It snowed so of course we have to go see the snow monkeys again

The path to the snow monkey path is usually icy and muddy at this time of year. Today the path is icy, muddy and snowy. We did happen to have a dump of snow overnight.
"The path is very slippery Michelle, take care", I said.
I did mention ominous foreshadowing in a previous post didn't I? The last thing we want to have happen is a pregnant woman slip over.
Extra snow does make for a prettier walk, but a very cold walk. More snow gently fell as we walked. Georgia was safely ensconced in her plastic cocoon so was spared the worst of the not too horrible conditions.
On arrival, again, we sat down and had our 7 Eleven sandwiches before going out to the Monkey baths. You never get sick watching the monkeys cavorting, frolicking and... I'll have to look up a thesaurus if I want to use more verbs to describe what the monkeys were doing. But you get the idea. Monkeys are kawaii (cute) and are well worth a diversion if they're not already on your itinerary. I suspect we'll come back one day. Maybe when Michelle's current passenger has arrived? But that is in the future. Today was a good day. Playful monkeys and beautiful snow covered scenery.

Like the adage says, all good things must come to an end. Apparently Chaucer first wrote that. Anyway, for this trip we had to farewell the monkeys. Of course this meant taking the treacherous icy path back to the car park. It isn't as if I'd ever slipped and fallen on that path and watched my video camera bounce into the ravine. Something like that couldn't happen again could it? Not if we are very very careful.

As we arrived at the final stairs to exit the track to the car park I reminded Michelle that it was very icy and to take care.

So what does she do?

Michelle slipped over at the end of the path.

See the sign in the picture below warning of the slippery path? Ironically Michelle slipped over off the bottom steps a metre or so from the sign. Hilarious.
She did manage to land on her back and not break her waters so she is still pregnant. I was hoping not to use that extra pregnancy coverage we'd paid for with the travel insurance if we could help it. Handy tip for pregnant travellers - get travel insurance that covers you for pregnancy issues and premature birth. It is amazing how limited the coverage is for may insurance companies.

After all the excitement it was back to the road. Next stop Matsumoto.

Entrance to the park - sort of. It is about half an hour's walk from here.

Snowy path and pram.

Sangers in the visitors centre.

7-Eleven sangers.

On the way down to the monkeys.

Snow monkey!

It really is amazing how close you can get to the monkeys.

A break from the cold.

I went back out for a little while while Michelle and Georgia got warm in the visitor's centre.

Oh yeah, that's the spot.

The monkey's paw. That's from the Simpson's isn't it?

Jigokudani Monkey Park - snow monkeys with out little monkey

Snow monkeys.
Eventually.
But first we have to trek for weeks along an icy trail. With a pram. Then there are stairs. Up. Lots of up. Maybe we should have made Georgia walk? No that wouldn't have worked. Her little cute red gumboots are cute but she refused to put them on properly so they kept coming off.
"All we have to do sweetheart is push them on properly..."
"No!"
Sigh. So we pushed the pram along the icy path. It takes about half an hour to get to park. The last 50 metres or so is up a steep staircase. The pram, a Peg Perego, was pretty good considering. I doubt it was designed for going bush like this. It was light enough to carry up the stairs fairly easily too. Did I mention that Michelle is pregnant? Is that enough ominous foreshadowing? Pregnant partner, icy trail, what could go wrong? She did very well too considering the load she was carrying. Georgia wanted to climb the stairs herself. Icy and steep. Yes, we were thrilled. I kept having flashbacks to the last time we came here. That time I slipped on the path, came down heavily and my expensive video camera bounced over the edge into the ravine. Hence my paranoia about icy paths and steps. I think I only screamed and swore in frustration once or twice. Eventually we got to the top safely and paid to go in to the park.

After the long walk we thought it would be best for all our sakes to stop and have a bite to eat. Family Mart sandwiches we'd bought earlier it was then. And some green tea flavoured Kit Kats given to me by a couple of young women visiting from Australia.

The last time we came here the whole area had been dusted with snow and it looked quite pretty. Today it has been days since it snowed so the area around the hot spring is pretty much snow free so it looks quite stark. But the monkeys were there soaking in the hot water.

A little monkey came up to Michelle, stopped at her feet and then pooped. What's with monkeys welcoming Michelle this way? Last time we came a little fellow ran up to Michelle, flipped himself over and dry humped her leg. Hilarious.

One of the monkey keepers told us to either hide Georgia's Teddy bear or hold on to it tight because the monkeys are known for taking stuff from the tourists. Some things, like phones and cameras, don't take well to being dunked in the pool. There was no way Georgia was going to let the bear out of her sight though, she insisted on holding it.

A good day with the monkeys. We're considering coming back again tomorrow before we head off for Matsumoto.

Sangers before monkeys

Wants sangers too

Hello little fella, what are you doing?

Oh, poop.

It's not all laying about in hot springs you know

Sometimes it is all about laying about in hot springs though

Monkey jump

See, it says snow monkey livecam

Buddy, you are too close

Oh yeah. That's it.

Little red boots

Tired out.

Back on the trail.