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Published: June 30th 2008
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Went to Nikko this weekend with Haley, Chelsea, Amy, and Chris (almost everyone else went too but left later); left at 6:45 am on Sat. morning and took the subway to Asakusa (had to switch 1x to get there) - took 45 min. Then bought a World Heritage Pass for $36 which included the train to Nikko and back and buses and entrance to all shrines. Took the train to Nikko which took 2 hours. We packed lots of jelly sandwiches on left over hot dog buns from the BBQ and some left over hot dogs for lunch so we didn't have to spend a lot. Walked to our Japanese hotel and dropped off our bags but couldn't check in until 3 and it was 10. Saw a sacred bridge which was really pretty then we went to the shrines - got to see 4 of them, had to ask people where they were at because we went into the park at the wrong place (they were in a national park). Just like hiking to them, but there were roads, just lots of stairs and up hills. Most shrines and temples that we have seen were just one building but when
you go into the area there are tons of them, and they are so pretty. Saw the three wise monkey's which we thought would be a big statue but was on a building, but was still pretty neat to see. It took about 5 hours to walk around to all the shrines and see them. After that we went back to the hotel, checked in (40 yen/person) and rested up for a bit - it was just mats that you rolled out on the ground and bean pillows like those things you heat up in the microwave and get hot, but this was our pillow. We walked around to all these shops and found a little antique shop that had glasses for 10 yen each (10 cents!) and a bunch of other cheap stuff, but I only got the cups because the lady took them from me and told me to pay and I didn't have time to look around because a few others were coming in and it was pretty tiny. Not much of the other stores were still open because it was around 4-5. We met up with the others and they told us of a good place
to eat, we went to it and it was so neat. There were papers all over the wall that everyone who had eaten there had wrote something and left something behind. I wrote a little note. They served us our food - mine was noodles, rice, chicken meatballs on a stick and chicken on a stick (the meatballs were soooo good!). It was delicious. Then the lady came out with a plate and whispered a present and it was kind of like onion rings, but it was cute how she presented it. As we were eating some more camp people came in that are placed somewhere else and we didn't even know they were there! Funny how we all went at the same time, I guess Aimee said they saw some others too. Walked to a gas station after supper and got some japanese candies for snacks then just hung out in our hotel. We went to the bath area which is a room with little showers that you sit on a little stool and use the hand held nozzle then you get in a big onsen - like a hot tub. Kind of neat how they do it. I
did find a vending machine with beer in it at the hotel - they dont' sell it on the streets anymore, atleast what I've seen/heard. Had a rough night sleeping it seemed like it drug on and on and on. Woke up around 8 and it was pouring. Were going to go to the mountain to hike and see some waterfalls but it was $22 to get there and back and wasn't worth it in the rain. Chelsea and Amy went home right away and Chris, Haley and I walked around some more - went to one more shop. We got some samples at some shops (its nice because you can try a bunch of different things) and then took a train to the Kinugawa Onsen which our pass included transportation to. We didn't go to any onsens because we didnt want to pay for a bus to them and didn't want to pay to use them in the rain. Instead we walked around went to some shops and then went to a forest. I didn't want to go in at first because there was a big bar crossing the entrance but the only picture sign was no trucks, so
i decided later to go in and ran and caught up with Haley and Chris. We wanted to see a monkey but instead got a little surprise. I looked down and saw a worm on my leg and it looked like it was inside my leg half way - like it does in an apple. I tried to get it off but was to freaked out and started kicking and screaming and about crying, While Haley and Chris laughed their heads off until I didnt stop so Chris got it off. Haley got some on her and so we left. When we passed the bar I looked down and saw another one and haley and Chris laughed because they thought it was a leaf but it wasnt and then Chris got it off again. YUCK! We decided that they were leaches because they stuck on us. The first one didn't bite me but the second one did and it bled. We walked back to the station and went to a little onsen thing. We took off our shoes and you put your feet in this hot tub thing. it was so hot that the part of your feet that are
Three Wise Monkeys
Hear no... See no... Speak no... Evil in the water turn bright red for like an hour. I looked over and Chris had a leach on his neck (I stared for awhile because it looked like a mole) I got it off and it bled too. Then when I put my shoe on it was on my shoe! They wouldnt' go away! We checked the times for the trains and then went to a quick stop to get some lunch. I got a rice patty thing with salmon, and like a donut with cream but it wasn't a donut it was like a bun with cream - pretty good. Took the 12:40 train home and I slept most of it, until I got woke up by laughing and screaming and there was another leach on Chris' leg! We couldn't get rid of them! But that's the last one we saw. The train home took 3 hours to Asakusa (1 hour longer than the one there) and about 45 min - 1 hour home from Asakusa, so it took us 4 hours to get back to the hotel, exhausting! Went back to the hotel and took a shower then ate then crashed at 7:30! Slept throught the night.
Today went really well. Had a bunch of new kids and since the older class is packed we have some 5 year olds too. Makes things so much easier because they can do a lot on their own and the younger kids see them do it so they know they can. May was really good today because her friend Lara isn't here this week. They all were very good. We even got some kids that have been here both weeks from the other class. Kaito was in the other class and wasn't very good, but he never had any friends so this morning we saw him talking to some kids that were in our class so put him in our class and he was sooo good! He has friends and looks like he is having a lot of fun. This morning we went to the pool and that usually makes the day drag on but it went by so fast, they changed fast, put on sunscreen fast, it was amazing! This afternoon at the playground we have a stage so I got some kids to have an audience and sings songs and Stacie (new one) and Sophia sang songs
Gods
The shrines had different gods- some are white, green, blue, red, etc. and Stacie was so good. She was singing High School Musical Songs, and Little Mermaid songs, and it was a good sound too a more mature sound. When I got the songs stuck in my head and sing she said you can't sing those, they're teenage songs and your not a teenager.😊 They had the nannys and kids at the playground sitting and watching them, it was cute. Had a lazy night, its nice to rest.
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MOM
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Fun
So glad you are traveling and getting in some site seeing! I am also glad to see you making such nice friends! Miss you. MOM