Japan: Nikko in Nikko!

FYI This post is quite overdue, as these pics are from the end of April.  

"Never say 'kekko' until you've seen Nikko"—kekko meaning beautiful, magnificent or "I am satisfied"—is a reflection of the beauty and sites in Nikkō.  We didn't really name Nikko after Nikko... but we both liked the name, and we enjoyed out visit here in 2009, so we decided to come back with Nikko in tow.  

at the train station's food center... check out the varieties of oinarisans!

Kai was fixated on Thomas...

They think of everything in Japan.  But soo much extra packaging.  Insane.

Statue of Tenkai in Nikko, who revived Nikko after enshrining Tokugawa Ieyasu.  He was the chief abbot at Kita-In in Kawagoe prior to this.  

Nikko is also well known for the "three wise monkeys"

Kai showing off his pagoda jacket in front of a pagoda

Loving the buffet at the onsen we stayed at.... especially the ice cream

I did manage to go on a trail run (in my boxers as I forgot shorts)... and caught this sunrise from Mt. Daisen.

Japan: Back to Kawagoe! Nikko meets my folks!

Kai in front of Tenkai at Kita-in temple.  A head priest of the temple back in 1590.  

Back in Nippon!  It's always a shock.  Soooo many people, so much infrastructure, so many buttons on your toilet seat, and everyone riding bikes without helmets on.  It's good to be back.  The food here is amazing... now only if I could get a decent IPA in Japan... after our flight it took a few days of adjusting (... as in Kai would wake up at 4 am), but overall the jetlag wasn't that bad.  And with my folks around to help when the kids need to be helped, we adjusted rather quickly.  Here are some pics from the first few days of our trip.

Ojiichan teaching Nikko to dance

Nikko made Obaachan happy with no effort.

Thomas!  Turns out he's big here in Japan too!

Kai eating Ramen.  He's gotta learn to slurp... 

Our makeshift Bumbo for the first 2 days...

then we found this one!  Booya!

Thailand with Kai! (part 5 - Rai Leh & flying home...)

After a few nights in Phi Phi, we hopped on another boat to one of our favorite places from our tour in 2009.  Rai Leh/Ton Sai... When we left there 4 years ago, we vowed to come back.  Little did we know we'd be back with my folks, our son, and the Durbins!  Unlike last time when we stayed at a bungalow in Ton Sai for 3$ or so... we stayed on Rai Leh side at a nicer place with a pool.  Which was quite useful in keeping cool.

I'm going to let the pics do most of the talking as it's been so long now since this trip.  And I've been busy with Kai & adventuring around California...   

My dad photo bombing!

The main strip in Rai Leh... a wonderful respite from cars!

And at our favorite bar in Rai Leh... not a bad place to "chill"... the beach on Rai Leh is not welcoming for swimmers as it's rocky, but there are sandy beaches with in an easy walk from here... 

And the brekky session... life is quite hectic on Rai Leh... 

Monkeys!

On Phra Nang Beach.  One of the nicer beaches around... and one of my favorite beaches anywhere.  There's rock climbing, beautiful beaches, and a cave.  

Kai meeting the locals.  

definitely the chubbiest thai baby we saw on our trip

Pigs!

kitties.... YUM

Oh boy... 

Turbo Durbo doing.... something?

he's up on Mexican Lucky...

Kai in his favorite nook of the hotel...

NICE mercedes... the only car in Rai Leh...

Turns out you can drive to the boat for folks wearing umbrella hats..

Bye bye Tim & Laina...

On the boat to Krabi.

At the Krabi Airport

Flights direct from Yemelyanovo!

...

High 5!

mmmmm.... double chees pork... and bacon rolls... 

Guess what country we are in now... where the bathrooms have 50+ buttons... 

say bye bay Obaa-chan!