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Frog's adventures
  • Findlay Russell
  • Kate Bougoure
  • Fern Russell
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  • Findlay Russell
  • Kate Bougoure
  • Fern Russell

Frog's adventures

An open-ended adventure by Findlay, Kate & Fern Read more
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    🇯🇵 Nagano, Japan
  • Frog's adventures

    Super Sumo in Tokyo

    January 15, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Today was the best day in Tokyo. We have done some really amazing things but nothing can compare too box seats at the Sumo.
    We were in row 14, up the back, but you would still see really well. I chose Kotozukura as my favourite for the day- he is ranked as number 1 Japanese wrestler. He is the level below the Yokozuuna, which is the grand champion - the best of the best. Kotozukra was lime green and orange and his wrestling outfit was green. The person that you are going for has a towel and you wave that towel when they are wrestling. It is very important to only be positive during the whole event- no booing for the opposition. It was a fantastic day- you would think you might get bored, but no way! The day flew by! A match could go for 1 second or 10 minutes.
    There is only 1 Yokozuna at a time and they earn around $30000 per month. They also win lots of money for matches and have lots of sponsorship deals. They wear a special white belt.
    My match was a bit of an upset because Kotozakura didn't win, and he was expected to. It's so entertaining to watch- one second you think that one wrestlers is about to fall outside the ring, but he keeps his balance and the match continues. There are lots of different types of takeout moves, I think over 70.
    The stadium was packed, not a spare seat. The whole January tournament is sold out so we were lucky.
    When the Yokozuna came out for the last match everyone went wild. And when he lost the crowd went berserk. Everyone throws their pillow up in the air if they lose. At the end of the day an old man (maybe a retired sumo?comeses out with a long gold sword and does a dance.
    I can't describe how much I loved going to the Sumo today.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Hotdogs in Hakone

    January 13, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 6 °C

    We got on the train this morning headed for Hakone. We had to get on a couple of trains to start with and then we went on a funicular train. But before that we had the best hotdog I have ever had in my life. The sauces, the bread, the skinny little sausage- scrumdidiliumptious!
    The funicular rail was cool and we got to stand at the front and watch it go up the mountain. Next mode of transport was a Gondola. They were 18 seaters- usually they are only about 6 seaters. When we got to the top of the mountain, we came over the edge and right in front of us was Mt Fuji! I was excited because it was so clear. Then we got out of the Gondola into a sulphur valley. It was smelly, like rotten eggs. They have special black boiled eggs that you can eat and they say if you eat one, it adds 7 years to your life. Just tasted like a boiled egg to me!
    One more trip on the Gondola and we then arrived at Lake Ashi for a cruise on a pirate ship. I stood at the top deck looking out over the water.
    It was a big day of travel and it was fun going on all the different types of transport. Mt Fuji was beautiful and it would love to climb it. It is 3776m tall.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    The Fishy Markets in Tokyo

    Jan 11–13, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    I remember going to Tsukiji Fush Markets 7 years ago.. I remember seeing big tuna being cut up and I had a photo with the head. When we went to the markets this time I was excited to look around and hopefully have some great food. We did find some amazing strawberries that were both red and pink. Some cost upwards of $100! Our tray was only $10- a bargain in Japan! We had 3 red and 2 pink ones. We didn't have any sashimi because it was a ridiculous price but we did have a piece of wagyu that was cooked to perfection. It was very good.
    We also found some cool pottery shops that we looked in for ages. We got some things here and I enjoyed looking in here. I like pottery in Japan.
    The next day was a bit different and we started our day off with a traditional temple called Meiji Shrine that also had an ice sculpture competition out th front. It was a nice surprise to see them, and there was probably about 50 big sculptures.
    We walked to Harajuku which is a vibrant street and Fern's dream shopping. Nothing for me except a huge fairy floss that was interesting to watch when they made it. Dad and I got out as fast as we could and made our way to snowboard shops. We are coming back at the end of this year so just wanted to see what was here.
    Overall a good couple of days in Tokyo.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    TeamLab Planet- AMAZING!

