Shrines, Climbs, and Vines: Kyoto, Japan

 In April, we took a trip to Kyoto and Tokyo. We got really cheap flights and spent a long weekend exploring mainland Japan. 

Kyoto has a plethora of shrines!

And we made it just in time for the perfect Cherry Blossoms! 

We did a ton of train-riding, walking, climbing, and exploring!

We went to a park where we were the caged animals! 

The monkeys run wild and can come get snacks from the tourists. 

This guy happily obliged to take a photo with us. 

"Hey Dad, Hey Dad, Hey Dad!"

Monkey Moped?

A bamboo forest... no pandas here :(

Our favorite shrine... Fushimi Inari.

It is a mountain with Torii Gates leading to the top. 

We spotted two geishas, very expensive entertainment in Kyoto. 

Stay tuned for Tokyo, the next leg of our adventure! 

Camo Paint, Combat Boots, and Pink Nail Polish

Troy's unit held a 'Jane Wayne Day' last week. It gave the spouses a chance to see what our hubbies do (or wish they did instead of sitting behind a desk) for the day. Luckily, Troy was able to attend and laugh at me the whole day. There are some awesome, strong Marine spouses in 3/12 and I loved spending the day doing these hilariously fun obstacles with them.

Valerie and I ready to kick some butt!

First, we were issued our gear. Super sexy Kevlar helmets and flack jackets. After a quick tattoo session (check out the EGA's on our arms thanks to LtCol Miagany) we loaded into a 7-ton (GIANT truck) and headed to the first destination.

That is a 7-ton. 

Our "team" in the 7-ton.

We arrived at the rappel tower and it was intimidatingly high! I waited for a few other spouses to go. That was a mistake as many people fell going over the edge and had to pull themselves back up. I somehow still got up the guts and climbed to the top. It was awesome!! Totally worth it and I want to do it again. I didn't slip at all!

Blogger is turning my pictures sideways since I am defying the laws of gravity. 

Descending the 60 foot rappel tower! 

After the tower, we headed to 'O-Course' aka Obstacle course (a military acronym that makes sense, mind blowing!). It was definitely tough! The Marines helped us up, over, under, and around the obstacles.

Just pretend that is how I got over the obstacles...

At the end, we got to do MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program) and learned to beat people up. The wives were into it and screaming 'Kill' with each punch. That was probably the favorite/scariest part for the husbands!

KILL!

By this point, we were pretty famished. They provided us with MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat). Troy was sitting in the car eating Subway. I considered beating him up with my newly acquired MCMAP skills but decided to have some sympathy for all the times he had to eat MRE's and try it. To sum it up: GROSS!! I went hungry.

My favorite part came next, we learned about the guns 3/12 uses. Artillerymen like to 'Bring the Steel Rain' so these aren't your typical guns. They're giant howitzers that shoot a 95+ pound round as far as 18 miles. They showed us the whole process of calling for fire. They find a target, coordinate what it takes to hit the target, send the requirements to the Marines on the howitzers, and BAM! Shoot the giant round down range. They didn't actually shoot them, you are not allowed to do that on Okinawa.

The howitzer!

Afterward, we went to a simulator where we got to blow things up like buildings and mountains. I guess I can see why Troy likes being a Marine- but I'll let him keep wearing the Camo Paint and Combat Boots! I need to go touch up my nail polish.

The 3/12 Family!

Troy teaching me how a machine gun team works. 

I'm sexy and I know it. 

Just Call Us "Triathletes"

Today, Troy and I completed a triathlon! He has done a Tri before but I never have. I've been wanting to do it for a while but was never convinced I could make it. When my friend, Valerie, held my feet to the fire we finally signed up. I am not going to lie, it was really hard! Just two years ago I could not swim, but today I toughed it out in the ocean for 300 meters of salty waves with a pathetic breaststroke. After the toughest part (swimming), we were off for a bike ride and a run. I didn't finish in last, and that was good enough for me!

Thank to my amazing husband and friends for motivating me through to the very end!!

The first pic is before the race, showing off our buff numbers drawn on each arm and calf. Those are our race buddies, Valerie and Eric.

The second pic is Troy and I post race, the crazy hair can't even summarize how crazy the race felt!

The third pic is a close up of our numbers. Troy shaved his legs for the race and I took the opposite approach. Just kidding! :)

Moving Out and Moving Up

First, I am really excited because blogger finally has an iPhone app! Hopefully this will make me want to post more often since I can do it from the convenience of my phone. :)

Second, we recently moved off base to a house out in town. We made the decision because we didn't feel like we were taking full advantage of our Japanese experience. Now all our neighbors greet us with "Konbanwa" (Good Evening) and we take a quick half mile run to the seawall where the dogs play on the beach a few times a week. It has definitely improved our quality of life and happiness factor. I also can't complain that we are both closer to work and the sun rises right over the ocean out our bedroom window.

Enough talk, show me some pics!

The beach just down the road. :) 

The office.

The dining room with a view to the living room.

Signing the check to hold the house. We were so excited to find "the one" because we looked at over 40 places. 

The tatami room, our living room. Excuse the dog models. ;)

Our bedroom. Troy just loves the purple rug. :P

I was trying to capture how open the upstairs is. There are pocket doors on our room and this room (the office) but overall it is sort of studio style. 

The guest room. Love my new duvet cover. :)

Who is going to come visit our new place first??

Shanghai- The last leg of our China adventure.

Shanghai was our last stop in China. We did a lot of sightseeing there, including old and new Shanghai. 

The French Concession.

Old and new Shanghai.

The Bund.

Pearl TV Tower. 

Tallest tower in China, third tallest in the world.

View from the top.

Giant Jade Buddha Temple.

The Jade Buddha. This temple was much more touristy than the other Buddha we have visited. 

Crooked bridge leading to Yuyan Garden, A beautiful garden in the middle of the city. 

Very much like the gardens in Naha.

 We ended our trip with an acrobatics show. The people in the show train when they are three years old. At eleven, they begin performing twice a day until they are thirty. It was amazing!

Thanks for reading about our adventures!