Arrived India!

All good so far here in India. Flight was long and boring with a decent meal (but crappy snacks 😂) and we were greeted promptly by our Asian Adventures representative and are nicely ensconced at the Taj Palace for four nights.

Before we forget - have to post about a fun meal we had when we went to see the snow monkeys. Never ones to just go with the usual crowds, we did some research about what to eat while in Nagano and it became an obsession and a must try. Our driver was actually very helpful and found the place we had researched. We got there after they were making them fresh but fortunately before they were all sold out. 

Language barrier was hysterical. We were paying for them and the clerk kept repeating something over and over. We were clueless. Eventually she pulls out a little notebook and finds a page with the words “very hot.” This is after we made our selection and had paid so then Chris was worried they were going to be too spicy. Sticking out her tongue and pointing didn’t do anything to help the communication along 😂. So Mike had to taste first to see. We got three different fillings, beans, green vegetables and something else that tasted like potato salad. None were the least bit spicy nor were they hot in temperature- so we are still laughing about that little encounter. They were good overall but would have been better a little fresher. 

Here are the foodie related photos.

It’s been a sweet stay!

We checked out of Palace Hotel Tokyo this morning after another nice breakfast (with Elmo this time) in the club lounge. India, here we come! I’m not sure we are going to be prepared for the chaos of India after such a calm abode. The signature scent of the Plaza was “tranquility” and it was very relaxing and not a bit overwhelming as it wafted through the hallways and emerged from the skin care amenities in the room.

It was a really nice base for a few days while we got our bearings, and hopefully some day we will be back to Tokyo to explore more. It is super clean here! As we were being driven to the airport this morning, it occurred to me this is a huge city like Los Angeles or NYC full of high rises and little else, but there is not a scrap of litter or any graffiti on the buildings! It really makes a difference in one’s perception.

It’s always nice to find a little special something at each place we stop - and for Chris it was the honey that was light and unique tasting that she drizzled on Greek yogurt and fresh fruits each morning.

Elmo liked it too! I bet Elmo would have loved the snow monkeys even more than we did! The antics of the little ones was a highlight- hair pulling and pushing - just like some little ones we know. 🥰

Smews

​Mike always wanted to see a smew.  It’s an uncommon mostly white duck that is almost never in the US and prefers colder climates.  Using eBird and Birdseye, he found a few places near the snow monkeys that have them.  He talked the driver into stopping a Suka Regulating Pond, a small artificial pond used for flood control where they have been reported recently.   As we pulled in, most of the pond was frozen, but there were 50 ducks in one small corner.  The white duck was easy to spot amongs the more drab ducks.

There was also a small stream next to the pond with ducks in it. A small duck with a bright head grabbed his attention, so he took a few photos.  It turns out that is the female smew.  Who knew?

Oh, there was also an Eastern spot-billed duck.

Snow Monkeys

Here’s how the fascination with Snow Monkeys started.  When we lived in DC, we had a hot tub on our terrace.   It got quite a bit of use even in the winter snow.

Tokyo National Musuem

We visited the Tokyo National Museum. It covers a wide range of Japanese history, from samurai culture to woodblock printing. Highlights included clay figures of dancers, woodblock prints and their connection to Van Gogh, and numerous statues of Buddha. There was even a depiction of Buddha’s mother with Buddha emerging from her arm, and a Buddha with a thousand arms.

Nijubashi Bridge and castle at Imperial palace in Chiyoda city, Tokyo

We took a morning walk in freezing weather (well 35 degrees).  Were staying at the Palace hotel in part due to the proximity to the imperial palace grounds. Here’s a photo of the famous bridge.





Of course, there were plenty of ducks and grebes in the moat.  Here’s a falcated duck

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