On to Japan!

So, there was a gap between the State baseball championship and the Regional tournament. My sister-in-law Lindy said to me, "it's too bad you didn't bring your passport. We could've gone somewhere." See, she works for SkyWest and they are given buddy passes to fly standby on flights (not free, of course, but much cheaper than a paid passenger...and you only get to fly if there is a seat available). I looked at her, trying to contain the bubbling excitement inside of me...because I did bring my passport...for EXACTLY this reason!

After looking at what flights were available, we chose Tokyo (especially since they have a nonstop flight available). Now, this was my first trip to Asia--and thankfully before the perfect storm of natural disasters this year. Before we left, my brother said, "why Japan? There is nothing I really want to do there..."

Really? Sumo wrestling! Japanese baseball! Sushi! Shinto and Buddhist temples! Disneyland Tokyo! What's not to be excited about??? So, I was about to fly to Asia with 36-hours notice. Keep in mind, I don't need to have everything about a trip planned, but I do like to know where I am going, what there is to see, and how to get around. This was definitely going to be a new experience for me!

Lindy and I left for Tokyo the following day, with one of her co-workers. Trying to figure out how to get from the airport into downtown was a bit of a task. However, people were very friendly and helpful! We managed just fine!

We first started with exploring near our hostel...

 I don't know what this says, but I can read "hot dog" :)

 A beautiful 3-storied pagoda...I love the intricate detail!

The next day, we ventured out into downtown and let me tell you, it was H-O-T!!! Now, I've heard that Tokyo was hot, but when I read that the average high temp in July is 86 degrees (and the forecasted temp was 88, I thought that these "people" must be a bunch of pansies)...holy cow! I honestly felt that there was no point in taking a shower, because you were basically bathing in your own sweat...seriously, it was that muggy and hot! Keep in mind that as a redhead, the sun and heat are my mortal enemies...

However, there were plenty of things to keep my thoughts away from the blasted heat. For example...

 The Imperial Palace! We weren't allowed to go in, but it was still beautiful!

 Asian-style squat toilets...yeah, I stuck with using Western-style ones :)

Me outside of the Imperial Palace! 

 Japanese food...I'm not sure what we ate, but it was good!

 These stone dolls were everywhere! I don't know why, but there were hundreds!

What I lovingly call the Japanese Eiffel Tower :)...it's really called the Tokyo Tower

The next day, we made a very short trek to Disneyland Tokyo! I was amazed at how close to the city center it was located. Now, I know what you're thinking...you're thinking, "you're in a foreign country and you're choosing to go to Disneyland???" Well chew on this...the three of us were one of the half dozen (READ: six) Americans in the whole park. So, who got the true Japanese experience? The person who only sees the touristy Japanese sites? Or the ones who visits the sites that the LOCALS visit?

Disneyland Tokyo is very similar to Disneyland in California. In fact, if I could do it again, I would probably go to DisneySea, which sounds like it's a little different than what is available in the States. However, it was so much fun! What I loved: 1) they had SO many characters out to get pictures with (I wish Disneyland still did that); 2) they LOVE Stitch! I'm not that big of a fan, but I love how they commit to him as a major character at Disneyland Tokyo (might be the Anime appeal); 3) there were rides different enough that I wasn't constantly comparing it to Disneyland.

What I didn't love: they charge to extra for some shows...like the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, which was a whopping $40 extra for lunch! Ouch, no thank you! Overall, so much fun!

Entering the park...I'm so ready!

Entering Main Street, which they called the World Market Bazaar

The Haunted Mansion...looks more like a medieval castle to me...

So, I was riding Splash Mountain (as a single rider to get through the line faster of course)...now, at Disneyland Tokyo, you ride side by side, not single line. I was seated next to the girl in the red shirt. Her two friends were in front of us. They were "pretending" to take their own picture, but it was obvious they were trying to take my picture (I can only imagine it has to do with my red hair :) ). So, I pulled the classic Japanese tourist pose...the peace sign! They looked at their picture, turned to me and laughed, then took my picture again. Since they got my picture, it was only fair that I got their picture :)

Squirrel!

Sleeping Beauty's castle...fun fact, of the 5 Disney Theme Parks, only Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty have castles. Odd, because you would think that the Disney Park in Paris would belong to Belle, but you would be wrong!

