Family Day #3 - Yokohama

Yokohama is the city directly to the west of Tokyo. It sits at the western edge of the bay, and as we found out when we were there it has more of an ocean feel to it than anywhere we've been in Tokyo. The air there actually has that salt spray feeling that I love. The best thing is that it is only about 1 hour from our apartment. Only 24 minutes by express train from the other side of Tokyo.

It also has the 2nd largest Chinatown in the world. Someone told Kirk it was the largest Chinatown in Asia...to which Kirk had to reply 'well wouldn't that be Beijing?' Yep, gotta love the hubby. There were some really nice temples and shrines there, but with Sarah we weren't up to climbing the steps to get to them. Sometimes you just have to know when to say 'next time'.

The area where Sarah and I had our photos taken is outside a really cool shopping area that has been created inside these old brick warehouse buildings. There are two building full of little shops of every sort, from custom leather goods to tea to glasswork. A park has sprung up around them and there were tons of people just out enjoying the ends of the day by the water.

The last pic is of the cruise ship dock and yep, that is another park that has been created on top of the building. Japan is huge on eco-projects and putting grass on top of buildings is apparently just one way that they offset the greenhouse gases the businesses cause.

We're already planning a return trip because there was just so much we didn't get to see. There are areas of town that date back to 1850 when Yokohama was the first port city to receive foreigners. Most of those buildings have western influences and have been declared national treasures. There are also parks in that area that have French, Italian, British and Spanish influences, all within walking distance to each other.

Kirk and I both agreed that if we were living in Japan for the long haul Yokohama would be a beautiful city to live in. As it is, we'll have to settle for frequent visits.

Family Day #2 - Ueno Zoo

Technically it is the Ueno Zoological Park. Zoo actually means elephant in Japanese but dang it it's always been a zoo to me and I'm too lazy to type out the whole name.

Leave it to the Tokyo-ites to never do things in half measure. The Ueno Zoo is both a zoo and a park all in one taking up acouple of square miles of prime Tokyo property. The animal displays are an amazing combination of old zoo (read square box to hold animal) and modern displays complete with small brooks for the tigers and a wonderful a/c system for the polar bears.

I'm really not one for birds but even I had to be impressed with the variety they have here, and all three of us sat for probably 20 minutes and watched the monkeys. We spent the entire day wandering and were alittle depressed when the speakers came on during the last hour to tell us that some of the animals were being moved to their nighttime enclosures so don't miss them.

We came to find out that rather than a warning to hurry up and see them, they were really saying that you should go to the nighttime closure displays where some of the animals can be seen from less than 20 feet away. I had no idea hippos were as massive as they are, the picture definately doesn't do him justice. We were also able to see black rhinos and a giraffe this way and it was amazing!!

Make sure to look closely at the water lilies behind Kirk, yes, they are as tall as he is and some of them were a good 3-4 feet in diameter. I don't think we got a picture of the overall 'pond' but it is huge and atleast half of it is filled with these. Kirk and I discussed how we would love to go back when they are in bloom, it must be gorgeous.

By the time we got to the petting zoo Sarah was sacked out, but that was probably for the best, she's still alittle young to enjoy it. We did manage to see most of the animals but the other half of the park which contains the gardens and the temples will have to wait for another day...

Sarah at Four Months

Wow baby girl, another month gone. Where does the time go? For you and I a day flew past in travel so maybe that accounts for why it seems like the entire month flew by. Atleast we are finally together with your daddy again and he couldn't believe how much you've grown. In the last month while he was gone you:

* Started sleeping 10-11 hours a night. Yay Sarah!!! (Mommy is especially appreciative of this one.)

* Became so much more reactive to everything and everyone in your environment. I can watch you just absorbing everything these days instead of just being along for the ride.

* Learned how to hold you head up for over 5 minutes during tummy time.

* Learned how to grab ahold of you toes, and now I find you almost every morning sitting here talking to them with one of them in your hand.

* Took your first airplane ride, and boy was it a doozy. Almost 6000 miles.

* Learned how to roll from your belly to your back on purpose.

* Learned how to roll from your back to your belly, but only to the right. Your poor left side is left out. Your favorite game is now to roll from your back to your belly then scream til I roll you back over. Rinse and repeat until I finally give out and pick you up.

* Enjoyed your first typhoon. Ok, we were only on the edges but it make lots of wind and rain for you to enjoy from the balcony.

* Found your thumb, and learned that it's perfect for sucking.

* Went to your first aquarium, and boy did you ever love it.

That's alot of firsts baby girl, I can't wait to see what the next month brings us. I'm certain whatever it is will include lots of laughs, barrels of kisses and tons of love.

Family Day #1 - Tokyo Sealife Park

So, the hubby and I have decided to try and put aside one day a week as a 'family day'. Really, just one day we don't run errands or spend all day on the computer or otherwise waste a perfectly wonderful day off. To that end, we decided this week to make a trip to the Tokyo Sealife Park, which proved worth every bit of it's 700 yen (~$7.00) entry price.

Of course I'd have paid the price of admission just for the picture shown above. It was truely a magic moment when we walked into the first big room there which opens onto their tuna display. Sarah got one look at the fish and was absolutely enchanted. She couldn't tear her eyes off of the fish as they moved past and she had the biggest look of amazement on her face.

Kirk ended up taking her out of the stroller and carrying her around in the baby pack and she loved all the displays except the really dark ones. I don't think her baby eyes are quite up to picking out a three inch burgandy lobster in an almost black tank. lol

Besides the tuna tank she also loved the penguins, giggling at them as they swam past the underwater display window. There was also a very brightly lit tank that was a display of southern california wildlife that she couldn't get enough of. She talked to that one the entire time we were in front of it.

All in all it was a wonderful day, totally sunny which is rare enough in Tokyo and close enough to the coast to not be dripping in humidity. Not sure what our next excursion but Kirk and I both agree that if today is any indication Sarah is gonna be a scuba diving water baby for sure.