    January 10, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C

    Today we caught a special train- driverless, so pretty much a robot train. We sat at the very front and it was really exciting. We were on a mission to see this really cool art museum and boy was it fun! There were 2 different rooms. The first was a garden with orchids hanging from the roof. It looked like a wave of flowers. The floors were mirrors and when you looked down it was an infinite number of yourself. There was also a water room that was definitely my favourite. You had to walk up a ramp that had a constant stream of water flowing down. At the end was a waterfall, thankfully you didn't have to walk through that. We walked into a space that was like a maze of LED lights that looked like crystals. And what was super cool was at the end you got to a room that you could control the lights with a panel. You picked a star and it projected onto the lights. We walked through a pitch black room that was made of pillows and beanbags but you couldn't stop and lay down! Then there was a room that reminded me of the movie Inside Out. It was huge balloons that changed colour. You could push and kick them around. I had fun in this room. The next room was flooded with water up to our knees. Koi were projected onto the water surface. A cool thing about this was that the koi reacted to the movement of people in the room. It wasn't a loop projection and it will never be replicated again. Awesome to be in.
    The last room was weird and made me feel super dizzy because it had pictures moving and the floor was moving.
    I really liked TeamLab Planet and I would love to show other people.
    In the evening we went out to dinner to our old mate Godzilla in Shinjuku. It was great to go back and it was one of the things I remember the most from when we were here last time.
    Walking through Shinjuku was like walking into the future. Lots of flashing lights and tall buildings everywhere. A bit overwhelming!    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Our adventure begins for Tokyo

    Jan 8–9, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    8th January 2025- travel day from Nagano to Tokyo. We caught the train across to Tokyo and arrived late in the afternoon. We are staying in Shinjuku and lucky we have a train station, 7-11 and Maccas close by.
    Our house is a tiny little place and the mattress are traditional Japanese ones that are pretty thin and on the floor.
    It's still pretty cold in Tokyo- not like Hakuba, but I thought it might be a bit warmer!
    We have an awesome curry place 20m from our steps- I wish we had one this close in Darwin- but we would probably go broke.
    9th January 2025: Our first day exploring Tokyo we did lots of fun stuff. First stop was a hedgehog Cafe. The hedgehogs were cool but weird at the same time. Not like the usual cafes with soft little animals to hold- they were spiky! There was lots of hedgehogs but my favourite one was called Whip. To pick them up you had to go underneath them gently and you are not allowed to touch their spikes. They also had hedgehogs for adoption. For an adult it was $80, for a baby, $500.
    The Cafe was super fun but I am not sure if they liked to be picked up all the time. I let them rest if they didn't want a hold.
    We went to Shibuya crossing and it was pretty quiet. There was lots of big flashy billboards everywhere and a cool fact about this crossing is that it is the most populated crossing in the world.
    We had a quick sushi train for lunch and then went looking around at shops. A good shoe shop here is called ABC Mart. I could spend a bit here. Fern and I also aged st the arcade shops and got a few little toys out of the machines. They are heaps of fun but you end up putting lots of money in them.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Snow monkey mayhem

    Jan 6–7, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    We woke up for our last day in Hakuba and hopped on a bus to Nagano. I was so sad to be leaving, I just want to keep snowboarding. But all good things come to an end and I am really excited to go to Tokyo soon. I'll be back to Hakuba definitely.
    We had 2 nights in Nagano- first night was a recovery night.
    We had a fun day on our second day and we went to see the Snow Monkeys. Fern got a bit scared when they fed them because they were all fighting over the food. The monkeys sit in the hot springs and the babies are really fluffy when they hop out to dry off.
    Walking through the forest to get to the Monkeys reminded me of snowboarding in the trees at Hakuba. It started snowing really heavy with big snow flakes. We sat inside a ramen shop to warm up and then it started hailing.
    In the forest there was a big wall of tiny snowman. It was hard to make one though, they kept falling apart. But I gave it a go and made a little one that will be there until all the snow melts.
    It was cool that we got to have some more snow, I thought that I wouldn't see it again after Hakuba.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    The Powder Pooches teaching me

    Jan 3–6, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -1 °C

    What an epic week I have just had. It has been the best week of my entire holidays. Snowboarding is so difficult and at the start of the week I couldn't even go a metre without falling and by the end I was on the hardest runs doing big tricks. If someone told me at the start of Hakuba I would be doing this, I would have thought they were joking.
    My week Snowboarding was made even better by having a mate called Ronnie to board with every day.
    There was also a group of young blokes that dad and mum talked to that I got to know really well. I ended up playing a couple of games of shithead cards with them and ended up cleaning them out for over $160. My first game I had to buy in with a couple of kitkats.
    After the card game we were mates and they took me up to the top of the mountain where all of the hard runs are. We went on a tree run which is pretty much off the trail with 60cm of snow at least everywhere. It was super fun but pretty scary. If you fall into an airpocket it is really hard to get out.
    I loved having the pros teach me- they call themselves the 'Powder Pooches' because they are not quite hard enough to be the powder hounds! 😆
    Hanging out with the lads was awesome.
    I also mastered doing jumps and tricks in the air. I can do a 180 mid-air, monos and rail grab.
    I am going to miss snowboarding so much. It is the funnest thing I have ever done. I would love to be able to come back to Hakuba.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Snowboarding fun 🏂

