Our California Trip

I had a race in San Francisco in August and I thought since Doug would be in Korea that Chloe and I should rent a car and travel down the coast visiting family.  We had a great time, minus my Poison Oak and sore legs (both from the race).  First we saw Todd and Kathryn, they were awesome enough to help out with my race and then drive all the way to Modesto afterwards to see Chloe.  I tell you Chloe is a huge fan of her Aunt and Uncle, they are so great with her. 

Next up we drove to San Jose and spent a day with Aunt Sharon and Uncle John (my Dad's sister and her husband).  We had a great time.  As you can see from the picture below Uncle John and Aunt Sharon have an amazing home and Chloe loved swimming and playing in their yard.  Uncle John took her for a golf cart ride and let her drive.  She did almost run him over but a good time was had by all and thankfully Uncle John is quick on his feet so he avoided major injury. 

Chloe and Aunt Sharon in Aunt Sharon's Backyard, her yard and house are beyond gorgeous.

Chloe and Uncle John on his newly built Tiki Bar

 Next up we headed down to Westlake Village to see my stepmom, Cindy or as Chloe calls her: Ava (Portuguese for grandma).  Cindy had a dinner party the first night so we got to see Auntie Di and Jordan.  It was a great time.  The next day we headed to Malibu (Paradise Cove) OMG it is fun to watch Chloe play in the waves.  She had the best time.  I however had the hardest time running up and down the beach with her, wow, talk about sore muscles.

Chloe on the beach in Malibu.

 The next day we headed to Santa Monica to meet up with Jordan.  We played at the beach while he worked and then met up with him and went to the pier.  Chloe and Jordan had a great time riding the rides and hanging out.  It really was great to see Chloe get to know him.

Chloe with Ava

Chloe in Santa Monica

Chloe and Uncle Jordan, boy howdy did Chloe take a liking to her Uncle Jordan.

Chloe and Jordan on a roller coaster this is before she had him stop it so she could get off :)

LOL! This is how guys without kids pick them up, like they are a kettle bell.

Chloe and Jordan on the Ferris Wheel

Jordan and Chloe working hard on a maze or maybe an intense game of tic tac toe

I don't even know how to caption this one.  Doesn't she look like she is a Cali girl in this one, lol

Japan - Day 12

On Day 12 we were supposed to stay the entire day but with the typhoon hitting Kyoto we had to catch an earlier Bullet Train and therefore only had time to see one site.  We went to Fushimi-inari-taisha Shrine where there are 1,000 tori gates.  It was pretty dang cool.  If you aren't in a hurry you can walk through 3 miles of gates but, alas we were in a hurry so we just got a brief glimpse and were off. 

On Day 14: Chloe and I flew home.

Japan - Day 11

Gardens at the Ryoanji Temple

Without a doubt, hands down, this was the best day in Japan.  It was out of this world cool.  This post is a going to be a long one but, really I am still in awe of everything we saw.  Chloe was of course a total champ as far as a day full of site seeing goes.  We took a tour and she did awesome walking around and listening. 

First stop: The Ryoanji Temple.  This Zen Garden has 15 rocks and will represent something different to each viewer.  If you can see all 15 rocks at one time then you have reached enlightenment (oh I think that is what they said).  The grounds and the temple were absolutely phenominal.  In fact we took a ton of pictures of the grounds because Doug wants to try and replicate some of it here (in CT).

Ryoanji Temple: Chloe and Doug finding enlightenment

Ryoanji Temple: Just thought it was neat they didn't cut branches that would have blocked walk ways but rather they propped them up.

Ryoanji Temple: At the lili pond

Ryonji Temple: Chloe and Doug heading up a walk way

 Second Stop: The Golden Pavilion.

The Goldent Pavilion: The Pavilion is completely covered in gold and aparently when the sun is out you can see the pavilion and its reflection at the same time.

This tree is supposed to be in the shape of a ship

 Stop 3: Impreial Palace.  The Palace is still used today by the Imperial Family when they are in town. 

Chloe and Doug entering the grounds

One of the main gates that real guests would enter through.

These 3 rooms had amazing paintings on the walls, they were used for couriers that were paying official visits to the palace. 

A glimpse into the palace through the outer doors/walls.

still at the palace

 Stop 4: Lunch and some shopping.  Our tour included lunch and we had a little time left over afterwards to shop. 

OMG! Doug and Chloe were hysterical

Bahahahahaha

 Stop 5: A super cool temple which was in some movies, but for the life of me I can't remember the name of it, sorry.

Chloe and Doug watching the Koi and then eventually feeding them

Family Photo

 Stop 6: Sanjusangendo temple was full of 1000 budhhas.  It was phenominal.

 Stop 7: Was actually the Kiymisadera Temple that we saw the day before.  Was great to get all the information on it and somehow I can't find all the pictures from that so, off to download from the camera and see if somehow they are on there. 

As you can imagine at the end of this day we were completely wiped out.

Japan - Day 10

On Day 10 we traveled for a good part of the day.  We had been asking around to find out what were the must see spots in Japan and hands down Kyoto (the original capital of Japan) came up the most.  So on Day 10 we left before the sun came up to take the train north to another station where we could catch the Bullet Train.  It was awesome.  Chloe loved riding the bullet train and it really was cool to go that fast on rails.  Our hotel was across from the train station in Kyoto so, once we arrived we went and checked in, dropped off our bags and headed out for a little self guided walking tour.  We must have passed a temple or shrine every 1/2 block, it was amazing, there was no part of the walk that wasn't chalk full of eye candy.  We managed to get to one of the main temples in Kyoto (Kiyomisdera Temple) but by the time we made it up the hill it was pouring rain.  When I say pouring I mean raining side ways.  Apparently Japan was in the midst of being hit by a typhoon and those suckers dump a ton of rain.  We bought a few umbrellas and pressed. 

Chloe in the Higashiyama District

After we walked around the temple we went down to the Higashiyama District which is one of Kyoto's oldest districts and is still made of wood structures (buildings/shops), the streets are narrow and apparently this is an area where you will still see Geisha out and about, unless you go during a Typhoon (their kimono's are seriously expensive and would be ruined in the rain). 

Chloe dancing in the Higashiyama District.  Leave it to kids to show you how fun the rain can be.

The garden around a shop in the Higashiyama District. 

Shot of the streets in that area

 After we walked the streets for a while, checking out shops and enjoying the sites we found a cab.  We were soaked to the bone and needed to get back to the hotel ASAP to stop our teeth from chattering.  The cabby either thought Chloe was cute (people had been taking pictures of her all over the country) or felt sorry for her so he cave her a towel and a handful of candy.  She was one happy camper. 

Chloe's new Japanese socks.