We know we're going in the right direction for Monkey. (the sign reads: Monekey park, now something something mountain. Another example of where my Japanese reading skill can give me great information easier obtained by just looking at something.)
A picture of monkeys not doing three things.
It is important to prepare a map before any monkey related adventure to ensure optimum monkey exposure.
Like anything invloving monkeys, the sotry begins with a shrine at the base of a mountain.
And here it is.
You know something is up when the water dragon for the shrine is missing it's lower jaw...
After confirming with the ticket lady the presence of monkeys (“Yes, monkey!”), we walked past the ticket booth... only to be immediately assualted by a monkey.
Brett inspected his fallen foe to ensure that it is actually defeated. You can never tell with those monkeys.
The road to monkeys is paved with ferns and lichens.
Here's our first monkey sighting. Up in the left hand corner you can make him out.
Here are three more monkeys trying to hide in the trees. The one is a ninja monkey!
This monkey is really hard to see.
No monkey in this picture, but I really liked the tree.
Actually, there aren't any monkeys in any of those pictures. Just like there weren't any monkeys there, after our 10 minute walk up this trail. Luckily there were no monkeys to show food too.
Looking out into a huge crowd of non-monkeys.
And then it appears! This lead up is to simulate how we felt increasingly skeptical of the existence of monkeys while we were walking there ourselves.
Blurry Bigfoot has new cousin.
And now it the time fore learning What are the characteristics of a Japanese Monkey. The top and bottom pictures are monkey faces. The middle one has red cheecks, but is not.
Important Monkey facts. Apparently the number of teeth in a monkey's mouth changes often enough to warrant a stick-on sign to keep us updated. Last week monkeys had 33 teeth, but they lost one. Also, the Japanese translation at the top says “If you show food to a monkey, this will be the last thing you ever see.”
I think all of us would like to know what Japanease monkeys eat. 'Almost anything' includes people I think.
Here be monkeys. well, not in this shot in particularly, but this is definately monkey territory. ANd I don't mean territory as in a wild animal's territory, although I guess that's true too, but something like, “You're in snowmobile territory now.” which I guess isn't really a different meaning at all.
Can you see the monkey in THIS picture? It's next to the monkey shaped branch. Just kidding. There's no monkey in this picture.
Moneky with still life. Remember to zoom in for good monkey face time.
I totally looked into it's eyes. They really don't like it when you do that. Even the little baby monkeys being sat on.
Monkeys truly are the king of the jungle.
You guessed it. I looked into this ones eyes too. I was surprised how intimidated I could be of something the size of a toddler.
Monkeyback. The only way to travel. Well, when you're a baby monkey at least.
You may not believe me, but this is definately not what it looks like.
You know how when someone tells not to do something, and it makes you want to do it all the more? And how it's impossible when someone tells you “Don't think of vampires”? Well that is the reason I looked at this monkey and he subsequently yelled at me. For my own safety, I learned to only look at monkey faces through the viewfinder of the camera. Silly monkeys don't realise that I'm looked at their eyes through the camera.
Any picture of a monkey is inherently a good picture because it is a picture of a monkey.
If you turn this picture of a monkey whose eyes I looked at (I'm weak) 90 degrees clockwise, he looks evil. It's true.
If you turn this picture of a monkey 90 degrees clockwise (or your computer monitor, if you can't do that), he still looks confused.
While the bigger monkey holds down the legs, the faster baby monkey goes for the head.
Monkeys, known for their ability to use tools, showcases here in this picture of a monkey using pianowire to elimate a monkey rival. Monkey.
Monkeys are always willing to give you a high five. Provided you have food, or (as I discovered layer) something that looks like food on your palm.
Monkey nest
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Monkey you're it
There is nothing special about this picture.
Until you see see THIS picture quickly in succession after it.
Monkey, I don't think we're in Kyoto anymore... Well I guess we are on the western outskirts of it.
Nature is great. Monkeys are always peaceful and forming bonds.
Except when they are doing fighting mercilessly.
It's a monkey family.
It's not all monkeys and looking at eyes up here, there is also a cool view of the city.
But yeah, the monkeys are cooler.
Those eyes are just a few degrees to the left of being enraged at looking at someone elses eyes.
And to think we were worried we wouldn't see many monkeys.
What we should be worried about is that guy with th bucket. I've looked those monkeys in the eyes. I know how angry they can get.
Can you tell which monkey is king of all monkeys? It's the one with his own plate, and throne in one.
One of the monkeys stole our camera, but then it used it to take a picture of us so we didn't mind.
It's good to be the king. You don't have to care about your appearance.
Hunching is a skill that is learned at a young age. Here an adult teaches the young the difficult art of hunching, to later be used when these monkeys inevitably get jobs as office workers and will rely and their strong hunchbacks to keep them over their keyboards.
THe loneliest monkey. Awwwwwwwwwwww...
THis reminds me of me trying to eat noodle soups from restaurants off the counter. I think the moneky is less messy than me though.
Hard to beloieve the monkeys were able to construct such an elaborate prison using only sticks and native berries.
Monkeys always land on their feet.
THis is me communicating in the international language of food. THose monkeys sure gave me some delicious apples.
Monkling
The infamous smoker monkey. I need to get that video online...
The monkey contemplates a peanut.
I was so cool, all the monkeys wanted to give Brett high fives. That's when my Kid's training from Nova came in handy.
Zoom in for some important Monkey safety info. Don't let this happen to you!
We're laughing because the monkey didn't even realise we gave him incorrect change for a 1000 yen bill when we sold him some peanuts.
With proper coaching, one monkey, given one afternoon of time, can reinact all of the police Academy movies, scene by scene. Although he did get the order for 2 and 3 mixed up.
Monkeys!
Everything monkeys do is hilarious.
Monkey headlock
It burnses us! It burnses us!
Even though we're not in Hawaii, Brett needed to surf a slide.
Looks safe.
Never trust directions from a monkey.
Apparently we didn't see any monkeys on the way up because they know when feeding time is. They stalked us on the way back.
Trees are awesome.
This is a memorial for James Bond, who died in Her Majesty's service while defending an outpost from monkeys.
The monkeys at the exit were too accustomed to humans.
Techincally, this has nothing to do with monkeys, but it's totally a Super-Saiya-jin Tree.
