The Journey, Part 2

Here we are, at week two of our fabulous Japan vacation--finally. We headed back to Tokyo via shinkansen (bullet train) and reunited with my brother. Incidentally, he had fattened up nicely since I had seen him last. An entire week of eating whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted had taken its toll.

We were able to visit my grandmother for Mother's Day. The kids actually had a great time at my grandma's place.


Here's Ellie posing with her namesake. She is named after my Aunt Sumie, who is my mom's younger sister.



Ohaka-Mairi (Grave-Visiting)

Something that I was thrilled to be able to do was visit my grandfather's grave. He passed away ten days before my mother did last year. It was a very interesting experience.

Here is my aunt cleaning the grave stone. Every stone in the cemetery was sparkly clean. It was beautiful and impressive. The stone is actually the marker for an entire family. So far, my grandfather's ashes are the only ones in this grave, but it is intended for the entire family.




My family's crest. Each family has one.




Here is the fruit of my aunt's labors. Pretty cool, huh?




Tokyo Disney Sea

We went to Disneyland. The truth is, Disneyland was a major factor in our dicision to go to Japan. For one, it is incredibly convenient to go to Disneyland in Japan, particularly if you are staying in the Tokyo area. So you just have to go. We actually guaged whether we would go to Japan based on whether Disneyland was going to re-open after the earthquake and tsunami. They re-opened about a week before we went, and Disney Sea re-opened the first week we were there. It was perfect.

Also, making our experience awesome was the fact that there were very few people there the day we went. We didn't have to wait in line, and we were able to see all the shows we wanted to see.

If you're wondering what Disney Sea is, it is a Disney theme park based on the ocean. It is quite fun, and definitely unique to Japan. (We skipped Tokyo Disneyland for this trip and opted to do one day only at Disney Sea.)

We went with some of my family's lifelong friends, the Sawaguchis. Yoshiko-obasan (Aunt Yoshiko) was my mom's best friend in junior high school, and they have been very close ever since. She has three children, one of whom is two weeks older than I. We've been friends, literally, since birth. Her name is Nahomi. She has a daughter, Sora, who is six months younger than my Ellie. But Judd decided she was his girlfriend. He still talks about her all the time.

Here's Yoshiko-obasan trying to reign in my son.





Ellie, Judd, and Sora hanging out with Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket.




I have no idea who this parrot-looking thing is supposed to be, but here's the crew again.




All in all, an awesome day. Perfect weather, no lines, great friends, lots of fun!

Lost in Tokyo

The Big Event of the trip happened when we came back to our apartments after Disney Sea. Easily one of the worst nights of my life.

By the time we reached Ueno Station (major Tokyo train station), Ellie was asleep and Jake had to carry her. Luella was in her stroller, and Judd was walking alongside. Jake, being tired from carrying Ellie all the way from Disneyland, went ahead of us and rushed to the apartment. I told Maki to go with Jake, so he went ahead, too. That left Lorraine, Judd, Luella, and me. It took us some time to get to the apartment because we had to carry the stroller down several staircases just to get out of the train station.

When we were almost to the apartment, Jake met us on the street, and we were chatting as we continued on our way. Jake said, "Where's Maki?"

I thought he was joking. He wasn't. My gut sank to my feet. Almost immediately, Jake went off in search of my brother. We agreed that Lorraine would stay with the kids and then I would head out to search.

As I was walking back toward the train station, I realized that there was no way we were going to find my lost brother in the middle of metropolitan Tokyo. No way. Oh, and by the way, this was about 10:30-11:00 pm.

Before I left the apartment, Lorraine had showed me on a map where the police station was. As I approached the train station, I ran into Jake who had basically circumnavigated a whole section of the train station. No Maki. I told him that we needed to go to the police. We went to the police station.

There was almost no one in the police station, despite it being one of the major stations in the city. (Lowest crime rate in the world, in case you didn't know.) A receptionist took our report and got an APB out. He sent me back to the apartment to look around that area and also to stay put so he could find me if he needed to. He sent Jake out to keep looking.

Just as I was entering the apartment building, I got a phone call. The police had found Maki. I was to return to the police station so they could take us to where he was. (Where had he gone that we needed a ride to get him?)

It turned out that he was at a satellite police station, a 15-minute ride by car. One of the police officers thought it would have taken 45 minutes, at least, for Maki to have ended up where he did. They said that someone found him in the street, crying. Fortunately, that person had called the police, which happened to be right around the time the APB went out.