I had no idea that Mickey was so multi-cultural!

I just LOVE this picture!

I 

 Minnie and me! She came right up to me...even with all the kids around :)

I love how there were random Disney characters walking around...I really wish Disneyland still did this, but I swear, you really see smaller characters like this anymore...

The parade...I love the costumes!

The Main Street Electrical Parade! Sully and Mike...

...with Boo!

The LDS Temple in Tokyo...very small property grounds, but still beautiful!

LDS Tokyo Temple grounds...yes, the wall and the fence are that close!

The outdoor market in Asakusa...where you can get all your touristy gift needs :)

The Senso-ji in Asakusa! I believe this is a Shinto temple...

The Two Buddhas in Asakusa...I believe the represent knowledge and enlightenment...but I could be wrong :)

The red lantern outside of Senso-ji in Asakusa...

So, we decided to go to a Japanese baseball game...what an experience. First, I had learned (and we had experienced) that for as technologically advanced as Japan is, they are still a cash drive society (NOT credit or debit cards!). We went to purchase our tickets and found out that it was CASH ONLY. Therefore, we had a mad dash to find an ATM machine that accepted international cards before the game began. Luckily, we made it in time! As you can see, the Tokyo Dome stadium was packed! We saw the Tokyo Giants and Nakamura Swallows play. The Giants are like the NY Yankees of Japan, so I was inclined to dislike them, but as we were only there for one game, I went ahead and cheered for them...

Baseball fans in Japan are like soccer fans...totally engaged and a little crazy! They had chants they sang, flags waved in the stands, dancing cheerleaders in between innings, the works!

We saw an amazing game that ended with an extra innings homerun... Awesome!

Our last day ended with souvenir buying and a trip back to the airport. However, remember that I was flying standby...and I missed the flight back to Salt Lake by ONE SEAT! Lindy said to me, "I can't leave you here by yourself!" I told her not to worry about it, I would find my own way home. As long as I was home by August 24 to start work again I was good (and that was more than a month away!). So, the two of them hopped the flight back to Salt Lake. I watched the flight take off, wondering, "what on earth am I going to do?"

I went up to the front desk and asked what flights were available for me to get home. I was informed that they next flight to Salt Lake left the following evening...OR...

I could try for a flight that left in a couple hours to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Ummm...was there EVER a choice?

On to O'ahu...

It all started with a phone call: Part 2 - State Baseball Championship

In continuation of my summer vacation...

As I stated before, my trip to Utah all started with a phone call...to go to my nephew's baseball game. After a detour through the Timp Caves, we went to the ball fields to watch America's favorite pastime...

Now, it's hot in Utah...freakishly hot! Even with evening games, I don't know how those boys played in the heat, but they were awesome! I know everyone thinks that kids playing T-ball is SOO CUTE...and it is...for about 5 minutes. Then, it gets boring...fast. However, when kids get old enough to really play, those are fun games to watch! It was so American, I felt like I waving a flag and eating apple pie (which says something as I despise baked fruit...but I digress).

My nephew Parker's game was first. They were still playing regular season games, but it was still fun to watch him play. Here are a couple pictures of him rockin' it on the 8-year-old team.

Trust me...he caught it!

By the way...they won!

Now, I'd been going to baseball games all week. My nephew Zach's 12-year-old team was unstoppable. At that age, they have the 10-run rule (if you are ahead by more than 10 runs at the 4th inning, the game is over). They were constantly winning with that rule. And they finally made it to the championship game.

Both of these teams would be going on to the regional tournament in Panguitch, UT (yes, that is a real town, look it up). It was a hard fought game...and if I remember correctly, the first game where they went the full 6 innings. But they won the state championship. It was an incredible experience for my brother (who was one of the coaches) to share with his son. Below are some pictures of the final game...

Zach hit that ball into the fence for a double.

He was SO ready to steal 2nd base :)

His ready stance...he was so close to hitting a home run with this at bat!

The winning team! Many of them look so serious...I'm so happy that my nephew has a big 'ole smile on his face...PROUD!

(By the way, the fought hard, but didn't win the regional championship. Way to go Tooele All-Star Baseball team!)

