Deviating from the norm of pretty much posting only picks of the kiddos (cause that's what we all care about!), I figured that I might give a quick look at our recent trip from the perspective of ol Dad. Our family trip to Idaho for Uncle Andy's and Auntie Kyrstan's wedding started for me with a trip to Toyko for a conference at the University of Tokyo.
My arrival in Japan could arguably be said to have started when I stepped on this plane in Honolulu. Flying Japan Airlines is a trip. The 787 I took featured what I learned was a Japanese boy band...imagine if N'Sync had their own plane in whatever decade they were relevant (I'm too old to remember what decade that was..)
I arrived at Narita airport very late, and a day ahead of when I left. Here I am sleeping getting a train into the city.
I won't show so many pics, as most of my time was at the conference, but I did get out and about a bit to see some of the sites. Here I am at the entrance of the park near the Yasukuni Shrine.
The best thing in Tokyo though is the food...and lots of it! This time I got to try a number of new things including horse sashimi (actually tasty) and the super poisonous Japanese puffer fish, which is here and was really awesome
On Thursday at the conference, I went back to my tradition of Poke bowl Thursday; this time, salmon and Japanese style.
But finally after a good but long week, I headed back to Hawaii, first by train from Tokyo station
And finally back to Hawaii on Japan airlines...this time without the boy band
This part gets fuzzy as I took a Friday night red-eye from Tokyo and then took a second Friday night red-eye, this time with Molly and the kiddos. I think either my phone or brain wasn't working, so I don't have any photos. But, somehow, we made it through LAX and to BOI and then to McCall and finally to the cousins! Almost immediately the goof-balls were ready for action
I'm sure Molly will have more pictures than me, but one thing for sure to record is that we packed like fools...thinking somehow that Maui summer would follow us. Instead, it turned cold and wet, which lead to interesting and borrowed attire. For example...
In the dripping rain, the wedding got off right nice and Andy and Kyrstan look great. Reverend Marcus did great in his debut.
The kiddos were cold, but they liked watching as everyone got ready to wish bon voyage to the happy couple as they canoed in the rain to the reception.
At the reception, we got pretty excited about BBQ and cornbread!!
The next day we went out exploring with everybody. Here are Danny boy and the DS crew overlooking Payette Lake in McCall.
Daniel was crazy as ever. Here he was saying "I'm king of the world!"
Later that day we went to the hot springs and hung out with the Keck clan. It was a great day. In the evening we went down to the beach of the lake. Earlier in the weekend, Daniel got to canoe for the first time.
But ultimately the next day we had to head back to Maui...but first breakfast!!! At shari's in Boise. We do love breakfast!
Finally we got back on some empty planes, spread ourselves out, and got hooked in for the journey.
All in all a wild week+ and a long trip for Dad, but we all had a great time. Congrats to the newly weds! We already miss all our family and those crazy cousins, but we happy to get back home again as well. Aloha and Konichiwa!