After filing reports, many thank-yous, etc., we finally arrived at our apartments after midnight. It was a bad night. But, lots of prayers answered. Thank you, Tokyo Metropolitan Police. Thank you, Aunt Rainey.

In the interest of space, time, and not boring you, the reader, to death, we shall continue this travelogue at a different time. Stay tuned!

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The Journey, Part 1

It finally happened. We went. It was pretty much a last-minute decision, and motivated largely by a desire to not see a mountain of money get flushed down the toilet.

Which is to say, we went to Japan. We got back two weeks ago, so my blogging today is actually quite timely on my part. On April 30, we got up sometime in the 3:00 am hour, packed our kids and Maki into the SW, and headed to the airport to catch a 6:40 am flight. INSANE! There, we met up with our fearless travel companion, Jake's aunt Lorraine. She has traveled to Japan with us before.

3-hour flight to Los Angeles, then a few hours layover, which turned into several hours layover, then a complete ditch of the first airplane in favor of the "spare" airplane. Jake and I reminisced about our first trip to Japan together. It involved an emergency landing on an Air Force Base. But that is a different story.

Here is Big Bro getting excited about his big trip in L.A.




Here's Little Buddy being the complete punk that he is. He loved watching the big airplanes, though.




This is the airplane bassinet. Luella didn't really like it, but I sure did.



After the flight from hell, we landed in Tokyo (Narita). The airplane or airline is not to blame on this one. You should try traveling with three kids, ages 5 years, 2 years, and 11 months, on a 12 hour flight. Also, with an adult to keep track of. I will stop complaining here--if I don't, this posting will be all about how we should never ever ever travel with children. Ever. Ever.

We handed off my brother to my dear aunt, and we headed to our hotel. (My aunt took care of Maki for the first week.)

We had planned to spend our first week in Osaka, so after one night in the fine city of Narita, we hopped on a bullet train for Western Japan.

Here's half our crew in the shinkansen. Judd thought it was awesome.



Osaka

I have been to Osaka once. It was eleven years ago, and I went there for the sole purpose of going to Universal Studios. It was very hot, and we left quite early because of that. This would be my first real trip there.

Osaka has an aquarium that is supposed to be one of the world's best. We went there. I should also mention at this point, that our first week in Japan was what is called "Golden Week" because it is a week that has a handful of national holidays. Most people will just take the entire week off to travel. Thus, tourist attractions are insanely crowded during this week.

That is what the aquarium was like. Insanely crowded. (Sorry, no photos from inside the aquarium--way too many people. You don't know crowded until you've seen a crowd in Japan!) We managed to work through the crowd, though, and we did see some pretty cool things there.

This is at a fountain in front of the aquarium. In case you haven't noticed, Judd doesn't pose for photos. I guess Luella doesn't either.




This is at the mall next to the aquarium. This is an old fashioned truck--I think probably a food-delivery truck.




To be quite honest we used Osaka as more as a base for our excursions through Western Japan. For example, we took a day trip to Nara, one of the ancient capitals of Japan. This is another place I had never been. The big attraction for us here was Nara park, which is home to various gardens, temples, 200 or so tame deer, and a giant Buddha. Oh, and the largest wooden structure in the world.

This is a real, live, breathing deer. They were everywhere.




Five-storey pagoda.




Beautiful cherry blossom tree.




Beautiful garden.




Largest wooden structure in the world (Todai-ji). It is only 2/3 of its original size. This thing was enormous. You don't get a sense of its size unless you see it in person. It houses the giant Buddha.



I love giant Buddhas. I don't know why. I think they are really cool. I've seen the one in Kamakura several times, but I understand that this one is bigger.




This is the interior of the building. On the opposite side, almost across from this scary looking statue, is one of these huge wooden support posts. It has a hole cut out of the bottom of it, just big enough for a child or a small adult to crawl through. The legend is that if you can crawl through the hole, you are guaranteed enlightenment. (Incidently, the hole is the same size as one of the giant Buddha's nostrils.)



So, of course, my kids had to do it. Even if we had to wait in line for 45 minutes.

On Jake's birthday, which also happens to be Children's Day in Japan, we went to Kobe. So, of course, we had to have...Kobe Beef!




Isn't this beautiful!? We definitely splurged on this one!




It was a Happy Birthday treat for sure!

