So my shoulder was feeling better after the events of Tuesday. I think the Compression garments are helpful. Though as I write this (I am still getting around to Thursday post... hopefully next) I have a sore stomach. Somewhere around the pelvis and bottom of abs I pulled something. Hopefully it'll be gone by tomorrow. A nice bath will help. So I let you know about Wednesday.
After the first 2 days of being damaged Conrad needed a break, and we were happy to oblige him, poor guy did stuff his neck up from all the falling, and he is a rather big guy. So we decided we'd have a break from Snowboarding and go and see the monkeys. But this time rather then get up lazily and make our way there we decided that it was best to leave after breakfast and get there at a reasonable hour. So following the plan we left early, swapped a few buses and made our way to Yamanouchi to visit my uncle. HA... Evolution makes no sense, I look nothing like, and never will look anything like a monkey.
Well the walk to the monkey's this time was much prettier to say the least. Last year the area was brown and muddy, however with a good season it was lovely and white and I even saw some birdies (yes, I am an avid Birdiographer....? Avianographer? Etc.). So whilst we walked I took random shots of the area, and had to catch up to Conrad and Steven who seemed like they were trying to set a new record for Olympic Power Walking.
When/If you see my photo's they will probably explain more then I can, so suffice to say we walked to the monkeys. However we detoured for a few minutes to buy a can of coffee from a machine up near the Onsen that runs there (where we saw some fairly naked men last time, albeit from a distance). On the way the path looped up on itself so Conrad and Steven (naughty little imps that they are) decided to kick snow down on top of me. I didn't like that George, oh no siree. So when we went back down I try throwing snow at them, however that was failing miserably so instead I threw my empty can of coffee at Steven. I missed, but I made my point.
So, the monkeys. Last year I got ALOT of photo's, but it was hard picking out some really Quality shots. This year I had my dSLR armed with my little 50mm lens and was determined to get some nice monkey shots. I'll shot them to you if you ask, but I feel like I got a few good ones. There is a couple of little monkeys play fighting, and 1 looks like he is power punching the other in the face, then there is another fly kicking another one in the face, and finally 2 hi-fiving each other..... nice. I also managed to wiggle my way down to the photo area next to the pond they are sitting in, and got some nice up close pictures of a couple of older monkeys soaking up the nice warm water. Fortunately these ones seemed to be a little placid (probably from slowly marinating in their own semi-lice infested soup), so they tolerated people getting up close and shoving cameras into their personal area. Plus I got's a few nice shots of the steam rising from the water, with monkey's littered hither and thither (ha ha ha, funny words).
So after annoying the old and wise ones, I suggested to the other monkeys in my troop we should go down the bottom along the river area, a place we didn't visit last time. Here there were mothers and children, some older ones huddled together for warmth, and some that were preening each other. I tried to join in but I don't like the taste of lice. But there were a few little babies running around and I video'd and photo'd some of them, seeing as they are so cute. Well what do you know it, I'm holding the video camera still and one of the little blighters starts climbing up my legs. Now I didn't stare at him, in fact my back was turned to him, and I guess he liked the attention. So after trying unsuccessfully to mount me like a horse and ride me into the sunset, he ran down and started wrestling with another monkey. I got some of it on video, the rest is mainly audio of me going "heeeeyyyy".
Alright, so we made our way back to the little hut that serves as a exhibition gallery and entry point, and got some warmth back into us (as we weren't wearing cold weather gear). I should mention that with all the snow the paths up and down were a little precarious, with some sliding unintentionally involved. At one point I had to walk on the rocky muddy area, right alongside a group of monkeys. I could only hope as I passed them that they weren't attracted to me and looking to make me a forest bride. Maybe it's just me but I don't want to expose my backside as much as them. They have callouses.
Anyhow, so warmed slightly (it was a fairly cold day with a little bit of a breeze running through) we made our way back to the Roman Museum, hoping to grab some of their delicious wood fired pizza we nom-ed on last year. Well, wouldn't you know it, they weren't serving anything that day other then soft drinks, some coffee, and italian breads and cake. Talk about a major let down. It seems that if you should experience something in your travels, you should write and record all that you see and hear, because if you try to emulate it on your next travels, you'll be sadly disappointed. So having died a little inside, we sat down none the less and ordered some espresso's and chocolate cake. I have to say though that this was the best coffee I have had since coming to Japan. Unfortunately with the Americans having bases and docks here for their armies, they brought over their version of Coffee with them. Watered down, tasteless, WEAK!!!! So to get a half decent espresso was a miracle, plus the chocolate cake wasn't bad, but when I am after some lunch food, a little cake won't suffice.
SO anyhow, back we go and stop off at Takamagahara, where there is a "restaurant" that makes Pizza. I got my pizza in the end, and although it was good, the wood firing would have made it that bit more special. So we nom-ed on pizza and beer, walked the 300m or so to get some cup noodles and extra bits and pieces, and then back to our hotel.
It was the cheapest night we've had so far, seeing as the noodles cost 400yen and were a fairly HUGE size. They had 2.0 written on them, so we dubbed them Noodles 2.0 (not to be confused with the lazily named iSnack 2.0.... doesn't there have to be a 1.0?). We had a drink, said our prayers and went to bed, to wake and see what Thursday had to offer us.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
You can ditto Dean in on that too.
Noodles are Noodley.
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