Up next...It all started with a phone call: Part 3 - So you want to go to Japan

It all started with a phone call: Part 1 - Timp Caves

In continuation of my summer update...

Fun with my nieces came to an end. However, my summer fun had just begun! It called started with a phone call...from my nephew Zach in Utah! His all-star baseball team was in the state play-offs and he wanted us to watch him play. I thought, Why not? What else do I have going on this summer?

So, thanks to standby flying (a great blessing and worst nightmare...I'll get to that later), my mother and I flew down to Utah the same day I said goodbye to my nieces. Now, I'd lived in Utah for about 7 years total. Yet, in all that time, there were many things that I didn't do or see...I always thought, I'll get to it eventually.

Well, eventually never really came and I moved back to Seattle. So here I am, back in Utah with the option of going on a hike with my sister-in-law, her sister, and their kids. They were going to hike Mt. Timpanogos to the Timp Caves. Why not, I thought...you'll notice most of my activities start with that comment :).

However, there are a couple things you have to understand. One, it was Utah in July...freakin' hot! In order for us to hike without suffering extreme heat exhaustion, we had to leave early in the morning (which meant a 3-alarm early wake up call...and during my summer break...bummer). Two, I had just flown in from Seattle, which is at sea level...Mt. Timp is 11,750 feet above sea level. Some of you may see where I'm going with this.

We began our hike and man were we bookin' it! They give you about 90 minutes to get from base to the caves before the tour starts...we made it in about 45 minutes. Normally, not a big deal, but I was just at sea level 24 hours before! So, my little body was huffin' and puffin' all the way up. Close to the top, a feeling of vertigo set in...it was either that or I was poisoned by plant life like in The Happening...highly unlikely but Hollywood tells me it's a possibility ;).

If you've never felt vertigo, it's not a fun feeling with there are steep cliffs around you. I'm just sayin'...

Here are some pictures of what I saw:

Me at the base of Mount Timp. My third national park in two weeks.

What the Mount Timp National Park looks like from the base...pretty green for Utah in July!

Finally at the entrance to the cave.

Helictites, stalactites, and stalagmites...some of the amazing sites in the cave (my science teacher would be so proud!)

Closer view of the helictites up close...

Hi ho, hi ho, it's back to home we go

We had some fun our time is done

Hi ho, hi ho, hi ho

Quite the view, right? Of nature, people! Yeesh...

Coming up...It all started with a phone call: Part 2 - State Baseball Championship

Summer with the Nieces 2010

This summer, my sister and I got to spend a whole month with two of my nieces! They live in Texas and I hadn't seen them in almost two years. We decided to give them the "Best of Washington" tour, in case they don't get to make their way back to us for the summer (hey, as sports and jobs start to take over their summers, these fun adventures with them may be our last hurrah). Unfortunately, our tour involved A LOT of driving. Here is a recap of our adventures:

To the Pacific Ocean! We took a trip to Seabrook, WA (6 hour round trip drive from my home). It's north of Ocean Shores, but much less crowded...and more scenic in my opinion. The area includes beaches, hikes, bikes, and gorgeous cabins, like the one we stayed in (above).

http://www.seabrookwa.com/town.asp

This is what some of the other cabins look like...beautiful, right?

The inside of our cabin...I'd love to live there!

My niece Madi out on the Pacific Ocean beach.

Playing in the ocean...yes it was cold, but you get use to it :)

This is why I love the Pacific Northwest!

A couple days later, we went to Mt. Rainier...5 hour drive roundtrip...

My niece Paige and me.

By the way, this picture is taken in July...and we're standing in snow! Too bad I wore my Teva sandals...my toes were freezing!

All that snow means gorgeous waterfalls!

Apparently Paradise IS in Washington state!

Another day, another trip...this one to Mount St. Helens and the Ape Caves.

(And yes, another 6 hour roundtrip adventure!)

Okay, so it WAS clear and beautiful that day...until we got closer to Mt. St. Helens! So sad they didn't get to see it! :(

This is what they were supposed to see!

Following these trips, we went out to our grandmother's house on the Olympic Peninsula. We had planned to take them to the Sol Duc Hot Springs and Hoh Rainforest, but needless to say, they weren't really interested in yet another 5 hour drive. Oh well, maybe next time if they come to visit again!