruant in your trip.
Wish you a nice trip in Taiwan.
Cat
Hi Dr Cat,
Thanks for the great suggestions!
I’ve finally found some time from busy work to do some research on my trip to TW.
Having taken into consideration of your recommendations, tentatively I’m going to spend 3/4 nights along the routes along 中橫… I do have great childhoodl memories of the family trips in the central TW. The only challenge is whether we will have the car. If my dad’s not coming along, we will probably have to travel by train, etc. I wouldn’t trust myself driving in taiwan! :)
Good thing’s that I’ve been staying somewhat in shape… I’m dying to do some serious hiking! I’m excited about hiking the trails at the national parks. My dad said his fav’s always been 太魯閣. You’re right.. my fear’s the weather’s probably a bit unpredictable in the winter. I probably can still handle it as long as the weather’s not severe. As matter of fact, it’s kind of fun having the snow falling on you hiking up the rockies in the mid summer months!
I hope I will have more time in the future to tackle the other remote lakes you mentioned. It’s always a pleasure to be able to go off the beaten path. It looks like I will bearly have enough time to visit the more “touristy” places.
But of course the food like you said’s the #1 attraction! Honestly, as much as the people here in the US try to make authentic taiwanese food, the taste/quality is still not up to par. I’m hoping to balance pigging out and doing serious hikes while I’m there.
Thanks much for you help!