Hakone Yunessun

As stated in an earlier post, we have decided to take advantage of weekends off-call and experience as much of Japan as possible. We decided this weekend to head towards Hakone, a hot springs area, for the day to go to the 'Yunessun". This is a mixture of hot springs spa and amusement park.

The drive was only about 2 hours (we got lost for about 20 minutes though - so about 2:20) and we were there! Parking was easy and the people working there seemed used to English speaking customers and were very nice in explaining what we needed to do.

First, we split off (boys and girls) to the locker rooms to get ready. When we were done, we met up in the first area known as the Aegean Sea pool. This was a huge heated indoor area with shallow waters, jet sprays, bubbles, etc. They even had a 'thunder and lightning' theme accompanied by cool splashed of rain water coming down at you once in a while. I think the kids would have been fine if we stayed in this area all day. There were a lot of other people - but it never felt crowded.




Next we headed up the stairs to the dreaded OUTSIDE! It was freezing out. Literally. We were up in the mountains, snow still covering the ground. So to run outside in your bathing suit was less than desirable. But right outside the doors was a hot tub to soak in and warm up your body. Then, you could walk up the stairs to "rodeo mountain". There were 2 more tubs at the top of the stairs, to regain your warmth again. One was super hot, another was just hot. Once you were boiling hot again, you could get to the top of the slides and have fun! Evie was too small to go down the slides - but she still went up and soaked in the top with me. Patrick and Gavin went down a few times (as Evie and I sat in the lower hot tub) and I went down once with Gavin (just to experience it. It was so awesome to be outside in freezing air - but be totally warm. I am so glad we went in the winter - as I think the experience would not be as amazing in the summer.








After we had our fun with Rodeo Mountain, we headed back inside for the Dr. Fish. This is a large pool that has those fish (you know you have heard about them) that eat the dead skin off of your feet. It tickles to high H*LL but was such a cool experience. The kids were troopers and joined us. We told them they were "kiss fish" that kiss your feet...so they were excited! After the first few squeals (from all of us - including Patrick) you started to get used to the tickling feeling. The kids flinched everytime one touched them, but I tried to stay still to get a few on and get some pics. You got 4 minutes in the pool - which was long enough!!!







After the kiss fish, we headed towards the outside pools. The kids were most excited about these for some reason when they saw the brochure. The was the chocolate bath, the coffee bath, the red wine bath, the green tea bath, the sake bath, the charcoal bath and a waterfall bath. Each supposedly has benefits for your skin or health - but all I know is they felt like heaven. Again, we had to muster the courage to take the first steps outside to get into the hotness - but we were so happy we did! I think the kids liked the red wine bath the best (they are my kids, of course) because it made them look purple! I liked the sake one because it was the hottest. The green tea one was also very soothing...so I couldn't really give a favorite. Just imagine how you feel after sitting in a hot tub for a while - and multiply (safely) by 5 hours!!! So utterly, totally exhausting and relaxing. It was great...especially because the kids loved it just as much as Patrick and I did!

Here are a few of the outdoor pool pics:

Coffee Bath -




Red Wine Bath -





Green Tea Bath -






Sake Bath -
no pics

Charcoal Bath -



Waterfall Bath -




Random Bath at top of mountain -


What the kids looked like on the way home -

Gyoza making!

Yesterday I had another culture group activity. We went to the local community center (off base) and the Japanese ladies taught us how to make gyoza (dumpling-like things) and soup. We had an awesome time and I can't wait to make them for Patrick (he LOOOves them)!

Evelyn's school

I am sure I have posted how reputable Evelyn's school is...receiving accolades as one of the best in Japan. They have a waiting list to be accepted and is well known as being the best around. Well, now they can actually say they are the best IN THE WORLD! Click here and see what I mean! Check out the fist video (her school is Fuji Kindergarten in Tachikawa, Tokyo area. They have been awarded top honor for exemplary education facilities that promote learning and well being! I am very happy for them as they have such amazing staff and an amazing school. You are going to be jealous that you didn't get to go to a cool school like this!!!

A different mind set...sort of

I feel as if I have finally hit the much anticipated '6 month mark' in Japan so I am finally considering it home. I have had a change of mind set/heart in planning vacations and time with our family. I still look forward to visiting the states (that is why I included 'sort of' in the title) - but I am also concentrating a LOT more on enjoying our time here! I am loving my Japanese Culture Groups, especially when we go off base and learn more about their culture (see pictures from my last outing below). Even Patrick is getting into this new mind set. He has had many patients come through his office, heeding the advice of enjoying our time now...not waiting until the last year to do all the things Japan has to offer.

So, in response to our new mind set...here are a few of the fun activities we have planned for the 1st quarter of 2011!

Hakone Yunessun -
The Yunessun is a spa resort zone where you can enjoy more than 25 different kinds spa related services and fun water recreational activities. It is like being at the beach, so bring your swimsuits. The main Spa facility is called The God's Aegean Sea and will amaze you with its fantastic aqua surroundings.There is a Mediterranean theme for the amusement spas along with the Turkish Hamam and the Ancient Roman Baths. Combined with the relaxing Spa enjoyments at Yuneesun it also has a less relaxed, more wild side, including huge waterfalls and water slides. Fun for the whole family, both young families with their young children can enjoy being together. Yunessun is a place to experience in Japan!

The New Sanno Escoffier Valentine's Day Dinner - The New Sanno Hotel, situated in the heart of the world's most expensive city, offers 149 luxurious rooms. Available to I.D. card holders and their guests, The New Sanno offers a variety of accommodations and restaurants in a helpful, English-speaking environment. The Valentine's Day Escoffier Dinner is an eight course dinner accompanied with a selection of fine premium wines and fabulous live entertainment to enhance the evening. We have a double room booked, and a babysitter to come watch the kids in our room while we attend the dinner. The next day, we plan on visiting the Tokyo Tower and sight seeing around town.

