The Great Pumpkin Carve

The Great Pumpkin Carve evening began with a super tasty dinner of Gorgonzola Potato Salad and BLT sandwhiches. The highlight of the BLTs were Colleen's Spicy Tomato Chutney. The recipe is so yummy.

Then it was dream, design and carve.


kowai - scary
by sayo


devil and posh kitty
started by gray and bryn
finished by mako and sean


neko - cat
by mako

spider on a pumpkin - on a pumpkin

aidan inspired

carved by micah

hope

carved by micah for sarah (thank you!)

Imperial Palace

Golden Pavillion

Nijo Castle

Kaiten Sushi

In Portland we often visit our local kaiten sushi Marinepolis Sushiville.


My understanding of kaiten sushi is if you pick up the plate from the belt you are then responsible for purchasing it. Sean and I have often purchased a plate just to find out what is exactly on that little blue plate.


Kaiten sushi in Japan was serious. Very serious. I was too scared to ask for something more simple.


When it comes to kaiten sushi I think I'll stick to the american version.

Manga Museum

Manga Museum is a very interesting public project located in an old primary school. Great for adults and children.


We spent a long time with the children's collection.


Hunter found the animation creation room.

Nishiki Market

At the top of my to do list was Nishiki Market. Hundreds of food vendors lining the narrow Nishiki-dori (street) with unbelievable sights, smells, and tastes. Sean was adventerous with the samples. Sarah was not.

Nanzen-ji

Daitoku-ji

We were told that while in Kyoto if you visited 3 temples a day it would take 1 year to see all the temples. With our party of 6 it took us 1/2 a day to just visit one.

Here is Daitoku-ji which was just feet from our inn.

We love you Hello Kitty

Grayson would never admit to anyone that he liked Sanrio Puroland but I know he had a great time. We'll miss you Hello Kitty.

Hello Kitty's House

A peek inside Hello Kitty's house.


Hello Kitty's entry.


Hello Kitty's mirror.


Hello Kitty's pet. Grayson was obsessed with her. He kept going back and playing with the brim of her hat and petting her ever so softly.

Hello Kitty's armoire.

Grayson in Hello Kitty's bathtub.

Hello Kitty's dining room table.

Hello Kitty's bed.

Hello Kitty's maid.

HELLO KITTY LAND

Sanrio Puroland (a.k.a. Hello Kitty Land). Sorry, for the many many pictures I'm about to share. So hard to describe the experience in words.