Kansai Vacation -- Bonus Coverage!

Jonas and his My Two Dads moment. As I said, he wasn't sure who was who, so he decided to latch onto both of us.

As if everyone hadn’t already seen and heard enough of our travels through southern Japan, we’re back with even more coverage thanks to semi-pro photographers Mer and Abe. The first picture below is one of my favorites from our entire time here. There is no question that the only reason this woman approached me to chat was because of Jonas. He really has opened up a unique side of Japan for us that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

Supposedly the most photographed image in all of Japan. Abe added to the pile.



Kansas and its ball of twine have nothing on Japan. How about a giant rice spoon?

Tasting some sake.


This is a pretty good picture of what the typical small-time hotel bath looks like in Japan. For those of you who haven't seen Mr. Baseball, you sit on the stool and shower before climbing into the bath. It doesn't seem odd at all to me any more.

Yes, that's a monkey grooming a deer. Not pictured: the monkey later came over and did Tricia's hair.

The monkeys … these photos are as close as I came to them. This was not a zoo situation. The monkeys were roaming around wild, and as many a sign warned us, if eye contact was made, the monkeys were absolutely not responsible for what followed, such as them gnawing off your nose. To be absolutely clear, large pictures of monkeys on the attack were prominently displayed throughout the grounds. There was no doubt in my mind that Jonas not only would make eye contact, he would do everything in his power to make actual physical contact with the monkeys. He has a stuffed Curious George at home, and if he can't tell the difference between me and Abe, I wasn't betting on him telling those two apart.

So, after enjoying not one but two gondola rides to the top of this mountain (where, let me tell you, I sweat bullets from start to finish. I’ve always had this idea that Jonas would manage to jump off my lap and leap out the window in these situations. This is why I stayed on the ground months ago in Hokkaido when Tricia and Jonas gondoled up a mountain. I would have done the same here, but it didn’t seem to be going along with the overall spirit of that day’s group activity) Jonas was sequestered in the visitors center. And that meant I was sequestered, too, because he flipped out every time I left the room on this trip (which you think would make me feel good, but in fact just made me feel tired). So, I was forced to sit with him while the others, as the Japanese would say, enjoyed the beautiful nature. At least I can enjoy the pictures.

Only the first of two gondola rides. I still have nightmares.

Some geisha in Kyoto that Mer for some reason thought were phonies. I wasn't even there, so I don't know the story behind that.

Here I am recreating Tricia's panicked expression when she thought I was heading to the wrong booth to buy chocolate ice cream. Even though I had seen a couple walk out of said booth with chocolate moments before, she insisted we go somewhere else, where it turned out, they only sold vanilla and green tea ice cream. Notice I'm eating chocolate. Tricia, vanilla. Jonas didn't seem to mind what flavor he ate.

Me, lighting a candle praying for familial harmony and happiness.

Wish granted.