Ski Vacation - We were able to steal a friend's ski vacation (their son broke his foot so they couldn't go). They had done a ton of research for a good family place to go (that speaks English) and loved their trip last year. Alpine Lodge is situated in the mountain township of Minakami, one of Japan's premiere hot spring and ski resorts in the North of Gunma Prefecture. The lodge is primely located in the Yubiso area (valley of the hidden hot springs), which lies in the center of Minakami's 9 ski fields, with the closest field just 200 meters from the back door. They have Western style bunk beds (instead of mats on the floor like traditional Japanese hotels), American food (hamburgers, fries and beer), as well as give private ski lessons in English. We plan on enjoying the onsens (hot spring baths) the first night, private ski lessons for the kids the next morning, then family ski time for the rest of the trip.

Karaoke - Another trip into Hachioji with my Culture Group (from Olympus). Fun night of drinking, eating and singing!

Nagano - We are so excited to go see the snow monkeys, as well as the famous town/resort that the Olympics were held. We plan on staying up there (still have to book a room) and skiing with the kids again at the kid park.

These are just the weekends that Patrick has off and we have nothing else planned...so as you can see we are starting to really fit in here!

Winter Break Re-hash...

On Dec 7 - the kids and I ventured back to the states for a much needed vacation. We were gone for a month, and tried to savor every last second. It FLEW by- but at the end, we were happy to head "home" to Japan. I was happy that we finally considered it home.

The flight home was awesome. That's right, I said awesome. By myself. With 2 kids. But it really was! We left our house (the shuttle picked us up at 12:30pm) and it took less than 2 hours to get to the airport (it usually takes 3-4). We got through security and baggage, etc with no problems and the kids played with the computer and the DS quietly. We boarded the plane and it took off at 7:05pm (right on time). About 2 hours later, they served dinner and we all crashed! The kids slept for almost 8 hours - which made the trip so much better! We only had about an hour left when they woke up, and by then they were so excited to get to Tishymom's that they were on best behavior!

The only negative thing was one of our bags got lost - but they found it and delivered it the next day. It took about 4 days, but we shook the jet lag and just hung out. Literally. Some days we didn't even get out of pjs. It was gluttonous, relaxing and bonding. My littlest sister Kaitlin was also home for part of it, and I really enjoyed putting the kids to bed and hanging out with her and my mom.

We also got plenty of time to visit my Dad and Patrick's parents. We even threw a few days with the cousins! I got to see aunts and uncles, watch the Eagles comeback for an amazing win, and go out to lunch with my BFF and her kids. We got family pictures, went shopping (a ton) and I got to take a girls night (with my sisters and said BFF) to Atlantic City. Patrick's original plans to come home were ruined... but he was able to get back to the states anyway, arriving Christmas Eve and surprising the whole family. Let's just say, it was definitely a Christmas to remember. His absence/arrival meant more to us than ANY present. But I still loved the iPad and Chanel purse he bought me!

Once he left to go back to Japan, the kids and I headed west for Ohio (we had been in PA for 3 weeks by then). It was also an amazing trip...but much more hectic! We arrived at 4pm on a Thursday and I had a party to be at by 6! I got to go to my 6th annual Ornament Exchange, we had a playgroup reunion with ALL of our friends (even ones who already moved away to Detroit, SC, and other parts of Ohio), we got to go with friends to WildLights at the zoo (6th year), see old neighborhood friends, go bowling, go out to eat with the girls... basically everything i wanted to do. I shopped at Target, Easton, Tuttle and Polaris Malls. We ate at Red Robin, First Watch, Jenis, Movie Tavern and Oscars. We got to 'live' with our bestest friends for a few days and spend some quality one-on-one time with other besties. I got to visit with friends from my childhood and I realized how much I really really love Ohio. The people, places and feelings are amazing there. Oh yeah, the Buckeyes also won their bowl game!!! It was a great trip!

The trip back to Japan was not a night flight - so the kids were up for a lot more of it. They did sleep for about 4 hours - but they did a great job entertaining themselves. Each seat had its own tv and movies/games - so they used that, their DS and my laptop. They really did great! Patrick was waiting for us when we arrived (right on time) - but it was in the middle of rush hour thru Tokyo...which ended up making Evelyn car sick :-( Once she got it out og her system she was fine...but I felt bad for her! We got right on track for jet lag this way too...and didn't miss a beat. The kids started school after the weekend was over and we have been fine ever since!

I am so glad we went - and so thankful for everyone who opened up their homes, schedules and lives to us! We loves seeing each on of you and are so glad to have friends and family who love us like you do!

Japanese New Year celebration lunch

Today we went with our culture groups to celebrate our new year. The Japanese women took us to a cool place called Kourakuen for lunch and some fun festival-like activities. I still am not a huge fan of fish, sushi, etc - but I made a valiant effort to try most things on my plate...even if it was just one bite. I couldn't bring myself to eat the prawn with the eyeballs still on it - but most of the other things were ok. Let's just say I filled up on rice :-)

After we ate, they had a performing group come and dance in a dragon costume, put on the creepy smiley face masks (as my friend, Christa, said - it reminds you of Silence of the lambs), and then a drum and dancing bit. We all got up to dance - which turned into a Japanese conga line! It was great fun, and a reminder of why I LOVE joining these groups. I would have never gone there on my own (or even with Patrick) or gotten to experience it with personal guides, explaining what the food was, why the dance was important, etc.

As we were leaving we noticed a special room that had a pond inside. It turns out, you can personally fish in there, catch fish, and the chef will cook it up right in front of you! I really wished I liked fish more - because that sounds fun to me!!!