Just wanted to write a post about traveling with kids. Don't let previous posts fool you, traveling with the kids is tough! 😒 Especially when they are so young. They are not very flexible, complain a lot, get irritable quickly, can't walk very far, can't help with luggage (or any tasks really), can't sit still on the plane, get in your and other people's way, fight each other, etc. There are a lot of great pictures when we can get them but, of course, we're not taking pictures of Sora when she's throwing a major tantrum or Kai when he's pushing Jad down because he's in his way. Ugh.. This trip was definitely important because I wanted to check on my mom and how she is doing in Thailand with my dad taking care of her and how her dementia is progressing (overall, she's doing quite well) but the kids are honestly a bit too young. That plus the heat and humidity of both Thailand and Japan on this trip really is hard on them. They can't walk more than 5 minutes without complaining, probably rightly so because it's hard even on Amy and I. I think our next big trip probably will be in 2-3 years. By then Jad will be almost four, Sora nearly seven and Kai probably close to nine. Then it'll be a whole different ballgame .. though we'll probably try to choose somewhere/time, when it's not so hot 😅. Still the trip, overall, has been worth it. The kids learned a lot about life in other countries, different cultures, saw their grandparents and relatives, so we hope that they will take something away from this experience. Anyway, enough ranting about the kids..
Today is our second to last full day in Tokyo. We decided to go to Ueno Park, mainly for the National Museum of Science and Nature. Normally, the park itself would be quite a draw as well as there are lakes to boat in and shrines to visit, but the weather remains too hot to spend much time outdoors. Even walking to the museum, we had to stop several times so the kids could take a break. Still, when we made it there the museum was pretty awesome (partly because it had A/C and it was only $6 per adult and kids were free!)
This was very impressive. A big room with three large screens showing an animated timeline of 1) how the earth was formed and life started, 2) evolution of life from single celled organisms to mammals and eventually humans and 3) progression of human civilization.
Kai finally smiling after cooling down near all the animal exhibits.
Sora likes the colorful butterflies
Jad got a picture with pine cones :p
We did take an ice cream break. Jad didn't get his own but his siblings were kids enough to share with him.
This plesiosarus was pretty cool
And a life size blue whale at the exit
We had lunch at the museum food counter (this is where Sora had a 20 minute temper tantrum) and then saw a few more exhibits before heading out. On the way back, we walked by a Baskin-Robbins and got some Pichachu themed ice cream.
Pokemon everywhere around here..
We then walked along the Ameyoko shopping street on the way back to the subway. We got a little waving Neko cat for Jad (on this trip, he learned to say "kitty" and wave his hand forward and backwards.. so cute that baby.)
Hmm, all the kids were actually looking at the camera despite their fatigue, gotta give them credit for that one..
We also chanced it at a local food establishment and had a couple chirashi bowls, one with raw fish for us and cooked salmon for the kids. Overall, it did not go well, the raw fish was warm and too fishy, the kids didn't like the soft salmon, Jad was running all over the place. We gave up after a bit and came home.
Our only hope is that we don't get a stomachache..
On the way back, we stopped at 7-Eleven and got some musubi and a bowl of pre-packaged ramen (cold ingredients and noodles, a slight step up from instant dry ramen.) Of course, the kids loved it and were slurping up the noodles and the soup. I don't even know why we try to eat different things :p
Loving dinner from 7-Eleven
Jad also tore into the musubi.
One more full day tomorrow! The plan is to go to the Meiji Shrine in the morning and then return in the afternoon. Amy is planning to meet a friend for dinner by herself(!) so I'll manage the kids through dinner and bedtime. Fingers crossed :)
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