Sun Moon Lake Travelogue – The Cable Car and Lake Views

August 6, 2010 — Sun Moon Lake Travelogue, Part 2 of 6: The Cable Car and Lake Views

Canon EOS 500D 18–55mm F3.5–5.6 + Speedlite YN-468

We had arrived at Sun Moon Lake, and our first plan for the day was a cable-car ride to admire the lake.

The station was nicely laid out. With the beautiful surroundings and pleasant weather, even waiting in line felt comfortable ^.^

Visitors waiting to board at the Sun Moon Lake cable-car station — Pleasant morning weather made even the wait feel easy.

The Sun Moon Lake cable-car station and surrounding greenery — Greenery surrounding the cable-car station.

The boarding area at the Sun Moon Lake cable-car station — Getting ready for our first cable-car ride of the day.

I had expected to spend half the day in line, but with a capacity of 3,000 passengers an hour, we were aboard in no time ^.^

A gondola and the boarding platform at Sun Moon Lake — No half-day wait—we were aboard before long.

As the gondola left the station, the shoreline and mountains opened up beneath us.

A view along the route from the moving gondola — The view began to open up as we left the station.

The Sun Moon Lake cable car crossing forested hills — The gondola crossing the forested hills around Sun Moon Lake.

Looking over the hills and lake area from the gondola — The seven-minute ride passed faster than expected.

Huh...just like that, the seven-minute ride was over @.@'"

The gondola arriving at the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village station — Arriving at the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village end of the line.

The arrival station led to the entrance of the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. The gate had quite a distinctive design ^.^

The entrance gate of the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village — The entrance gate had a distinctive design.

Unfortunately, our relatives and friends weren't interested in the amusement-park attractions, so we hadn't planned to go inside. We settled for a family portrait at the gate—proof that we had at least made it this far @.@'"

The family posing together at the entrance gate — We skipped the park but took a family portrait at the gate.

Then it was time to ride back and enjoy the scenery again. We worked out the prized seats for photos and views: sit by the door on the way up to the village, and on the inner side for the return to Sun Moon Lake.

Watching the scenery from inside the gondola on the return trip — On the return trip, we kept looking for the best viewing seat.

Of course, when everyone in the gondola is part of your own group, you can sit wherever you like...ha...

Family and friends seated together inside the gondola — With our whole group in one gondola, every seat was fair game.

The hillside looked as if it had a planned walking trail. Anyone hoping to save money could probably put it to good use—though it might take several days at home before those ruined legs regained any feeling...heh...