    Jan 1–2, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -4 °C

    Posts for January 1st and January 2nd:
    All we do is snowboard every day, all day! It was great to have one really sunny day, I actually felt a bit hot! Dad and I have passes now for the ski lift and we went up straight away. You have to click the board on to one foot when you sit on the chairlift to go up. We spent the first day just practising heaps and going up the chairlift. I am definitely getting heaps better.
    The next day wasn't as good weather- light snow. It wasn't as good snow to snowboard on the second day either. I hung out with my mate Ronny, who is also staying at the hotel. We are about the same level so we can hang together. He is also 12.
    We just spent the day snowboarding down the slopes together. It's so good having a mate to hang out with. In the afternoon we went to a few different runs that I may have had to sneak into, Haha!
    I really love snowboarding- it's the best. Nearly as good as surfing. I have improved a lot and it want to keep going all week and just get better and better.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Last day of the year

    December 31, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ❄️ 1 °C

    Our first day snowboarding was eventful. The weather was bad, but plenty of snow. It was like a blizzard as we walked up the hill, but that wasn't going to stop me. We went to the snow gear place to get everything- board, boots, goggles and helmet. It was about $250 for all of this for a week.
    We then went to the skifield and I was so excited. We all started together at the bottom of the mountain for a couple of practices. Dad was good, Fern was good, mum was good, and I was good aswell.
    I think we lasted until about lunch time and then the blizzard really hit. It was more snow than we had ever seen. We decided to head home and I had an onsen. It's a big hot bath bath that you share with other people (but I was lucky to have it to myself).
    I made some mates called Jordy and Ronny and we hung out all afternoon. Spent the afternoon making sled jumps, throwing snowballs at the window and causing a bit of chaos!
    It was New Years Eve tonight and at midnight we walked up to watch some fireworks. It was a great way to finish the year. I am really looking forward to the next few days of snowboarding.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Trains and buses to get to the snow

    Dec 29–30, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ❄️ -1 °C

    Lots of travel days when you go to different places. I don't like much about these days ,except we might be able to go on a bullet train!
    And today we did- Kyoto to Nagoya which was so fast. Then another trip for a few hours to Nagano. This is where they had the Winter Olympics.
    We arrived pretty late so didn't really do much- just a bit of dinner.
    One really cool thing we saw was a Japanese man making soba noodles. He was so precise, measuring the thickness of the soba dough and then his big cleaver to cut them perfectly. Makes you appreciate them a bit more when we eat them!
    Our next travel day was to Hakuba for some ski adventure. Not too far from Nagano but the days seem to go forever when there are buses and trains involved. We arrived in the afternoon to Hakuba, checked in and I couldn't wait to get out into the snow . So much snow everywhere! It is just walls and walls of it all around us. I wanted to run and jump into it straight away.
    When I saw the skifield, I just wanted to get out there immediately. It was really clear and although it was cold, the sun felt nice and I reckon it would be perfect for snowboarding. But because it was late in the afternoon we didn't get our rental gear- we will get that tomorrow.
    Our first night in Hakuba was awesome because we made some friends from the hotel. We played til nearly midnight and had an epic snowball fight outside.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Our first sight of snow

    December 28, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ❄️ -1 °C

    Today was our last full day in Kyoto. We went back to our favourite sushi train and ate heaps- it's a great place and I wouldn't mind a sushi train like this in Darwin! I thought it would be a great idea to find a playground for the afternoon- but easier said than done! We found a good one but it was a bit of a hike so we caught the bus there.
    When we stepped into the playground it looked awesome. I really enjoyed the maze and the steep slides. We played for ages- and I couldn't believe it when it started to actually snow. We tried to catch some on our tongues, but it was actually only a couple of flakes. But still exciting for me.
    My favourite food in Japan is definitely gyoza. I try and have some everyday if I can! Kyoto had some good ones for sure and if course had some on my last night here.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    A shopping spree kind of day

    December 27, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 4 °C

    We started our day off with a quick mango smoothie from 7-11 and then headed across the river to the ahopping area. First stop was a poodle cafe for half an hour. It was really fun going there and the dogs were pretty cute. We ended up as soon as it opened and that was very lucky because we had the whole place to ourselves. My favourite dogs were the poodles. They played with me and jumped on my lap.
    The first shop I went to was a chain shop. I have been wanting a silver chain for a while and got a good one here.
    I also got a pair of Jordan's that I really like. I have already worn them for a trip to 7-11.
    I also got a cool slug lamp that you turn on and off by speed,ing its eyes.
    We chilled at ho.e for the rest of the afternoon and a tonkatsu curry for dinner.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    The gloomy bamboo forest