We spent one day at the Osaka-jo Koen (Osaka Castle Park). It's a huge park surrounding Osaka Castle. No, we did not visit the castle. After visiting the previous sites, we realized that such a historical wonder would be utterly wasted on the kids. So we did this instead. It turned out to be a good thing.




That wraps up our time in Western Japan. More to come later. For videos, please see my Facebook page. (I haven't figured out how to upload videos to Blogger via iPad yet.)

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As Promised...

Here it is, weeks after my last post here, and finally posting details of our Utah trip. It was just yesterday that I figured out the finer points of blogging on my iPad, particularly, posting photos. (My kids can operate this thing better than I can.) Here are some fun details:

My brother got a burger. We don't eat a lot of burgers with fries and soft drink around home, so he was happy as a tween girl at a Bieber concert.



Burger courtesy of LaBeau's, Logan, Utah. Check my food blog for details.

Cousins!




Maki letting loose.




The weather was crazy while we were there. Sun, rain, snow. We put flowers on my mom's grave. It was super snowy and then it got sunny. Kind of like the day of her funeral. The kids wouldn't stay in the car, despite the half-foot of snow.




Don't forget the obligatory McDonald's on the road.






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On the Road

Because our initial travel plans were shot and I desperately needed to get out and go somewhere, and because we are still up in the air as to whether we will still be going to Japan at all this year, we decided to make an impromptu trip to Utah. A mini-vacation of sorts. Jake hatched this plot at about 6:30 am yesterday (Saturday), and we were on the road by 2:00 pm the same day. Amazing, considering the mountain of laundry that had to be done beforehand. (I conquered it, in case you were wondering.)

So, here we are in Logan, Utah, on a trek to put flowers on my mom's grave and also visit my baby sister who lives here with her two kiddos. I would love to insert some adorable photos of all the Murphy cousins playing together, but, as usual, (1)I didn't take any good photos, and (2) even if I had, there's only about a 50% chance that I would have been able to figure out how to upload from camera to ipad and then on to Blogger. (I haven't owned the iPad for very long, and suffice it to say, my kids can operate this thing better than I can.) I will report, however, that the cousins are having a great time together thus far. We visit the grave tomorrow and hang out some more with the family before we head back to SLC and then back home.

I did, however, want to leave you dear readers with a few thoughts I had while traveling:

1. Why, oh why do business establishments only install baby changing stations in the women's room and not in the men's room? Well, I can tell you why, of course, but seriously, WHY? Between Denver and Salt Lake City, for this reason alone, I had the privilege of changing ALL of the diapers. I have two kids in diapers. That's a lot of changing. On what is supposedly my vacation. (I use that term tongue-in-cheek, of course.) Damn sexist pigs, if you ask me!

2. Those who know me and my life, will know my interest in "the extra chromosome." As I was in the thick of my amazing and awe-inspiring pre-trip preparations, I came to a realization of what the extra chromosome is. It appears to be the chromosome that makes a person unable to operate a zipper properly. This has been demonstrated with several, if not all significant zippers in the life of a certain person who has this extra chromosome, including ones that are supposed to be of such high quality that it can't possibly be messed up. But, that darned chromosome can do it every time, even on an Osprey daypack. Very seriously jacked up that zipper. I have dubbed it "The Zipper Chromosome."

3. I occasionally wonder if my dear husband and children might also carry The Zipper Chromosome.

4. I do believe that I carry "The Anti Zipper Chromosome." It's the part of your DNA that makes a person able to un-jack-up any zipper that has been jacked up by one carrying "The Zipper Chromosome." Yeah, I totally showed that Osprey who was boss.

5. Which joke is funnier:
Jake: Knock knock!
Ellie: Who's there?
Jake: Banana
Ellie: Banana who?
Jake: Banana
Ellie: Banana who?
Jake: Banana
Ellie: Banana who?
Jake: Orange
Ellie: Orange who?
Jake: Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Ellie: Knock knock!
Jake: Who's there?
Ellie: Hair
Jake: Hair who?
Ellie: Hair
Jake: Hair who?
Ellie: Hair
Jake: Hair who?
Ellie: Mountain
Jake: Mountain who?
Ellie: Mountain you glad I didn't say Hair?

6. Driving 12 hours with three kids under the age of 5 is not exactly a vacation. At least, not if you define a vacation as something you do for rest, relaxation, and fun.

