April is shaping up to be a very busy month at our Japan Casa. It is the month of visitors. For those of you who don't know - we love visitors, so plan a trip if you haven't already.
It started last week with some good friends from Corning who came and stayed a week with us. They just left yesterday. In a few short days Gaye is arriving. Next week Tracy's brother Preston will be here. Then in early May we have some other friends from the US who used to live here visiting (the Kasdans). Wow, a lot of visitors and we love it!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Home
Sadly we are home now. The trip home was uneventful. We flew back on a
red eye and got back into Japan at around 830 in the morning. I actually
liked the red eye, I think Tracy wasn't as big of a fan. I was in charge
of Sean, she had Jack. Sean and I went back to an empty row of seats and
he sprawled out and went to sleep. That means I got some sleep. I don't
thing Tracy was as lucky. It was a bit hairy at the airport since we had
both kids up until almost 1 AM. We did see Richard Branson at the
airport (I am 90% sure it was him) so that was cool.
red eye and got back into Japan at around 830 in the morning. I actually
liked the red eye, I think Tracy wasn't as big of a fan. I was in charge
of Sean, she had Jack. Sean and I went back to an empty row of seats and
he sprawled out and went to sleep. That means I got some sleep. I don't
thing Tracy was as lucky. It was a bit hairy at the airport since we had
both kids up until almost 1 AM. We did see Richard Branson at the
airport (I am 90% sure it was him) so that was cool.
At almost the exact time we got back to our apartment the UNI game was
on so I got to watch it. The outcome stunk, but it was a fun game to
watch.
Everyone has settled into their normal schedules quite nicely. By
Saturday night I think everyone was back on a normal sleep routine.
Sunday was just a normal day. We mostly hung out around the house.
Back to work tomorrow. We had a dream vacation and I am very grateful we
were able to take it. A highligt for me personally was how much time
(and fun) we had together as a family. I am completely amazed by our
kids and cant believe how lucky we are to have them. I am going to miss
them when I go back to work.
Now our thoughts turn to future travel......
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday
I wish I had some more exciting things to post about Thursday, but I
don't. We have settled into a nice little routine here, so it was more
of the same. Before dinner Tracy and I went to a cool little beach side
bar and had some fruity cocktails while listening to the waves roll in.
Very peaceful - we thought about skipping dinner and stating there. We
tried a Japanese restaurant on the resort that we heard was good. It was
our first time trying Japanese food outside of Japanese since we have
lived in Asia. The place gave it a good effort - but you just cant
compare. I don't think I will try that again. Friday is our last day so
we plan to pack a lot in - well, really just another day of the same.
don't. We have settled into a nice little routine here, so it was more
of the same. Before dinner Tracy and I went to a cool little beach side
bar and had some fruity cocktails while listening to the waves roll in.
Very peaceful - we thought about skipping dinner and stating there. We
tried a Japanese restaurant on the resort that we heard was good. It was
our first time trying Japanese food outside of Japanese since we have
lived in Asia. The place gave it a good effort - but you just cant
compare. I don't think I will try that again. Friday is our last day so
we plan to pack a lot in - well, really just another day of the same.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday
Jackson and I at afternoon tea.
Afternoon tea.
We all went out for an afternoon walk. Sean didn't do much walking.
I wanted to get Sean's picture after breakfast. He wasn't too happy about it.
Checking out the fish swimming in the pond.
Afternoon tea.
We all went out for an afternoon walk. Sean didn't do much walking.
I wanted to get Sean's picture after breakfast. He wasn't too happy about it.
Checking out the fish swimming in the pond.
Well, it was another day very much like Tuesday. We still haven't left the resort and probably never will. There really isn't any need to. We have a great nanny while we are here but we are only comfortable going a short distance from home. We trust her, but who knows what could happen.
Daytime was the same old pool / beach rotation. That is not a complaint by the way. In the afternoon Jack was having a fit and would only calm down if he was being held - he is teething. We loaded up SP and Jack and went for a walk around the resort. After our walk we went into the club for snacks and drinks. It was afternoon tea time so Tracy taught Sean how to drink with his pinkie up.
After snacks we toured the children's activity area - it is great. It has a pool, trampoline, basketball, coloring, computers, ...... You name it. On Thursday afternoon the nanny will take Sean there to play.
Wednesday night we put the kids to bed and then Tracy and I went out for a couple hours (nanny at the room of course). We had a couple drinks and a light dinner at the club. We then did some shopping - several street type merchants had set up shop on the grounds. We bought some cool souvenirs and gifts to bring home with us. I was impresses with Tracy's new found haggling skills. She did great!
