Arashiyama, {mainland} Japan

Arashiyama is a really beautiful, quaint mountain town on the Oi River. Reminded us of Vail.. in Japanese. We took a train from Kyoto and spent the day hiking up Mount Arashiyama to hang out with the 130 wild monkeys at the top, walked the river & bamboo forest, had yummy ramen & tea, and roasted chesnuts from a vendor on the main street.

And WOW - how gorgeous is it lit up in the Fall colors!?

 arent they adorable?! I was disappointed you're not allowed to pick them up until Cam pointed out that they were pooping all over themselves and eating their own feces..

{this is what happens when you look them in the eye..hahaha}

Kyoto {Mainland Japan}

{back to the warm tropics!!}

Kyoto was once the imperial capital of Japan, and is often referred to as the old world/historic heart of the country.. it was spared from the atomic bomb in World War II for that very reason.

It's a beautiful place in Fall (and COLD!) with sooo much to see - we must have walked atleast 10 miles a day sightseeing & wandering & eating our hearts out on the awesome food, tea, hot sake (for Cam) & wine (for me).

One of our favorite things about mainland: the onsen. they're wonderful natural mineral hot springs. 

Our hotel had one for each gender and we went every night and morning we were there. 

It's a cultural way to relax & wash and the minerals in the water make your skin & hair soo soft.

The only rule?

You must be completely nakie.. with everyone else.

Hah... when in Rome!

will show you monkeys & geisha tomorrow.. 

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Happy Thanks

Since we're away from our fam and there's so much we want to see in Asia, we're skipping Thanksgiving this year and using the days off to travel instead!

we're getting ready to get on our flight to Kyoto :)

 even though we thought we'd be sans turkey this year, we're thankful we got to go to two dinners ~ one was our friends' huge formal thanks cocktail dinner party and the second was with all the marines & their fams. 

we're leaving the island stuffed!

We are so thankful for you ~ our amazing family & our amazing friends ~ both old & new.

We are also thankful for being abroad together.. 

For our sweet marriage. 

I am soooo thankful for a husband that I daily know loves me more than himself or anything else in the entire world!

 {photo credit: Ahn}

And most especially, for our Savior. 

God is Good! We are so so thankful. 

 We love you all!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Naha

{amazing fresh mint, rosemary & lemon grass tea}

{yomitan festival}

{He was trying to break his rope to charge after me}

Naha is a really fun city to take a trip to. 

One street you can be surrounded by scooters and people everywhere, and on the next you can find yourself in an adorable european bakery drinking fresh herb tea. there's so much more we want to explore.

and the festival & bull? 

verrryy common sights here.

we go to every festival we hear of and love this culture more with each one. 

HAPPY MONDAY!
my other half is home from the field so its an especially happy one!

Our Fleet of Jimneys

these jeeps are so awesome that we bought a second.
if you're thinking that next
they will be lifted with off-road tires and a gypsy rack for our kayaks...
then you know Cam
:)

favorite room hands down.

it's utterly amazing waking up and going to sleep to this gorgeous view of the east china sea.. w/ the sound of the waves & smell & feel of salty breezes.

{favorite}

{our dining table al fresco}

ohh we are so thankful every single day to be out here together!! 

it is such a blast and such a beautiful time in our marriage. we are blown away by God's goodness to us. I love how Molls Henneberg puts it: it's like "a kiss from the Lord."

we couldn't agree more.

soaking up every day.