7. Last night's sleeping arrangement was quite hilarious. Jake and Maki in one bed, Ellie and I in another bed, and Judd and Lu each in a cribs. I think the only person who was happy with her sleeping assignment was Ellie. Ellie and I learned something, though. A lot of strange noise comes from a boy's bed at night--we were awfully glad to not have to smell any of it!

If I get a moment, I will report some more on my earth-shatteringly interesting trip to Utah. Hopefully tomorrow. We shall see.

Going on Vacation

Airplane tickets:  purchased and confirmed
Condo rental: confirmed
Hotel reservation:  confirmed
Electronic gadgets to ocupy children:  purchased
Electronic gadgets to document children's delight:  found
Gifts for people we visit:  purchased
Enough appropriate clothing for everyone for duration of vacation:  check

According to my schedule, I would be cleaning and packing for the next two days before we leave on Saturday.

Big problem:  our destination is Tokyo, Japan.

Flights:  canceled
Condo:  canceled
Hotel:  canceled
Electronic gadgets for kids:  kids are playing with them
Electronic gadgets for documentation:  back in the closet
Clothing:  in a pile, still waiting to be washed

As it turns out, our family vacation is the least of anyone's problems. (In case you're wondering, my family is in the Tokyo area, safe from the tsunami. All accounted for, but struggling with the current situation. And scared to death for what the future may hold.) Though optimistic when I first heard the news, over the course of the weekend, I've come to realize that the situation is intensely bleak.

We, here in the U.S., we don't get the full effect of what has happened. We have NHK, a Japanese broadcaster, through our cable. Currently, it just plays news around the clock, with updates and reports regarding the tsunami, the earthquakes, and the nuclear power plant. When I sit to watch it, I just cry. When things get bleak, my silver lining is always that all things end at some point. This situation in Japan, hower, doesn't seem to end. Each new day has brought a new tragedy.

I have learned that (since an oil refinery blew up) there is no gasoline, even in Tokyo. My aunt is facing empty store shelves and packages not being delivered. She and her husband run the cafeteria of a dormitory, and there have been no food deliveries. Adding to this problem are the rolling blackouts. Twice a day, for three hours at a time.

Add to this, the fact that no one had reliable information. If you have been trying to follow this nuclear thing, you know that everyone is saying something different. It is becoming clear that no one is telling the whole truth. At this point, I'm hearing a lot of speculation.

So, dear friends, pray for a miracle.

Our last visit to Japan. That's little Ellie and my mom.

Not To Get All "Princess Bride" On You, But. . .

Jake usually calls me from work before he makes the daring drive home from downtown. After I hung up the phone today, Ellie asked me why I always tell Daddy to drive safe, "even if it's not snowing or raining or even if there's no tornado?" (Obviously, I need to have a conversation with her about her fears of the weather.) I gave her a totally lame explanation, but I was reminded of some enlightenment I recently experienced.

I remember an incident during my late teens, when I was at the height of my wisdom and maturity, getting upset with my mom because she had told me to drive safely. For the millionth time. And I was, technically, an adult. Also, it wasn't like I was going to drive unsafely on purpose. What a stupid thing to say. I'm sure some of you have had either a similar rant, or at least thought when you, too, were a mature and knowledgeable teenager. I think my mom said something to the effect that she was my mother and if she felt like she needed to tell me to be careful, then she was going to tell me to be careful. She totally put me in my place, but I really didn't get it at the time.

A few weeks ago, as Jake was leaving for his daily brave ascent into the city, I told hime to drive safely. It was then that things finally clicked. I realized that my mom was really saying, "I love you," every time she told me to drive safely. You see, my mom being Japanese and, on top of that, staunchly Japanese, she rarely explicitly expressed any emotion. I knew that's what she meant because that's what I mean when I tell Jake to drive safely. That's what I mean when I say many of the things that I say to my children.

That was my moment of love and enlightenment on this day after Valentine's.

Some random but somewhat related thoughts:

1. I crashed my car a week and a half ago. It was during a major snow storm. No one was injured. I probably could have avoided the accident, but, in my defense, no one told me to drive safe before I left the house.

2. In "The Princess Bride," Ellie figured out immediately that the Dread Pirate Roberts was really Westley. I think that when I saw it for the first time, I didn't figure that out until he actually took off his mask. I think I was 12 years old, too.

3. When Jake says, "Honey, I'm just really full," it really means, "Honey, your cooking really blows tonight."

4. When my kids say, "I love you, Mommy," it usually means they either just got something they wanted or they are about to get something they wanted. Either way, I'll take it.