I visited Alishan when I was young, and I’ve been wanting to visit again for a long time but never did due to my fear of crowds. I learned recently that due to the damage caused by typhoon Morakot, tour busses could not go to Alishan, so there were very few visitors. As a result, the local government of Alishan started providing free van transportation between the Chiayi train station and Alishan. So, we finally went but it was a so-so trip except for the forest trails. The air was not as crisp as I remember and the night sky was not as full of stars as I remember. Actually, there were only four or five stars. Even the temperature was not as low as I remember. Maybe memories are best when left alone. At least on this trip we were supporting the plan of the department of Alishan scenery management even though we did not have the expensive lunch boxes for every meal. Even 7-11 was closed. The father of the catholic church told us "people have been suffering in a big way."
以前去過阿里山,現因怕人潮, 雖想再去都不敢付諸行動. 今年八月的颱風嚴重損害阿里山區域, 道路坍壞, 禁遊覽車通行. 整個風景區情況悽慘撩落.這個月阿里山管理處為振興士氣,在嘉義高鐵, 台鐵安排小型接駁車到奮起湖, 希望吸引散客.”遊客少”是我們出遊的第一考慮.我們因此終於成行.但除了森林步道外, 其它都不足道. 記憶中清冽的高山冷空氣, 夜裡滿天星都不復見. 也許回憶就該存心底, 禁不起再確認. 但至少這回算是響應阿里山旅遊; 可我們沒每餐吃不便宜的便當 (連7-11 都關門 當地天主教神父告訴我們 "大家真的很慘啊 " )