    December 26, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    We took 2 train rides to get to a train station, to get on another train... but what was special about this train was that it had no windows, a plastic see through roof and it was a scenic train through the mountain,along the river. It was a ride for us to then get on a boat back down the Hozu-gawa river.
    The boat ride was pretty cold and at the end I got to have a turn at paddling. We went down some rapids which got us going a bit faster. We sat at the front but had to cover our legs with a plastic sheet so we didn't get wet.
    We had a fantastic Japanese curry called tonkatsu. It warmed us up.
    We walked through the Bamboo Forest and it felt mysterious because it was gloomy.
    For dinner we went to a sushi train place with a big TV touch screen. You order what you want off the big screen and it is delivered via a conveyor belt. Probably the coolest sushi train I have ever been to.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Christmas day

    December 25, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Christmas in Japan was a little bit different to what we are used to. We opened some little presents and I got a Bento box and some chopsticks with my name engraved on them. I had been looking at chopsticks for a few days and I really like these ones.
    We sent mum and dad on a scavenger hunt around the house hiding little presents with riddles.
    We went to Fushimi Inari which has about 10 000 Torii, which are the orange posts. We went last time, I remember the torii.
    Christmas dinner was a special buffet at a fancy hotel. The food was very good. I liked their pasta.
    I really liked Christmas day here in Japan- I missed a few things like having a Christmas tree 🎄, but having Christmas here was pretty special.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    From bacon to Wagyu-which one did I eat?

    Dec 23–24, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    23rd: The highlight of today was getting a Japanese haircut. I went to a pretty cool barber shop and got a skin fade. We also hung out at the Nishiki Food Market.
    24th: Oink oink.. we started our day off with a quick trip to the micro pig Cafe. There were about 20 little piggies and while we were there we played with a bigger one that kept sitting in my lap! He was a big boy- a lot of bacon.
    At the cafe we sat and at first none of the pigs came over to us but it didn't take long for them to trot over to us. When people get up to leave they jump around and are all excited. It was heaps of fun and we all loved it, especially Ferny.
    We then visited another temple called Kinkaku-ju. Did you know most of the Temples in Japan are built without nails. Japanese carpentry is amazing.
    A fact about this place is that when it was first built a monk burnt it down and then when it was rebuilt, they used 5 times as much gold.
    We had a special dinner at the markets and I was super excited for it. I bet you can guess what it was.... delicious WAGYU! Best I have had in my life. $40 each piece so relatively cheap, but still delicious .
    Walking home we saw a truck that was totally decked out. It was so cool to see and I didn't think we would get to see one.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    The old and the new Kyoto

    December 22, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    Arriving in Kyoto brang back lots of memories. We are staying in a tiny Japanese town house with a cool little room upstairs and the first thing Fern and I said was 'dibs sleeping upstairs!'
    We walked to the Yasaka Pagoda and it is the coldest weather we have been in so far. We found a cool lolly shop in the old cobblestone streets that we stopped at. Fern got a bag of tiny chocolate cats and I got an awesome sushi set! Maybe too cool to actually eat them though!
    Our plan was to walk to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. It was a temple on top of a big hill, but far too many people at the top. I don't like the big crowds- I feel a bit anxious.
    The views at this temple was looking over the whole of the city. It is weird looking at the new part of the city from such an old temple.
    There were some great maple trees at the temple, I really like the dark red leaves. It is surprising how many still have leaves on them.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    A deer town

    December 21, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    We went to Nara today and when we arrived we hopped on a bus and went to the Nara Deer Park. There were lots of deers- I reckon there were 1000-1500 of them. When you are at the park you are allowed to go up and pat them. One funny thing that they do is bow at you because they think if they are nice to you they might get a biscuit. There was also a huge temple with a very big Buddha- I think the 2nd biggest one of the holiday.
    The deer's were both big and small- the big ones looked a bit dodgy so I tried to keep my distance. They have had their antlers cut off but we did see a few people getting chased!
    In the evening when we were walking home it started to rain! We were not expecting it and luckily we were standing out the front of a little bar. The owner let us come in and we sat there for a drink. The japanese are very kind people.
    Nara was a really great and a fun place with all the deer and I really liked it.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Me and Mr Frank, the tortoise