Daytime was the same old pool / beach rotation. That is not a complaint by the way. In the afternoon Jack was having a fit and would only calm down if he was being held - he is teething. We loaded up SP and Jack and went for a walk around the resort. After our walk we went into the club for snacks and drinks. It was afternoon tea time so Tracy taught Sean how to drink with his pinkie up.
After snacks we toured the children's activity area - it is great. It has a pool, trampoline, basketball, coloring, computers, ...... You name it. On Thursday afternoon the nanny will take Sean there to play.
Wednesday night we put the kids to bed and then Tracy and I went out for a couple hours (nanny at the room of course). We had a couple drinks and a light dinner at the club. We then did some shopping - several street type merchants had set up shop on the grounds. We bought some cool souvenirs and gifts to bring home with us. I was impresses with Tracy's new found haggling skills. She did great!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday
Tuesday was a lot like Monday. We haven't left the resort yet, and things are so great here I don't know if we will. Tracy may head out on a shopping and sightseeing trip but I am OK with my cycle of pool / beach. We spend most of the day at the pool. We got up early and claimed one of the pool side cabanas.
We are trying to get Jackson to nap outside, and with some effort Tracy was successful. He didn't sleep very long due to the antics of his two year old brother.
The kids are very talented - already writing their names.
We haven't tried it yet, but there are several ocean side tents where you can have dinner. I took they picture because I thought it looked pretty cool. Maybe later this week.
We hired a nanny again a couple time during the day. We tried the spa in the early afternoon and then we went out to dinner Tuesday night. Another great day.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday Photo Montage
Monday was a nice lazy day. Sean and I got up early and went down to the beach for a walk. There were a lot of people out jogging and swimming already. Sean's favorite thing was the tractor they were using to groom the beach (see below). He "mooooood" for about five minutes.
Sean and I then went and had breakfast while T stayed home with Jackson. He looks high class, doesn't he?
We then staked out a cabana by the pool and spent most of the rest of the day there. We brought a car for the boys to use (see Sean below). Sean figured out a way to honk then horn without taking his hands off the wheel - he hits it with his forehead.
One of my favorite things about the cabana. You have a little flag (see below). When the flag is in the up position its like a distress signal - well, it actually means you are thirsty or hungry.
Soon after raising my flag a cold beverage magically appears and the flag is now back in the down position. I love the magic flag and want one for the living room at home.
This is Jackson taking his turn in the car. He doesn't honk the horn with his forehead.
Tracy and Jackson playing in one of the other pools - there are dozens here to choose from.
We went down to the beach in the afternoon.
After a morning of swimming and running around like a wild man SP was out for a power nap on the couch. We thought he would wake up with a beard.
Back to the cabana in the afternoon. This is Jackson chilling out by the pool.
Hello ladies - my name is Jackson..................
Something about the sun and the pool - check out the curly hair on SP.
We got a nanny for a couple hours in the evening so Tracy and I decided to go into the club for some snacks and a couple drinks. Sean was on the couch watching Curious George with his new Indonesian friend. We first went down to the beach to watch the sunset.
We then walked around the ground a bit. Its a cool place at nights. Lots or torches, lights, and fountains.
So we haven't left the resort yet, and I am not sure that we ever need to! Overall a great Monday.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Travel to Bali
Very eventful trip so far. We had some trouble getting started yesterday – Sean woke up sick. He had a fever and was pretty much out of it. We were considering delaying our cancelling the trip, but he started to feel better so we decided to proceed as planned. We also had some encouragement from friends that we should go. A couple examples were “Get on an F’ing Plane” and “Dude, you need to go”.
On the way to the airport Sean barfed in the car, which almost set off a chain reaction as Tracy is not a fan. Once we got him out of the car at the airport he seemed better.
Both kids did great on the flight. It was about 7 hours nonstop. Sean slept a good portion of the way.
We got to the airport in Bali around 11:40 PM and it took a while to get through customs immigration. We packed WAYYY to much stuff – so we had to wait a while at baggage claim. Funny story at baggage claim – we got scammed pretty well. We had 5 checked bags (I know, too many). Five official looking guys showed up and each guy grabbed a bag – great service right? They took us through customs, and then had me stop to exchange money. Immediately after exchanging money one of the guys said “you should tip us now” and he showed me which bill to use. He said I needed to tip each guy! Like a sleep deprived idiot I did. Imagine the scene of five guys each with only one suitcase leading us to the hotel van. And, as I did the math in the head I realized that I tipped each guy the equivalent of $10 USD. Bravo, airport guys! You got me.
We got to the resort around 2 AM. This place is fantastic and it is going to be a great week. Our room is pool side and the ocean is just a couple hundred meters past the pool. The kids are napping now. I am drinking an Indonesian beer listening to the waves roll in.
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