Mommy and Daddy visit Japan, Part 1

In September of 2013, Mommy and Daddy left Adalyn with Mommom and headed off to Okinawa, Japan to visit Uncle Joseph!

Michael's only smiling because we haven't started the 10 hour international flight yet to Tokyo.

Overly Helpful Chicken can only be found on Japan Airlines (Michael and I were so exhausted after traveling for 20+ hours that we fell asleep from Tokyo to Okinawa and missed our in-flight service).

On our first day, Uncle Joseph and Aunt Kate take us to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium on the north side of the island.

You can look, AND you can touch! Just don't pick them up or otherwise irritate them.

I have no idea what the fluorescent thingies are at the top of the rock, but they were really pretty.

Might as well be called a cuddlefish, it's so cute! But this is Japan, where cute is a currency.

Sand worms dancing

This guy looks like he has feet.

What a sea slug might look like

What a venomous stonefish might look like...YIKES!

The Kuroshio Sea Tank with three whale sharks and manta rays!

A whale shark and a manta ray photobomb our lovely group photo.

Sea turtles!

Super cute manatees!

The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is a huge place.

Dolphins!

After walking all over the aquarium, we make our way to Hiji Falls!

Tommy Lee Jones is like a BOSS! This was a welcome sight to the beginning of a hot, long hike to Hiji Falls.

Aaaaaaaaand we walk...

...and walk some more...

This is a banana spider. It is larger than your hand...aaaaaaaaand we run!

Still walking...

Tada! We have finally reached Hiji Falls! Oooooooh...aaaaaaaah!

After all the outdoor walking, we head indoors (and a little outdoors) to American Village!

Me posing next to the coolest mailbox ever!

Michael's turn to pose next to the coolest mailbox ever!

Japan has WAAAAAY better-engineered appliances than we do. This fridge door opens from both sides and efficiently uses its space.

Joseph shows off a toilet seat that is WAAAAAY cooler than any we can get here. I mean, this thing has instructions!

What an American Village in Japan might look like.