    December 20, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 5 °C

    We have a tradition of chicken karage for breakfast from our favourite spot near our house- the best! Also at 7-11 we make our own smoothies, so much fun!!
    Another shopping day, but much better than yesterday. Had to walk past 2 Ferrari dealerships and Lamborghini dealership to get to the shopping area. Shopping was heaps of fun- all vintage old cool stuff. Went to 2nd Street (our favourite shop) and I found some Nike's that were right up my alley. They look plain and black but they are actually reflective. And a bargain at only $30! Couple of gyoza for lunch and then we did something unusual- a rare zoo in the middle of the busy city. Amazing sloths, owls, cat bears, foxes, armadillos, toucan, rabbits, monkey and the best was my mate Mr Frank, the tortoise. I got to feed the sloth and that is something I will never forget! Sloths are weird, strange hands and feet and they will bite you!
    Our last day in Osaka and I had a great time. Last time we came to Japan we only came here for 1 day so I am glad we got to really look around Osaka. My favourite think about Osaka was definitely the Aquarium- it was just brilliant.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Shoe shopping heaven

    December 19, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    It was a shopping day today! We went to many shops but my favourite of course were the shoe shops. There are a lot of rare and expensive shoes- I wish I could buy a few pairs! I really like the Jordan 1 off whites and the Jordan 1 Diors. Thousands of dollars each.
    A few cool hats too, the one I wanted was not in my size.
    We found a great raman spot for dinner- we were knackered from all the shopping!    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    The giants of the sea

    December 18, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Today we went to the Osaka Aquarium and in my opinion, probably the best in the world. They had a massive tank in the middle of the Aquarium that had whale sharks, and heaps of other sharks including hammer heads. There was a mola mola also known as a sun fish- amazing!. The whale sharks were incredible, still only babies but so big.
    The king crabs are native to Japan and the largest in the world. These were pretty fantastic.
    I liked the dolphins and loved the penguins. You never get to see such amazing animals but we were so lucky.
    The seals were playful and fun to watch, but overall the whale sharks were just too good!.
    We had a quick look at a lego shop in the afternoon and even got to have a quick play. We caught trains to these places and boy are the trains busy!
    After a quick trip to Dotonbori dad and I found a pool hall near our place. The tables were good quality and nice to play on.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    At last- Kobe wagu beef!

    Dec 16–17, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Today we woke up mega early to get dropped at the airport. Our next form of transport is a plane to Tokyo, Japan. When we arrived at about 11, we went to get Sim cards so we can keep up our posts and as we were doing that a TV channel came up to us and asked if they could interview us. It was about why people come to Japan. After that we found a Nintendo display and me and Fern got to play for ages whilst mum sorted out the sim cards. We played Lego 2K Drive- loved it!
    Next was a train to Tokyo City and then a bullet train to Osaka.
    Our unit is awesome- pacman, pool table, Wii, heated floors and heated dunny!
    We found a sushi train close by for dinner. It was so cold we had to bring out the ski jackets!
    Our first real day in Japan we went to Osaka Castle. I have never seen a real life castle and I loved it. The trees were weird and look a bit fake because they are so perfect. We found a row of vending machines and Fern and I straight away spotted icecream that looked like our favourite from Sri Lanka!
    We got some cool photos of throwing the yellow ginkgo leaves into the air, like it was raining leaves.
    After walking through the gardens we found a 2nd hand shop and I found a cool pair of Nike's that were Airforces, but they are really light and soft and only $16. I snapped them up!
    In the freezing evening we walked to Dotonbori which is the busiest place in Osaka because of 2 things- the Running Man and Mr Crabby Crabby. It's about 2km from our house but we walk through a long shopping mall to get there.
    I found a skewer of Kobe A5 wagu which was $10. Definitely worth it, and I will do it again and again and again till mum has no money left...
    We had a quick sushi train at Dotonbori and then a cold walk home.    Read more

  • Frog's adventures

    Good bye Taiwan!

    December 15, 2024 in Taiwan ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    I was a bit disappointed this morning because I thought we were going to Harry Potter style Cafe, but it was nothing like it- just a shop. Cool building but too crowded.
    We went to a new market and I bought 5 strawberries for $10- outrageous! Tasty but not worth it. I found a delicious looking curry that I had my eye on, but it was sold out! Got to get in quick when the food is that good!
    We left Taichung on a bullet train and arrived in a town near the airport and it is freezing here! The train ride was a bit hectic, there was no spare seats so Fern and I sat on the floor behind a chair. Mum and dad had to stand the whole way. And with our big bags it was a bit crazy getting on and off. We didn't even leave the hotel this afternoon. 14 degrees outside and it feels mega cold! Don't know how we will cope in Japan tomorrow!    Read more

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