Japan

So whose idea was it to take the girls to Japan and why! Perhaps we liked the idea of exposing 350 people to the little bundles of joy for 10 hours on the flight, or a macabre interest in what jet lag does to 8 month old little ones, or perhaps how easy it is (or isn't) to travel for 48 hours across the world and cultures with 25lbs of baby strapped to your chest. In fact all of these turned out to be surprisingly non events. They had fun on the flight although did not sleep, and we lucked out on an getting an extra seat. No problems on the travel front either with everyone including the girls happy for most of our travel time including a one night stay in Tokyo. They then switched immediately to Japan time and slept 12 hours a night except for brief periods of snuffling due to colds picked up on the way.

Some brief highlights of our trip included taking the girls to a swank cafe in a high end department store in Tokyo where the entire staff fell in love with them and on our return trip just about stopped service as a result of our brief second visit. Several lunches in very Japanese restaurants where sitting on the floor at traditional low tables made taking care of the girls a joy. Walking in the CW Nicol Afan woodlan trust in crisp autumn weather, spotting a wild monkey in a tree by the pig field opposite our accommodation in Kurohime, and listening to Zanti's attempts at pig ranching! Eating some of the best apples I have ever tasted, which the girls enjoyed also. Miwako had fun with the girls at their first Japanese hot bath, and we all enjoyed eating excellent Japanese Italian food afterwards. We alos enjoyed a concert piano rendition for Aila and Zanti followed by the girls playing piano for the first time. Last but certainly no least we enjoyed hanging out in this lovely rural area of Japan with Nic, Miwako's dad. Spoilt we most certainly were and did we pay for it when we got back .......... oh yes!



Now I know what jet lag and 8 month olds have in common.. ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh!