Snow monkeys and superstars

After being nibbled by deers in Kyoto we travelled on a few trains to the Japanese mountains to soak in onsens in the snow and seek out the Snow Monkeys. This was definately a highlight of the whole trip so far for me. They were amazing - completeley unfazed bt tourists (of which there were not many because we got up early to see them) They climb down from the surrounding mountains to soak in the natural hot springs to keep warm and have been coming to the park since the 60's and know they get food from the rangers. Its a little hike through the snow covered forest - me and John were slipping and sliding along on the ice trying to spot wildlife along the route.

The monkeys were picking at each other and huddling to keep warm, with the odd fight amongst them. The little ones were really cute and it was hard not to stare into their eyes - but apparently thats confrontational.

The monkeys were picking at each other and huddling to keep warm

We stayed at a typical japanese hotel with sliding doors, tea on tap, futons and kimono's - the best part was the heated blankets though and the owner (or papa on his business card..he he he) who quite literally ran us around everywhere. They even took us to the train station with farewell gifts and photographs for their album - bless!

When we arrived back in Tokyo, we had a brief few days with Andy and Jacqui from New Zealand which included the fish market - crazy!!! they closed it to tourists a few years ago because the little motorised carts they fly up and down the isles on keep injuring people, which is not surprising! I got a lesson in gutting eel, while jacqui measured her head against the giant fish heads they had lining up - ewww! They literally eat everything the sea has to offer and although amazing to look at its also a little sad to think of the over fishing!

Terry had a gig which was awesome - as ever! We all loved it especially the new tunes and my favourite - the little song! We've now left him in japan to make his fortune and travelled to hong Kong. We leave tomorrow to China and more big adventures!

Being in hong Kong is pretty familiar after coming with work so many times but I had forgotten how loud and crazy it was after being in peaceful Japan. We had a couple of awful nights at the worst accomodation ever in Chungkin Mansions - with cockroaches and boogies on the wall - ewwww! (Petchy you would have cried!) Not to mention the fact that the night before we arrived the TV crewswere there aftera robbery and the amount of touts outside ahhh!We have since moved :)

We spent a few nights on Macau which was really different to Hong Kong and not what I expected at all but good fun! it was colonised by the portuguese so still has the street names and some of the food - mmmmm.... but the main difference was the fact that gambling is not illegal there so the city is like Vegas, crazy!

We've been doing the sites here in Hong Kong,wrestled with the masses on the tram to get a view from Victoria peak. Unfortunately though we were a bit hungover that day - the night before we decided to get drunk in order to forget what a hovel we were staying in. Wandered the streets on Hong Kong island with the dried goods stores - anything in the world dried!! Including lots of shark fins and seahorses which was a bit depressing after seeing them all alive and well on the great barrier reef. We saw the symphony of light show on Kowloon harbour which was pretty amusing. Lasers projected off the skyrises to bizzar music...he he he...

We have a train to mainland China tomorrow and lots more adventures to come,a trip down the yangzte, meeting up with my friend Hong Ying,Shanghai and the countryside plus of course the train through Mongolia and Russia - eeeee!!!